What to know
- The pantry door is found early in the kitchen area.
- You must defeat the Zombie Chef to obtain the Pantry Key.
- The Hemolytic Injector enables a one-hit stealth takedown.
- The pantry contains a melee-boosting charm and useful supplies.
Early in Resident Evil Requiem, you’ll come across a locked pantry door in the kitchen section of the mansion. It’s clearly important, but the game doesn’t immediately tell you how to unlock it. To access it, you’ll need to deal with a dangerous optional enemy and secure a specific key item.
Below is everything you need to know, including where to go, what to collect, and how to safely defeat the chef.
Resident Evil 9 Pantry details
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Locked Object | Pantry Door (Kitchen Area) |
| Required Item | Pantry Key |
| Key Holder | Zombie Chef |
| Recommended Tool | Hemolytic Injector |
| Best Character | Leon (combat advantage) |
| Main Reward | Melee Damage & Durability Charm |
| Extra Benefit | Access to warped doors later (Leon only) |
Location of Pantry and the Zombie Chef
The pantry doors are located in the kitchen area, accessible early in the mansion section of the game. You’ll first see them during your initial exploration of the ground floor.
The Zombie Chef patrols between the parlor and kitchen areas, making him a recurring threat until you eliminate him. He is stronger than regular zombies and can deal heavy damage at close range, so direct combat—especially early with Grace—can be risky.
If you’re playing as Grace, you can defeat him early with careful resource management. However, if you wait until later when controlling Leon, combat becomes much easier thanks to his stronger offensive abilities and durability.
How to get the Hemolytic Injector in RE9
The Hemolytic Injector is key if you want a safe and efficient kill. It allows you to perform a one-hit stealth takedown on specific enemies, including the Zombie Chef.
You’ll first need to retrieve the East Wing Care Center Key, which is found in the West Wing of the mansion. This requires some backtracking and puzzle-solving.
Explore the West Wing thoroughly and locate the East Wing Care Center Key. Check side rooms and storage areas carefully, as it is not placed directly on the main path.
Unlock the East Wing Care Center using the key you just obtained.
Search the Care Center to find the Hemolytic Injector. Once acquired, it becomes a powerful stealth tool in your inventory.
The injector works only when you approach an enemy from behind without being detected. Timing and positioning are crucial.
How to defeat the Zombie Chef safely
The Chef patrols between the kitchen and parlor. His movement pattern is predictable once you observe it for a few seconds.
Using the Hemolytic Injector (Recommended Method)
- Wait until the Chef turns his back and begins walking away from your position.
- Crouch and move slowly to avoid making noise. Stay directly behind him.
- When prompted, use the Hemolytic Injector to perform the one-hit stealth kill.
- This eliminates him instantly and conserves ammunition.
Fighting him directly with Makeshift knife
If you prefer direct combat or missed the stealth opportunity:
- Keep distance and avoid narrow corners.
- Use Leon for better survivability and firepower.
- Aim for stagger opportunities before committing to melee.
Once defeated, the Zombie Chef drops the Pantry Key.
Opening the pantry door
With the Pantry Key in your inventory:
Step 1
Return to the locked pantry door in the kitchen.
Step 2
Interact with the door to use the key automatically.
The pantry will unlock, granting access to several valuable items.
Pantry rewards and items
| Item Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Melee Charm | Boosts melee weapon damage and durability |
| Crafting Materials | Supplies for ammo and healing |
| Consumables | Healing items and minor resources |
The melee charm is especially useful if you rely on close-range combat. It increases both output damage and weapon longevity, making it valuable throughout early and mid-game sections.
Leon’s warped doors and additional charms
Later in the game, when playing as Leon, you gain access to warped or reinforced doors that were previously inaccessible. These doors often contain additional charms and upgrade items.
While not directly tied to the pantry, this mechanic expands on the charm system introduced with the pantry reward. If you’re planning builds, you’ll want to revisit earlier areas as Leon to maximize your upgrades.
Pantry door unlock strategy explained
Opening the pantry door in Resident Evil Requiem revolves around preparation rather than brute force. You can fight the Zombie Chef early as Grace, but using the Hemolytic Injector—or waiting until you control Leon—makes the process significantly safer and more efficient.
If you approach it strategically, you’ll conserve resources and gain one of the most useful early-game melee upgrades.
The pantry door in Resident Evil Requiem unlocks once you defeat the Zombie Chef and collect his key. For the safest approach, obtain the Hemolytic Injector first and perform a stealth takedown. Doing so rewards you with a powerful melee charm that can significantly strengthen your early-game combat build.
