baiduhai 2017 baseball food guide
What to eat when you’re at Wrigley or Guaranteed Rate
Gone are the days of choosing between peanuts and Cracker Jack at a baseball game: Now you can get filet mignon sandwiches and bison sausages, loaded baked potatoes and deep-dish pizza at the ballpark. With the City Series landing at the South and North sides July 24-27, the Tribune created this guide to help you find the best ballpark food. We sampled more than 100 items at Wrigley and Guaranteed Rate fields and picked the best, worst and the rest.
» Which team has the best ballpark food, Cubs or Sox?
» Photos: The 11 best and 9 worst things to eat at both ballparks
Behold, the food!
- Worth a try
- Not worth it
- Best in the stadium
- Worst in the stadium
-
<!– –> - At Guaranteed Rate
- At Wrigley
Bacon on a Stick
From Merkts Burger Barn
This is exactly what it sounds like, but somehow ends up tasting overly salty.
Find it for $5.00 at section(s) 113, 529
Churros
From Churros
The churros are bland and soft.
Find it for $4.00 at section(s) 104, 136, 127, 526
Beef Hot Dog
From All-Star Stands
A perfectly acceptable hot dog.
Find it for $4.25 at section(s) 101, 113, 130, 151, 163, 510, 522, 529, 554
Walking Taco
From Triple Play Cafe
It’s extremely portable, but wildly salty.
Find it for $5.00 at section(s) 110
Pig Candy
From Pork & Mindy’s
This sweet and salty snack actually works.
Find it for $5.00 at section(s) Bleacher Platform 14
Bavarian Pretzel
Each bite is spongy and boring.
Find it for $5.50 at section(s) 102-104, 106-109, 110-111, 112-115, 116-118, 118-120, 122-125, 126-127, 135-139, 219-222, Lower Bleachers, 420
TOP
PICK
Elotes
From Corn off the Cob
The corn is cut off the cob to order, and then loaded with mayo, chile powder and a spritz of lime juice. It’s spicy, sweet and creamy. Plus, it’s easy to eat. Forget the heaping monstrosities in plastic helmets, I want more food like this.
Find it for $5.75 at section(s) 104, 127, 142, 526
Tamales
From Corn off the Cob
A totally credible tamale, with a tender pork filling.
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Find it for $5.75 at section(s) 104, 127, 142, 526
Nachos
Nothing fancy, but also nothing to mess up.
Find it for $6.00 at section(s) 107, 121, 143, 157, 512, 522, 536, 550
Tater Tatchos
From Triple Play Cafe
A fun offering that’s crispy, cheesy and spicy.
Find it for $6.00 at section(s) 110, 544
House Made Buffalo Spiced Kettle Chips
From Chicago Dogs
You expect some spice when it’s labeled Buffalo, but these are bland and stale.
Find it for $6.00 at section(s) 116-118, 122-124
Polish Sausage
From All-Star Stands
Not terrible, but the Polish sausage at the Johnsonville stand is better.
Find it for $6.25 at section(s) 101, 113, 130, 151, 163, 510, 522, 529, 554
Premium Hot Dog
From All-Star Stands
This slightly bigger option packs a nice beefy wallop.
Find it for $6.25 at section(s) 101, 113, 130, 151, 163, 510, 522, 529, 554
Vienna Beef Hot Dog
It’s hard to go wrong with a Vienna Beef hot dog.
Find it for $6.25 at section(s) 102, 109, 112, 120, 122, 130, 131, 137, 150, 152, 155, 163, 510, 522, 524, 529, 538, 555
Vienna Beef Polish Sausage
There’s no snap on the sausage, and the spice profile is mild.
Find it for $6.25 at section(s) 102, 109, 112, 120, 122, 130, 131, 137, 150, 152, 155, 510, 522, 524, 529, 538, 555
Vienna Beef Hot Dog
This beefy hot dog is also a good choice.
Find it for $6.25 at section(s) 116-118, 112-115, 133-134, 135-139, 126-127, 106-108, 419-420,
Bavarian Pretzel
From All-Star Stands
This was soft and spongy, without much flavor.
Find it for $6.50 at section(s) 101, 113, 130, 151, 163, 510, 522, 529, 554
Thin Crust Pizza
From Beggars Pizza Pub
Surprisingly, the thin crust tastes greasier than the deep dish offering.
