I absolutely LOVED dining with the orcas! Yes, I was one of the rare souls that went to SeaWorld during your EPIC APOCALYPSE downpour, on February 16th 2026! AND. . . I was one 'GLAD SISTER' that I had made reservations for this! It was surprisingly good quality food for a buffet! The roasted vegetables were delicious and the freshly carved tri-tip had a nice smoky flavor! You are served a choice of drinks, plus a variety of desserts with also cheese and crackers. They had several salads also available. All were VERY fresh! I enjoyed seeing the orcas up close (they are so majestic)! But as MUCH as I enjoyed the orcas, the HIGHLIGHT of the meal, was watching the scavenger heron snatch leftovers on the finished dining plates! It was laugh out loud funny! I saw one gulp down an ENTIRE dinner roll, hunks of tri-tip fat and then walk around the table with a butter ball on his dewclaw (STAMPING everything with it wherever he went)! :D Hysterical! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

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Okayyyy so we went to Dine With Orcas at SeaWorld last week for my birthday and OMG what an experience! First off, the pricing is definitely on the expensive side--we had two adults, two kids, and two infants and it came out to $178 depending on the day you go . Also heads up, they have a 24-hour nonrefundable policy, so if you need to change your date, you're paying extra. Make sure to check in 15 minutes early and leave your strollers outside! What I loved though was that most tables are right by the glass so you feel suuuper close to the orcas. If it's crowded, there are tables in the back, but honestly the orcas were engaging and awesome--listening to their trainers, doing tricks, and yes... you can totally get splashed! The food was buffet style and honestly, it was a pretty good spread for the price: brussels sprouts, chicken with mushroom, Caesar salad, roasted veggies, dinner rolls, salmon, a type of tortellini, and the dessert table was a dream--Rice Krispies treats, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cupcakes, and cheesecake blueberry bites . Only downside is you only have 60 minutes to eat, and the orca presentation isn't super long either, so it feels a bit rushed. Overall? Totally worth it, especially with kids in the family. Super memorable, super fun, and there are restrooms conveniently located in the restaurant area. Definitely recommend for a birthday or special treat! read more

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The food, service and being able to see Orcas while eating was an amazing experience. It's pricy for a buffet with a small selection but worth the experience to be feet from the whales while eating. read more

Dine With Orcas - A photo of one of the orcas in the tank while we sat and ate lunch. - Buffets Near Me - San Diego, California

During one hour you can enjoy a delicious meal (we went for dinner) and the food choices were really good. Also a great dessert spread. The trainers answer questions and show you tricks the orcas can perform. Nice and friendly staff. You get a great seat no matter where the tables are private clean location for the diner. This has an additional cost not included with the ticket, however the price is worth the exclusive experience with the orcas read more

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The experience was good. The food was terrible. The food that was supposed to be hot was ice cold. The salmon tasted like it had been sitting for hours. The salad had so much dressing the lettuce was soggy. For the price I would expect something at least decent and not disgusting. Service was good and the trainers did a great job. read more

Best place for lunch to eat here at Seaworld San Diego (this is our 3rd time within 5 weeks). Lunch buffet with Orcas show for less than $40 plus tax. Good foods selection (Beef, chicken and salmon for entrees) and A plus service from hostess, servers and whale trainers. Place is always clean and tidy. Absolutely a place to visit while in Seaworld San Diego. read more

