Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
oChef » Busy Bee – San Diego
Busy Bee - San Diego
Photo from Busy Bee
Busy Bee at a glance
San Diego Banker’s Hill
- 🍔 American Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 20 of the guests
#698 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#23 American Restaurant out of 24 in San Diego
Average
4.7 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
147
Reviews
35.4%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Good food
- Nice location
- Fast service
Frequently criticized
- High prices
- Poor service
- Small pizzas
The cafe Busy Bee is your go-to American restaurant in San Diego’s vibrant Banker’s Hill neighborhood. You’ll immediately notice its casual and trendy atmosphere, perfect for a relaxed meal.
Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a leisurely dining experience, this spot offers a welcoming environment where you can unwind and enjoy.
Overview: Introducting Busy Bee
Busy Bee offers some genuinely appealing aspects, particularly its culinary offerings. Many appreciate the chicken wings and burgers, finding them quite satisfying.
The setting also provides a pleasant experience, with a convenient location and ample shaded seating area for diners. However, the overall experience at Busy Bee can be inconsistent.
Guests often encounter issues with the perceived value for money, feeling prices are high. Additionally, the service can be a point of frustration, with some reporting less-than-ideal interactions.
Average
4.7
out of 10
147
Reviews
35.4%
Satisfaction
75
negative
20
neutral
52
positive
Busy Bee registers an overall score of 4.7, placing it in the average category, yet its Customer Satisfaction sits at a poor 35.4%. This notable divergence suggests that while some elements might be acceptable, a significant portion of patrons leave feeling dissatisfied.
This assessment is drawn from 147 customer observations, with 52 positive remarks contrasting with 75 negative ones. Looking closer, the Food (5) stands out as a strong point, receiving the highest score among topics.
The Ambience (6.8) also fares well, contributing positively to the dining experience. However, both Service (3.6) and Value (3.5) fall into the poor range, indicating significant areas for improvement.
These lower scores likely contribute heavily to the overall customer dissatisfaction.
What people like
- Delicious burgers, wings
- Convenient, clean setting
- Efficient order process
What people don't like
- Overpriced items
- Inconsistent service
- Small pizza portions
Busy Bee presents a mixed bag. While the Food is generally well-regarded, particularly the burgers and wings, and the location offers a pleasant spot to dine, be prepared for potential drawbacks.
The Recommendation Score of 5 suggests it’s a borderline choice. If you prioritize tasty food and a convenient setting, it might be worth a visit.
However, if Value and consistent Service are high on your list, you might find Busy Bee disappointing. Consider your priorities before stopping by.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Busy Bee
Food (5 out of 10)
mentioned by 94% of the guests
When it comes to the food, it seems like a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 5, placing it squarely in the average range. However, customer satisfaction sits at a rather poor 38.8%, indicating that while some dishes hit the mark, many diners left feeling underwhelmed. Out of 85 total comments, there were 33 positive remarks.
On the brighter side, many enjoyed the vegan burger and shoestring French fries, with some raving about the Double Trouble Burger and delicious chicken wings. Yet, a significant 38 negative opinions highlighted issues like dry chicken, overcooked beef patties, and small, overpriced personal pizzas. Some also found kids' meals, like soggy corn dogs and chicken strips, to be disappointing.
Food
85
Reviews
38%
Satisfaction
38
negative
14
neutral
33
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Tasty shoestring fries
- Good vegan options
- Delicious chicken wings
What people don't like
- Dry, overcooked food
- Small, overpriced portions
- Soggy kids' meals
Often praised
- foodMy experience at Busy Bee Cafe was fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed the food and the service was amazing. A special shout-out to Adrian, an employee who went above and beyond with his great service.
- chicken wingschicken wing came w good amount of greens and was way above my expectation
- pizzapizza was good
- Burger bun and toppingsBurger bun and toppings were good
- Double Trouble BurgerThe Double Trouble Burger was delish
- French friesloved the French fries
- Garlic Parmesan wingsGarlic Parmesan wings were surprisingly good
- a la carte itemssome ala cart items to pick up
- bacon2 thick pieces of bacon it was filling
- burgerThe burger was a much better option
Frequently criticized
- fooddisgusting overcooked food that had clearly been sitting
- personal pizzaFor $11, I expected a much larger pizza, especially when compared to grocery store options like Celeste pizzas, which are smaller but significantly cheaper. PSA the $11 personal pizza is smaller than the $1 Celeste pizzas at the grocery store 💀
- pizza sizethey said the pizza was a 10” inch pizza but gave me the smaller one
- 3 cheese pizza3 cheese pizza was meh
- Nathan's Chiliit wasn’t ready
- baconit is so thick and hard that it was inedible
- bean burgerThe bean burger was awful. It came burnt
- beef pattiesbeef patties in the burgers were completely overcooked
- beerADDITIONAL $19.25 for ONE BEER! And they can’t even make sure it’s fresh?
- chickenThe chicken was very dry
If youre considering a visit, be aware that the food quality can be inconsistent. While some items like fries and certain burgers get praise, theres a notable risk of encountering dry, overcooked, or undersized dishes. It might be worth trying if you stick to the highly recommended items, but temper your expectations.