Find it for $6.50 at section(s) 101, 124, 154, 163, 522
TOP
PICK
Chili Cheese Fries
From Red Line Grill
Fries were almost universally disappointing during this quest, except for these crunchy crinkle-cut specimens at Red Line Grill. Their sturdiness makes them ideal for toppings, and both of the options at Red Line Grill are worth your time. The chili cheese fries are blanketed in a meaty and slightly spicy chili and properly melted, gooey cheese.
Find it for $6.75 at section(s) Bleachers, Lower Level
TOP
PICK
Garlic Parmesan Fries
From Red Line Grill
The garlic Parmesan fries at Red Line Grill don’t beat you over the head with garlic, instead offering up a slightly sweet and salty dusting.
Find it for $6.75 at section(s) Bleachers, Lower Level
Soft Serve Ice Cream Helmet
From The Blue W
On a hot day, this basically turns into a milkshake by the time you get to your seat, but what’s so wrong with that?
Find it for $6.75 at section(s) 133-134
Bratwurst
From Johnsonville
This oddly unsatisfying sausage was pale and bland.
Find it for $7.00 at section(s) 115, 126, 139, 534
Bratwurst
From All-Star Stands
Thanks to a good char, the sausage has a great snap.
Find it for $7.00 at section(s) 101, 113, 130, 151, 163, 510, 522, 529, 554
Italian Sausage
From Johnsonville
Not nearly as good as the Italian sausage at the Beggar’s pizza stand.
Find it for $7.00 at section(s) 115, 126, 139, 534
Italian Sausage
From Beggars Pizza Pub
A nicely grilled Italian sausage on a soft bun with nicely spicy giardiniera.
Find it for $7.00 at section(s) 163
TOP
PICK
The Comiskey Dog
From Comiskey Dogs
This is the hot dog you want at Guaranteed Rate. The Vienna Beef dog is snappy and beefy, and it’s outfitted with all the classic Chicago dog toppings (mustard, relish, onions, tomato slices, dill pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt). Even the bun was soft. Though you can order a hilarious footlong version, the bun splits by the second bite, leaving you with an arm’s length of mess.
Find it for $7.00 at section(s) 114, 151, 544
Black Bean Veggie Burger
Not only does the veggie burger taste chalky with a faint chemical aftertaste, the menu makes it clear that it’s also more caloric than a regular cheeseburger (730 to 490)
Find it for $7.00 at section(s) 112-115, 126-127, 133-134, 219-222, lower bleachers
Cheeseburger
The gray beef has little flavor.
Find it for $7.00 at section(s) 102-104, 106-109, 110-111, 112-115, 116-118, 118-120, 122-125, 126-127, 135-139, 219-222, Lower Bleachers, Upper Bleachers
Vienna Bratwurst
The sausage is juicy, and the bun is soft and steamy.
Find it for $7.00 at section(s) 133-134, 126-127, 106-108, 419-420, 420
Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
As advertised, the juice is freshly squeezed, making for a refreshing beverage on a hot day.
Find it for $7.50 at section(s) 161
Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
From Red Line Grill
Even though it’s coated in a spicy Buffalo sauce, the crust of the chicken stays crisp.
Find it for $7.50 at section(s) Bleachers, Lower Level, 420
Chicago Hot Dog
From Wrigley Field Smokies
A plump and juicy hot dog served with caramelized griddle onions.
Find it for $7.50 at section(s) 106-109
Grilled Chicago Dog
From Chicago Dogs
Solid hot dog served with sweet caramelized onions.
Find it for $7.50 at section(s) 116-118, 122-124, 219-222
Wrigley Field Smokies
From Wrigley Field Smokies
The smoke flavor is overbearing.
Find it for $7.75 at section(s) 106-109
TOP
PICK
Cheese and Caramel Mix Bag
From Caramel Corn and Cheese Corn
You can find bags of Nuts on Clark popcorn at a few stands, but skip that flavorless option and hunt down this stand. The popcorn is popped before your eyes, and covered with either cheese or caramel. Aggressively seasoned, this makes for excellent game-watching food, even if you have to lick your fingers every once in a while.
Find it for $8.00 at section(s) 132
Nuts on Clark
From All-Star Stands
It’s hard to detect much flavor here, and you can score a much better product at the Caramel Corn & Cheese stand.
