Ballpark Food
Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks … and hot dogs, donuts and ice cream.
While the thrill of Opening Day, the one day when every baseball team still has a shot at making it to the World Series, is enough to pack stadiums around the country, we can think of one more reason you should make it out to the ballpark this year: the food. While peanuts, hot dogs and beer remain ballpark staples, many stadiums are stepping up their games and offering unique dishes that can add to the thrill of the game … or help you to forget about your team’s woes this season.
But with so many ballparks across America (and one up in Canada), where is a fan to start? Thrillist has a great list of the best menu item at every single park in Major League Baseball. From the Churro dog at Chase Field in Arizona, to Bratchos on a stick at Miller Park in Milwaukee, we’re ready to travel the country to try everything on the list. Keep this list handy as you travel to new parks!
USA Today, along with a pair of ballpark food journalists, turned to the fans to vote for the best bites available in the Major Leagues. They discovered that the Parmageddon at Progressive Field in Cleveland has a huge following, coming in hot at No. 1 on the list. Also on the list: a sweet potato waffle chicken sandwich at Minute Maid Park in Houston, buffalo cauliflower poutine at Rogers Centre in Toronto and Campo’s Philly CheeseSteak at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
While all of the options we’ve come across sound amazing for meat lovers, there are plenty of vegetarian options out there as well! PETA named Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles the best vegetarian-friendly ballpark in 2015, but the list also includes Fenway Park in Boston, Petco Park in San Diego and Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. All of these spots offer options from veggie hot dogs and burgers to vegan mac & cheese frites and vegan pizza.
Along with these “regular” menu items, each team announces a new set of specialty food items before Opening Day. This year, the outrageous list includes a taco dog, Lobster Poutine Stak and pulled pork patty melt (which uses funnel cakes as a bun). Aramark has released a list of its new offerings across eight major league stadiums, including some healthier options like a rainbow kale caesar salad and farmer’s market grain bowl. And, if you ever find yourself at Fenway Park, we suggest ordering something with locally grown produce from Fenway Farms.
Share with us and other Fast Park guests which MLB ballpark has the best food on our Facebook page.