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My husband and I visited SeaWorld today with our two young children and were excited to take advantage of the veteran passes. Unfortunately, what should have been a fun family outing ended on a very disappointing note. At approximately 5:15-5:30 PM, while we were waiting in line to enter the Orca Show, my toddler urgently needed to use the restroom. We quickly located the nearest restroom, which was inside Dine with Orcas. I approached the security guard at the entrance and politely explained that my daughter was on the verge of having an accident and asked if we could please use the restroom. The security guard looked to a female waitress named Angel for approval. I repeated that my young child urgently needed the restroom and would not make it to another location in time. Rather than showing any concern or compassion, Angel stood there silently for several moments before responding with an irritated, dismissive, "Okay?" Her tone and demeanor made it very clear that we were an inconvenience. As a parent, I found this interaction incredibly upsetting. Accidents happen, especially with toddlers, and I would expect a family-oriented park like SeaWorld to empower its employees to respond with kindness and understanding in situations involving young children. Instead, we were met with indifference and an attitude that made an already stressful situation even worse. What was especially frustrating is that we weren't asking for special treatment. We were simply trying to prevent a toddler from having an accident. In that moment, a little empathy would have gone a long way. A negative interaction like this can completely overshadow an otherwise enjoyable day, especially when it involves the well-being of a child. This experience left us feeling unwelcome and embarrassed. Customer service isn't just about following policies. It's about treating guests with empathy and respect. A simple, "Of course, right this way," would have completely changed the interaction. I hope this feedback is taken seriously and used as an opportunity to remind staff that families with young children make up a significant portion of your guests. SeaWorld markets itself as a destination for families, and compassion should be a core part of that experience. Unfortunately, this interaction left such a negative impression that it has made us question whether we want to return to SeaWorld in the future. It also makes it difficult to recommend the park to friends, family, and fellow military and veteran families when a simple request involving a toddler in distress was met with such a lack of compassion. We truly hope this experience is addressed and that additional customer service training is provided so other families are treated with the kindness and understanding they deserve. read more

Located inside SeaWorld San Diego is the Dine with Orcas experience. We made the dine with orcas reservations well in advance via online. The food was so appealing I ate up everything on my plate. The orcas were so pleasant. The done with orcas was clean and under the shade which is perfect. The staff was super helpful. They escorted us to our reserved table right away., read more

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Worth it for a peaceful place for lunch. Lunch at SeaWorld will be $30, so throw in another $15 for an up-close show with the Orcas and dessert is a win for me.... -We had a table for the 4 of us in the shade = I don't have yell at the wife and kids to find a table for us, only to find that there are only 3 chairs, which means I have to eat standing up....again. -The buffet is isn't gonna dazzle you like the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace, but it was good enough for the kids = I didn't have to wait in a lunch line like I did in elementary school to purchase food. -It's like being at the regular Orca show, but I get to eat cookies and cupcakes at the same time = I don't have to sit on a hard bench and bake in the hot sun to watch the regular Orca show, then feel like I'm exiting a FIFA World Cup game when the show is over. Pro Tip: Bring a bottle of water or something to drink as a backup. I finished a couple of buffet servings and my drink still hadn't arrived. I was so parched I could have drank the Orcas fish tank! read more

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I was originally thinking about getting the SeaWorld dining pass and after seeing the participating restaurant reviews for the dining pass vs the reviews for the Dining with the Orca buffet, I opted for the Orca buffet. This is probably the best food you're going to get in the park. It was pretty good. We tried a little bit of everything. Salad, pasta, mini corn dogs, Mac and cheese, chicken breast, chicken nuggets, plenty of desserts....etc. The only thing that didn't taste right was the chicken breast. IDK if it was the mushroom sauce but it wasn't good so I took a bite and left the rest. Other than that, everything else was good. The food meant for the children was probably my favorite haha. Mini corn dogs for the win. Also, the desserts were so good! The cookies, chocolate covered marshmallows, and some pudding cake thing was really good. We ran out of time before we had a chance to eat dessert so we just put them in a ziploc bag to take it to go lol. The only dessert we didn't like was some brownie thing that was really dry. The Orca show itself was fun. My kindergartener LOVED it. You're basically front row and they're so close to you. The show is educational and they have the orcas do some tricks too. The last time I went to this Dining with Orcas was about 15 years years ago (It was called Dining with Shamu) and they used to take a picture of your group in front of a green screen where it looks like the orcas are right behind you posing for the camera. Unfortunately they don't do that anymore, but it's ok. Otherwise this experience was worth every penny. ~$30/adults and ~$20/kids. TLDR: Fun for the family, good food, bring a ziploc for desserts. read more

Terrible!!! No reservation no spot. They dont care if you have been waiting 1 hour to be seated, business hours are wrong they work whenever they want read more

This is a great place for the whole family. It has a buffet so there is something for everyone. They do need to work on the buffet dance when things are empty. The vegetables where little overcooked. Getting to watching the Orcas and learning more about them so much fun. If you have the extra $39 per person in your budget go for it. read more

