One of the first locked doors you’ll run into at the Rhodes Hill Care Center in Resident Evil Requiem is the Pantry, tucked just off the Kitchen in the West Wing. You can see it early in the game, but you can’t open it right away — and the game doesn’t exactly hand you the answer. If you’re trying to figure out how to get the Pantry Door Key and what’s waiting inside, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Where Is the Pantry in Resident Evil Requiem?
The Pantry is located in the Kitchen area on the ground floor of the West Wing in the Rhodes Hill Care Center. You’ll pass right by the locked Pantry door during your first time through the Kitchen as Grace. At that point, you simply won’t have the key, and the Zombie Chef nearby makes sticking around a very dangerous idea. Don’t worry — you’ll come back.
How to Get the Pantry Key in RE9?
The Pantry Key is dropped by the Zombie Chef — the hulking, cleaver-wielding enemy that patrols the Kitchen and surrounding corridors on the ground floor of the West Wing. You can’t just find the key on a shelf or in a drawer; you have to kill him to get it.
A note you’ll discover after switching to Leon S. Kennedy in the Care Center confirms the key is with the chef, but you can actually take him out before reading that file. Here’s how to do it the smart way:
How to Defeat the Zombie Chef in Resident Evil Requiem
The Zombie Chef is significantly stronger and faster than standard zombies, making him risky to fight early on — especially as Grace. Here are the best methods:
Option 1: Use a Hemolytic Injector (Recommended for Grace)
The safest and most resource-efficient way to kill the Zombie Chef is to use a Hemolytic Injector. This item is a one-hit stealth kill tool that works on most zombies in the game. Wait for the chef to patrol near the shortcut by the dark corridor close to the Dining Room, sneak up behind him, and use the injector. He’ll drop instantly, and you’ll earn the “Order Up!” trophy/achievement for your trouble.
Option 2: Use Leon’s Requiem Handgun
If you’re playing as Leon or want to make use of his powerful weapon, two shots from the Requiem handgun will take the chef down. Requiem ammo is rare, but if you don’t want to use a Hemolytic Injector, it’s a solid alternative. You can lure the chef toward the Central Hall door — he won’t follow you through it — and unload on him from a safer distance while he tries to turn back.
To get more Requiem ammo, you’ll need to:
- Progress the story to unlock crafting
- Grab the Level 1 ID Wristband from the East Wing (check our guide on Resident Evil Requiem Level 1 ID Wristband Location)
- Use that clearance to access Level 1 security doors containing crafting resources
Option 3: Shoot and Stagger (Budget Method)
You can also whittle him down with regular handgun ammo. Aim for the head, get him staggered, push him down, and finish him off with a knife. The Stakeout Takeout Charm inside the Pantry will actually make your knives more effective going forward, making this a useful early upgrade for this exact style of play.
Important Note (Insanity Mode): On Insanity difficulty, the Zombie Chef drops Antique Coins instead of the Pantry Key. In this mode, the key is located behind a Level 1 security door leading to the Closet in the East Wing Waiting Room.
How to Open the Pantry Door in RE9
Once the Zombie Chef is dead and you’ve looted the Pantry Key from his body:
- Head back to the Kitchen on the ground floor of the West Wing
- Locate the locked Pantry door (if you’ve forgotten where it is, it’s just off the main kitchen area)
- Use the Pantry Key on the lock
- The door opens — go claim your rewards
That’s all there is to it. No puzzles, no power switches. Just the key and the door.
What’s Inside the Pantry?
The Pantry is optional, but well worth opening. Here’s what you’ll find inside:
As Grace:
- Infected Blood (crafting material for blood-based mechanics)
- Ammunition (including a Requiem bullet in a case)
- Stakeout Takeout Charm — Found on the shelves at the back of the room. This charm increases knife power and durability as long as it’s in your inventory. Given how often you’ll rely on knives when ammo is scarce, this is a genuinely useful find.
As Leon:
- A Warped Closet inside the Pantry can only be opened by Leon. Inside, you’ll find the Connoisseur Charm, which increases the firepower of any gun you attach it to.
To fully clear the Pantry, you’ll want to enter it with both characters during their respective sections of the game. Need help opening the Warped Closet once you’re back as Leon? Check out our guide on how to break open Warped Closets in RE9.
Tips Before You Go In
Don’t go in unprepared. If you’re planning to fight the Zombie Chef early as Grace without a Hemolytic Injector, make sure you have enough ammo and ideally a clear escape route. He hits hard and can be unrelenting at close range.
Visit as both characters. The Stakeout Takeout Charm is Grace’s reward; the Connoisseur Charm is Leon’s. You’ll miss loot if you only enter with one character.
Do it before Leon heads to the Mansion. Opening the Pantry before Leon’s Mansion section begins gives him access to the Warped Closet inside when he arrives. Timing matters.
Related Guides for the Rhodes Hill Care Center
The Care Center is filled with locked doors, puzzles, and secrets. Here are some more guides to help you work through it:
- How to Open the Isolation Ward in RE9
- How to Open Level 3 Doors in RE9
- How to Complete the Corpse Puzzle in the Examination Room
- How to Open the Organ Transport Box
- How to Open a Door Without a Handwheel in the Care Center
- How to Destroy the Sturdy Padlock in the Researcher’s Office
- Examination Room Safe Code
- Bar Lounge Safe Code
- East Wing Keycard Location
- West Wing Keycard Location
- Chairman’s Office Puzzle Box
- Care Center Fuse Location
Get Resident Evil Requiem
Ready to play or looking to pick up a copy? Resident Evil Requiem is available on all major platforms:
Final Thoughts
The Pantry in Resident Evil Requiem is one of those early locked rooms that rewards patient players. Once you know that the Zombie Chef holds the Pantry Key, it’s just a matter of picking the right moment and the right method to take him down. Whether you use a Hemolytic Injector for a clean one-shot kill or burn two Requiem bullets as Leon, the Stakeout Takeout Charm and Connoisseur Charm inside make the effort very much worth it. Make sure you return as both Grace and Leon to fully loot the room before moving on.
