We visited the BG Cuban Café Review to take a closer look at the Pan con Lechon sandwich, sides, service, and whether this Busch Gardens Tampa Bay meal is worth ordering.

When we think of Florida theme parks with the best food, we rarely think about Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. One bright spot in the Busch Gardens’ culinary landscape has been the fairly recent arrival of BG Cuban Café. While we have encountered some misses at this location, it usually offers solid quick-service food with a touch of nutrition. During a recent visit, we tried the Pan con Lechon entrée at BG Cuban Café.

Basics of BG Cuban Café

It opens around noon on most days. On most days, It will close at least one hour before park closing. It often closes two hours before park closing. Of course, the Jungala area, where Wild Oasis and BG Cuban Café are located, does not open to guests until 10:30 a.m. Additionally, the Wild Oasis area next door to BG Cuban Café usually closes before park closing/

The BG Cuban Café offers outdoor covered seating, so no air conditioning. Still, with it being near Wild Oasis, an outdoor exploration area, that makes sense. Also, the BG Cuban Café is a participating part of the Busch Gardens All-Day Dining Program. In contrast, TOMA at Orang Café was only a part of that plan for a short time before BG Cuban Café replaced it.

BG Cuban Café Review: Our Visit

Since BG Cuban Café opened, we have visited several times. However, some menu items have eluded us until recently. During a recent weekend visit, we targeted menu items at BG Cuban Café that we have not tried yet.

During previous visits, we have enjoyed the Ropa Vieja and wished we had passed on the Cuban sandwich. Despite our huge disappointment with the Cuban sandwich at the “Cuban Café,” we wanted to try the other sandwich offered here, the Pan con Lechon. This sandwich comes with roasted pork, onions, and mojo, according to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

In fairness, we did not enter this review with very high hopes, given the previous sandwich experience. While the bowl entrees were very good, this “Cuban” café should offer excellent theme park sandwiches. If you are going to sell Cuban sandwiches in Tampa, you need to get them right! This is not like selling a Cuban sandwich in the Midwest. Tampa knows Cuban food!

With that being said, would the Pan con Lechon redeem this place for our BG Cuban Café review? Or would this be another major disappointment? Well, we waited 16 minutes after ordering our sandwich for it to be made. We have no issue with that since we were not using the All-Day Dining Plan. However, guests on that plan should consider this variable, as the 90-minute window starts after you pay, not when you order at BG Cuban Café.

To Dessert or Not to Dessert?

Additionally, we had an issue with the new $5 dessert promotion with any entrée purchase. Though plenty of signage advertised it, we were denied that and told to pay full price. When we mentioned the promotion and showed the signage, we were told that they knew nothing about it!

Pan con Lechon at BG Cuban Café Review

Now to the BG Cuban Café review of the food…the plantains looked way over-fried, and they were. The flavor was fine, but there was a bit too much carbon on the exterior. Additionally, the dark black appearance of the plantains was far less appealing than on our previous visits!

The Pan con Lechon sandwich ($16.99) tasted far better than the Cuban sandwich we had previously. However, it is a bit dry.

Additionally, we felt the sandwich lacked the mojo seasoning that the menu description promises. For those unfamiliar, mojo (pronounced MOH-hoh) in Cuban cuisine is more than just a basic condiment. This vibrant, garlic-forward marinade and sauce is what gives classic Cuban dishes their signature bright, savory, and deeply aromatic punch.

Mojo, a Traditional Cuban Seasoning

At its core, traditional Cuban mojo relies on a balance of key ingredients:

• Bitter Orange (Naranja Agria): The essential citrus base. It provides a distinct, sharp acidity that is less sweet than standard orange juice but more complex than lime. Outside of the Caribbean, chefs often replicate this by mixing fresh orange and lime juices.
• Garlic: Used in abundance. It is typically mashed into a paste with salt using a mortar and pestle.
• Warm Oil & Spices: Hot olive oil or lard is whisked with the garlic and juice, often accompanied by cumin, oregano, and onions.

The BG Cuban Café Pan con Lechon lacked any of these characteristics. The pork was reasonably well-prepared. Still, it failed to provide the promise of mojo. Also, there were far too many onions, which were below average in taste for our preferences. Still, onions should play a significant part in this type of sandwich.

On the positive side, the roasted pork on its own is well done for theme park quick service. There is a decent portion size of pork with this sandwich. Additionally, it is made to order, which is a clear positive. Would we order this again after our BG Cuban Café review visit? Maybe! Still, a visit to BG Cuban Cafe should focus on the bowl-style entrees like the Ropa Vieja.

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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