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This is a fun way to entertain the kids while having lunch at Sea World. The food was pretty good too. Reservations are recommended so you'll want to plan ahead. Lunch is at 1pm and served buffet style. Prices vary by date, but it's around $40 for adults (10+) and $30 for kids (3-9). We thought the pricing was fair for park food. It includes a meal, soft drinks, desserts, and coffee. I don't think a meal, drink, and dessert from one of the stands would be much less per person. The seating is all around the orca tank. Your table is either up against the clear barrier or just past those tables. Everything is a pretty up close view. Our table was in the splash zone. The orcas were able to come up right next to us. The service was friendly. Our server came by frequently to see if we needed beverages. The buffet stayed well stocked while we were there. The food was actually pretty good. I wasn't sure what to expect from a buffet at a park. Our party including six adults and one toddler enjoyed the food. There were several meat options, salmon, tomato bisque, salad, vegetables, mashed potatoes, pasta, cheese, and meats. Desserts included cookies, cheesecake bars, and mini passionfruit cake. They also offered several "kid" foods like mini corn dogs and nuggets. This is a good spot to get a heartier lunch and to sit down to rest. The major perk being up close views of the orcas to entertain the kids. read more

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We came back to Dine with Orcas for the third time, AND IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! From the food to the whales and the trainers, everything was great. We had a tremendous selection of food, and the service provided was excellent. After we were seated, someone took our drink orders. After we sat down with our food, our drinks were served. We ate our food and watched the Orcas swim in the tank on their own, and soon the trainers began talking about them. After eating for about ten minutes, the show started. We were sitting in front of an Orca who didn't really want to participate, which was fine with the trainer, and us. We agreed that the animals should be allowed to participate when they wanted to. We had an enjoyable time because there was the other Orca, who did want to participate; so the show and the food were enjoyable, and entertaining!!! read more

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Went to Sea World San Diego with friends and they wanted to do an experience. That same day, we were able to sign up for Dine with Orcas. You line up along the wall by the orcas on the left hand side and they open the doors for you to enter. Pros: -it was not crowded at all on Jan 8th (Sunday). The entire back row was empty so everyone was able to get a table up front -the buffet had a variety of options to choose from including an omelet and dessert station. -Non-alcoholic beverages were included. -it got a bit chilly eating outside so they turned on the heaters which was great -they have trainers come out with the orcas during the meal. -you are literally a few feet from the orcas and your dining table Cons: -it was a bit awkward when our server asked us if we wanted to leave a tip. I wish that they included a price with tip already included. -if you sit on table 14, you hear a lot of side talk from the trainers who were talking to each other which is a bit distracting when the trainer working with the orca was speaking. read more

Dine With Orcas - Buffet options at 1pm - Buffets Near Me - San Diego, California

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The show was only 30 minutes which was a good show. The limit is an hour . The kids loved it . The food was not all that . For what we paid for was not worth it . They did have chicken nuggets and macaroni for the kids which was great cause most kids eat that . I wish they would have had French fries . They had breast with mushrooms , ham , and salmon. The waitress was excellent she keeped on coming back to check up on us . They seat you where they want too . Not sure if we were a big group 7 of us we got seated on the other side of the show so we got the back side of the show. We were the last table towards the end . We still had a view but it was way towards the end . So the show was in the middle so whoever got to seat in the middle got a good view . I'm glad we did this for the grandkids but I will not do it again . The food is the main reason I gave it a 3 . The show and customer service was great . We did notice on the other side of the area other visitors where able to see the show for free with out paying for the food . If we had known that before hand I think we would have done that . read more

Was a very fun and wonderful experience to dine with the orcas. We were seated right next to where they have the fish container where they will scoop handfuls of fish for the orcas. So that was very cool to see upfront. The food was decent for what you wld expect at this sort of place, buffet style that offers enough options to pick from. You get to learn more about the orcas that are there while you eat so it was interesting to know more about there backstory and learn about orcas facts. Friendly and helpful staff, can complain. Overall I'll buy tickets to dine with them again one of these days, it's def a once in a life time experience to see these orcas up close while they are still here. read more

