BUCKSCO Escape: Washington’s Troops Went Hungry, But That Doesn’t Mean You Have To! 41 Places to Eat When Visiting Valley Forge National Historical Park

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Dining at the King of Prussia Mall
Images via King of Prussia Mall Facebook.

Now that you’ve visited Valley Forge National Historical Park, hiked the trails, and seen the sites, you must be starving! Seeing Valley Forge Park works up an appetite, and I’ve got just the places for you to dine: experience dining in and around the Park.

This post has a great lineup of all the great places to eat in and around Valley Forge National Historical Park, starting with the King of Prussia Town Center and the many wonderful restaurants in and around the King of Prussia Mall, both just 3 minutes beyond the Park’s main entrance on N. Gulph Road.

Valley forge tourism visit montco

Let’s start with the basics—come to Montgomery County, check out Valley Forge Park, and stay the whole weekend. Then start dining at one of the many restaurants circling the Park!

The Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board has a great hotel lineup, so check out their TripBuilder to navigate around. Get up early and fuel up so you can do the Loop in the Park and see the sights.

Past the Park’s Main Entrance on the Southeastern border, on N. Gulph Road (across from the Turnpike), you’ll spy the King of Prussia Town Center.

Where to Go

You’ll find breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, dessert, and shopping here. It’s an outdoor oasis of shops and restaurants like Wegmans, Mission BBQ, Davio’s, Duck Donuts, Founding Farmers restaurant and market, honeygrow, Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse, Kilwins, and City Works. There’s outdoor seating in a garden atmosphere.

bartaco king of prussia mall
Images via King of Prussia Mall Facebook.

Continue on three minutes up N. Gulph Road, and you’ll discover King of Prussia Mall, coming up on your left, after Hooters.

Here you’ll find restaurants in and around the mall for every part of your stay to Montgomery County.

The Mall opens at 10am or 11am, depending on the day.

The King of Prussia Mall is the largest mall in America by square feet, where hundreds of shops and restaurants abound— and I’ll take you there!

There are several food courts in the mall ranging from fast food to fancy. I’ve lived here all my life, worked at the KOP Mall throughout college and the early part of my food writing career, and have seen the mall go through changes and , additions. Most important, I’ve eaten at its best places.

Breakfast

Around the perimeter of the King of Prussia Mall are several restaurants. My favorite is the Corner Bakery, across from Crate & Barrel and located on the bottom floor of Maggiano’s Little Italy.

Avocado Breakfast Wrap and Cold Brew combo from the Corner Bakery.
Avocado Breakfast Wrap and Cold Brew combo from the Corner Bakery.

The Cinnamon Cream Cake there is my absolute favorite with a cup of their special blend coffee. But you need to fuel-up to see the Valley Forge sights, so I suggest the Breakfast Paninis.

And maybe grab some of that cake for a snack later on.

The Shake Shack does breakfast! I know, right, who knew!? The egg and sausage or egg and bacon sandwiches are a tasty way to start your day (but I am all about their chicken sandwiches … more on that later, for lunch).

On the far side of the mall on Allendale Road, you’ll find Panera. Amazing bagels, wraps, coffee, and smiling counter people are here daily at the KoP Panera, breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you’ll get full.

Lunch

If you are looking for casual or grab-and-go or have hungry kids, head back to Panera Bread to order a quick sandwich (use the app) or smoothie or back to the Corner Bakery for baked goods, sandwiches, or coffee and cookies.

shake shack chicken sandwiches at the KOP Mall
Shake Shack Avocado Chick’n Shack.

But my favorite is Shake Shack (on the mall perimeter or inside the mall) for burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, and milkshakes. I love to hit up the Shake Shack for a ShackBurger or a Chick’n Shack, plus a cookies-and-cream milkshake.

And crinkle fries with cheese sauce — just don’t eat those in the car, the cheese sauce is best eaten in-house on your fries. Order through the app and you can be in and out in no time.

If you have a moment to go inside the King of Prussia Mall and enjoy all that it offers (and you’ll need a couple of hours just for the mall, and you will get your steps in!) head over to Nordstrom’s for a quick bite at its Ebar or world-class Marketplace Cafe.