Service (3.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 47% of the guests
It seems the service here is a bit of a mixed bag, leaning heavily towards needing some serious TLC. On the brighter side, a few guests (9 out of 37 comments) did experience a warm welcome and great service, appreciating the good system that kept the line moving quickly and made collection and taking orders quite efficient. However, the overall picture isn't so rosy, with the service scoring a low 3.6 and customer satisfaction at a mere 24.3%.
A significant 25 comments out of 37 point to issues like rude staff, poor service, and frustrating wait times for drinks and refills, with some even mentioning problems with the manager and a need for customer service training.
Service
37
Reviews
24%
Satisfaction
25
negative
3
neutral
9
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Warm welcome
- Efficient order system
- Quick line movement
What people don't like
- Rude staff
- Long wait times
- Subpar service
Often praised
- serviceThe food and service were wonderful
- collection and taking orderscollection and taking orders is quite efficient
- free waterfree water provided to the flood
- good systemI had a warm welcome at the restaurant. The line moved quickly, which indicated a good system in place. The chicken wings were absolutely delish!
- great servicewent above and beyond with great service
- line moved quicklyThe line moves quickly
- recommendationsdidn’t disappoint on his recommendations
- warm welcomeI had a warm welcome at the restaurant. The line moved quickly, which indicated a good system in place.
Frequently criticized
- servicethe service was absolute trash
- cashier Johnthe cashier by the name of John was very rude & condescending
- coffin nailsno one wants to accept anything edible from a lady with coffin nails
- customer service trainingThe workers clearly have not been through customer service training.
- drink refillwhen my son tried, he was declined and told refills were only for water.
- ethical business practiceI'm seriously pissed and feel like I was scammed for $49 at the San Diego zoo. I genuinely thought this place would have a shred of ethical business practice.
- managerthe manager was garbage
- priorityyour other needs, like the refill, becomes the secondary priority
- problemAnother person had that problem and nothing was done about it
- refillwe will help you with your refill in a minute
If service is a top priority for you, you might want to brace yourself or consider other options, as many found the staff to be unhelpful and the wait times long. While some had quick experiences, the low satisfaction score suggests it's a gamble.
Ambience (6.8 out of 10)
mentioned by 25% of the guests
The ambience here generally hits a good note, with a score of 6.8 reflecting a pleasant overall vibe. Customers frequently praise the convenient location right by the skytram, appreciating the plenty of seating available, especially in the shaded outdoor areas. Many also found the cafe to be new and clean, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere, as seen in 8 positive remarks out of 12 total.
However, customer satisfaction is a bit more mixed at 66.7%, indicating some areas for improvement. A couple of guests pointed out that the floors can be surprisingly sticky. More notably, a significant drawback for some is the complete lack of seating within the cafe itself, which can be a real bummer if you're hoping to settle in indoors.
Ambience
12
Reviews
66%
Satisfaction
2
negative
2
neutral
8
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Convenient location
- Plenty outdoor seating
- New and clean
What people don't like
- Sticky floors
- No indoor seating
Often praised
- convenient locationconveniently located just at the foot of the skytram
- lots of places to eatlots of places to eat here
- name of the cafeLiked the name of cafe which is situated inside the zoo
- new and cleanMy experience at this restaurant was largely positive, especially with the chicken wings, which exceeded my expectations with a good amount of greens. The restaurant itself is new and clean. However, the personal pizza was quite small, leading me to jokingly suggest it should be called 'kids pizza'.
- seatingplenty of seating right outside the cafe
- seating available outsideLots of seating available outside in the picnic area
- shaded seating areaple shaded seating area to enjoy the food
- vibesI like the vibes in the cafe
Frequently criticized
- No seating withinNo seating within the Cafe
- floorsthe floors are genuinely stickier than my frat’s basement
If youre after a spot with a convenient location and ample outdoor seating, this place offers a fresh and clean environment. Just be aware that indoor seating is non-existent, and some floors might be a bit tacky. Its a great pick for an outdoor break, but not ideal for an indoor retreat.
Value (3.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 38% of the guests
When it comes to value, there's a tiny glimmer of hope, with a couple of folks (2 out of 13 comments) mentioning the family meal as a decent option, even calling it a normal price for a tourist spot. However, the overall sentiment is quite low, with a score of just 3.5 and customer satisfaction sitting at a poor 15.4%. Unfortunately, the overwhelming feedback (10 negative mentions) suggests that many found the experience quite expensive and felt they were paying a lot of money for what they received.
Terms like scammed and cost frequently popped up, indicating a general feeling that the prices were simply too high for the quality or quantity.
Value
13
Reviews
15%
Satisfaction
10
negative
1
neutral
2
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Family meal deal
What people don't like
- Food is expensive
- Prices are high
- Not worth cost
Often praised
- family mealI think the best deal is the family meal
- normal pricenormal price for tourist attraction
Frequently criticized
- expensivethe food is expensive for what you are buying
- price16.99 for a 10 inch cheese plus tax it was 18.31
- $11 personal pizzaFor $11, I expected a much larger pizza, especially when compared to grocery store options like Celeste pizzas, which are smaller but significantly cheaper. PSA the $11 personal pizza is smaller than the $1 Celeste pizzas at the grocery store 💀
- costnot worth the cost
- paying a lot of moneypaying a lot of money for food that isn’t even worth that amount of money.
