For the first time in five years, San Diego’s Petco Park did not rank No. 1 this year in USA Today’s list of the best baseball stadium in America.
But even if Petco fell to the No. 2 spot behind Baltimore’s Oriole Park in the 2024 poll, USA Today has repeatedly described Petco as having “the best food and beer selection in baseball.”
More than a dozen San Diego County-based food purveyors are returning for the 2024 San Diego Padres season, which kicks off Thursday, and three new local food vendors have joined the mix. Besides food, there are also some new beverage offerings this season.
What’s new this season
Pizza from Gelati & Peccati will now be served at Petco Park.
(Ana Ramirez/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Gelati & Peccati: South Park’s beloved Buona Forchetta restaurant company is opening a second location of its 5-year-old walk-up Roman pizza slice shop and gelateria location in North Park. Pizza options will include traditional Margherita, meat lovers and vegetarian in Roman-style square slices. The gelato flavors will vary, but they’ll all be made in the authentic Italian tradition with premium ingredients. Located behind home plate in the Mercado area of the Main Concourse on Field Level. gelatiandpeccati.com
An’s Gelato of An’s Dry Cleaning will now be served at Petco Park in San Diego, California.
(Ana Ramirez/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
An’s Athletic Field Services: This spinoff of An’s Dry Cleaning, the North Park-born gelato business that USA Today named the No. 2 ice cream shop in America last July, is also making its debut at Petco Park this season. In keeping with the company’s highly quirky business and flavor names for its North Park and Del Mar shops, the ballpark outlet will be named An’s Athletic Field Services & Specialty Turf and Dirt Project Concepting, Maintenance, Repair & Fortification. Four unique ballfield-inspired flavors have been developed for the Petco scoop shop. Chalk is a vegan lemon and almond sorbet with blended almonds. Silt combines cookie butter gelato with crumbled Biscoff shortbread cookies. Clay is Nutella gelato studded with bites of brownie. Sand mixes Madagascar vanilla gelato with fig jam made by locally based Jackie’s Jams. An’s classic favor, Cotton, will round out the mix. It’s a horchata-inspired gelato made with artisan rice, milk and cinnamon pudding. Located near section 104 in the Mercado area of the Main Concourse on Field Level. adcgelato.com
The Horiatiki Gyro Bowl at Spiro’s Mediterranean Cuisine, a new booth for the San Diego Padres’ 2024 season at Petco Park.
(Courtesy of the San Diego Padres)
Spiro’s Mediterranean Cuisine: Spiro and Nancy Chaconas have been serving gyros, kabobs, Greek salads and other taverna food at their Spiro’s location at the Coronado Ferry Landing since 1998. In 2020, they expanded by opening a second Spiro’s location on Prospect Street in La Jolla. The Petco Park booth will be their third. Specialties of the house will be a traditional Greek gyro sandwich on pita bread and the Horiatiki Gyro Bowl, made with lamb/beef gyro meat, cucumber, pepperoncini, tomatoes, red onion mixed greens, feta cheese, tzatziki and Spiro’s hot sauces and sliced pita. Section 124 on the third base side on Field Level. spiroscuisine.com
San Diego’s Finest Hot Chicken’s Hot Hen sandwich.
(Ana Ramirez/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
San Diego’s Finest Hot Chicken: Petco Park’s main concessionaire, Delaware North, opened the first location of this spicy fried chicken sandwich in 2022. Another location has been added this year. The house specialty is the Hot Hen, a fried chicken sandwich topped with Fresno chile slaw, pickles and “fuego sauce” served on a brioche bun. Section 104 and 316, and available in The Draft by Ballast Point in Section 105.
These loaded fries are being served during the 2024 San Diego Padres season by Delaware North inside The Draft by Ballast Point in Section 105 of Petco Park.
(Ana Ramirez/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
New dishes at The Draft by Ballast Point: The Draft by Ballast Point has added two new dishes to its pub menu this season, both created by the park’s main concessionaire Delaware North: Birria egg rolls with Fresno chile slice and loaded fries. Section 105.
Novo Brazil Brewing and the San Diego Padres have partnered on the Nova Easy Sunset Slam Kombucha for the 2024 baseball season.
