Where To Eat At Guaranteed Rate Field

Whether you’re a diehard Sox fan engaging in some light masochism (read: watching yet another early-season meltdown), or someone who blindly agreed to show up for Margaritaville theme night and a post-game fireworks display, you’re going to need some snacks to get past the seventh-inning stretch. And while nothing beats a ballpark hotdog—especially the Club-level polish—there are a handful of standout, non-premium concessions on the 100 and 500 levels that will keep your spirits high, even if the score won’t.

THE SPOTS

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

Comiskey Dogs

Locations: Sections 114 and 152

We’ll say it again: hot dogs should be your go-to meal at Guaranteed Rate. Regular dogs, brats, and polish sausages are available at stands throughout the stadium, but few things are more Chicago than a footlong dragged through the garden from Comiskey Dogs. That, and noting how Comiskey (or The Cell, or Sox Park, or literally anything else) rolls off the tongue a lot easier than Guaranteed Rate.

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

35th St. Tacos

Locations: Section 139

Less is more at 35th St. Tacos, where the juicy steak or chicken options need nothing but the classic onion and cilantro topping to taste good. Skip the queso and crema that looks like a squeeze of toothpaste, and just enjoy the simplicity of lightly spiced, grilled meat served on warm corn tortillas.

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

Buona Beef

Locations: Sections 120, 149, and 533

Buona might be a chain, but that fact actually works in your favor. It means their very good Italian beef has a quality standard Sox fans can count on. Though you won’t find as many customization options here, and the slices of beef aren’t quite as thin and tender as we've seen at other locations, the baptized sandwich is a great option for a meal—and for recreating your own version of the Buona Beef Race.

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

Campfire Milkshake

Locations: Vizzy View Bar Section 157

This 16-ounce behemoth was originally exclusive to the Stadium Club. But after the chocolate milkshake topped with torched marshmallows, pieces of chocolate and graham crackers, and whipped cream went viral, everyone got access to it at the Vizzy View Bar. It’s basically just chocolate milk with a deconstructed s’more for a hat, but it’s delicious and watching your friend try to take it down in under five minutes may even be more exciting than the game.

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

Buenos Nachos

Locations: Sections 127, 153, 529

Look, this pile of nachos grande is nothing special. It involves concession stand-quality tortilla chips drowning under every imaginable middle school lunch taco bar topping. But the important thing is that you get a massive souvenir helmet out of it. And the combination of ground beef, crunchy lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and bright salsa is a good alternative to the majority of soft, bread-based foods that dominate the rest of the stadium.

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

Gran Elotes-Hot Tamales-Churros

Locations: Sections 104, 127, 144, and 526

Elote is a perennial stadium favorite, and the stands are also conveniently connected to (or at least located near) the tamales and churro carts to optimize the corn-to-dessert-to-mouth pipeline. Spring for the creamy corn fresh off the cob, a boat of steaming hot chicken tamales, and a warm, lightly sugared churro. And since there are a few sellers on the 100-level, you won’t have to trek 20 minutes and risk missing that play that’ll be all over SportsCenter tomorrow.

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

Rainbow Cone

Locations: Sections 157, 158, and 527

​​The original Original Rainbow Cone is a South Side classic that’s been around since 1926. And even though the Rainbow Cone stand at Guaranteed Rate doesn’t have the same history, it does serve the same thing: precariously stacked layers of chocolate, strawberry, Palmer house, and pistachio ice creams, plus orange sherbet. Leave your crisp white Sunday alternate home jersey in your closet and get it in a cone.

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

Mac Shack

Locations: Sections 123 and 528

The hefty portions of macaroni and cheese at Mac Shack are more like softballs than baseballs, largely thanks to ingredients like chunks of glazed pork belly and bacon, or chorizo and potatoes. This isn’t the smoothest three-cheese mac we’ve ever had, but it works well as a pinch hitter.