In just the past year, the question of what to eat at Nationals Park has gotten substantially easier to answer with the arrival of New York restaurateur Danny Meyer's four ballpark concepts — Shake Shack, El Verano, Blue Smoke and Box Frites. And there are also the outposts of Washington's iconic Ben's Chili Bowl, plus oversized StrasBurgers available at the Red Porch restaurant and a brand new shipping container market with food trucks named the Fairgrounds located just outside the ballpark. Here now, a guide to the best of what you can find within the ballpark.
Nationals Park's Five Standouts
Shake Shack: Nationals Park has one of Meyer's growing number of ballfield Shake Shacks. Here they're serving the classic ShackBurger as well as the Shack-Cago Dog, Shroomburger, cheese fries, frozen custards, and shakes. [Section 241]
Ben's Chili Bowl: This U Street institution has a couple of outposts in Nationals Park, where they're selling their signature half-smokes — an iconic DC dish if there ever was one — chili cheese fries and more. [Sections 109, 140, 301, 315]
Blue Smoke: A satellite of Danny Meyer's famed Manhattan barbecue joint serving Kansas City spare ribs, a smoked bologna sandwich, a pulled pork sandwich, beer and desserts. [Section 241]
El Verano Taqueria: Launched by Danny Meyer chef Floyd Cardoz, El Verano sells chicken mole Pipian, carnitas, vegetarian tacos, chile-marinated skirt steak, Barbacoa quesadillas, and more. [Section 241]
Red Porch: This sit-down restaurant offers a menu of American staples from wings, onion rings and potato skins to a variety of salads and hamburgers. Notably, this season marks the debut of an eight-pound StrasBurger. [Centerfield]
*denotes Eater recommendations
Main Concourse
*Ben's Chili Bowl, Sections 109, 140: An outpost of the U Street restaurant, serving DC's iconic half-smoke, chili cheese fries, chili dogs and more.
Beltway Bar, Section 132: This bar offers beer, wine, cocktails and margaritas on the rocks.
Boardwalk Fries, Section 106: Boardwalk-style fries and chicken tenders.
Breyer's Ice Cream, Sections 115, 129: They've got eight flavors of eight ice cream, plus sundaes served in a Nationals helmet.
Capitol Candy, Sections 109, 129, 137: Cotton candy and kettle corn.
Change Up Chicken, Section 130: Selling chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, chicken and waffles.
Diamond Classics, Section 136: Typical ballpark fare such as hot dogs and soft pretzels. Also peanuts and cracker jackets, of course.
Dippin' Dots, Section 109, 129, 134, 143: The old "ice cream of the future" shopping mall favorite, flash-frozen ice cream mix in little pellets.
*Dolci Gelati, Section 112, 135: Italian gelato.
Dupont Deli, Section 104: A variety of sandwiches, from Cajun chicken and Reuben to grilled cheese and turkey sandwiches. They've also got peanuts, Cracker Jacks and energy bars.
Field of Greens, Section 110: Healthier ballpark options such as veggie wraps, hummus and salads.
Flippin' Pizza, Section 115: New York-style pizza with franchises throughout the DC area.
Frozen Rope, Section 135: Soft-serve ice cream in cones or miniature Nationals helmets.
Funnel Cake, Section 143: Selling, you guessed it, funnel cakes.
Georgetown Grill, Section 130: This one offers a bunch of burgers — Hawaiian, veggie, and "cowboy" among them — plus fries, peanuts and Cracker Jacks.
Grand Slam Grill, Sections 110, 141: Fries, chicken fingers, hot dogs and burgers.
Hard Times Cafe, Section 106, 118, 129: A local chain serving chili in all forms — over spaghetti, in a bowl, over nachos and hotdogs. They've also got wings.
Jamming Island BBQ, Section 143: This centerfield option offers jerk ribs and jerk chicken, plus sides of cole slaw, potato salad and corn on the cob.
Max's Kosher Grill, Section 143: The Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington oversees this one to ensure the hot dogs, knishes, falafel and shwarma are kosher.
Nats Dogs, Sections 108, 115, 129, 136, 141: Hot dogs, y'all.
Pop Fly Popcorn, Section 129: Regular popcorn and kettle corn.
Pretzels, Section 106: Pretzels, pretzel dogs and "slush puppies."
*Red Porch, Centerfield: This sit-down restaurant offers a menu of American staples from wings, onion rings and potato skins to a variety of salads and hamburgers. Notably, this season marks the debut of an eight-pound StrasBurger.
Rookie's, Section 143: For the kids, selling Uncrustables and kid-size hot dogs.
Senators Sausage, Sections 108, 134: One of many Washington pun-named vendors, this one selling a variety of sausages from spicy Italian to bratwurst.