(Courtesy of Nova Kombucha)
Nova Easy Kombucha: Founded by the Carneiro family, Chula Vista-based Novo Brazil Brewing Company has partnered with the San Diego Padres to create a special edition Nova Easy Kombucha for the 2024 season. Sunset Slam Mango Lime hard kombucha will be served on draft and in 16-ounce cans at multiple locations within the ballpark. The kombucha is 8 percent alcohol by volume with a mango and lime flavor profile. The cans feature the neon pastel colors of the Padres’ City Connect uniforms. On tap in Gallagher Square and within the Craft Beers of San Diego area on the main concourse behind home plate on Field Level. Cans will also be available in Seaside Market on the first base side of the main concourse and at craft grab-and go coolers throughout the ballpark. novobrew.com
The 15th Street IPA from WestBrew.
(Karen Billing)
WestBrew: Josh and Heather Lynn Schreer opened their first WestBrew brewery and tasting room in Vista in October 2020. Since then, they have opened tasting rooms in Del Mar and Downtown San Diego. WestBrew’s specialty is craft West Coast beers, particularly IPAs, hazy IPAs, pilsners and lagers. Craft Row on the main concourse behind home plate on Field Level. westbrew.com
One of Barrio Dogg’s specialty beef hot dogs served at Petco Park.
(Barrio Dogg)
Returning food vendors
Ballpark Eats: Delaware North serves ballpark staples, including hot dogs, pretzels and nachos. Multiple locations.
Barrio Dogg: This Barrio Logan-born quick-service spot sells Tijuana-style bacon-wrapped hot dogs on brioche buns. Located at Gallagher Square and in Section 204.
Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill: This San Diego restaurant serves grilled fish tacos on corn tortillas and sandwiches. Inside .394 restaurant on the Terrace Level.
Board & Brew: This San Diego sandwich chain is known for its Turkado (turkey avocado), Tub o Tuna, sub and beef sandwiches. Section 205.
Carnitas Snack Shack: This North Park-born chain is known for its pork-centric approach to sandwiches, burgers, tacos and burritos. Sections 128 and 228.
Cravory Cookies: This San Diego-born gourmet cookie company debuted at the park in 2021. Its shop at Petco Park sells fresh-baked cookies that might include the ultimate chocolate chip, birthday cake, lemon bar, red velvet and almond joyous. Section 125.
Elote Especial at the Mexican Street Corn stand at Petco Park. It’s one of several new food items available for the 2023 San Diego Padres season.
(Pam Kragen/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Elote Mexican Street Corn: Petco Park’s main concessionaire, Delaware North, opened this Mexican street food cart last year and its delicious elote corn with pop rocks was a smash. Section 100.
Gaglione Brothers: This San Diego-born, family-owned sandwich shop specializes in cheesesteaks and hoagies, as well as garlic fries. Sections 124 and 319.
Grand Ole BBQ: Grand Ole took over the former Phil’s BBQ location behind First Base last season. It’s serving Texas-style barbecue specialties and margaritas. Section 113.
Hodad’s: Famous for its burgers since 1973, this Ocean Beach-born restaurant is famous for its piled-high burgers and onion rings, both of which are served at its Petco Park locations, as well as chicken strips, fries and veggie burgers. Sections 104, 131, 230, 300.
Jack in the Box: The San Diego-born fast-food chain serves tiny tacos, chicken strips, curly fries and mini churros along with a signature Purple Haze cocktail. Section 323.
Kona Big Wave Patio: Home of Kona Brewing and the famous short rib bowl. Section 227.
Mister Softee: Soft-serve ice cream served in mini plastic baseball helmets and in floats. Available in multiple locations.
Negihama Sushi: Sister restaurant to Unisushi, also at Petco Park, Negihama serves fresh-made grab-and-go sushi items. Sections 104, 211.
Pizza Port: Pizzas by the slice and award-winning house-brewed craft beer and appetizers. Sections 123, 213, 311, 320.
Puesto: La Jolla-born Puesto’s outlets serve quesabirria and chicken al pastor tacos, birria nachos, chicken al pastor burrito and more. The outlets also serve margaritas, piña coladas and Puesto’s own Mexican-style light lager beers. Multiple locations.
Randy Jones Grill: The former Padres pitcher-turned-restaurateur is famed for his slow-cooked beef brisket. He also serves oversize hot dogs and other barbecue items. Multiple locations.
Sambazon: This San Clemente superfood chain serves açaí bowls and açaí margaritas at its Petco Park location. Near Section 109.
Seaside Market: Home of the famed “Cardiff Crack”, a Burgundy-pepper barbecued tri-tip steak, Seaside sells Crack sandwiches and nachos, among other items. Multiple locations.
For more food details, visit mlb.com/padres/ballpark/food.