Where To Eat At Citi Field

Going to Citi Field is a treat, and not just because you get to witness The Mets undergo a lengthy, 63-year rebuilding process to fix their roster. As 7-Line Faithful know, the ballpark is consistently voted as having some of the best stadium food in the country. Of course, you can get a hot dog with yellow mustard and a helmet cup full of soft serve with orange and blue sprinkles. But this stadium has plenty to offer, like Korean fried chicken, steakhouse-quality beef, and so much more. These are the best things to eat at Citi Field.

THE SPOTS

photo credit: Kate Previte

Bucket O'Birds

Location: Seoul Bird, Promenade Level, Hudson Whiskey NY Club

Seoul Bird is the most exciting free agent signing the Mets made this year. Their bucket of juicy, endlessly crispy fried chicken, served with a sticky, tangy gochujang barbecue sauce, and a scattering of sweet pickled radishes is a deliciously welcome addition to the roster. If we could snack on a helmet cup full of their bright pickled radishes, we would.

A Jerk Chicken Sandwich from RyRy'sphoto credit: Kate Previte

Taste of Queens

Location: Field Level, Taste Of The City

The Mets are taking Queens’ nickname “The World’s Borough” seriously by highlighting a rotation of local businesses on the patio in right field. Each spot will take over for about two months of the season, with options ranging from fried rice and chicken skewers from Poprice, to RyRy’s jerk chicken sandwich with a bright pineapple slaw, and Benny’s Cubanos finishing out the year.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Mel's Butcher Box Burger

Location: Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, Field Level, Taste of the City; Section 416

The crown jewel in Citi Field’s concessions stands is undoubtedly the selection of sandwiches and burgers from Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, which supplies some of the city’s best steakhouses with beef. Our favorite is the Mel’s Butcher Box Burger, with its two steaky patties, maple bourbon bacon jam, cheddar, and fried shallots. It’s big, heavy, and something we’d be more than happy to eat at a steakhouse alongside a few martinis, but works even better with a beer at the ballpark.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Traditional Gyro

Location: Gyro Jimmy's Greek Grill, Excelsior Level, Metro Market

Crispy gyro meat and fries, stuffed in a pita with fresh vegetables, are an excellent complement to watching the Mets ground into double plays for five months. Crush a gyro or two, and bring back an order of their loukoumades, which are Greek donuts with honey and cinnamon sugar, for dessert.

The Bases Loaded Brisket Sandwich from Comfortlandphoto credit: Kate Previte

Coca-Cola Food Truck

Location: Excelsior Level, Coca-Cola Corner

Another effort to showcase local restaurants, these handheld foods will be available out of a truck on the party patio in right field. Start the year off with an extremely rich Comfortland cola-braised brisket grilled cheese, grab a killer chicken vodka sandwich from NY Panini over the summer, and, in August and September, a chicken tinga quesadilla from Maiz.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Chiddy Dog

Location: Chiddy's Cheesesteaks, Field Level, Section 132

When a normal hot dog simply won’t do, get a Chiddy Dog from Chiddy’s Cheesesteaks. The sandwich is more like a creature from a Cronenberg movie: it’s a foot-long hot dog topped with a full cheesesteak, peppers and onions, and melted whizz. It might make you fall asleep in your seat, so consider splitting it.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Pulled Pork Sandwich

Location: Pig Beach BBQ, Field Level, Section 135

This Brooklyn-based barbecue shop has set up their porky paradise in section 135, where you can get a loaded brisket mac and cheese, but we’d go for their pulled pork sandwich. The barbecue is smoky, and the slaw and sauce brighten up the whole thing like a Pete Alonso Polar Bear Bomb to straight away center field.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Birria Tacos

Location: Nixtamal NYC, Field Level, Taste of the City

Leave your crisp white Mets jersey at home if you plan on getting Nixtamal NYC’s birria tacos. The rich, cheesy tacos served with consommé are a bit messy, but they’re excellent. Save the warming tacos for a chilly game early or late in the season. Their esquites won’t blow your mind, but they’re a good snack if you just want a couple bites.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Shackburger, Mets MVP Shake

Location: Shake Shack, Field Level, Taste of the City

When Citi Field first opened, one of its calling cards was the gigantic Shake Shack in dead center field. Fifteen years later, the line hasn’t died down. While it’s much easier to get yourself a shackburger in NYC now than it was in 2009, the line has stayed consistent, and for good reason. Shake Shack is still one of the best places to get food in the ballpark. Grab a milkshake and a shackburger.