Find it for $8.00 at section(s) 101, 113, 130, 151, 163, 510, 522, 529, 554
TOP
PICK
The Heater
From Johnsonville
The Heater brings some heat to each bite thanks to the jalapeno cheddar sausage and spicy slaw.
Find it for $8.00 at section(s) 115, 126, 139, 534
Grilled Bratwurst
From Chicago Dogs
This offering was incredibly dry.
Find it for $8.00 at section(s) 116-118, 219-222
TOP
PICK
Polish Sausage
From Chicago Dogs
There’s nothing particularly novel about griddled Polish sausages and serving them sauteed onions, but for whatever reason this small cart does it about as well as it can be done. The sausage has a crisp casing while remaining juicy within. The onions are caramelized and sweet, without being burned, while the bun is soft and steamed. After one bite, I noted that this was basically perfect ballpark food.
Find it for $8.00 at section(s) 133-134
Vegetarian Hot Dog
It looks pale pink and is reminiscent of sawdust.
Find it for $8.00 at section(s) 219-222
Bacon Cheddar Dog
From All-Star Stands
Sounds hilarious and fun, but it’s mostly just a salty, greasy mess.
Find it for $8.25 at section(s) 112, 130, 152, 529
Barbacoa Taco
From 35th Street Tacos
The tortillas were dried-out, collapsing into mush when I tried to pick them up.
Find it for $8.50 at section(s) 138, 540
Carnitas Taco
From 35th Street Tacos
The pork carnitas were undersalted and fatty — a sad combo.
Find it for $8.50 at section(s) 138, 540
Sausage Deep Dish
From Beggars Pizza Pub
Not the best deep dish in Chicago, but perfectly fine for a ballpark pizza.
Find it for $8.50 at section(s) 163
TOP
PICK
Bison Hot Dog
From High Plains Bison
High Plains Bison serves three sausages — hot dog, bratwurst and Italian sausage — and all are made from bison. You know, the other other red meat. Along with the flavorful meat, each sausage is carefully constructed with a soft bun and top-quality condiments.
Find it for $8.50 at section(s) 106-109
Buona Italian Sausage
From Italian Hot Spot
The roll was soggy, and the sausage dry.
Find it for $8.50 at section(s) I112-115, 420, Bleacher Platform 14, 135-139
TOP
PICK
Bison Bratwurst
From High Plains Bison
This stand serves all bison and the hot dog, brat and Italian sausage are all excellent. The sauerkraut on the bratwurst is especially good.
Find it for $8.75 at section(s) 106-109
TOP
PICK
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Bison Italian Sausage
From High Plains Bison
The only downside to High Plains Bison, which serves an excellent hot dog, brat and Italian sausage, is there’s only one stand, and it’s tiny.
Find it for $8.75 at section(s) 106-109
Buona Italian Beef
From Italian Hot Spot
Hilariously messy, but an acceptable Italian beef.
Find it for $8.75 at section(s) I112-115, 420, Bleacher Platform 14, 135-139
Baked Potato
From Bases Loaded BBQ Pit
Another surprisingly good option that’s easy to eat, and a relief amid all the fried dishes.
Find it for $9.00 at section(s) 122, 528
Cuban Sandwich
From Cuban Comet Sandwiches
Cuban sandwiches are all about proportion, but this lopsided creation threw all that out the window.
Find it for $9.00 at section(s) v
Italian Beef
From Buona Italian Beef
It’s incredibly messy, but a totally solid Italian beef with great giardiniera.
Find it for $9.00 at section(s) 101, 121, 149, 163, 531
Meatball Sub
From Beggars Pizza Pub
The roll is tough, the meatballs bland and it’s extremely messy.
Find it for $9.00 at section(s) 163
Nachos Grande
From Marquee Classics
I really liked the addition of fresh tomato and jalapeno on the nachos.
Find it for $9.00 at section(s) 118-120
Italian Chopped Salad
From Giordano’s
Giordano’s Italian chopped salad served here is surprisingly good — salad?
Find it for $9.25 at section(s) 102-104, 112-115, 126-127, Upper Bleachers (Mezzanine Level), 420
Aloha Sausage
From Gilbert Sausages
This creative offering features a chicken sausage topped with a sweet pineapple salsa and crushed potato chips.
