Nationals Park Food Menu 2026 | Washington Nationals

Greetings Baseball Fans and D.C. visitors; this is your complete guide to the Nationals Park food menu. If you’re going to Washington for a ballgame, or even if you’re a regular, this post will fill you in on all you need to know.

The Washington Nationals have a very impressive selection of grub, and they do a superb job showcasing great DMV eats. I’ll warn you now, your decision of what to eat won’t be easy. Bring an appetite. But I’m here to help.

There’s a lot to cover here, so I’m breaking it down:

Hot Dogs + Sausages
Burgers + Sandwiches
Nachos + Fries
Foods of Foreign Lands
Kosher + Healthier Choices
Desserts

(Note: this article contains affiliate links. If you use an affiliate link to make a purchase, Ballpark E-Guides earns a commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!)

OK, ready? Here we go, after this quick word from one of our wonderful sponsors:

Gametime has your cheap Nationals tickets – with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals, even after the game starts!

(See why Ballpark E-Guides loves Gametime here!)

Nationals Park Food Menu, Part 1 – Hot Dogs + Sausages.

Most ballparks push the limits of encased meat options these days; Nats Park is no exception. We’ll start with some new items for 2026 in the Change Up Food Hall (the center field restaurant), you’ll immediately be impressed.

First, there’s the Bases Loaded Footlong Dog pictured above. This is no chintzy half-inch wide footlong…it’s a hefty as advertised link. It comes dressed with roasted peppers, fried onions, butter pickle chips, fried potatoes, chili, guacamole and cheese sauce. Get all that?

 

If butter pickle chips aren’t your thing, try the equally impressive Capital Slugger – it’s a footlong half-smoke topped with chili, crispy fried jalapeno coins, and fried onions, with warm cheese dipping sauce.

And before you ask, the Nationals assured me the half smoke came from Ben’s Chili. More about Ben’s in a bit, but clearly the Levy Restaurants people get it.

 

For advanced dogs at Nats Park, have a good look at Haute Dogs & Fries (Sections 105, 231 + 315). They offer innovative versions of gourmet beef dogs on New England rolls. Try the Haute dog with brown onion relish, mayonnaise and celery salt, or a Banh Mi dog with jalapeno, carrots, cucumber slaw, cilantro and sriracha mayo.

That’s just a couple; they might have other options when you visit. You can also customize your dog to your own desires with chili, cheese sauce, beans etc. Haute Dogs & Fries is one of those cheap hot dog joints that is popular enough that even when they’re not cheap at the ballpark they’re still good.

 

On the surface adding Stuggy’s Dogs (Section 106) to a ballpark with Haute Dogs & Fries seems like overkill. However, no. Stuggy’s is another regional joint, if you call Fells Point in Baltimore regional, which of course we do in D.C.

Stuggy’s is another gourmet dog and fries joint, but it’s another dimension from Haute Dogs. The star of their show at Nats Park (and at Camden Yards) is the Crab Mac & Cheese Dog, a gourmet beef dog with mac and cheese, jumbo lump crab meat, and Old Bay seasoning. I’ve tried it; it’s all that, just have a fork and napkins.

 

I told you that your decision won’t to be easy, even for a hot dog or sausage. It’s about to get next level difficult. Three words: Ben’s Chili Bowl.

The Ben’s Chili Half-Smoke “All The Way” (Sections 141, 238 + 307) from Ben’s is a spicy all beef sausage, with Ben’s special recipe chili piled on, along with cheese, chopped onions and yellow mustard. It’s an amazing chili dog, just grab some napkins and maybe a spoon for the abundant chili. It’s also pretty good value at the price.

Best of all, if you’d like half-smokes and chili from this great D.C. institution sent to your home, you can order them my friends at Goldbelly. Be sure to use this link to tell them Ballpark E-Guides sent you!

Want to try D.C. favorites like Ben’s Chili Bowl, Wagshal’s Reubens, or Dolcezza Gelato?

Goldbelly

Goldbelly can ship these iconic eats to your home. Click here to try Goldbelly today!

Amazing as it sounds, Ben’s isn’t even the only chili dog at Nationals Park. The great folks at Hard Times Café (Section 133) offers their own version, with DC-style chili. Along with ample chili, you can add cheese, onions, jalapenos and sour cream for your five point chili dog plan.

