Erm, I think the perception differs from where we live in. Local food at our tourist attractions (Singapore Zoo) are marked up really highly thats why we prefer fast food as the price is kept at a acceptable level. One bowl of laksa at the Singapore Zoo can cost near to SGD$10 when we can get it for about $3 outside!
Having just eaten there myself last week, it is by far the best zoo restaurant(s) out there. You will have to pick which restaurant you want to eat at (there are 3). Or just do what most Americans do, eat at all three.
I have only made one trip outside the U.S., when I went to France and England last year, visiting two zoos in each country. One of them (Le Menagerie in Paris) was too small to have a cafe. But the other three - London Zoo, Port Lympne, Parc Des Felins - ALL had consistently better food than I see at American zoos. Parc Felins is full service (and has even been upgraded since I was there, according to their website). The two British ones had cafeteria style restaurants with some very nice home cooked dishes. At Port Lympne, which is a very charming setting inside the mansion's former plant conservatory, I had some vegetable lasagna that was unquestionably the best lasagna I have had in my life. Not sure if all European zoos are like this, but my limited experience shows they outshine American zoos in this area. The best overall food I have seen at a U.S. zoo is at my local Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.
Even if the last comment was 2 years ago, i should also notice that Lisbon Zoo has a McDonald's, but other restaurants aswell.
If this KFC ever has a supply-chain problem and gets low on chicken hopefully the zoo's aviaries will not start getting mysteriously depopulated...
