Why Locals Love Durham TreeTops Restaurant
Durham TreeTops Restaurant, nestled within the immersive Lied Jungle at Omaha’s renowned Henry Doorly Zoo, offers a quintessential American dining experience that perfectly complements a day of exploration and wildlife wonder. As a casual, family-friendly spot, this eatery specializes in classic grill items and comforting favorites that cater to a variety of tastes and dietary needs.
The menu at Durham TreeTops reliably serves up beloved staples with options like juicy hamburgers and cheeseburgers, including double patties for those hungrier appetites. The chicken selection offers everything from grilled chicken to crispy chicken strips and a satisfying plant-based Gardein Chick'n, ensuring vegetarians and gluten-sensitive diners feel equally welcomed—highlighted by a customer praising their gluten-free cheeseburger option served with crispy fries that left no digestive worries behind.
Sides like golden onion rings, creamy mac 'n' cheese, and classic fries round out the meal with comforting textures and flavors, perfect for dipping or nibbling between bites. The menu even dips into casual favorites such as tacos, BBQ beef, and nachos deluxe, creating an approachable yet diverse lineup that echoes the laid-back ambiance of the zoo setting.
Dining at Durham TreeTops is more than just about the food—it’s about soaking in the atmosphere. Positioned overlooking the lush greenery of the jungle exhibit, guests can settle into comfortable seating with a view that often features playful birds and, on occasion, the elusive monkeys. While some visitors have noted that the monkeys may not always be nearby, the opportunity to eat surrounded by the vibrant sights and sounds of natural habitat truly sets it apart from a standard food court.
Guests occasionally mention that the prices are on the higher side, which aligns with the restaurant’s role in supporting the zoo’s vital conservation efforts. Though some have found inconsistencies like small or overcooked burgers and soggy fries, many still savor the hearty, familiar flavors and appreciate the convenience of having both hot meals and refreshing cold options—plus alcoholic beverages and ice cream to round off the afternoon.
Whether you’re craving a perfectly melted grilled cheese or the comforting crunch of chicken strips, Durham TreeTops Restaurant offers a practical and pleasant pause during your day at the zoo. Its commitment to accessibility, including gluten-free options, combined with a setting that invites relaxation amid the vibrant energy of the Lied Jungle, makes it a valued stop for families and animal lovers alike.
See the Space & Food
What Makes This Place Friendly
- Dine-in
- Delivery
- Fast service
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Quick bite
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Toilet
- Casual
- Family friendly
- Groups
- Accepts reservations
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Free parking lot
Real Reviews from the Community
- Mar 12, 2026
A few things on the menu were unavailable. Seating was comfortable and a pleasant view.
- Mar 2, 2026
This was pretty much what we expected for a lunch at the zoo. Typical options like cheeseburger, hot dog, etc. We enjoyed the fries a lot but the hot dog wasn’t great. We came here mainly because of how it overlooks the monkeys. To our disappointment the monkeys weren’t even in the enclosure right by the restaurant so you couldn’t even see anything.
- Feb 5, 2026
Enjoy the view, love supporting the Henry Doorly Zoo every time we go. Shrug at the expensive costs of everything, cause we know it's supporting animals and conservation. But kinda wish the food was a bit better, burgers are often burnt and very small. And we've gotten fries that are soggy and limp.
- Jan 22, 2026
They have Gluten free options! Was super happy about this. Had the Cheeseburger with gf bun and fries. I'm not Celiac, just gluten sensitive. No issues.
- Jan 5, 2026
It's really expensive but that's what I guess you can expect when you decide to eat the zoo. It really isn't bad though. The Hamburgers are really good. And they have salads and fruit, desserts, fountain drinks. They serve booze here too and ice cream. Hot food and cold options. Then sit looking out over the jungle. You can watch the monkey's playing or random birds fly by usually. I'd rather ear here then any if the other places at the zoo. And it's more personalized. With condiments and what not.
- Jan 3, 2026
The food was not overly priced, and was good cafeteria food. But the atmosphere with the jungle view is well worth the extra dollar. They had some creative options for food (fish tacos where the special), and the monkeys entertained us all of lunch.
- Dec 29, 2025
I was surprised by the quality of the food. Normally in my experience at zoos/museums the food is decent or garbage. Here I had a double cheeseburger and it tasted just like a normal restaurant. My only complaint was that the process of getting through the line was slow. It was like a cafeteria in school where you go through a line and say what you want. The thing is if you wait 75% of the line you might get to the prepackaged wraps/sides and decide to grab those instead of waiting for the grill items. Then you just wasted your time.
- Dec 9, 2025
Amazing service. I ate there with my two young children and one worker helped carry my tray, another got my children booster seats and made sure we had a great view of the monkeys. They really went above and beyond and eating right next to the monkeys was amazing!