So Ben’s or Hard Times for chili dogs? The winner, of course, is the Nationals fan. Hard Times is another one of my favorite mainstays here; wait till you see the nachos.

 

If you’ve ever lamented the lack of Sonoran hot dogs at ballparks, your concern is over. The Taqueria Picoso (Section 117) people felt your pain and cared.

I’ll talk more about Taqueria Picoso, but their Sonoran hot dog is a thing to behold: it’s a bacon-wrapped dog with beans, pickled onions and jalapenos, mustard and habanero (!) mayo.

Needless to say, this is a pretty spicy thing, so you’ll probably need a beer or something to go with it. Certainly napkins.

 

Then there’s the Taste of The Majors stand (Section 114), where you can try a hot dog in the style of the visiting team that day. Great for homesick visiting fans, I suppose, or locals who don’t yet have plane ticket money to visit Seattle.

You’ll see items like a crabmeat dog for Baltimore or a pastrami and sauerkraut dog for when a New York team is in town. You get the idea. This is actually a chef-inspired creation from the Levy Restaurants gang, so the hot dogs will still be quality. (And can be footlongs.)

 

The Shake Shack (Section 240) folks are known for their burgers (for good reason). But it’s a ballpark, of course. They offer a 100% all-natural Vienna beef hot dog (no hormones or antibiotics!), which you can adorn with bacon and cheese. Good if you want a concrete with your dog and don’t mind the line.

More about Shake Shack in the burgers section, of course.

 

Finally, if you just want to go generic and keep it simple (I mean, what?) there are the Grand Slam Grill locations throughout the ballpark. And honestly, you could do worse than a Nathan’s Famous hot dog or an Encore Sausage Company sausage. Last I checked they are the official providers.

Nathan’s is, of course, the Coney Island institution who makes the only hot dogs good enough for an eating contest. The Encore Sausage Company is more local…from right here in Landover. The Ferrante family has been making sausages there for three generations.

On top of that, you can dress up your encased meat with condiments from True Made Foods. True Made is a veteran-owned company that cooks up condiments using natural ingredients and cutting down on the sugar.

Yes, even with the basic hot dogs and sausages, the Nats find a way to represent!

Never Drive To Nationals Park Without A Plan…

Book Your Parking Spot NOW With My Friends at SpotHero!

Nationals Park Food Menu, Part 2 – Burgers + Sandwiches.

If you can somehow ignore the enticing dog and sausage selections, Nationals Park makes the burger and sandwich selection just as challenging.

We’ll start with the burgers, and again, you have competing choices here. New in 2026 is Fuzzie’s Burgers (Section 106), another Baltimore-Fells Point staple. We’re all one in the DMV (yes, Fuzzie’s is at Camden Yards too). Everything at Fuzzie’s is locally sourced, even the buns and cheese.

Fuzzie’s Burger is a hand crafted dry-aged Angus beef smashed burger; top it with American cheese, dill pickles and “static sauce”. If you see the “Hot Fuzz”, that’s a double burger with fruitwood bacon, pimento cheese, hot pepper jelly and sweet fury pickles.

Now you have two reasons to visit Fells Point when you’re hungry. Or Section 106.

 

Or try the Swizzler burger (Section 141 + 320). Like Fuzzie’s, Swizzler started as a food truck, and they now have a location around the corner from the ballpark on 1st Street. They offer grass-fed burgers on potato buns.

In addition to their Signature Cheeseburger with house made Swizzler sauce (think tangy mayo), they have a grilled buttermilk-brined crispy chicken sandwich, also featuring the Swizzler sauce and herb seasoning. Fries too, we’ll get to that.

 

Did someone say Shake Shack (Section 240)? Yes, of course. Shake Shack is a Citi Field staple (there’s one in Philly and other ballparks now too) but it is equally popular here.

Even with the stiff competition, lines get long for the Shackburger, a 100% Angus beef patty topped with lettuce, cheese, tomato and (thousand island style) Shack Sauce on a potato roll.

Need something spicier? Try the Smoke Shack, a cheeseburger with cherry peppers, applewood smoked bacon and Shack Sauce.

