Petco Park Food Guide
Petco Park is one of the nicest parks in Major League baseball. It is also home to many of San Diego’s famous local restaurants. It is a great place to sample the San Diego food scene. However, the options can be overwhelming and prices are definitely high. So to help with decision making Fun Diego Family presents this Petco Park Food Guide.
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Overview
It is the first week of April and the San Diego Padres are 5 and 3 and only one game out of first place. This is exciting news for a city that is not known for winning sports teams. Since it opened in 2004, Petco Park has not made the playoffs since 2006. The Chargers have left town and baseball is the only game around. Petco is the place to be.
Many of our favorite restaurants have opened locations at Petco Park. Of course, prices are raised, but generally, the food is the same quality. When we go to ballgame we are always struggling with what to eat. Towards the end of the 2018 season, we toured Petco and closely analyzed the many food options. This is our look at the prime food choices at Petco Park.
We should note that over the years, the Petco Park concession stands have changed on a regular basis. Thankfully, in 2019, the concession stands have pretty much remained the same. Of course, we expect this to be a regularly updated feature so we welcome any comments about things we missed or recent changes.
The Petco Park Food Guide is broken down into San Diego Mini-Chains starting at the Lucha Libre stand on the field level. From Lucha Libre, we go clockwise around the field level. From there the guide goes to the second level/Toyota Terrace and upper level. On this level, there are some more formal sit-down restaurants which are included in a separate section. We then provide an overview of beverages, most of the alcoholic kind. Finally, we look at the general concessions at Petco Park, ie hot dogs, and nachos, but also some dessert options.
Note many of these places have multiple locations at Petco Park. No matter where you are sitting you will be close to all the park has to offer.
Petco Park Food Guide: San Diego Mini-Chains
San Diego is home to some awesome local restaurants. In most cases, these places have started in one popular location and spread to several locations. The really successful ones come to Petco Park. The Petco Park version of these places are more expensive, but they offer a great way to sample the local cuisine. We have chosen to start with Lucha Libre because the original location of this popular Mexican restaurant is right by the airport rental car center.
Lucha Libre
Like many of the restaurants at Petco Park, Lucha Libre saw a huge surge in attendance when it was featured on national TV shows on the Food Network and Travel Channel. There is a range of Mexican items but the focus is on the surf and turf tacos and burritos that combine shrimp and carne asada.
- Price at the Park
- Steak Tacos: $7.50
- Surf and Turf Taco: $8.50
- California Burrito: $11.50
- Surfin California Burrito: $13
- Local Restaurant Price
- Surf and Turf Taco: $5.50
- California Burrito: $9.55
- Surfin California Burrito: $10.95
Blue Water Seafood Market and Grill
Blue Water is another place that has been featured on many national shows. Most notably is an appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. They are noted for some of the best fish tacos in town. At Petco, you can pick the fish you want and have it served in either a taco or sandwich.
- Price at the Park
- Tacos: $8
- Sandwich: $16
- Local Restaurant Price
- Tacos: $5-6
- Sandwich: $10-12
Seaside Market
Seaside Market in Cardiff-by-the-Sea is one of San Diego’s great local grocery stores/food markets. At Petco Park, there is an entire mini-version of a grocery store. Most notable at Seaside market is their Tri-Tip Sandwich known locally as Cardiff Crack. That, along with many other food items are available at Seaside in Petco.
- Price at the Park
- Tri-Tip Sandwich: $13
- Chicken and Rice Bowl: $12.50
- Entrees: $14.50
- Fresh Orange Juice: $6
- Mimosas: $9
- Local Restaurant Price
- Tri-Tip Sandwich: $10
- Chicken and Rice Bowl: $9
Phil’s BBQ
Phil’s BBQ is probably the most popular restaurant in San Diego. The main location, near the airport on Sports Arena Blvd, is always crowded. Several other locations have opened throughout the county. It was on Man Vs Food and host Adma Richman declared the El Toro one of the best sandwiches in America in a Travel Channel contest.
- Price at the Park
- Quarter Baby-Back Rib Dinner: $15.50
- Broham pulled pork sandwich: $13.75
- El Toro Sandwich: $14.75
- Fries: $6.25
- Local Restaurant Price
- Quarter Baby-Back Rib Dinner: $12
- Broham pulled pork sandwich: $10
- El Toro Sandwich: $10
Hodad’s
Hodad’s was made famous by Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. An entire episode was devoted to this long-running hamburger joint. Fieri listed the bacon burger as one of the best things he ever ate. I got to talk to owner Mike Hardin at the original Petco Park location just a few months before his untimely death in 2015. As recently as March 2019 Fieri was spotted at Hodad’s.
- Price at the Park
- Single Bacon Cheeseburger: $10.50
- Single Bacon Cheeseburger with Fries: $13.50
- Single Bacon Cheeseburger with Fries: $14.50
- Local Restaurant Price
- Single Bacon Cheeseburger: $9
- Single Bacon Cheeseburger with Fries: $11
- Single Bacon Cheeseburger with Fries: $11.75
Buona Forchetta
Buona Forchetta is considered one of the top Italian places in town. It is most noted for its Naples-style pizza. We have been to all the Buona Forchetta locations and the Petco Park is actually our favorite for pizza (Buono Forchetta has many good Italian dishes we prefer over pizza). Unlike the main restaurants, the location at Petco Park features pizza by the slice. This includes a Roman-style pizza similar to what they serve at one of our favorites Napizza.
