When you enter a music festival you’re bound to find some good tunes (maybe), crazy outfits, art, memories you won’t forget and yes—delicious, mouthwatering FOOD. While many of us are primarily there for the music, those who have an inner foodie inside of us know we can’t resist having a juicy bite or two. With festivals such as Tomorrowland and Coachella offering unique restaurant experiences how could a true foodie pass on these opportunities? To honor the most raved about food vendors we’ve counted down the Top 10 most irresistible grubs that you need to check out at your next festival. If you’re not hungry after this then you’re not human…or you’re a psycho.
10Deep Dish Pizza from Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria – Lollapalooza
You can find pizza practically at any festival, however THIS pizza is on another level. Found at Lollapalooza, Lou Malnati’s pizza is the real Chicago pizza. This thick slice of cheesy, melt in your mouth goodness is only $4 at Lollapalooza and we guarantee you’ll find yourself eating a slice in-between sets.
9Fresh Fruit Waffle Cone from Hippie Dips – Various Festivals
“Fresh Fruit, Smoothies, Soups, and Sandwiches”–is what the popular festival staple Hippie Dips advertises. This vegan/vegetarian restaurant brings a hoard of options including their infamous fruit waffle cones. Also known as parfaits, these cones contain greek yogurt and are created from a wide variety of fruit. With all the dancing you’ll be doing this colorful baby will definitely give you an energy boost. Catch Hippie Dips at festivals such as Okeechobee, Bonnaroo, Imagine, Electric Forest, Governor’s Ball and more.
8The Bao from Wow Bao Hot Asian Buns – Lollapalooza
We return to the windy city for our 8th pick. Here’s a different one for you. Called “The Bao” these traditional Chinese steamed buns come packed with meat and vegetables, but the Chicago version takes them up a notch. Wow Bao has created breakfast and sweet-filled baos which include a bacon, egg and cheddar, spinach, egg and mushroom, chocolate, and pumpkin filled version. We’ll take 20 please!
7Mozzarella Sticks from Big Mozz – Electric Zoo/Bonnaroo
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING MORE PERFECT?!! These are the best mozzarella sticks for a festival hands down! These mozzarella sticks have just the right balance of crispiness and gooeyness that will pair well with your favorite dubstep set. Based in NYC, Big Mozz also serves Mozz pockets, DO bites, and more.
6Milky Bun from Afters Ice Cream – Electric Daisy Carnival Vegas/Coachella
Your taste buds will explode after biting into this explosion of flavor, textures, and temperatures. Afters Ice Cream is known for there funky flavors that range from Jasmine Milk Tea to their famous blue-colored Cookie Monster (blue vanilla base with Oreos and cookie dough). To make the milky bun they stuff their ice cream into a glazed bun, seal it back up and heat the outside for a hot/cold effect. Eat this and you’ll have a party in your mouth at EDC Vegas.
5Cereal Milk Soft Serve from Milk Bar – Coachella
I scream, you scream, we all scream MILK BAR!!!! Of course ice cream will be on our list. Let’s face it, after sweating, walking, and dancing in the festival heat, something cold is heaven for your mouth. The featured must-have is the signature cereal milk soft serve which is made with milk, cornflakes, brown sugar and a pinch of salt—it tastes just like the milk at the bottom of a bowl of cornflakes! Catch this L.A. based company at Coachella.
4
Belgian Fries/Tomahawk Steak from Tastes of the World by Tomorrowland – Tomorrowland
The king of EDM Festivals, Tomorrowland goes above and beyond with every single detail of its festival in Belgium. They’ve even created a “Tastes of The World” section to connect the People of Tomorrow to the food they enjoy. You can literally find some of the best festival food at this colossal festival and this adds to why their featured Belgian fries AND Tomahawk Steak deserve a top spot on our list.
First, let’s start with their thick, crunchy and fresh Belgian fries. Official Belgian fries bakers, Saw and Marieke, came back this year because their golden brown fries were such a hit in 2017. Traditionally, they are fried twice and served in a paper cone.
Next, we’ve added Brasa’s Tomahawk Steak. Tomorrowland boasts 4 different restaurants and Brasa is the festival’s new grill concept. Their tender Tomahawk steak which is fried on an Ofyr grill is a sight to behold. Eating this beauty comes with a stellar view over the water.
3Amish Doughnut from Peachey’s Baking Company – Okeechobee, Bonnaroo, Electric Forest
Oh my good lord. This is the mother of all doughnuts. These gigantic, made from scratch doughnuts are like crack. Glazed to perfection, light and fluffy, Peachey’s Baking Company (formerly known as the Amish Baking Company) has outdone themselves with this item. The vanilla aroma of their glazed doughnuts will lure all festival-goers to their food truck where you can also find pretzels and specialty doughnuts topped with fruit and whipped cream. You can catch the Sarasota-based company all over the southeast including Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival, Bonnaroo, and Electric Forest.
2Pizza from Spicy Pie – Almost Every Festival
One word—Spicy Pie. Okay, that’s two words, but regardless this pizza company is at almost every festival and there’s no doubting why. This is the best pizza you will find at a festival and it will go perfect with your favorite techhouse set. These gigantic, cheesy slices are the ultimate comfort food for you whether it be pre, intra, or post-festival.
In an interview with LA weekly the company said,”We stay open until security shuts us down. We stay open until the bitter end.”
Spicy Pie can be seen at more than 25 music festivals around the U.S. and is argueably one of the most well-known food vendors around. Catch a slice at Lost Lands, CRSSD, Hard Summer, Electric Forest, Ultra Miami, Moonrise and more.
1Hawaiian Style Wok-Fired Soba Noodles from Island Noodles – Almost Every Festival
Alright guys, here is the winner. Without a doubt it’s the Wok-Fired Soba Noodles from Island Noodles. You can smell these a mile away and let me tell you, they are addicting.
The exact description from Island Noodles themselves states,
“These buckwheat noodles are stir-fried with fresh garlic, fresh ginger, a medley of 21 fresh vegetables, three of which are seasonal, in specially designed wok stove units. These ingredients are then simmered in a secret light island sauce. The outcome is a unique noodle dish with a high flavor profile using no dairy, nuts, or meat products.”
Why are they so popular? It’s because they appeal to all five of your senses—sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. As your standing in line you can watch the cooks toss the delicious noodles in giant woks knowing that they’ll be in your stomach in minutes. You can get these noodles vegan style or with teriyaki chicken.
Island Noodles can be seen at 100+ plus venues throughout the U.S. including festivals such as Ultra Miami, Imagine, Decadence, EDC, Lost Lands, and many many more.
Let’s not forget the following dishes below. Here’s a list some very worthy honorable mentions. We hope to see you foodies scarfing down one of the items on our list soon!
