Every day can be Fryday when you bring one of these beauties back to your seat. (Aramark)
From the first game through season’s end, Astros games at Daikin Park are delicious. Use our guide to decide what’s worthy of a roster spot on your plate.
When you picture food at a baseball game, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of something like hot dogs or nachos, or maybe a soft pretzel or ice cream in a baseball helmet. While these classics are all fine and dandy, baseball stadiums have really upped their game in recent years—and Daikin Park, home of the Houston Astros, is no exception.
This is a new name for the stadium; Minute Maid Park is no longer. However, the Astros hope the name change keeps up their winning ways amid their most successful decade as a franchise. The team has reached the playoffs every year since 2017, including four trips to the World Series and two titles. Fittingly, the food at their home stadium is top-notch.
You’ve got over 50 food and beverage spots around Daikin Park and 70 portable concession stands and bars. We’re here to help you find the All-Stars of the bunch. If you plan to attend a game this season, here are ten items to check out.
1. Daddy Mac Dog
Sections 113, 129, 213, 416, 427
Okay, we said hot dogs were more of a basic food item, but you haven’t seen one like this. The Daddy Mac Dog is a footlong behemoth of Angus beef frank stacked with chopped brisket, macaroni and cheese, and crispy dill pickle. Then, let’s drizzle BBQ sauce on top for good measure. Eating it is like stealing home—it’s a challenge to pull off, but you’ll be celebrating once you do it.
There are hot dogs, and then there are HOT DOGS, like this Daddy Mac Dog at Daikin Park. (Aramark)
2. Colt .45 Quesabirria
Sections 109, 213, 409
A typical birria taco would be a bit tricky to deal with while you’re in your seat or trying to catch a foul ball, so the smaller Colt .45 Quesabirria is a nice side option. A quesadilla is stuffed with braised beef and shredded cheese, then dipped in birria consommé. You’ll get all the accouterments, too, with sour cream, pico de gallo, and some extra birria consommé. We’re consummate eating professionals, after all.
3. El Tiempo Fajitas
Mezzanine level
For the only homemade tortillas in Daikin Park, head to the Mezzanine level and make a beeline for El Tiempo Cantina. The restaurant is a staple in the Houston culinary scene, and its ballpark fajita beef, chicken, and carnitas go hand-in-hand with the fresh tortillas. Luckily, while that one hand is busy with your food, the other is free to order a frozen margarita. There are few better ways to deal with the Texas heat. Alternatively, if you just want to order a pair of margaritas, you’ll probably get a lot of encouragement from your fellow fans.
4. Chicken Waffle Sandwich
Sections 206 and 420 at the Fry-4-3 Double Play
Chicken is good. Waffles are good. Together, they are great. But this isn’t just a piece of chicken between two limp waffle buns. You’ll get a perfectly crispy chicken breast piled high with pepper jack, bacon onion jam, and honey chipotle aioli. And the waffles are Belgian style—having been to Belgium, I can confirm there is no better form for waffles to take.
Chicken sandwiches have been a hot trend this decade—the addition of waffles only makes them better. (Aramark)
5. Loaded Mac n Chas
Section 154
If, like me, you have been a mac and cheese fan since you were old enough to understand the concept of cheese, the Loaded Mac n Chas is a must-try. The classic macaroni noodles are smothered in cheddar cheese and then loaded with smoked brisket, green onions, and BBQ sauce. For a fun bonus, pronounce “chas” like the cast of “Happy Endings” says “cute” in this scene.
6. Elote and Pupusas
Section 124
You won’t find elote in most ballparks across MLB, but the Mexican street food is a fantastic snack. Elote and Pupusas offers elote alone or in tandem with a pupusa. Pupusas are common flatbreads from El Salvador and Honduras, making this selection one of the most international in all of Daikin Park. The pupusas come in chicken, pork, or cheese varieties with curtido and salsa rojo. Complement them with many options, including chicharrones, frozen paletas, and chocolate sea salt cookies.
7. Horchachos
Section 116
Horchata is one of the tastiest drinks in the world, and Horchachos turn it up to eleven. These delicacies are a smorgasbord of deep-fried horchata balls (something I did not know was possible until just now), sweet plantains, cinnamon sugar, caramel, white chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, and toasted coconut flakes. There might also be a bit of saliva in the mix if you can’t help but drool on them.
8. H-Town Hot Chicken Loaded Fries
Sections 206 and 420 at the Fry-4-3 Double Play
French fries are good just about any time—they’re a solid double of a food. But if you want to hit a grand slam? You gotta load ‘em up! The H-Town Hot Chicken Loaded Fries are rounding the bases. The fries have just the right amount of crisp and serve as the foundation for fried chicken bites tossed in H-Town Hot Sauce, ranch, hot honey aioli, and topped with green onions. It’s a finger-licking-good culmination of flavors.
9. Everything at Maven Coffee
Section 104
Personally, I think baseball games are a blast, but if you find the action to be a bit boring, a jolt of caffeine might help. Maven Coffee delivers classic coffee items like a Maven latte and Nitro cold brew, or you can get extra amped with a frozen espresso martini or two. Not a coffee fan? Try the Killer Bee’s Palomas—a nod to the Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Lance Berkman days—or the Space City Carajillos. Or, simply buy a literal bottle of wine, choosing from more than 50 varieties.
10. Battered-Up’s Deep-Fried Treats
Section 116
There’s no shortage of deep-fried selections around Daikin Park, and Battered-Up is at the top of the lineup. Everything at this booth is fried; you’ll find staples like chicken tenders and corn dogs, though the real stars of the show are the desserts. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a deep-fried Reese’s, deep-fried bread pudding, or an extra-indulgent funnel cake loaded with cinnamon sugar.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