Did I mention lines get long? I believe you can order ahead on the MLB Ballpark app. Or get in line early. And shell out a few bucks for an extra patty, it’s worth it. By the way, there’s a Shake Shack with a larger menu on M Street a block north of the ballpark.

 

Remember Ben’s Chili? I should hope so. In addition to their half-smoke, you can pile their iconic chili onto a burger too. Ben’s doesn’t skimp on the chili or the cheese.

So there’s four different burgers for you to try (there’s probably a generic one too, and see what I said about condiments); but hold on till you see other sandwich options.

 

In that aforementioned Change Up Food Hall is the new-for-2026 aptly named DC Monument Chicken Tower Sandwich. It’s loaded with grilled chicken, smoked bacon, mixed greens, chipotle ranch, and gruyere cheese on a pretzel bun. All winners on the ingredients. This is one big sandwich; come hungry.

 

The Roaming Rooster (Section 239) has earned a spot in that high traffic area on the mezzanine. As it should; Roaming Rooster is a very popular buttermilk fried chicken sandwich joint with multiple locations in the DMV.

Like many D.C. joints, they believe in “free-range, grain-fed, and antibiotic free chicken”. At the ballpark you can get their hot chicken sandwich, or the hotter Nashville chicken sandwich, or go mild with the honey butter chicken sando. Choose your heat wisely.

 

Ballparks need BBQ joints, and Rocklands BBQ (Section 118) waited patiently just outside the ballpark before the Nats decided to give them an inside spot.

Rocklands has three locations in the D.C. area; they’re known for Texas-style wood-fired BBQ, but also their above and beyond sustainability practices, for which they’ve won several awards. At the ballpark they offer pulled pork, pulled chicken and Texas brisket sandwiches, with classic BBQ sides like slaw, beans and mac and cheese. Oh, and jalapeno cornbread.

According to Michele at Rocklands, sauces include their Rocklands original and the sweet and smoky edition, with hot sauce available on occasion. It’s also a spot for gluten-free items; we’ll get to that.

 

Yes, we’re still rolling on sandwiches. The Capo Deli (Section 136) goes in a different direction; it’s an Italian style deli with multiple locations in the DMV. They’re a popular joint, partly because of the size of their subs. If you’ve got a big sandwich appetite, this is the place for you.

Last I checked at the ballpark, they offered an Italian cold cuts sub, a roasted turkey and provolone sub, and a vegetarian tomato and mozzarella caprese sub. I’m told they have pasta salads too. Nice to have something that isn’t hot on a July day in D.C.

 

If you love the idea of seafood sandwiches, the Chesapeake Bay Crab Company (Section 109) delivers for you. They offer crab cake grilled cheese sandwiches on large slices of buttered bread. Ballpark plus seafood equals very pricey, but it is a nice and big sandwich.

This stand has been here a while, even with all of the amazing competition, so I think you can trust their stuff.

 

In the club level on the mezzanine, if you’re lucky enough to have access, is the Champions Carvery. This is high end ballpark eating; they’ll build a sandwich to your liking, carving up the turkey or beef right in front of you and adding a number of toppings like lettuce, sliced tomatoes, onions, hot peppers, etc.

Having a sandwich made in front of you in an air-conditioned space is worth a few extra bucks, especially in D.C.

Nationals Park Food Menu, Part 3 – Nachos, Fries, + Finger Foods.

I’m long past my 20s, but I don’t yearn for the old days of live baseball, when your nachos options were: 1) chips with Cheez Whiz. At Nationals Park you can truly experience how much better the live baseball experience is today.

It’s just me, but my personal go-to for nachos here is the Hard Times Café (Section 133). Hard Times’ nachos—with spicy chili, real cheese, sour cream, jalapenos and green onions—are one of the better food deals in Nats Park, it’s easily enough for two people. I’m a big fan.

Hard Times also offers a popular Frito pie, or just get a bowl of their excellent chili.

 

But the Nats get that chili nachos aren’t everyone’s thing. At Taqueria Picoso (Section 117), they offer loaded nachos with your choice of protein, queso, pico de gallo, crema, jalapenos, and guacamole, with some red cabbage for decoration.

