If you’re spending time at Lollapalooza this weekend, chances are you’ll need to fuel up at Chow Town—the festival’s packed lineup of food and drink vendors—between acts. And while you’d be hard-pressed to find a bargain within the confines of Grant Park, there are plenty of solid picks to choose from among this year’s roster of vendors, whether you’re craving lacy-edged quesabirria, towering ice cream sundaes or about a dozen different variations of French fries. Need help sorting through the options? Take a look through some of our favorite food and drink selections this year and prepare for a festival feast.
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1. Quesabirria from Tacotlán
Hermosa restaurant Tacotlán is serving up platters of three quesabirrias made with shredded beef, which you can order plain or with the classic dressing of onions and cilantro (you should definitely do the latter). Crispy on the outside and ooey-gooey on the inside, the quesabirrias are delicious yet filling—so much so that you could likely split an order between two people—and come with a miniature cup of consomme for dipping. $20 for three
2. Frozen banana pudding from Lorenzo’s Frozen Pudding
Ever wonder what frozen pudding tastes like? Turns out it’s a lot like ice cream, albeit with a slightly fluffier texture. Lorenzo’s Frozen Pudding is offering three flavors of its signature treat at Chow Town this year—and while Hawaiian-style pineapple and strawberry variations are tempting, we stuck with classic banana, which comes studded with chunks of vanilla wafer. $6
3. Chubby Wiener from Chubby Wieners
Although the Chubby Wieners brick-and-mortar remains closed (RIP), we can once again sate our cravings for the stand’s girthy hot dog at Lolla this year. You can’t go wrong with a classic dragged-through-the-garden wiener, but there’s also a cheese dog for those looking for a little pizazz. $9
4. Churro sundae from Xurro
You’ll find ample ice cream options at Chow Town, but only one of those ice cream options comes with a massive, sugar-dusted churro. Swing by the Xurro stand to order this handsome creation, which comes with vanilla ice cream, chocolate or strawberry syrup and a healthy dollop of whipped cream. $10
5. Cucumber lemonade from various bar areas
Attendees over the age of 21 can wander into any of the fest’s four cocktail lounges to order from a menu of specialty cocktails, including the refreshing Cucumber Lemonade (Hendrick’s Gin, lemon, simple syrup, cucumber). We recommend posting up in Lounge ‘91—located near the merch building on the park’s east side—to take advantage of lake views, but be warned that cocktails in cups can’t leave any of the fest’s lounge areas (canned cocktails, on the other hand, are fine).
6. Vegan carne asada taco from Healthy Substance
Hungry for a little snack? Vegans and meat eaters alike will be pleased by the plant-based offerings at Healthy Substance, a vegan Mexican restaurant based in Garfield Ridge that’s selling both carne asada and al pastor tacos made with meat substitutes and served with a side of red or green salsa. Order one for a quick bite or multiples for a full meal. $6 per taco
7. Cold brew from Dark Matter Coffee
When your stamina starts to flag after a long day of dancing in the sun, head to the Dark Matter stand for a zippy, fortifying glass of cold brew over ice. The iconic coffee roastery—which operates some of the best coffee shops in the city—is selling cups of its Chocolate City and Vanilla Suburbs cold brew styles, available black or served with soy milk and simple syrup. $5
8. Walking corn chili bhel puri from The Indian Garden
Roam around the festival grounds with the Indian Garden’s take on tangy bhel puri, which combines crunchy puffed rice, fried gram flour, tamarind and mint chutney, herbs, chiles and corn. $8
9. Boxcar Sandwich from Boxcar Betty’s
The South Carolina-based fried chicken purveyor—which has Chicago outposts in the West Loop and Bucktown—brings its southern-style sandwiches to Chow Town, including the signature Boxcar Sandwich (spicy mayo, peach coleslaw, thick-cut pickles and pimento cheese). Meat-free diners can opt to sub the chicken breast for a pimento-stuffed portobello mushroom. $10