- Price at the Park
- Cheese Slice: $6
- Margherita Slice: $8
- Roman Slice: $11
- Most slices: $9
- Pizza Sandwich: $13
- Local Restaurant Price
- Margherita Pizza: $11
- Most Pizzas: $15
Gaglione Brothers
I am from Philadelphia and love cheesesteaks. We are doing a list of best Philly cheesesteaks in San Diego and Gaglione is definitely on that list.
- Price at the Park
- Cheesesteak: $10.75
- Fries: $7
- Garlic Fries: $8.50
- Local Restaurant Price
- Cheesesteak (9-inch): $7.50
- Fries: $2.50
- Garlic Fries: $3
Pizza Port
I have been going to the original Pizza Port in Solana Beach since the early 1990s. They now have several locations throughout the county. Pizza Port brews their own beer and it is a great family hangout. This is a more traditional style pizza than you would find at Buona Forchetta.
In 2019 Pizza Port has one of the best deals at Petco. A soda with unlimited refills is $5.50. You can also get a slice of pizza and a draft beer for $17 (normally $21)
- Price at the Park
- Cheese Slice: $6
- Pepperoni Slice: $6.50
- Specialty Slice: $7
- Local Restaurant Price
- Slice: $3
- 2 slices and a soda: $6
Miguel’s and Brigantine
Brigantine is a local San Diego seafood restaurant that also owns several Miguel’s Cocina Mexican restaurants. The locations are right next to each other on the second level Toyota Terrace. It is not really possible to do a price comparison because the restaurants are sit-down places where you order and entree. At Petco Park it is take-out of individual items.
- Price at the Park
- Surf and Turf Burrito: $13
- Carne Asada Nachos: $14
- Fish & Chips: $12
- Fish Taco: $7.25
- Fried Oyster Basket: $13
Sit-Down Restaurants
The second level, Toyota Terrace is home to several indoor, sit-down restaurants. These places have televisions so you can watch the baseball game. To me that seems slightly ironic.
Board and Brew
Once again Board and Brew is one of our favorite local places. The original, in Del Mar, has been around for years. Now they have opened more locations including 2 near our house and a large sit-down restaurant at Petco Park. Even with a sit-down place, Board and Brew is a casual sandwich shop where you order at the counter. Our favorites are the Baja Beef and San Diegan (Turkey and avocado)
- Price at the Park
- Turkado: $11.50
- San Diegan: $11.50
- Baja Beef: $14
- Local Restaurant Price
- Turkado: $8.50
- San Diegan: $8.50
- Baja Beef: $9.95
.394
The .394 restaurant is named after Tony Gwynn’s 1994 batting average, a modern record (San Diego native Ted Williams was the last one to reach .400 in 1941). This is more of a sit-dwn restaurant with a bar.
- Price at the Park
- Fried Chicken Sandwich: $16
- Mac and Cheese: $8.50
- Chicken Tenders: $10
- NY Strip: $22
Wonderland
Wonderland Ocean Pub overlooks the ocean by the pier in Ocean beach. This is one of our favorite places in the area. The Wonderland Pub at Petco is a venue for special events. We have yet to go in here but plan to check it out this year.
Beverages
San Diego is a craft beer capital with many noted local breweries. Petco Park features the beers of many of these local breweries throughout the park. You can find a full list of breweries here.
One of the more notable locations for beer is the Craft Pier located between the center and right fields. This is operated by famed San Diego brewery Ballast Point. For domestic beer, Budweiser has a similar outdoor patio.
Beverages at Petco Park can kill your bank account. A 20 ounce draft of craft brew goes for $14.50 (up from $13,75 in 2018. A 12 ounce can of craft beer is $9. A 24-ounce Budweiser is $10.50, with the 12 ounces at $6. Prices are pretty consistent throughout the park. The only difference we noted was a 25 ounce can of Budweiser at prices ranging from $10.50 to $11.50.
There is also plenty of location for wine and hard alcoholic throughout the park. Wines at the Park is a special store operated by Donovan’s steak house. In general, a glass of wine at Petco will be $11 to 12.
For the harder stuff, local San Diego company Cutwater Spirits is featured throughout the park. These drinks go for $11.50 to $13 a can. Mixed cocktails are around $14.75. Spiked seltzers go for $7 a can
Of course, there is plenty of soda available at Petco. Generally, sodas are around $5.50 with bottled water at $5. Peets Coffee is served at the park for about $5.
General Concessions and Dessert
Hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, nachos, and ice cream are all ballpark staples. They all can be found throughout Petco Park. This includes soft serve at many concession stands.
In terms of sweet treats, there are several options. Baked Bear Ice Cream Sandwiches are $7.75 (normally $5 locally). Yougurtland has a cup of yogurt for $7.75 or $8.50 with up to 3 toppings. Buona Forchetta serves gelato.
In the end, we admit we have not tried most of the places at Petco. This is because we visit the local version of these places on a regular basis. It may be embarrassing to admit but one of our favorites is the Friar Frank from the Randy Jones Grill. This $6 hot dog is available throughout the park. However, the Randy Jones locations are the best because they offer free chili and cheese sauce as condiments. They also have sausages for $10.
Taco Tuesday and Specials
The San Diego Padres hold regular specials and that is when we like to go. They hold several Beerfest throughout the year where you can come before the game and sample craft beer for $5 per 12-ounce sample. You can see the full calendar of events here.
Our favorite day to go to a Padres game is on Tuesday. This is where tacos are available at multiple places for $2.50 each. We plan to do full coverage of Taco Tuesday this year.
