Sports are not just a time for watching your favorite teams – they’re also a time for some great food. Whether you’re a football, baseball or basketball fan, the food on offer is part of the whole experience.
But if you want to try something other than the standard hotdog or burger, think outside the stadium. US cities offer some of the best street food in the nation, so let’s look at the best events for street food.
Betting and eating – the perfect combination
Sports fans know that there’s nothing like placing a winning bet and chowing down on the tastiest food the nation has to offer. With so many parlay apps available to gamble with, chew over your next wager and nail those mega wins when you next head out to root for your favorite team.
The pandemic has made many sports fans reflect on the food they once took for granted. Supermarket chip and dip aren’t the same, and those plastic-wrapped hotdogs cannot compare.
Tailgate parties
Regardless of the event, chances are good that you’ll find a tailgate party going on outside. This is the quintessential example of street food in action. Meet strangers and taste the food they brought from home.
Tailgate parties are not just a time for keg stands. They’re a time to taste the best of what the community has to offer.
Head on over to the parking lot outside the nearest stadium and you’ll find an incredible array of street foods, all varying but based on where you happen to be located.
Super Bowl Sunday
The Super Bowl heads around the nation every year. Beyond the action on the field, you’ll notice that entire cities get involved with featuring their most delicious fare.
Ask anyone who has ever visited a Super Bowl host city, and they’ll tell you that there’s an unlimited amount of street food available. Even restaurants that don’t usually get involved with street food tend to make an exception on this day.
With the likes of Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem partnering with local restaurants, there’s no better time to get a taste of a destination on this one day of the year.
Mardi Gras
New Orleans is a multi-layered community with aspects of different cultures all in one big melting pot.
Mardi Gras is the time of year when the Big Easy displays its best. From holy crepes to the iconic muffuletta, you’ll find it on the crowded streets of Mardi Gras.
Since Mardi Gras falls so close to the Super Bowl most years, this is one of the best places to enjoy the big game and party at the same time.
The Rose Bowl
California’s Rose Bowl takes place in Pasadena, in the suburbs of Los Angeles. California’s premier college football event welcomes local favorites and international cuisine from the L.A. street food community every year.
From dreamy American delights to delectable delicacies from the likes of Thailand, Japan and Europe, you’ll find it all here.
Daytona 500
Are you hungry for some stadium food? Approximately 85% of sports fans said they were nostalgic for stadium food during the pandemic.
Some of the best street food can be found in Daytona Beach, Florida, during America’s most significant motor event of the year. The 500-mile-long NASCAR race gives you ample time to pick up some street food, whether it’s a whole pizza or a slice of key lime pie.
Check out what the Sunshine State offers and escape the cold in February 2022.
Why try street food at your next sports event?
Stadium food tends to be overpriced and offers nothing of note. If you want a bland burger or a forgettable hot dog for $20, enter the stadium, otherwise, you should explore the local area.
Street food brings out what’s best about a community. No two locations and no two street food trucks are the same. Go on a journey to explore the nation’s best street food and be in a world of bliss before the action starts.
Conclusion
Part of the experience of going to any sporting event is about the action before and after the game. Street food is such a big part of the American experience because it not only keeps you fed and watered but shows the diversity of this great country.
Street food doesn’t need to be expensive. It can be surprisingly affordable, so get eating.
What’s your favorite street food from an event you’ve attended?