With a menu offering lite fare like soups (Clam Chowder or Roma Tomato Basil), salads, handmade pizza with garden-fresh toppings, hearty sandwiches, and fun pasta dishes, you’ll be ready to tackle the afternoon hike! And if you have kids with you, their menu includes chicken tenders, buttered noodles, and grilled cheese with soup. 

Dinner

Around the mall is a selection of great restaurants for dinner, when you can relax and enjoy your dinner after a long day in the park.

The mall offers what whatever you are in the mood for: The Melting Pot for fondue; J. Alexander’s for chicken and pasta; Capital Grille or Sullivan’s for fine dining; Morton’s The Steakhouse (located at the end of the Court) for steak and chops if you desire a sit-down date-type atmosphere. Dining at the King of Prussia Mall is an experience in and of itself.

I am a huge fan of Sullivan’s because of its signature martini. If you have time and can make a weekend of it, have a date night at Sullivan’s. Their Knockout is so worth it (mandarin vodka infused with fresh pineapple, you can see it marinating behind the bar).

Morgans-Brooklyn-Barbecue-KOP-Mall-Facebook-1.jpg
Image via Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue.

Then add on the cheesesteak eggrolls to start and crab-stuffed shrimp or crab over your steak. The add-ons for your special cut makes dinner even better.

For sit-down casual with friends or the family, try Bahama Breeze (located across from the mall near the AMC Movie theatre), True Food Kitchen (located on the mall perimeter, across from the Rite Aid Pharmacy entrance), Legal Sea Foods (located at the end of the Court), Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue (new and in the mall, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Seasons 52, or the Yard House.

All these restaurants are located along the mall’s perimeter or along the outside of the mall, as opposed to inside one of the mall’s two cavernous wings (called the Court or the Plaza.)

There’s also a food court inside the King of Prussia Mall, with many fast-food casual vendors to gran and go, or sit down in the middle of the food court.

Dessert

The Cheesecake Factory is my top place for dessert, if you are in the mood for cheesecake (they also have a great sit-down menu, like pasta, Glamburgers, and seafood).

The menu also offers a huge variety of cheesecakes and cakes like Fudge cake, carrot cake, warm apple crisp, and a Limoncello cream torte as well as fun ice cream creations, like the Godiva Chocolate Brownie Sundae or a bowl of ice cream with fudge sauce and whipped cream.

Snickers Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.
Snickers Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.

Dining at the King of Prussia Mall just gets better and better!

Cold Stone Creamery is located inside the mall on the second floor near Dick’s Sporting Goods. If you want a dessert created to your exact ice-cream specifications, you’ll find it here.

E Ice Cream has specialty rolled ice cream in hard and soft varieties, and is especially tasty with fresh and natural flavors.

If you are feeling cookies, then Mrs. Fields has over 100 different varieties of cookies plus cookie cupcakes to enjoy. This is located on the lower level outside the Food Court.

Near The Park

Looking for lunch or dinner after the Park? Check out Black Powder Tavern serving carefully crafted American fare, on Valley Forge Road a minute or two outside the Park’s southern border. They also offer brunch, if dining then hiking is your thing.

black powder tavern
Brunch is back, baby, and eating al fresco is fabulous at the Black Powder Tavern in Wayne. Image via Christine Tarlecki.

Gateway Shopping Center on the other side of the road from Black Powder Inn (on Swedesford Road), has several options.

There’s a Trader Joe’s market if you want to grab and go, or check out the Panera, the Starbucks, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Mod Pizza, Kabob Café, First Watch Daytime Cafe, Saladworks, Tropical Smoothie Café, R&G’s Ping Pong, and Five Guys Burgers and Fries (my favorite! Oh those fries!).

When you’re hungry, leave the guide to us and explore the Mall and nearby areas to find your favorite place to eat. Make a weekend of it and try several places in King of Prussia.

Find your favorite places to explore in the park here and enjoy dining at the King of Prussia Mall.

Thanks so much for visiting Valley Forge National Historical Park and the King of Prussia areas. Safe travels!

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