During our SeaWorld tacos review, we tried the carne asada tacos at Panini Shore Café and found long waits, small portions, and “fine” flavor.
Have you ever been at a theme park thinking, “You know what I want? A panini place that barely sells paninis but goes all-in on tacos?” If somehow that very specific and strange thought process has crossed your mind, then we have a quick-service place at SeaWorld Orlando for you. That is the culinary spirit at Panini Shore Café.
Despite the name, this Panini Shores Cafe offers exactly one panini and several taco options. It’s like going to a seafood restaurant and ordering chicken nuggets. It qualifies as confusing, but somehow still happens.
SeaWorld Tacos Review: Carne Asada Tacos
The entrée in question, the Carne Asada Tacos, features grilled, marinated steak, cilantro, onions, salsa verde, and flour tortillas. Guests get three small street-style tacos. This entree costs $18.99 (cue dramatic theme park pricing music). There’s also a chicken version, which we’ve had multiple times over at Aquatica Orlando. However, today, it’s all about the steak.
The Wait at Panini Shores Cafe: A Slow Burn
During our recent visit, we experienced an unexpectedly long wait for a basic quick-service entree. We entered the queue at 10:02 a.m. We received our food at 10:21 a.m.
Now, normally, a 19-minute wait at a theme park isn’t shocking, but there were only two people ahead of us. To be fair, one ambassador at SeaWorld Orlando appeared to be doing the job of approximately 3.5 humans while others… existed nearby. We’ve all been there. Still, when you’re waiting that long for tacos, expectations begin to rise or at least hover awkwardly.
All-Day Dining Plan Confusion (a.k.a. “The Chips Saga”)
Here’s where things got spicy, and not in a good way. We were initially told: Only chips are allowed as a side with the All-Day Dining Plan, which we were using on this day.
However, the menu (online and in-person) lists chips as a standard part of the entree. That means guests should be able to get an additional side or dessert to go with the tacos and chips.
After a follow-up visit, we learned:
- You can get chips OR a cookie
- There are no additional sides or desserts available
This kind of inconsistency isn’t unheard of across parks operated by United Parks & Resorts (looking at you, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay). So, if you’re using the All-Day Dining Plan, you may want to dine elsewhere to maximize value.
SeaWorld Tacos Review
We’ll start with the good news: The tacos smell great. That grilled steak aroma hits you like, “Okay… maybe we judged you too quickly, Panini Shore Café.” However, after that reality arrives.
Let’s break it down:
- Steak: Average, but respectable for theme park quick-service
- Toppings: Traditional Latin-style (cilantro, onions, salsa verde)
- No lettuce or tomato, which may surprise some guests expecting “American tacos”
Flavor-wise? It’s… fine. However, not “fine” like “everything is great.” More like “Fine” from someone upset who is absolutely not fine. Still, the toppings don’t hurt the dish, but they don’t help it either. Nothing elevates the experience beyond something like, “this exists.”
You get three tacos, which sounds great, until you realize: the filling is minimal, and each taco feels more like a suggestion of a meal. For $18.99, this is where things really fall apart.
SeaWorld Tacos Review: Better Options Nearby
Far better dining options exist, including: Voyager’s Smokehouse and Waterway Grill. Both offer larger portions and better overall value, especially for Dining Plan users.
Wait… What About the Panini?
Ah yes, the namesake. If you’re wondering about the panini situation, we’ve already covered it in our previous review of the Caprese option: https://www.mainstmagic.com/seaworld-orlando-dining-caprese-panini-review/. Spoiler alert: It’s a more fitting order at a place called Panini Shore Café.
SeaWorld Tacos Review: A Hard Pass
Based on long wait times, confusing All-Day Dining Plan rules, small portions, “Fine” flavor, and a high price point, it is tough to recommend the carne asada tacos here. Even without the Dining Plan, $18.99 feels like a stretch. With it? You’re leaving value on the table, and possibly still hungry.
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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