WHAT TO EAT AT SAN DIEGO'S PETCO PARK, HOME OF THE PADRES
Rightfully named the best MLB stadium in the nation, Petco Park has earned its high ranking due to its unparalleled location and amenities (including the newly renovated Gallagher Square and the Tony Gwynn Terrace viewing deck and picnic space) but also thanks to an impressive lineup of food and drink offerings that include Seaside Market’s iconic tri-tip nachos, Grand Ole BBQ’s indulgent El Borracho fries, Hodad’s famous burgers, and the finest San Diego-made beer. With other notable homegrown names like Barrio Dog, Blue Water Grill, Board & Brew, Cutwater Spirits, Pizza Port, and Puesto, the ballpark’s concessionaires and sit-down restaurants are a winning reflection of the local culinary scene.
Fans can expect to see many of their food favorites again this year, but the 2024 season also brings some exciting new dishes and a few rebranded spaces.
Check out what’s new on the roster:
North Park’s Gelati & Peccati is a fresh addition to the ballpark, returning the Buona Forchetta family of restaurants back to its prime spot in the Mercado at Petco Park, located on the Main Concourse behind Home Plate. Gelati & Pecatti will serve several variations of rectangular, Roman-style pizza including Margherita, meat lovers, and vegetarian.
The gelato-makers behind the irreverently named An’s Dry Cleaning on Adams Avenue and An’s Hatmakers in Del Mar Plaza are bringing An’s Athletic Field Services to Petco Park. Situated towards the back section of the Mercado and designed to look like the grounds crew’s garage, the shop will scoop up best-selling flavors as well as exclusive East Village creations like “Clay”, a Nutella gelato with homemade brownie pieces, and “Chalk” a vegan sorbet made with fresh lemon juice and California almonds.
Another new Mercado tenant is a second stadium outpost for San Diego’s Finest Hot Chicken, home of the popular Hot Hen spicy chicken sandwich.
Joining Craft Row on the Main Concourse as part of Petco Park’s Craft Beers of San Diego program are Vista-based WestBrew and Nova Easy Kombucha by Novo Brazil Brewing Co., which will be releasing a City Connect-themed Sunset Slam Mango Lime hard kombucha collaboration with the Padres.
Also on the beverage front, look for a new frozen drink called the “Frozen Friar” that will be available with or without alcohol in flavors like Mangonada, Island Punch, and Strawberry Lemonade.
With existing restaurants in Coronado and La Jolla, Spiro’s Mediterranean Cuisine is landing in Section 124 on the third base side. Among its ballpark menu items are a classic gyro and a horiatiki bowl inspired by a Greek salad.
Postseason Additions:
As the Padres continue to advance in the postseason, Petco Park is rolling out even more food specials created by executive chef Phil Dumlao that will be available during home games along with all their other regular concessions fare:
Available at Seaside Market in Section 105, and the Draft by Ballast Point located above Seaside Market will be a barbacoa grilled cheese sandwich with American and mozzarella cheese, pickled onion, cilantro, black garlic aioli, and crema.
Chicken flautas with whipped cotija cheese, guacamole, red onion, jalapeno, fuego sauce, sour cream, and micro cilantro will be sold at Ballpark Eats on the Tony Gwynn Terrace in Gallagher Square, Seaside Market in Section 105, and the Draft by Ballast Point.
Available at Carnitas Snack Shack in Section 128, Seaside Market in Section 105, and the Draft by Ballast Point located above Seaside Market, the Baked Friar is a breaded and deep-fried baked potato skin filled with whipped mashed potatoes, carnitas, bacon crumbles, Shack queso, cotija cheese, guacamole, pickled red onion, chipotle aioli, taquero salsa, and micro cilantro.
Available at Ballpark Eats on the Tony Gwynn Terrace in Gallagher Square is the Cali Torta, which sandwiches carne asada, fuego sauce, diego queso, cheddar cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, pickled red onion, and shoestring potato sticks in a bolillo bun.
Randy Jones BBQ in Section 100 will be featuring the Carne Asada Cali Big Dawg, which stuffs a hot dog, carne asada, and tons of the aforementioned toppings into an Amoroso roll.
Available at Seaside Market in Section 105, and The Draft by Ballast Point located above Seaside Market is the Pollo Guisado rice bowl filled with braised chicken and chicharron with lime arroz blanco, black bean sofrito, avocado, green olive, fried plantain and guisado sauce.
The ballpark is also doing two flavors of lumpia, which can be found at Seaside Market in Section 105, and the Draft by Ballast Point: bacon cheeseburger lumpia stuffed with seasoned beef, smoked bacon, chopped pickles, grilled onions, and “philthy” sauce (named after chef Phil Dumlao), and a mozzarella stick lumpia filled with a breaded mozzarella stick and pizza sauce
For something sweet, the Mister Softee stations in Sections 111 and 133 will be serving up a sundae featuring ice cream topped with a white chocolate-dipped brownie, Kit Kat, and Cracker Jacks.