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A very good place to eat while watching orca swim and splash and I also so they could come up to you and you could stare right at the orcas!! read more

It's been probably close to 20 years since I've been to Sea World and things have definitely changed in that time; there's a lot of upselling once you're in the park which is kind of a turn-off. However, I must say Dine with Orcas was a tremendous experience! The food isn't great as most people have said, it's a buffet with things like chicken nuggets, corn dogs, mashed potatoes, pastas, etc. So don't go in with high expectations for super great food, it's fine. But the view and the demonstrations are pretty amazing. I didn't quite know what to expect but we were quite close to the Orcas, and the trainers did a fantastic job of educating us and answering questions. It's really a one of a kind experience that can't be missed if you're at Sea World! read more

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My daughter got stuck on a ride that broke down, as a result we missed half because they had to get them off the ride. When I asked if the ride staff could inform the dining staff, I was met with annoyance, and told to go to dine without them. (She's 9!) I asked if there was an ETA on when my family would be assisted to get off the ride, answer no idea. They all looked like deer in the headlights, when we did arrive, the staff was rude, birthday celebration didn't happen and we missed the orcas. I asked if I could talk to someone and I was told they were not available and that I can email followed by the experience ends at 6, so if we could go make our plates, since it was 5:35. I get you have no control over a ride breaking down, I also understand we were late, it was my daughter birthday the dining with the orcas was a surprise, help me out here. I was polite as my kids were there and I believe be flexible, kind, make the best of it. I sent that email, still haven't heard back, so nope, do not recommend, optics and communication are key! read more

Don't waste your time of money. We went to the 5pm dining time. Everyone rushed the doors when they opened, but everyone had an assigned table. We got to our table and sat down. A girl came up, who was very kind, asked what drinks we wanted. At 5:15pm the buffet doors opened and there was an extremely long line. The food was horrible. It was not worth the price I paid. The orcas swam around and the trainer talked a bit about the orcas and how they train them, same story as the orca experience show. The orcas did some breeches and a couple jumps, but again it was all the same from the show. Your table is up against the glass by the pool, however you can stand outside of the restaurant by the glass and watch and listen for free. read more

The orcas are so close to you while the trainers teach you about them. The service was great. The food was good for what you would expect at a buffet. Highly recommend the experience for something a little special to do! read more

We made the same day reservation and was assigned to the first row of table. Initially we weren't sure if the food is worth the price $50 per adult and $25 for kids age 3-9. I would say the buffet has good varieties and not bad. For the drinks, soft drink and coffee were included. The only thing is food items keep running out and takes a while for the dish to be replenished. We were able to go for two rounds. The staffs were very friendly too and kept the heater on the entire time! You don't need to be there early to line up because each party already has a table assigned. They tried to make sure all guests have gotten their food before they start the show. The trainers will explains the orca's behavior and have them demonstrate. The trainer also came around to answer questions. Overall it was a fun experience for the family. Tips- we were there 30 mins before the dinner and the trainers were working with the orcas at the underwater viewing area. My kids have a blast watching the training session. You can see the orca recognizing the trainer and came up close to the glass. read more

Dine With Orcas - Up close with possibility of getting a bit wet - Buffets Near Me - San Diego, California

Sitting down to eat next to the world's most majestic marine creatures should be awe-inspiring. Instead, it felt like a surreal mix of bland food and moral guilt. Watching an orca swim in endless circles while I struggled through an uninspired meal was less "immersive experience" and more "a reminder of humanity's ability to confine the wild for profit." The food? Forgettable. The ambiance? Polished. The company? Heartbreaking. It's impossible to focus on your plate when the real star of the show--these intelligent, social, and powerful beings--are reduced to performers in their own watery prison. The juxtaposition of mediocrity and confinement is glaring. Imagine nibbling on an overcooked chicken breast while an apex predator glides past, its dorsal fin collapsed under the weight of captivity. It's less an enchanting evening and more an unintended masterclass in cognitive dissonance. Dining here doesn't feel like supporting conservation--it feels like funding captivity. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, yes, but for all the wrong reasons. Two stars for the spectacle. Minus three for the ethics and the food. read more

