Ranking the 10 craziest ballpark foods for the 2019 MLB season
It’s that time.
We’re at that special time of the year where the weather is getting warmer, March Madness is on the horizon and New Year’s resolutions are long broken. But really, baseball is back.
And with the start of baseball, it brings us to For The Win‘s time-honored tradition of ranking the most outrageous (and delicious) ballpark foods for the new season.
This is what fans across baseball will have to look forward to for the 2019 MLB season.
10. Coney Dog Egg Roll – Detroit Tigers
(Delaware North)
Oddly enough, the Coney hot dog is engrained in Detroit’s food culture. So, the Tigers are putting a special twist and new texture on the longtime Motor City favorite. The Coney Dog Egg Roll is an egg roll (obviously) filled with a hot dog and chili with drizzled with classic mustard and some diced onions.
9. Esquite – Los Angeles Dodgers
Levy
If you’re given the opportunity to enjoy sweet grilled corn, mayo, cotija cheese, and chipotle aioli out of a souvenir mini helmet meant for ice cream, you have to run — not walk — to the concession stand.
8. Pittsburgh Cone – Pittsburgh Pirates
Aramark
Let’s take a bunch of savory ingredients and put them in a waffle cone because it’s so crazy that it just might work. The Pittsburgh Cone is Kielbasa, pierogi, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing all in a waffle cone.
7. Chicken and Waffle Cone – Minnesota Twins
Delaware North
The Twins and Pirates seem to have the same unorthodox take on the versatility of a waffle cone, but I can support the cause. The Chicken and Waffle Cone includes chicken tenders and a huge slab of bacon, drizzled with maple syrup all in a waffle cone.
6. Going Yard – Los Angeles Dodgers
Levy
Who needs a foot-long hot dog when you can, uh, have a 16.5-inch jalapeño cheddar sausage topped with grilled onions, roasted corn, and avocado relish and sour cream? I know, right?!
5. Fritos Pie Corn Dog – Houston Astros (Aramark)
Aramark
I have to respect that the Houston Astros’ food experience is moonlighting as the Texas State Fair. The result is completely over the top … and delicious. The Fritos Pie Corn Dog is a foot-long hot dog, dipped in house-made Fritos batter, queso blanco and Texas chili.
4. Little Buds – St. Louis Cardinals
Delaware North
I **think** the Cardinals went ahead with this menu item because they assumed a group of fans would split the eight burger sliders with Budweiser beer cheese, garlic aioli and pickles all served in a “Home Plate box” with an absurd amount of tater tots. But I just know one person is going to try to take that whole thing on, and it’s going to be a glorious disaster.
3. Bone-In Smoked Beef Short Rib – Washington Nationals
Levy
There’s nothing inherently “crazy” about a smoked, bone-in beef short rib. I’m ranking this in the top 3 based on the context. The Nationals are going to have fans enjoying enormous beef ribs at their seats. At a baseball game. I mean, if that isn’t a messy food coma waiting to happen, I don’t know what is.
2. Bayou City Dog – Houston Astros
Aramark
Houston is making a strong case this year with two menu items in the top 10, but the Bayou City Dog sounded particularly great. It is a Nolan Ryan hot dog (whatever that means), smoked pork burnt ends, Rico’s cheese sauce, pickle chips, green onions and hot BBQ sauce. That’s an outrageous hot dog with actual composed flavor profiles. It has exactly what it takes to be top-2 material.
1. The Fowl Pole – Texas Rangers
Delaware North
It was going to take a lot to end the Arizona Diamondbacks’ run at the top, but it has happened for two straight years. The Rangers should take a bow for their remarkable feat in the realm of food engineering. The Fowl Pole is a freaking two-pound chicken tender, which I didn’t even know was physically possible. It’s served on a bed of waffle fries with ample dipping-sauce options. The Fowl Pole is crazy, yeah, but it’s almost certainly tasty.
You can check out last year’s rankings here.