Find it for $9.50 at section(s) 126-127
Beef and Cheddar
From Gilbert Sausages
Mac and cheese on a sausage sounds fun, but it just makes each bite overly starchy.
Find it for $9.50 at section(s) 126-127
Gilbert’s Chicken Caprese Sausage
From Chicago Dogs
The flavors are actually good, so too bad the sausage was really dry.
Find it for $9.50 at section(s) 116-118
TOP
PICK
The Dave Rosello
From Hot Doug’s
The Dave Rosello is a close second in the ballpark food clubhouse, an Argentine pork and bacon sausage topped with a bright green chimichurri and smoked Swiss cheese.
Find it for $9.50 at section(s) Bleacher Platform 14
TOP
PICK
The Pete LaCock
From Hot Doug’s
It was hard to find fault with the Pete LaCock, an extra meaty concoction featuring a rib-eye steak sausage with nostril-clearing horseradish cream and funky blue cheese.
Find it for $9.50 at section(s) Bleacher Platform 14
TOP
PICK
The Ray Burris
From Hot Doug’s
The three sausage options sampled at Hot Doug’s are the three best bites in Wrigley. In fact, they are the three best bites you can score at either ballpark. My favorite is probably the Ray Burris, a Polish sausage covered in spicy brown mustard, sweet caramelized onions and salty cheddar. This is as good as ballpark food gets.
Find it for $9.50 at section(s) Bleacher Platform 14
TOP
PICK
Stuffed Pizza
From Giordano’s
Thick-crusted pizza sounds like the last thing I’d want on a sunny summer day, but I have to admit the mini version served here was actually better-proportioned and tastier than at Giordano’s restaurants. Not that it was light. But the crust was crisp and the cheese gooey, but not overbearing.
Find it for $9.75 at section(s) 102-104, 112-115, 126-127, 135, Upper Bleachers (Mezzanine Level), 420
BBQ Brisket Sandwich
From Bases Loaded BBQ Pit
The brisket is overcooked and dry, and the sweet sauce didn’t help matters.
Find it for $10.00 at section(s) 122, 528
Cheesy Beef
From Merkts Burger Barn
The cheesy beef was a salt lick of gnarled strands of dried-out beef.
Find it for $10.00 at section(s) 112, 529
Footlong Comiskey Dog
From Comiskey Dogs
It’s a fine-looking hot dog, but the long bun splits after a bite, making the more manageable, smaller option better.
Find it for $10.00 at section(s) 114, 151, 544
Garlic Fry Helmet
From Triple Play Cafe
The waffle fries are limp, taste of overbearing garlic and are topped with plastic-like pellets of Parmesan cheese.
Find it for $10.00 at section(s) 110
Irish Nachos
From Triple Play Cafe
This has a great balance of different textures, plus crispy bacon.
Find it for $10.00 at section(s) 110
TOP
PICK
The Comiskey Burger
From Beggars Pizza Pub, Merkts Burger Barn
The secret to the Comiskey Burger’s success is a healthy spread of extra-salty Merkts cheese, which acts like an umami bomb, amping up the meatiness of the already formidable double burger. It’s served with “Chitown Pico,” an acidic mix relish, tomato and onion. Not only was it the only burger I can recommend from either park, I’m kind of craving one right now.
Find it for $10.00 at section(s) 112, 529
Chicken Tenders and Fries
From Marquee Classics
The tenders are satisfyingly crunchy, and the fries are even good.
Find it for $10.00 at section(s) 120-121, 420
Footlong Chicago Dog
From Chicago Dogs
Unlike the footlong hot dog at Guaranteed Rate, here the bun stays together, making this a fun option.
Find it for $10.00 at section(s) 122-124
Footlong Chili and Cheese Dog
From Chicago Dogs
Seems odd that you can only get chili and melted cheese on the footlong hot dog, but it works.
Find it for $10.00 at section(s) 122-124
Grilled Veggie Ciabatta
From Italian Hot Spot
There’s so much bread, it’s hard to taste any of the vegetables.
Find it for $10.00 at section(s) 112-115
Joe Maddon Third Base Hoagie
The ingredients inside the sandwich are fine, but the bread is overwhelming.
Find it for $10.00 at section(s) 112-115, 133-134
Cheeseburger Combo
Because the burger had been wrapped up in foil, the bun was cool and soggy, while the lettuce had wilted into a green mush.