Lynn at Taqueria Picoso informed me that their Mexico City chefs make their tortillas in-house from heirloom Oaxacan corn, which they soak and cook in lime water. Any stand that puts that level of effort into tortillas deserves your attention.

 

You can also opt for loaded nachos from Los Cinco Tacos (Section 136) instead. These come with your choice of protein (barbacoa meat, chicken, or carne asada pork), queso and pico de gallo, with guac added for a small fee.

I’ll talk more about Los Cinco in the foreign foods section…they’re another chef-inspired brainchild. Lots of those here.

 

We discussed Rocklands BBQ in the sandwich section; they have their own take on BBQ nachos too; get your chips topped with pulled pork, chicken or brisket, and the standard nachos toppings, including their signature sauces. Again, have a fork and napkins.

Michele from Rocklands told me that this picture includes everything together, but the jalapenos and pico are served separately. Nacho customization matters, right?

 

Still need more? Little Miner Taco (Section 231) has an outpost in the mezzanine level in right field, right there in the mix with Shake Shack and Roaming Rooster. You know, where executive chefs emerge from their food trucks. (No joke.)

Little Miner Taco is yet another local institution from Brentwood; they’re known for birria tacos (we’ll discuss that), but their carne asada nachos are definitely no slouch. Get your chips with sliced beef, jack cheese, queso sauce, tomatoes, scallions, refried black beans, sour cream, chipotle aioli and of course, jalapenos.

 

Any city near the Chesapeake needs seafood nachos, and the Nats cover that too. I mentioned the Chesapeake Bay Crab Company stand (Section 109).

They’re for seafood lovers, and they offer a slightly different take: The nachos are Old Bay kettle chips topped with crab queso, roasted corn and salsa.

They offer crab pretzels here too, if you like that sort of thing.

 

Even with all of these choices, I can see by the look on your face that you want even more unusual ballpark nachos. Kam & 46 (Section 105) makes it happen.

Kam & 46 is a Filipino-Hawaiian Rosslyn area food truck that serves D.C. proper; it was started by two young ladies who cleverly decided to blend their heritages in food offerings.

If you’ve never had tuna tartare nachos, here’s your chance: they’re house-fried wonton chips topped with minced ahi tuna, house aiolis, masago, and scallions. I feel like this could catch on.

Kam & 46 also offers Shanghai pork spring rolls, vegetable lumpia spring rolls, and calamansi chicken wings (calamansi is a Southeast Asian citrus fruit).

 

Want vegan nachos? I’ve got you, but you need to skip to the healthy food section and Eatopian Eats.

Finally (exhale), the Nats added a new Loaded Nachos (Section 132) stand; which presumably lives up to the name. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m guessing toppings for chips include cheese, salsa, jalapenos, perhaps guacamole, or some combination thereof. If I find out more I’ll update this for you, but you likely won’t go wrong here if you’re a nachos fan.

I don’t doubt you can fill a souvenir helmet with cheesy chips here; I highly recommend washing it before wearing it.

 

Last I counted, not counting generic fries, there are eight (!) different versions of fried potatoes at Nationals Park. (I told you this wouldn’t be easy.) I’ve already discussed the main offerings at these stands, but here’s a bit about their fries offerings:

At Fuzzie’s Burgers, you can order their shore-style fries, seasoned with malt vinegar powder and Old Bay. They come with “ranch lightning” dipping sauce.

Haute Dogs & Fries has thin and crispy fries with the skin still on to go with your Banh Mi Dog.

 

Ben’s Chili Bowls offer chili cheese fries, with their trademark chili and cheese piled onto golden fries.

The Swizzler folks feature hand cut fries cooked in 100% non-GMO avocado oil. These are thin fries, also with the potato skin still on.

 

The Shake Shack does crispy golden crinkle-cut fries; like their burgers and shakes, I can vouch that they do fries well too. They’ll top your fries with cheese sauce and/or bacon for you.

At the Roaming Rooster, your chicken sandwich can include hand cut and twice-fried fries on the side, again with the potato skin left on.

 

If you want loaded fries for vegetarians, try Kam & 46’s Nakakaloka fries (yes, that’s the name); they’re topped with cotija cheese, chili aioli, furikake seasoning, and scallions.

