Best Stadium Picks for Serious Foodies

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(Image credit: Archives)

published 6 November 2013

What's a football game without a gourmet feast? NFL stadiums around the country have transformed typical game-time grub into culinary adventures for the sports-loving gourmands in all of us. Check out our list of the best bites below:

Green Bay Packers - Lambeau Field

When in Wisconsin, say, "cheese" with Fried Mac 'n' Cheese from the field's executive chef, Leo Dominguez, or try your luck with The Lambeau Heap. The field's namesake challenges fans to finish a 1-pound BBQ garlic bacon curd burger piled with fried onions and coleslaw on a pretzel roll.

Pittsburgh Steelers – Heinz Field

Two famous names circle the Heinz field on game day: Benkovitz and Primanti. Try the the legendary Benkovitz Fish Sandwich or the Primanti Brothers Capicola and Cheese Sandwich with fresh-cut fries and crunchy coleslaw stuffed inside.

Seattle Seahawks – Qwest Field

Take a break from the fried fanfare of stadium food with the Zagat-rated Salmon BLT, and indulge your sweet tooth with a Beast Mode cupcake from Trophy Cupcakes, a Seahawk-colored tribute to team RB Marshawn Lynch.

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Houston Texans – Reliant Stadium

Get Tex-Mex with the Gonzales Meatloaf Sandwich (a roasted green chile meatloaf with Monterey Jack cheese and ancho BBQ sauce on a sweet mesquite bun), or stay smoky with the brown-sugar-and-coffee-rubbed brisket with chipotle mayo on a torpedo roll. Chris Shepard also features The Underbelly which is a braised goat and dumplings.

Cincinnati Bengals – Paul Brown Stadium

All your guilty pleasures are rolled into the Who Dey Melt, the field's mascot-named sensation sandwich filled with mac 'n' cheese, bacon and more melted cheese.

Kansas City Chiefs – Arrowhead Stadium

Eat like a KC native with the Triple Meat Nachos; they're topped with chili, pulled chicken, chopped brisket, nacho cheese sauce, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole.

St. Louis Rams – Edward Jones Dome

Try some unique stadium favorites: Toasted Ravioli (read: breaded and deep fried) or the Bacon Sloppy Joe. Feeling healthy? You can't go wrong with their grilled kabobs or cranberry almond raspberry salad.

Atlanta Falcons – Georgia Dome

Taste the south in the stadium's Peach Cobbler, Sweet Heat Fried Chicken Nachos, or venture globally at the Genki Noodle station or with the Carvery Cart's hot-pressed paninis.

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Cleveland Browns - FirstEnergy Stadium

Be sure to indulge in one of these celebrity chef concoctions: Jonathan Sawyer's Street Frites (fries with mozzarella curd, black butter and brown veal gravy) or a Fat Doug (burger with pastrami, coleslaw and Swiss cheese) by Food Network's Michael Symon, or Chris Hodgson's PBLT (pulled pork, bacon, tomato, shredded romain and sriracha aioli).

New Orleans Saints - Mercedes-Benz Superdome

If you're looking to try some true Southern fare, this is the place. Taste all the classics, including crawfish pie, jambalaya, oyster po' boys, gumbo, and even alligator sausage.

Miami Dolphins - Sun Life Stadium

Enjoy a tropical treat with the grill-pressed Cuban Sandwich—slow-roasted pork, shredded and piled on Cuban bread with sweet ham, Swiss cheese, sliced pickles and yellow mustard.

Chicago Bears - Soldier Field

Health nuts rejoice! "Da bears" stadium offers a variety of gluten free and non-deep-fried options like a vegetarian and gluten-free salad bar, hot cereal and oatmeal bar, and a gluten-free build-your-own nacho bar, an Asian station, and fried chicken.

Arizona Cardinals - University of Phoenix Stadium

Do what the Southwest does best, and give the Barbacoa Street Tacos a try. Looking to mix it up? Try the udon noodle bowls or ancho chile turkey Panini sandwich.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Raymond James Stadium

If you love sandwiches and popcorn shrimp then you'll love what the Buccaneers have to offer. Tampa Bay's stadium makes their popcorn shrimp sandwich like pros with shredded lettuce and house made remoulade on a brioche bun.

Washington Redskins – Fed Ex Field

This Mid-Atlantic hub is the perfect place to get your seafood fix; try the Ultimate Steak and Cake (sirloin with Maryland crab cake on a pretzel roll) or the Crab Pretzel (crab claw meat, cream cheese, hot sauce, seasoning and cheese on top of a soft pretzel) from Phillips Seafood.

San Francisco 49ers – Candlestick Park

Skip freezer burned patties and guitlessly dig into the mascot's favorite—a Sourdough Sam Burger made with 100% Angus beef topped with cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, and roasted garlic mayo.

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Philadelphia Eagles - Lincoln Financial Field

For all you meat lovers out there, we've got the perfect stadium treats for you. Between chef Peter McAndrews' Chicken Diavlo (spicy chicken breast, salami, roasted tomatoes, broccoli rabe, an herb cheddar spread with sharp provolone) and Marc Vetri's Mortadella Hotdog (with spicy pickles and cabbage relish) you'll never leave an Eagles game feeling unfulfilled.