What to eat at Citi Field, the best foodie ballpark in the country, this year

• Citi Field has been voted the best ballpark in Major League Baseball for three years in a row.
• In 2025, the Mets rolled out new menu items at many of its beloved eateries, but will also bring in food from local chefs this year.
• New drink options include an Allagash beer bar and a specialty vodka cocktail.

For three years in a row, Mets fans have been eating good: Citi Field once again has the best food of any ballpark in Major League Baseball, it's third consecutive win in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards which will be announced in its entirety tomorrow.

And today, I'm eating good as well, because I just tasted every menu item and beverage that's new at Citi Field in 2025. Opening Day at Citi Field is April 4, 2025 as the Mets take on the Toronto Blue Jays (They'll be on the road in Houston on the official Opening Day, March 27, against the Astros) so, soon, you can join the food party too.

What to eat at Citi Field in 2025

I'll let you discover these new foods at the ballpark, but if you want some guidance, my favorites of the new lineup were the tomahawk steak from Pat LaFrieda's Chop House (impossibly tender with silky fat and a tasty, caramelized edge), the curried chicken patty from Chef Kwame's Patty Palace (robustly spiced and served with a side of fiery habanero hot sauce on which James Beard Award-winning Chef Kwame Onwuachi advised me to go easy (I didn't, for better or worse)), and the Pig Beach BBQ smoked turkey sando, an actually moist turkey slab with a punchy vinegar slaw and bright Alabama-style barbecue sauce.

I also like the local additions this year (four local food makers will be featured in Citi Field this season; more on that below), especially Arepalicious' cheese arepas: lightly seared, pillowy arepa flatbreads topped with pulled chicken, creamy cotija cheese and a tangy sauce.

It's no wonder Citi Field has such excellent food; Chefs Jason Eksterowicz and Paul Horowitz have guided the culinary team since 2017 and in the last few years, the Mets have worked with celebrity culinary advisors Judy Joo, Adam Richman, JJ Johnson and Onwuachi for specific concepts but also overall guidance.

But, again, don't take my word for it; head out to Flushing this season and taste for yourself.

All the new menu items at Citi Field in 2025

Naz's Halal Food - Combo over rice. Marinated chicken and lamb gyro meat over aromatic basmati rice with a side salad.

Pat LaFrieda's Chop House - Customized Tomahawks and Steak Frites. LaFrieda prime-aged tomahawk with chimichurri, steak sauce and fleur de sel. And, for the steak frites, Yukon Gold waffle fried, LaFrieda filet mignon, smoked gouda fondue and caramelized onions. (And a bonus new LaFrieda dish: loaded fries.)

Seoul Bird - Korean fried chicken with kimchi fried rice. Golden-battered fried chicken over short-grain fried rice with veggies and kimchi.

Chef Kwame's Patty Palace - Curried Chicken Patty. Flaky patty with chicken curry served in coco bread and topped with green sauce, jerk BBQ and ginger-cabbage slaw.

Prince Street Pizza - The Original Prince and Spicy Spring. Original: Classic round pie with marinara sauce and grated mozzarella. Spicy Spring: Fra diavola sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella and pecorino romano.

Adam Richman's Burger Hall of Fame - Fiesta Burger and Pub Burger. Fiesta: Taco-spiced Pat LaFrieda burger with chipotle cream, Mexican cheese, spicy guacamole on a pan de agua roll. Pub burger: Worcestershire and A1-infused LaFrieda patty with beer cheese, thick-cut bacon, melted leeks, pork rinds and spicy mustard served on a pretzel bun.

Chiddy's Cheesesteaks - The Citi Fielder. Steak, sauteed onions, cheese whiz served on a roll.

New York Panini - Doubleheader. LaFrieda burger, with a hot dog, American cheese, relish and mayo on a round rustic roll.

From the Stretch - Ultimate Grilled Cheese. Provolone and American cheese with pimento spread in a pinwheel flatbread and served with tomato fondue.

Wok 'N Roll - Cinnamon bun egg roll and Cities to Citi Field - Toronto. Cinnamon Bunn in a crispy wonton wrapper and for the Cities to Citi Field, it's a poutine egg roll with fries, cheese curds and gravy.

Gluten Friendly - Grilled Chicken Sandwich. Marinated chicken breast with provolone, cabbage and avocado dressing served on a gluten-free bun.

Pig Beach BBQ - Smoked Turkey Sando. Smoked turkey topped with tangy vinegar slaw and Alabama white sauce on a potato roll.

Vegan City - Pulled BBQ Jackfruit. BBQ-braised jackfruit topped with coleslaw on a pretzel bun.

Swingin' Wings - Amazin Bone-in Wings. Mild buffallo, BBQ and sweet chili varieties.

Cookie Crumz. White chocolate macadamia nut vegan cookie and oat and nut raisin gluten-free cookie.

Metropolitan Fry Factory. Pickle-spice hand-cut fries and fried Oreos with chocolate sauce.

Gyro Jimmy's Greek Grill - Beef and Lamb Gyro. Beef and lamb meat served inside traditional Greek pita with tzatziki, lettuce, tomato, onion and fries.

Local eats at Citi Field in 2025

This offseason, the Mets partnered with Coca-Cola to give local businesses a chance to be a part of the Citi Field 2025 culinary lineup. Four local food makers won and will serve their food at the stadium for parts of the season.

Arepalicious (April 4 to July 6). Serving cheese arepas topped with chicken, cotija cheese and house sauce.

Fieldtrip (April 4 to July 6). Jerk meatballs made with ground turkey and mushrooms, served with jollof rice, plantains and cucumber coconut yogurt.

Thai Tai Eatery (July 18 to Sept. 21). Serving a banh mi with traditional Vietnamese ham, roasted Vietnamese sausage, spicy mayo, cucumber, pickled carrots, daikon radish and cilantro on a baguette.

Dorado Tacos & Quesadillas (July 18 to Sept. 21). Carne asada quesadilla with a three-cheese blend, steak and choice of sour cream or salsa.

What to drink at Citi Field in 2025

All your old beer, wine and liquor standbys will be at the park, but check out the Allagash beer bar, or pick up other mid-major craft beer from Montauk, Brooklyn Brewery, Dogfish Head and others.

You can also order a new Mets cocktail, the Queens Quencher: vodka, blue raspberry liqueur and lemonade with lemon and blueberry garnishes. And for a change of pace, grab the MIO sparkling sake that Citi Field will be slinging this year.

Matt Cortina is a food reporter for NorthJersey.com/The Record. Reach him at mcortina@gannett.com.