We've done this experience a few times and it's magical every time. The whales perform commands right next to you while you enjoy a buffet style luncheon. They have sodas iced outside and jugs of lemonade, tea, and water inside. There is actually a lovely selection of food (roast pork with a mango salsa, salmon, chicken thighs with a bechamel sauce, and a fantastic array of veggies) I'm docking a star only because every time I go, while the food is tasty, it's cold almost immediately and of course dry (as buffet meals tend to be after sitting for awhile) Wonderful experience for adults and children alike. Pro tip, if you're a party larger than 4 try to split up your reservation by 4's or you'll be in the second row. read more

Dine With Orcas - Lunch with a view - Buffets Near Me - San Diego, California

Had mixed feelings on what to rate this bc the food was ok, but for people with any food allergies it was not ok. But the experience of seeing the Orcas that close and eating while you saw them do some training was amazing. No bad seat anywhere here. The servers and kitchen staff were super nice. The food is where i wish the kitchen had more dairy free or alternatives for lactose intolerant people or vegans. The food kept running out and it seemed some items were not going to be restocked. People really packed their plates which caused an issue as the food kept running out. The chef was super nice in trying to accommodate my dairy intolerance, but the kitchen had no alternatives for some of the ingredients in their dishes. It was a great once in a lifetime experience, but due to my dairy intolerance I would not do this dining experience again. read more

I really thought that I was going to get something spectacular, but my expectations were way too high. Yes, it's a cool concept and it sounds like a novel experience, but meh, I wish I would have taken my money for the food stands instead. First, I didn't like the ambiance. I thought we would get to go to an underground portal and see the orcas through a glass aquarium enclosure (which is smaller than the parking lot btw). So you basically sit out on a patio, next to a swimming pool, and maybe you'll see some orca moving here and there. But you may have to turn your neck quite a bit. I was also a little surprised that there was a potential for splashing. Not exactly something I'd like to get on my food, but okay. The tables were too cramped amongst each other for my taste. Second, the food. I probably should have taken note that food was going to be served buffet style, which I've come to realize after this experience that I don't like this style at all. Especially since a lot of food was almost out by the time the line died down. No more bread rolls, no more salmon, no more of the kale salad. I wish they offered more fun non-alcoholic drinks. As for the food itself, it was quite forgettable and meh. read more

My family and I had a great time here. The experience is definitely a once in a lifetime thing. You can see how the trainers really do love and care for these magnificent animals. I know people can be torn about wanting to go to this experience, but if you choose to, at least you will see how loving and humane these animals are treated. They are truly spectacular creatures. read more

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Great experience!! Food was ok but overall I would definitely recommend. Service was great and the ambiance was nice as well.

My daughter and son loved this! The food was perfect for them and there were plenty of options. The service was prompt and once they realized it was my daughters birthday they came and sang Happy Birthday to her. It was sweet! Everyone there had a good time. read more

I think this is called "Dine with Orca" now. Anyhow, is the food great? Yes. Delicious, a good variety, plenty of it and they try to be high quality about the youre of food and it's origin. Points for being 'plastic straw conscious'. It's the service friendly? Yes. Do you get a mini, up close Killer Whale education and 'exhibition'? Yes. Is it worth the money? Yes, at least once in your life, especially if you're an annual member and don't pay for your entrance fee that day. I have mixed feelings about captive whales of course, but since Sea World can't release them into the wild (they won't survive) and they promised not to catch anymore or birth any in captivity anymore, I'm going to enjoy these magnificent creatures and know some of my money goes towards their care. One wish: Sea World please provide shade for these whales. I heard that they get sunburned since they can't dive so deep in the tank and you put black zinc oxide to cover their sunburns. Please and thank you!!! read more

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What can I say the name speaks for itself so it can't get any bigger! First off Mathis is more or less behind the actual "orca" area. There is plenty of a variety to choose from. I've always tried to take my kids here over the last 14 years and each of them really love it. For what it is - To eat and enjoy the Orcas alittle closet. I've definitely seen the changes over the years here and it's more informative than its ever been about sea life.! but let's now get to the Food... There really is a array of food to choose from Meat/Chicken and Fish. Sides, soups, salads and a whole table of full sized cups to fresh fruit and a SeaWorld signature chocolate dipped orca (they don't use shamu anymore here lol) the food is good (remember it's a buffet style so it's self serve spread on a blue cloth table It's definitely a experience the family will enjoy an something for everyone one to enjoy at the buffet read more

