Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, features several trendy eateries and high-quality dining options for fans. Food is an essential part of the ballpark experience, and modern parks offer far more than standard fare like peanuts, hot dogs, and nachos.
Citi Field includes concessions from celebrity chefs like David Chang and Josh Capon, in addition to food stands from acclaimed restaurateur Danny Meyer. The park also has an impressive craft beer selection far superior to that of nearby Yankee Stadium. Over the course of the 81 home games of the 2019 season, I ate at every establishment in the ballpark at least once. Below are the best food options that Citi Field has to offer:
Appetizers
Elote Corn at El Verano Taqueria
El Verano Taqueria is one of the most underrated eateries in the park, and their elote is a perfect snack for a hot summer day. Elote is steamed corn on the cob coated with mayonnaise and grated cotija cheese, and sprinkled with cayenne. The spiciness of the seasoning contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the corn, and you can always squeeze some lime juice onto it for extra acidity.
Entrees
Shack Stack from Shake Shack
Shake Shack is the most popular culinary destination in the ballpark, and for good reason. The burgers here are fantastic, especially the “Shack Stack” burger. The Shack Stack is a combination of a cheeseburger and a mushroom burger, both of which are sure to make your mouth water.
The fried portobello mushroom adds a welcome crispiness, and it’s filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheese that oozes out with each bite. The burger is topped with tangy ShackSauce, and it’s moist enough on its own that ketchup is optional.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking to eat at Shake Shack, get to the park early and get in line right away. The lines fill up rapidly, and you could spend multiple innings waiting to order your food.
Emmy Squared “Le Big Matt” Burger
This is a double patty burger topped with pickles, American cheese, and a sambal aioli on a pretzel bun. Though the price tag might seem a bit hefty, it’s a highly satisfying (albeit messy) burger. If you like pickles, this is the burger for you. It also comes with spicy potato chips, which are fine but not nearly as tasty as the sandwich.
Pro tip: This is an exceptionally juicy burger, so be sure to grab plenty of napkins before you return to your seat.
Barbecue Platter from Blue Smoke
This is a perfect sampling of every type of barbecue Blue Smoke has to offer. The plate comes with a healthy serving of brisket and pork along with cornbread and pit beans. The meat is perfectly tender, and the cornbread is anything but dry.
Pro tip: The pit beans are expertly prepared, but the tanginess may be too much for some palettes. If that’s the case, I suggest using the beans as a sauce by combining them with your meat. In my opinion, the beans taste better with the brisket than they do on their own.
Arancini Brothers Rice Balls
These fried rice balls are crispy morsels featuring a wide variety of fillings like buffalo chicken and sausage and peppers. There are also dessert balls such as nutella and cheesecake for those who crave something sweeter. These balls come in cartons that hold six at a time, so you can always just get one ball of each flavor.
Bang for Your Buck
Mac N’ Cheese from Blue Smoke
You can order the macaroni and cheese from Blue Smoke as either a side dish or an entree. I highly recommend getting the entree-sized mac and cheese and topping it with brisket or chopped pork. The entree version of the dish is served in a portion large enough to feed two people, which makes it one of the ballpark’s best bargains.
Steak Fries from Pat LaFrieda
Pat LaFrieda’s serves waffle fries topped with black angus beef, au jus, and melted Monterrey Jack cheese. These fries are seasoned to perfection, and you can always add other elements such as relish, sauerkraut, or pickles at one of the ballpark’s many toppings stations.
Pro tip: The lines at Pat LaFrieda are almost never long, so it’s the perfect destination if you’re making a mid-inning food rush.
Desserts
DŌ
DŌ serves cookie dough in flavors like cake batter, sugar cookie, and chocolate chip.
Pro tip: For best bang for your buck, buy your DŌ at the concourse stands rather than from the roaming vendors. You’ll get a larger portion size.
Ice Cream in a Helmet
Soft serve ice cream in a mini souvenir helmet is not just a tasty snack, but also a nostalgic reminder of a happy childhood. I don’t care how cold it is in October, if you’re at a postseason game and your kid asks for a helmet, you are morally obligated to buy that ice cream.
Look for the jumbo-sized version in a collectable home run apple to share.
As I mentioned earlier, the dessert rice balls from Arancini Brothers are also delectable morsels for folks with a sweet tooth.
