We went to BG Cuban Cafe to review the Kids Empanada Meal at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Did we find a filling, budget-friendly lunch?

Looking to save some money on food during your theme park day at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay? Like most Florida theme parks, Busch Gardens offers kids’ meals that make good options for adults looking to eat less. We occasionally order kids’ meals in theme parks to save a little money and to try something without committing to a full meal.

BG Cuban Cafe

Located in the middle of the Jungala area near Wild Oasis, BG Cuban Cafe brings bold flavors to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. It is a standout dining option for guests looking to skip the standard theme park burgers and instead dive into some of Tampa’s rich culinary heritage.

The menu features traditional Cuban-inspired dishes, offering hearty protein platters like Ropa Vieja (shredded beef in tomato-pepper sauce), citrus-garlic Pollo Asado, and slow-roasted Lechon Asado. Each platter comes served with classic black beans and rice.

If you prefer a handheld meal between roller coaster runs, their hot-pressed Cuban Sandwich or the savory Pan con Lechon makes decent choices, both paired with sweet fried plantains. For quick bites, you can grab flaky beef or chicken empanadas and crispy ham-and-cheese croquetas. To top off the meal, they serve a sweet Tres Leches cake and traditional rice pudding.

Best of all, BG Cuban Cafe is included in the park’s All-Day Dining Deal. This makes it easy to fuel up on savory, fresh-tasting international cuisine without breaking the bank during a busy park day.

You Want Me to Order a Kids’ Meal?

Yes, this review is about a hearty kids’ meal at BG Cuban Cafe. One newer example of a kids’ meal we recommend is at the BG Cuban Café at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The only kids’ meal option at BG Cuban Café is the Kids Empanada Meal. It costs $10.79 before any discounts. It comes with one empanada (beef or chicken) and a choice of white rice or rice and beans.

For comparison, an empanada by itself costs $7.99. So basically, you get a serving of rice and beans for less than three dollars. Rice and beans form a complete protein, so you can think of them as nutrition for your theme park day.

Rice and Beans as a Side at BG Cuban Cafe

Now, about those rice and beans. As you might expect, they are average to slightly below-average quick-service rice-and-beans. Of course, few people rave about the rice and beans at a theme park quick service. While being a good portion size and a complete protein, the rice and beans at BG Cuban Cafe can start to taste “one-note” and dry. Nonetheless, a complete protein in the theme park meal deserves some praise! This Kids Empanada Meal has that going for it.

Kids Meal Empanada Review

Although it’s listed as a kids’ meal, it is the same empanada guests can order as a side at BG Cuban Cafe. In fact, it makes an excellent additional side for those using the All-Day Dining Plan.

The empanada has the standard pros and cons of Busch Gardens’ version. Since this dining location was TOMA at Orang Café before, comparisons of empanadas are inevitable. With TOMA specializing in empanadas, BG Cuban Café has a higher bar to clear to achieve the previous standard for empanadas.

The empanada filling is above average. However, the preparation style hinders it since the pastry-to-filling ratio is way off, with far too much pastry. It might take three bites to find any filling. Guests can choose between chicken and beef empanadas. They were out of beef when we visited. Still, the chicken was fine with us. We have eaten both before.

As expected, these are inferior in terms of flavor to the former TOMA empanadas. However, the price point is similar, and the portion size is also similar to the current version. While we doubt many kids will make this Kids Empanada Meal a priority, it is a nice light lunch for the grown-ups in your group. For some pass members using their discount, it is a filling snack for under ten dollars.

Worth It?

Was it worth it? Yes. Still, this is only a good idea at BG Cuban Cafe if you are looking for a light lunch or a snack.

For more theme park dining reviews, visit MSM News every weekday at noon Eastern Time. Additionally, we sometimes post bonus theme park dining reviews. As always, eat like you mean it!

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