Dine With Orcas - Fruit - Buffets Near Me - San Diego, California

It's kind of cool how close you are to the orcas. If you're right next to the plexiglass you can get wet, especially your stuff on the floor. The food is not very good. The line for the buffet was super long and they don't refill items right away, so when it was my turn half the stuff was gone. By the time i went back for a 2nd round all the food was being put away. Also no idea why they didn't ask for our drink order. I had to ask them 3x and didn't get any water until halfway into our meal. read more

What a great experience! Full Buffett with child friendly and adult options. Service was great and being right next to the whales was awesome! The other food at the park is so expensive and not that great, so dining the orcas with a good Buffett for only a small amount of money more was SO worth it! read more

Seriously what's not to love here! You get a show with Shamu included with your meal. We opted for the lunch buffet which was perfect because if you get to the park early you build up an appetite after walking around for awhile!! It wasn't to expensive either which was nice! The food wasn't spectacular but it was good enough to satisfy my hunger ! It was really more of an experience for our 2 year olds birthday than the food! Service was good, there's restrooms nearby. Plenty of photo opportunities here, also try to be near the windows if you can for a better view! I definitely recommend this if you haven't tried it especially if you have little kids! read more

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Awesome experience and the food was good. I wasn't expecting a full show how fun! Would do it again!

Let's be honest. We didn't come here for the food. We came here to eat and watch the whales at the same time. Not knowing what to expect, we were pleasantly surprised! We got to know Orchid and Nakai and got up close and personal. They are more beautiful when you can see them eye to eye. Food was actually not too bad for theme park and I thought the price was reasonable. It's only a little bit more expensive than eating at their other restaurants but you get to eat with the killer whales! The service was wonderful. I plan to come here at least once a year from now on. read more

My kids loved it. It's a little pricey but worth it if you & your kids are Shamu fans. The trainers do a good job to get them toward the glass so you can get a good pic. It's very peaceful & nice to dine & watch them swim. The set up was buffet style & it was very classy & well set up. Staff very friendly & attentive. The food was pretty good, my fav was the salmon I got double of it. The Dumplings & turkey was good as was the clam chowder. The bacon-mashed potatoes were very good with a good amount of bacon to give it that great bacon taste. The veggies were a hit with me & the kids, they were well sautéed & prepared. The shrimp scampi tho was a bit bland tho & the Caesar salad was ok but needed more dressing. The deserts were pretty good, carrot cake cupcakes & Shamu cookies hit the spot after a good meal. We got a a nice pic of the fam with a frame & a Shamu background. But we had to pay $15 for it which was a bit of a disappointment cuz well I paid $100 for me my wife & 8 year old daughter (my 2 year old was free) for only a hour long buffet & show. And it was worth it but I think when you pay that much you should get that family pic for free. But it's ok, over all it was well worth it & we will for sure come back & do this again! When you make reservations make sure to ask to be seated by the glass it's a better experience. read more

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So we took our two year old son to SeaWorld for the first time and decided to check out the dinning with the orcas. So they sit you around a big tank and you get to thee the whales. You get a buffet lunch that is pretty good. They have several adult options along with kid friendly options. While you eat they talk to you about the orcas and how they train them the history of them among other things. I really thought you would see a lot more (in regards to a show) but for the price you definitely get what you paid for. The family really enjoyed the food and seeing these amazing creatures do their thing. Make sure to make reservations because it does sell out. They also have a section underneath where you can see the whales under water while you wait to be seated. Amazing view. read more

Dine With Orcas - Buffets Near Me - San Diego, California

This was our first time doing this dining experience and it did not disappoint! The seating area is lovely and we had great service. The food was better than I expected from a buffet like this. Plenty of tasty options for adults and kids alike. It's not gourmet food but I enjoyed the pork tenderloin, veggies and other sides. The real highlight is the whales. It was such a treat to watch the orcas for such a long period of time. The presentation was very interesting and informative, and the trainers came by after to answer questions. All in all I though this was an excellent value for the entire experience overall. read more

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