HOUGuide
Crawford dogs, smoked turkey legs, and everything else you should eat at Minute Maid Park.
Chelsea Thomas & Gianni Greene
A night at Minute Maid Park is a real treat, and not just because Orbit always gets the crowd hype and Alex Bregman might bomb one past center field and trigger the home run train’s horn. The food is pretty decent, too. Whether you want to double-fist a beer and a hot dog in revelry, or get into some smoked pork rib sandwiches, these are the best things to eat at Minute Maid Park.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Chelsea Thomas
Maven Coffee & co*cktails
Location: Section 104
What better way to support the team than grabbing a couple of drinks at Astros’ pitcher Lance McCullers Jr.’s coffee shop and bar? Located directly behind the Crawford Boxes, Maven pours boozy frozen espresso martinis and shaken carajillos laced with orange zest. While these may not be the standard ballpark drinks, they will get you fired up to sing “Deep In The Heart Of Texas” with your fellow fans.
Saint Arnold’s Bar
Location: Section 104
Houston’s oldest independent brewery has its own tavern behind the Crawford Boxes with multiple taps of nearly every beer in Saint Arnold’s lineup. The bar serves a cider made just for Minute Maid Park that you can mix with any beer for a build-you-own-snakebite. It’s a great spot to post up during slow innings and trade advice about which reliever should emerge from the bullpen to any bartender willing to listen.
photo credit: Chelsea Thomas
Cookies And Creamery And Ice Cream
Location: Sections 106, 128, 153, 219, 226, 251, 411, and 429
Cookies And Creamery And Ice Cream exemplifies why ice cream is the unofficial dessert of baseball. Blue Bell comes in either a cup, on top of a handmade waffle cone, or in a commemorative mini Astros baseball helmet. Get a couple of scoops of vanilla, or their featured flavor of the month, and do some inner-child healing by covering your ice cream in as many toppings as you (and the helmet) can handle.
photo credit: Chelsea Thomas
The Butcher Express
Location: Sections 116 and 224
If there’s one thing Houstonians are passionate about—besides all things Jose Altuve—it’s barbecue. So of course Minute Maid Park hired its own pitmaster to slow-smoke pork ribs and brisket for Astros fans. Order the Mc RBI Sandwich at Butcher Express for a smoky pork sandwich loaded with tangy escabeche pickles on a potato roll. This sandwich’s portability makes it easy to fist pump for Yordaddy’s homer without dropping your lunch.
photo credit: Julie Takahashi
Home & Away Stands
Location: Sections 113, 129, 156, 251, and 427
Pennant Pickle Dog: The Pennant Pickle Dog is the perfect ball game hot dog because it manages to balance the heat of the jalapeño slaw with the crisp brininess of the fried pickle chips. And while it’s not exactly a light snack, this hot dog still feels refreshing. Plus, a few bites of this dog will inspire you to circle back to the Saint Arnold’s stand for an equally refreshing Lawnmower beer.
Bayou City Hot Dog: When you can’t decide between barbecue and a classic dog during the game, get the Bayou City Hot Dog. The 12-inch dog comes topped with tender smoked pork burnt ends, a mountain of melted cheese sauce, and a dash of heat on the back end from their spicy BBQ sauce. Try this hot dog on an empty stomach and with an extra serving of napkins.
photo credit: Chelsea Thomas
El Tiempo Margarita Bar
Location: Section 156
The frozen margarita from El Tiempo Margarita Bar seems pretty standard: a lime-green citrusy drink that has more slush than not. But after a few sips, it’s clear this co*cktail is stronger than the maraschino cherry on top would lead you to believe. Every drop tastes equally sweet and boozy. It’s pleasantly icy and will keep you cool through every inning, though you’ll probably have to babysit this drink throughout the game.
photo credit: Chelsea Thomas
DAT Creole
Location: Center Field Section
The Cajun-smoked turkey leg from DAT Creole is roughly the size of an accessory from The Flintstones, but that’s not the most impressive part. The smoked leg is tender enough to fall off the bone with little more than a loving glance. And while it might require two hands to support the behemoth, the sticky tang is worth the arm workout.
The Gallagher Club
Location: Club Level, above 205-208
Minute Maid Park has a lot of clubs and varying levels of exclusivity. So, if you're stuck on the Diamond Club waiting list (who isn’t?) and want to live that club lifestyle, hit up The Gallagher Club. For $80 per game, you can add on club access to season passes or any daily ticket purchased through the Astros. In addition to the best view of the entire stadium, the club offers a huge all-you-can-eat buffet, a build-your-own nacho bar, and make-your-own dessert bars.