- pricesThe prices felt overpriced and seems its double the amount
- scammedI can’t believe I just got scammed for $49
If youre looking for a good deal, this might not be your spot, as most find it quite overpriced. The "family meal" could be a silver lining, but generally, prepare to pay a premium. Its likely to disappoint if value is a top priority for you.
How are the prices at Busy Bee?
You’re looking at roughly 22 per person – reported by 20 diners. That puts it in the $21–$30 category. For an American Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
While the average sits at 22, it’s worth noting that many diners find options in the $11–$20 range, showing a nice mix of price points.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 20 reviews.
See how this restaurant’s value for money stacks up against similar spots in San Diego.
Overall, we think the pricing here feels pretty fair for an American Restaurant in San Diego. There’s a good range of options, so you can likely find something that fits your budget.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Busy Bee
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Tourist Experience
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Moderate (16–30 min.)
Noise Level
- Moderate
6
Convenient Location, Drink Line Issue
My experience at this restaurant was marked by its convenient location, situated right at the foot of the skytram. However, a significant downside was the wait time for drinks. Even if you're only ordering beverages, you still have to queue behind customers ordering food.
A dedicated drink checkout would greatly improve the experience.
- convenient location8
- wait time for drinks3
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
Noise Level
- Moderate
7
Delicious Wings, Service Issues
I had a warm welcome at the restaurant. The line moved quickly, which indicated a good system in place. The chicken wings were absolutely delish!
However, I was disappointed that the Nathan's Chili wasn't ready when I wanted it.
- warm welcome9
- line moved quickly8
- good system8
- Nathan's Chili3
Price per Person
- $31–$40
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Type
- Family
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Takeout
Meal Type
- Lunch
Noise Level
- Loud
2
Poor Service and Inconsistent Policies
My experience at this restaurant was marred by poor customer service. The workers seemed indifferent and lacked basic customer service training. When I picked up my order, the staff member was dismissive.
My daughter received a drink refill, but my son and I were denied, with the staff citing 'store policy' that refills were only for water. This inconsistency, especially when the female worker then refilled my daughter's drink, was frustrating. I believe the establishment needs customer service training and potentially a staff overhaul.
- customer service training1
- workers1
- paying a lot of money2
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Service Type
- Dine-in
9
Amazing Food and Service at Busy Bee Cafe
My experience at Busy Bee Cafe was fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed the food and the service was amazing. A special shout-out to Adrian, an employee who went above and beyond with his great service.
He made me feel so welcomed, we had an amazing conversation, and his recommendations did not disappoint. I will definitely be coming back.
- food9
- service10
- great service10
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Tourist Experience
Group Type
- Family
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
9
Busy Bee Cafe: A Delightful Zoo Stop
My experience at the Busy Bee Cafe, located within the San Diego Zoo, was overwhelmingly positive. It's a hot and busy place, which is a testament to the huge demand for its beverages and snacks. Despite the long lines, the collection and taking of orders were quite efficient.
I personally enjoyed the veg burger and the ice tea. My granddaughters loved the French fries. The cafe offers a nice place with shaded seating, perfect for enjoying your food.
I also appreciated the free water provided to everyone who asked, delivered with a smile. The vibes in the cafe are great, and I was very, very happy to visit. I believe it's one of the best places to see happy footfalls, and I will visit again.
- veg burger9
- ice tea9
- French fries9
What Busy Bee offers
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Tourists
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Kids' menu
- Good for kids
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
- Bar onsite
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Wine
- Coffee
- Beer
- Small plates
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
- Dessert
Service Options
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Takeout
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Trendy
FAQs
Is Busy Bee Cafe accessible for all guests?
Yes, Busy Bee ensures a comfortable experience for everyone. You’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance, parking lot, seating, and restroom, making it easy for all visitors to enjoy their time here.
What kind of dining experience and atmosphere can you expect at Busy Bee Cafe?
At Busy Bee, you can look forward to a casual and trendy atmosphere, ideal for lunch, dinner, or dessert. They also offer a dedicated kids’ menu, making it a fantastic choice for families looking for a good meal.
What is the overall dining experience like at Busy Bee?
Busy Bee has an overall score of **4.7**, indicating an average experience. While **Food** (5) and **Ambience** (6.8) are positive aspects, **Service** (3.6) and **Value** (3.5) are areas where it falls short.
Are there any standout food items at Busy Bee?
Yes, customers frequently praise the **chicken wings** and **burgers**, with the Double Trouble Burger and Garlic Parmesan wings often mentioned positively. However, some found the personal pizza to be quite small.
How is the service and value for money at Busy Bee?
Opinions on service are mixed, with some noting efficient ordering and warm welcomes, while others reported rude staff. Many customers found the prices to be high, suggesting that the **value** for money could be a concern.