Last but unquestionably not least, Little Miner Taco serves up Mexican style loaded fries: potatoes topped with carne asada, jack cheese, queso sauce, chipotle aioli, sour cream, salsa verde, and scallions.

Nationals Park Food Menu, Part 4 – Multicultural Baseball Foods.

Pizza might be as American as food gets, but I don’t have any other place to put it in this post, so here we go.

Enzo’s Pizza is regrettably gone, but the replacement is no slouch. The Colony Grill (Sections 115, 227, and 311) is new to the Nats Park menu in 2026. Colony Grill started in Connecticut but has several outposts in the DMV; they’re best known for their pepper-infused hot oil thin crust pizza.

You get a circular pizza here, it’s about 10”, either plain, with pepperoni, or with a very hot pepper on the top. The hot oil definitely gives it a soft texture, in a good way. The pizza isn’t very large; think of it as similar to a slice in volume. If you’re large like me, you’ll still have room to try one of the many dogs here. Or get another pie.

 

Why shouldn’t your decision for Mexican delicacies be any easier than anything else? That’s why you need this blog, my friend.

The nation’s capital appreciates Mexican food as much as any city; and Taqueria Picoso (Section 117) bravely bills itself as the top Mexican restaurant in Alexandria, a bold statement. It was started by two immigrants from Mexico City, so it’s probably authentic.

At the ballpark they have several kinds of tacos (see what I said earlier about the tortillas), but they’re also known for Torta de Carnitas, the pictured Mexico City style sandwich, with “saucy chips” on a telera (white bread) roll. Lynn tells me the sandwich is “super popular” at their restaurant.

Not one but two chefs running this joint; go visit them in Alexandria too.

 

Then there’s Little Miner Taco again (Section 231); we’ve covered their excellent nachos but the tacos are rocking too. Little Miner Taco is yet another local favorite with locations in D.C., Brentwood and Rockville; their twist is all-halal cheesy shredded meat tacos.

Their tacos are made with corn tortillas; they do a nice job blackening them on the grill as they add a generous amount of filling. Fun both to watch and eat.

 

At chef Jose Candelero’s Los Cinco Tacos (Section 136) stand, the offerings are simple but still chef-inspired quality. Choose from barbacoa (beef), al pastor (pork) or chicken (chicken) soft-shell tacos.

Los Cinco Tacos is a sister joint of Capo Deli; the two are next door to each other on Florida Avenue. So if you enjoy your Capo deli sandwich and Los Cinco tacos, you can have them both again on the same lunch hour.

 

Have you tried arepas at a ballgame yet? Unless you’ve been to Miami, my guess is no, but here’s your chance. The Arepa Zone (Sections 148 and 304) is a Venezuelan fast casual restaurant (and yes, food truck) with a few DMV locations.

At the ballpark they have beef, pork or chicken stuffed arepas, cachapas, and cheesy tequeños.

In case you’re like me and are just now learning what arepas, cachapas and tequeños are, I’ll spare you from asking Siri: Arepas are circular cornmeal patties that are grilled to crispiness and stuffed with cheese and/or protein. Cachapas are sweet corn thick pancakes folded over cheese. Tequeños are white cheese wrapped in dough and fried.

Pay attention, you’ll soon learn something else important about Arepa Zone.

 

Finally on Latin foods, there’s Lunas De Buenos Aires Empanadas (Section 214); this place requires a club level ticket. Empanadas are a great ballpark food, though, and they have several variations; last I checked there is chicken tandoori, Cajun pork, spinach and mozzarella, and bleu cheese. (That could be different when you visit.)

Lunas de Buenos Aires was voted Best Empanada in D.C. by the City Paper in 2024. That apparently wasn’t enough to keep their Union Market location open, but I’d say the club level at Nats Park is equally prestigious.

 

I could have put Ssongs Korean Hot Dogs (Section 130) in the hot dog section, but the concept of Korean corn dogs at a ballpark is still foreign to me. Don’t let it sway you; Ssongs is a very popular Columbia, MD joint.

For the ballgame, you can get your corn dog with multiple styles of sausages (at varying heat levels), including a mozzarella sausage. The coating is deep fried until crispy rice flour, with a dusting of sugar (a tradition in Korea I’m told). Toppings include spicy mayo, kimchi seasoning, and/or crushed Hot Cheetos. And Cheetos makes everything better.

