Pack an appetite for your next trip to Minute Maid Park, as dozens of new food creations are making their debut.
Friday the Houston Astros and Aramark, the exclusive food and beverage provider for the club, announced the new concession items you can expect to see this season.
Media from all over Houston sampled dishes from vendors like Osso & Kristalla, DAT Creole, Torchy’s Tacos and newcomer, Jackson Street BBQ.
Add a championship-winning ball club to the mix, and these chefs know the expectation to improve on last year’s dishes are high.
“I don’t think you’re going to see a lot of the flavor combinations anywhere else other than at the park,” said Dominic Soucie, executive chef for Aramark.
It’s part of what makes these plates so uniquely Houston. You’ll see classic meals, completely recreated with influences from a variety of different cultures. At Torchy’s Tacos, for example, its take on a taco includes a Nolan Ryan hot dog, deep fried and sprinkled with Hot Cheeto dust.
“This is very much ballpark food. We don’t sell this taco anywhere else,” said Lupe Lozano.
Like the .45 Express taco, many of these foods are exclusive to the ballpark. In total, 20 new menu items will be featured this upcoming season, putting your taste buds to the test.
Think of it as tastes that could be from anywhere, but put together, you’ll only find here.
Featured items at the 2018 Ballpark Tasting included:
Jane Dough Cookie Dough: Gourmet edible, small-batch cookie dough (served at Home & Away in Section 113, 129, 156, & 427; Cookie & Creamery in Section 219; The Park in Section 231; Suites)
Haute Dog: Foot-long hot dog served on a New England style roll with chopped brisket, bacon, BBQ sauce and pickles (served at the Budweiser Brew House in center field; Texas Legends Grill in Section 231)
Astros Slider Trio (served at Astros Sliders in Section 114)
- Texas Pulled Pork Cheesesteak - Pulled pork on a jalapeno cheddar hoagie with grilled onions and peppers, topped with queso blanco
- Texas Brisket Cheesesteak - Chopped brisket on a jalapeno cheddar hoagie with grilled onions and peppers topped with queso bravo
- Hot Dog Sliders - Mini hot dogs served on a New England-style roll
BBQ Burger: Grilled beef patty served on a Challah bun with onion rings, bacon, jalapeno slaw and BBQ Sauce (served at Texas Legends Grill in Section 134)
713 Burger: Freshly-packed Nolan Ryan beef served on a jalapeno cheddar potato roll with topping station available (served at Texas Legends Grill in Section 231)
Taco Trio: Smoked pulled pork served on flour tortillas with pineapples and salsa verde (served at the Taco Trio location in section 125)
Loaded Burrito: Choice of beef or chicken fajitas served on a flour tortilla with cilantro lime rice, refried beans, cotija cheese, pico de gallo and sour cream (served at HTX MEX in Section 215)
Loaded Burrito Bowl: Choice of beef or chicken fajitas served with cilantro lime rice, refried beans, cotija cheese, pico de gallo and sour cream (served at HTX MEX in Section 215)
Loaded Taco Fries: Fresh-cut fries with picadillo, shredded lettuce, queso, olives, avocado, sour cream and tortilla strips (served at the Brew House in center field)
.45 Express: All Beef Nolan Ryan Hot Dog topped with hot Cheetos, green chili queso, tortilla strips, cheese, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos, sour cream and cilantro served on a crisp, corn tortillas inside a flour tortilla (served at Torchy’s Tacos in center field)
BBQ Funnel Cake: Pulled pork, chopped beef, smoked sausage, citrus kale black bean slaw, golden grain mustard BBQ sauce served on a deep-fried funnel cake
Barbacoa Burger: braised beef, queso, pico de gallo, lettuce, avocado and sunny side up egg served on a butter-toasted onion roll (served in the Brew House Tiers)
Three Little Pigs: Slow-smoked pulled pork, spicy Italian sausage, black pepper bacon, citrus kale bean cabbage slaw, golden grain mustard BBQ sauce served on a butter-toasted pretzel bun (served in the Brew House Tiers)
Cinnamon Bun Sundae: Warm, jumbo cinnamon roll, vanilla bean ice cream, whiskey caramel sauce, Bailey’s chocolate sauce, whipped cream and berries (served in the Brew House Tiers)
Osso Italian Nachos: Crispy pasta chips, ground Italian sausage, chopped tomato and formaggio blanco (served at Osso & Kristalla in Section 226)
DAT Creole Meat Pie: Louisiana-spiced akaushi beef, crispy pastry with a rougaroux sauce (served at Osso & Kristalla in Section 226)
Smoked Sausage and Queso Kolache (served at Jackson Street BBQ in Section 124)
Cheddar Biscuit with burnt ends (served at Jackson Street BBQ in Section 124)