Orange County Convention Center – Dining

You definitely won’t go hungry at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. That’s because this facility offers a slew of over 50 different retail food concepts. From American classics like barbecue and burgers to international favorites from countries like Greece, China, and Italy, they’ve got it all at the Orange County Convention Center. This way there’s something for every attendee to enjoy.

Encompassing approximately seven million square feet of space, the Orange County Convention Center is made up of two buildings joined together by a covered pedestrian bridge. Both offer roughly the same amount of dining options. So, no matter which of these buildings you find yourself in, you’ll never be far from a quick snack or even a sit-down meal. For more information regarding the dining options offered in each building at the Orange County Convention Center, check out the breakdown below.

West Building

At around four million square feet, the West Building is the larger of the two buildings that comprise the Orange County Convention Center. It also offers slightly more dining options than the smaller North/South Building. Among these dining options are 25 permanent retail locations and three food courts with a variety of food concepts.

The food court in Hall C of the West Building was reopened in early 2017 following an extensive series of renovations. It now sports a contemporary look and feel with an updated layout and the addition of new seating, lighting, and more. Two new coffee bars have been incorporated into the space as well.

Also located in the West Building of the Orange County Convention Center is the full service Gary Sain Café. It is the West Building’s only full service restaurant. They offer breakfast and lunch, along with the signature Chef’s Table four-course menu. Prices range from $3 to $25. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available upon request.

North/South Building

The North/South Building of the Orange County Convention Center offers less dining options than its larger counterpart, but not by much. There you’ll find over 18 permanent retail locations along with four food courts.

Attendees looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the exhibit hall floor can also enjoy a sit-down meal at one of two full service restaurants in the North and South Concourses of the North/South Building. Named the Northside and Southside Restaurants after the respective concourses where they’re located, these eateries can seat up to 180 patrons and feature a full service bar. Prices typically range from $25 to $30 and like the Gary Sain Café, both restaurants offer plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options.

The Northside and Southside Restaurants also feature a selection of grab-and-go items for attendees in a hurry. They’ve got everything from your standard sandwiches and salads to more sophisticated options like pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven and fresh fish tacos.

Portable Hospitality Carts

Depending on the event you’re attending at the Orange County Convention Center, you may also come across some of the facility’s portable hospitality carts. They usually pop up on the exhibit hall floor or around the concourse.

It’s hard to say with certainty what kind of food you’ll find being sold at these carts. That’s because there’s dozens of possibilities, with food hospitality concepts ranging from gourmet waffles to Korean-fusion tacos. Other concepts include deli sandwiches, build-your-own bowls, dim sum delicacies, and even familiar franchises like Nathan’s Famous and Dippin’ Dots.