I didn’t do a deep dive, but online folks spoke highly of the spicy potato mozzarella corn dog.

 

Fine, you say, but what if I’m in the mood for French crepes? Well, you’ve once again failed to Stump The Nats Park Menu. With Eli’s Crepes (Section 113), you can enjoy a variety of fillings in your crepes. The Nutella-strawberry edition is popular, but there are actual meal selections too, like turkey, egg and cheese or chicken pesto.

I don’t know who Eli is. Guessing from the minimal web presence I imagine Eli’s Crepes is a Levy Restaurants creation. Nothing wrong with that, though, the Levy folks are good at what they do and crepes seems like a nice portable ballpark snack.

From what I’ve read, Lucky Danger, Phowheels, and Mush have departed the D.C. baseball menu. Nuts. But maybe that makes your decision at least a hair easier.

Nationals Park Food Menu, Part 5 – Kosher + Healthier Choices.

Deciding what to eat here is challenging enough; sticking to a diet, avoiding allergic reactions, and following your religion’s rules can be even tougher.

Actually, maybe it makes things easier. The Nationals offer information here about dietary restrictions, but I’ll briefly share some helpful tips.

We’ll start with your kosher foods option: the Char Bar Kosher Grill at Section 143. The Char Bar is an actual D.C. eatery, like most everything else on the menu. They’re under the supervision of the VAAD of Greater Washington.

At the ballpark they offer a number of items, including sliders made with barbecued beef brisket, falafel or deli meats. They make their own barbecue sauce too. Or just go for a kosher dog with some potato wedges or knishes.

OK, with that out of the way, let’s talk vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free food at Nationals Park:

 

The Melissa’s Field of Greens stand (Section 138) offers Buffalo cauliflower tacos, yellow potato and soyrizo tacos, salads, wraps, and hummus. Needless to say, it’s a good spot for vegan and vegetarian sorts. I understand they have vegan dogs and sausages too.

Last I looked, the stand had a Portobello mushroom burger with provolone and roasted red peppers. They even had veggie cheesesteaks. The “meat” in the cheesesteak is wheat protein made by Vegadelphia; I’m guessing wheat protein isn’t gluten-free.

 

The Melissa’s stand is also getting some vegan help. Eatopian Eats is the brainchild of Chekesha Rashad, a personal chef who focuses on plant-based foods. Eatopian Eats is the only vegan vendor for Nationals Park, so head for Melissa’s.

Eatopian Eats offers vegan “Triple Play Nachos”, featuring Ethiopian, Indian, and Mexican flavors. The chips come with (deep breath) kidney beans, lentils, pico, nut-free vegan cheese, vegan chorizo, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, berbere, coconut milk, and guacamole. I’ve tried them; they’re delicious.

Chekesha also offers fruit cups with agave lime dressing. And she’s a sweetheart. Say hello if she’s around.

 

The Nats also list vegetarian items available at the ballpark; it includes Eli’s sweet crepes, Rocklands’ mac and cheese and cole slaw, Ssongs’ mozzarella cheese sticks, Capo Deli’s caprese sandwich, Colony hot oil plain pizza, and veggie dogs from the Grand Slam Grill. And of course, anything from Melissa’s.

 

Speaking of mushroom burgers, Shake Shack also offers the aforementioned ‘Shroom Burger, which I’ve tried and is pretty good. It has melted muenster and cheddar, with lettuce, tomato and Shack Sauce.

You have a lot of items here that can be gluten-free: Los Cinco Tacos and Little Miner Tacos are made with corn tortillas and should be safe; I presume Little Miner’s nacho chips are corn too, but don’t hold me to that.

 

The Nats claim everything at Los Cinco Tacos and Arepa Zone are gluten-free, but they warn people about the possibilities of cross contamination even with the GF items they list. They call Arepa Zone the safest place to avoid a gluten infestation, but they do mention that you can order anything without the bun. Shake Shack will wrap your burger in lettuce if you ask.

Rocklands BBQ offers what they call gluten-free barbecue bowls; they have allergen information on their website so you can see what to order and what not to for your bowl. Can’t let no gluten allergy deprive you of barbecue.