Find it for $10.50 at section(s)
Garden Burger
Tasting of chemicals and resembling brown Play-Doh left in the sun too long, this wins the award for worst dish of the whole adventure.
Find it for $10.50 at section(s) 122, 140, 524, 544
Burrito
From Tex-Mex
The room-temperature tortilla cracked and burst open before I even picked it up, unleashing a mess of wet fillings.
Find it for $11.00 at section(s) 111, 125, 153, 526, 533, 544
Chicken Sandwich Basket and Fries
This is about as boring as food gets.
Find it for $11.25 at section(s) 122, Center Field
Chicken Tenders Basket and Fries
The coating isn’t crunchy, and the meat isn’t juicy.
Find it for $11.75 at section(s) 122, Center Field
Big W Burger with Fries
From Vienna Beef Grill
The bun is a little dense, but the beef is nicely seasoned and the toppings are fresh.
Find it for $11.75 at section(s) 135-139
The Wok Off Asian Noodles
From The Wok Off
Turns out that this is genuinely easy to eat while watching the game.
Find it for $12.00 at section(s) 157
Triple Play BBQ Sandwich
From Bases Loaded BBQ Pit
There’s not much smoke flavor, but the jalapeno cheddar sausage contrasts nicely with the pulled pork.
Find it for $12.00 at section(s) 122, 528
Bao to the Pork
From Pork & Mindy’s
The meat in the Bao to the Pork is wildly overcooked — the port isn’t so much shredded as decimated and dry.
Find it for $12.00 at section(s) 118-120, Bleacher Platform 14
TOP
PICK
Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
From Pork & Mindy’s
The Buffalo Chicken Sandwich at Pork & Mindy’s, another permanent fixture to the bleacher concessions, is this project from Jeff Mauro. Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of my visits to the Pork & Mindy’s location in Wicker Park. Of course, the one item not on that menu is the Buffalo chicken sandwich, which turns out to be the keeper. Tender shredded chicken is liberally doused in spicy Buffalo sauce and tossed on a nicely buttered and tossed roll. Some cooling blue cheese sauce helps calm the burn down, while pickled carrots add crunch.
Find it for $12.00 at section(s) Bleacher Platform 14
Pig Candy BLT
From Pork & Mindy’s
This is hilarious overkill, but the sweet and salty bacon is mighty tasty.
Find it for $12.00 at section(s) Bleacher Platform 14
Chicken Parmesan
From Beggars Pizza Pug
The chicken is dry and tough, and the fried coating slips off after one bite.
Find it for $13.00 at section(s) 163
Supreme Corned Beef
From Xfinity Zone Bar
A massive, freshly sliced heap of corned beef on marbled rye bread.
Find it for $13.00 at section(s) 109
Ultimate Roast Beef
From Xfinity Zone Bar
My favorite of the three freshly sliced sandwich options, thanks to the nicely seasoned roast beef.
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Find it for $13.00 at section(s) 109
Ultimate Turkey Club
From Xfinity Zone Bar
A gargantuan offering of freshly sliced turkey and white bread.
Find it for $13.00 at section(s) 109
Marquee Melter
From Marquee Grill
The stand takes the time to toast the bread, making this a satisfying and filling grilled cheese sandwich.
Find it for $13.50 at section(s) 137-140, 219-222
Filet Mignon Steak Sandwich
From Marquee Classics
A sweaty, greasy sheet of cheese covers the beef, while the sweet sauce simply distracts.
Find it for $17.00 at section(s) 118-120, 120-121
North Side Twist Pretzel
From The Blue W
The oversized pretzel has the texture of Wonderbread and hardly any flavor.
Find it for $18.00 at section(s) 133-134
Big Slugger Nachos
From Vienna Beef Grill
The salsa has a decent kick, but it’s unbelievably messy.
Find it for $18.50 at section(s) 135-139
Grand Slam Helmet Sundae
The funnel cake on the bottom gets soggy from the ice cream, but this would make any kid smile.
Find it for $19.00 at section(s) 101, 105, 144, 538
Helmet Nachos
From Tex-Mex
You’d expect melted cheese if you throw down this much money on nachos.
Find it for $19.00 at section(s) 111, 125, 153, 526, 533, 544
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