Ballpark E-Guides’ Top Ten Ballpark Foods (That I’ve Tried)

As your Certified Ballpark Advisor, I try to be thorough and give you my dear readers the best possible information about any specific ballpark. That includes, of course, the wide variety of food choices.

While obviously it’s impossible to try everything, I do have a list of favorite items I’ve tried in my travels, that I would happily order again in my next visit.

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Now then…here’s my list of top ten ballpark foods from a ballpark aficionado, and what I would recommend. In alphabetical order:

It’s the sheer number of ingredients that make a great plate of nachos.

1) Barrio Nachos (Progressive Field). Barrio is a Cleveland-famous taco joint, and like many well-known Cleveland eateries they have a spot in Progressive Field. This plate of nachos is definitely enough for two (although I made them disappear on my own), and they feature everything: chicken, black beans, multiple cheeses, green salsa and much more.

Beware, they’re definitely salty, but once you have Barrio’s at the Prog, you’ll never look at ballpark nachos the same way.

We all owe Boog a great debt of gratitude for showing the world what’s possible in ballpark food.

2) Boog’s Platter (Camden Yards). It’s enough to say that trying Boog’s is part of the essential Camden Yards…and even city of Baltimore…experience. It most definitely is. But part of the reason is that Big Boog and his crew can BBQ their asses off. They don’t play, trust me.

Everything from turkey to pit beef to baked beans tastes great here, and there’s an excellent condiment stand to adorn your sandwiches. Lots of great food at Camden Yards, but you can’t go wrong at Boog’s.

Nothing like a roll stuffed with cheesesteak stuff.

3) Campo’s Heater With The Works (Citizens Bank Park). The Bank features several styles of cheesesteaks, including Tony Luke’s and Uncle Charlie’s, and even the generic one isn’t too bad. But take it from a Philadelphia area native, the true cheesesteak experience here is at Campo’s, which has been serving great sandwiches on 3rd Street for over 75 years.

Be sure to ask for the “Heater”…the spicy edition with jalapenos and spicy cheddar…with the Works, which includes mushrooms, peppers, and onions. You’ll thank me.

Jeez, it’s like someone dragged it through a garden!

4) Comiskey Dog (Rate Field). It’s difficult for me to show any inkling of disrespect for the Chicago-style dog at Wrigley Field. That one is excellent too. But the Comiskey Dog on the South Side comes with all of the necessary dragged through the garden toppings, including the celery salt. Most importantly, you can get a monster-sized edition.

By the way, if you’re not from Chicago, you can always order the Chicago style hot dog kit from my friends at Goldbelly.

Be a Halal Kind of Guy.(photo courtesy of the New York Yankees)

5) Halal Guys Gyros (Yankee Stadium). Gyros are a woefully underrated ballpark food, and I haven’t found a better ballpark edition than the Halal Guys at Yankee Stadium. It’s on the upper deck and you have to search a bit, but it’s worth it. Nicely seasoned chicken with all of the necessary cheese and other fixin’s, with extra tzatziki and hot sauce. True NYC street food.

It’s definitely a meal in itself, but it’s easy to overlook with so many other fabtastic choices at Yankee Stadium. Don’t miss this one.

Come hungry, but bring your discriminating chili palate.

6) Hard Times Nachos (Nationals Park). I was a bit upset when the Hard Times folks pulled their amazing nachos out of Nats Park, but they’ve since returned to a grateful city of baseball fans. It’s the piling on of the chili that makes these nachos special, and again, it’s enough for two people to split. Add some Old Bay at the condiment stand nearby (as I did here).

Between these filling nachos and the Ben’s Chili Half-Smoke, Nats Park is your American destination if you’re both a baseball and chili fan.

South Jerseyans have a high standard for pizza. LaRosa’s works.

7) LaRosa’s Pizza (Great American Ball Park). I had to include a pizza slice in this list, and while there are other very, very good ballpark pizzas…like Enzo’s at Nats Park, Beggar’s at Rate Field, and Caliente’s at PNC Park…I had to give the nod to LaRosa’s. As chain pizza goes, it’s among the best, and this South Jersey native doesn’t say that lightly.

I have nothing against thin pizza, like Colony’s in NYC, but ballpark pizza should provide ample cheese and pepperoni in my humble opinion, and LaRosa’s delivers.

For people known for beef, their pastrami is all that too.

8) Lobel’s Pastrami Sandwich (Yankee Stadium). Lobel’s is a longtime purveyor of beef in New York City, a place where you can’t be a longtime purveyor of beef if you’re not excellent at it. Yankee Stadium also features steak sandwiches and steak fries from Lobel’s, and they’re excellent, but I’ve never had a pastrami sandwich this good.

Be sure to get the horseradish and a drink to go with it.

Pittsburgh raises the bar for sandwich imagination.

9) Primanti Bros. Sandwich (PNC Park). I’ve heard people say this sandwich is overrated or that the ballpark version isn’t as good as the Primanti outposts in the great Burgh. I respectfully disagree. This sandwich is true Pittsburgh…no rules. A thick bread capicola sandwich with the bonus of fries and slaw piled into it. Some of us are in a hurry to see some baseball!

You can take this one home from Goldbelly too. You’re on your own getting Iron City beer though.

This is why you get prime club tickets.

10) Rao’s Steak Pizzaiola (Citi Field). I had this one in the Club level at Citi Field, another ballpark where it’s very difficult to choose among so many great food items. But this was an amazing beef sandwich with Rao’s sauce and shaved parmesan, and it caused a moment of reflection on how much better baseball is today.

Unfortunately I don’t see this on the current menu for Citi Field, but they have plenty of other great stuff.

So there you go my friends, some of the best ballpark foods available to fans of live baseball in America. But just for grins, I’m including some honorable mentions:

Ben’s Chili Half-Smoke (Nationals Park).
This chili dog will escalate your opinion of Washington.

Big Mozz Sticks (Citi Field).
This is big. Big mozz.

Federal Donuts (Citizens Bank Park).
Chicken. Donuts. Both done well.

Fenway Monster Dog (Fenway Park).
The Fenway Frank is essential Boston baseball.

Kramarczuk’s Cheese Brat Sausage (Target Field).
Encased meat is extra special in Minneapolis.

Late Night Dog (Comerica Park).
When you think about it, it’s basically breakfast. For hangovers.

Melt Grilled Cheese Sandwich (Progressive Field).
Chicks dig the Texas Toast.

Schmitter® (unfortunately no longer around) (Citizens Bank Park).
I do miss me a Schmitter at a Phillies game.

Skyline Chili Dog (Great American Ball Park).
Yes, there’s a hot dog in there somewhere. That’s the bonus.

Wrigley Field Smokie (Wrigley Field).
Just because the stand itself looks cool.

So what’s your favorite ballpark food? Drop a line and let me know, I’ll be sure to check it out in my next visit!

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