Don’t wait till you get to the ballpark to get your Washington Nationals gear…
Order your caps, jerseys, and more now at MLBShop.com and save!

Click here to order your Nationals gear today!

Nationals Park Food Menu, Part 6 – Desserts.

Okay, you saved room for dessert, right? No? Sigh. I’d like to tell you it gets easier at this point, but the Nationals know better than that.

The South Mountain Creamery (Sections 115, 136, 209 and 314) is…wait for it…yet another local institution; it’s a Middleton, MD family-owned farm. And yes, they’re already selling ice cream at Camden Yards.

The family milks the cows and processes the milk themselves, and I’ll support any farm family that works that hard. At Nats Park they’ve teamed up with Coneacopia at Section 136 and their vegan, gluten-free waffle cones in a wide variety of flavors.

 

If you’re looking for a place that offers a wide selection of ice cream desserts, this is the place; get soft serve cones or parfaits in flavors like Birthday Bash (yellow cake flavors), Orchard Escape (apple pie), Walking on Sunshine (orange sorbet), and Yin To My Yang (cookies and cream). Or just get a red and blue cone and be patriotic.

 

Shake Shack (Section 240) might be known for the Shackburger and long lines, but don’t forget the name…they do milkshakes and frozen custard too. Concretes are available in vanilla and “black and white”. Get your premium vanilla custard with chocolate fudge sauce.

Even with the South Mountain here, the concretes are popular; last I checked the Nats had a separate line for shakes that moves more quickly.

 

Of course, the Nats won’t deny fans their Dippin’ Dots (Sections 134 and 143) in the ballpark ice cream selection. I’m sure you know what Dippin’ Dots are, but here’s a fun fact: it was invented with cryogenic technology by a microbiologist looking to improve animal feed. Necessity is the mother of invention indeed.

Where was I? Oh right, Nationals Park desserts. Dippin’ Dots flavors here include chocolate, rainbow, cookies and cream, and cookie dough last I looked. Nothing Nationals related unfortunately, but you can get your dots in a souvenir helmet.

 

Ballparks can’t just do ice cream anymore; you need something portable and dippable for dessert. Don Churro (Sections 112 and 309) is your solution. Don Churros are crispy, cinnamon sugar coated dessert sticks; you can dunk them in chocolate or dulce de leche dipping sauce.

I’m impressed that even though churros are all they do, Don Churro has locations in Arlington, Alexandria and D.C., and they’ll cater for you too.

 

Summer days in D.C. require ice treats. So Nats Park steps it up with Georgetown favorite Maracas Ice Pops (Sections 146, 236, and 302). Maracas makes Mexican-style popsicles with fresh cut fruit and a variety of toppings; try rice pudding, tamarind, hibiscus, or spicy pineapple.

Maracas boasts about no artificial flavors or colors, and with the variety and fresh fruits, they’re probably a bit healthier than your typical ice pops. Kind of a frozen smoothie pop. Good for kids after running around the Kids Zone.

 

You probably know Rita’s Italian Ice (Sections 106, 235, and 320); they’re in a lot of places in the northeast now, especially the DMV. Their Italian ice and custard are made fresh daily; if you haven’t tried Rita’s yet you probably should.

Rita’s offers their traditional Italian ice and custard (mix the two for a gelato) in various flavors. Mango, cherry, and Swedish fish are their most popular, but you can usually find lemon, Georgia peach or blue raspberry too. Custard is available in chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry.

On a blazing day in D.C., expect lines to be long at Rita’s.

 

Whoa, am I done already? Yeah, I probably missed a few things, like the Pop Fly Popcorn stands and the chicken tenders at Grand Slam Grill. There’s also the marketplaces that have some easy grab and go items. But hopefully I’ve covered what matters here.

Before we go I’d like to extend a grateful and warm thank you to the Nationals, especially Claire DeMeo and Erica George, for their huge assistance in helping me find vital information and excellent pics. You girls rock, thank you!

Hope this is helpful, and be sure to check out my other Nationals Park tips, including this helpful guide to getting there, some tips for saving on tickets, and helpful seating tips here, here, and here. Be sure to Follow Ballpark E-Guides on Facebook for new updates!

Thanks for reading, and if this was helpful, please support Ballpark E-Guides sponsors. See you at the Yard!