Shaved Ice, Section 143: Pretty self-explanatory.
Steak of the Union, Section 117: Cheesesteak place.
Sweet Spot, Section 105: Ice cream place with sundaes. Also candy.
Taste of the Majors, Section 117: This stand sells signature food items from other Major League ballparks across the nation such as a Florida Cuban, Philly hoagie, and New York pastrami.
The Capitol Club, Section 113: This bar offers beer, wine, cocktails and margaritas on the rocks.
Triple Play Grill, Section 141: Selling sliders.
Mezzanine Level
All-Star Bar, Section 240: Premium liquor and domestic beer.
Bases Loaded Nachos, Section 237: Nachos and more nachos, grande-style.
*Blue Smoke, Section 239: A satellite of Danny Meyer's famed Manhattan barbecue joint serving Kansas City spare ribs, a smoked bologna sandwich, a pulled pork sandwich, beer and desserts.
*Box Frites, Section 239: This Danny Meyer concept is just fries, both regular and a roasted garlic with grated Parmesan variety. Fries come with dipping sauces that are well worth trying.
Capitol Creamery, Section 217: Breyer's ice cream.
Diamond Classics, Section 202, 203: Typical ballpark fare such as hot dogs and pretzels. Also peanuts and cracker jackets, of course.
*Dolci Gelati, Section 235: Italian gelato.
*El Verano Taqueria, Section 241: Launched by Danny Meyer chef Floyd Cardoz, El Verano sells chicken mole Pipian, carnitas, vegetarian tacos, chile-marinated skirt steak, Barbacoa quesadillas, and more.
Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk, Section 242: Beer, plus premium and top-shelf liquor.
Nats Dogs, Section 229: Good old hot dogs.
The Pit, Red Loft: They've got sandwiches made with pit beef and pit turkey.
Pop Fly Popcorn, Section 205: Regular popcorn and kettle corn.
Red Loft Bar, Section 244: Above the Red Porch Restaurant, this full-service bar at centerfield has got a nice list of draft beers with an emphasis on the local such as Dogfish Head, Heavy Seas, and Flying Dog.
Senators Sausage, Section 225: One of many Washington pun-named vendors, this one selling a variety of sausages from spicy Italian to bratwurst.
*Shake Shack, Section 241: Nationals Park has one of Meyer's growing number of ballfield Shake Shacks. Here they're serving the classic ShackBurger as well as the Shack-Cago Dog, Shroomburger, cheese fries, frozen custards, and shakes.
Club Level
Anacostia Station, Section 218: This stand can be found inside the Stars and Stripes Club and it offers items such as jerk chicken, braised short rib sandwiches, sweet potato fries and more.
Club Carvery, Section 214: Also inside the Stars and Stripes Club, this stand offers carving stations of top round beef and smoked turkey.
Flippin' Pizza, Section 214: New York-style pizza with franchises throughout the DC area.
Homestead Grays Pub, Section 217: Inside the Stars and Stripes Club, a full-service bar with beer, cocktails, wine and more.
Mac Madness, Section 210: All manner of mac 'n cheese varieties.
Nacho Bar, Section 217: Inside the Stars and Stripes Club, they've got nachos in three sizes: regular, supreme and grande, the last of which comes with an option of barbecue chicken on top.
Nats Bar, Section 209: Also full-service bar inside the Stars and Stripes Club.
South Capitol Grill, Section 211: Selling strip steak sandwiches, fish and chips and veggie burgers.
Triple Play Grill, Section 210: Three kinds of jumbo dogs: brats, sausages and regular jumbo dogs.
Gallery Level
*Ben's Chili Bowl, Sections 301, 315: An outpost of the U Street restaurant, serving DC's iconic half-smoke, chili cheese fries, chili dogs and more.
Boardwalk Fries, Section 318: Boardwalk-style fries and chicken tenders.
Capitol Candy, Section 312: Cotton candy and kettle corn.
Flippin' Pizza, Section 310: New York-style pizza with franchises throughout the DC area.
Foggy Bottom Diner, Section 302: Your standard American fare, including burgers, sandwiches and chicken fingers.
Grand Slam Grill, Section 318: Fries, chicken fingers, hot dogs and burgers.
Nats Dogs, Sections 310, 314, 317: Here are all manner of hot dogs. You can also get a "value pack" that includes a hot dog, chips and a drink for $7.
Pretzels, Section 318: Pretzels, pretzel dogs and "slush puppies."
Pop Fly Popcorn, Section 318: Regular popcorn and kettle corn.
Senators Sausage, Section 308: One of many Washington pun-named vendors, this one selling a variety of sausages from spicy Italian to bratwurst.
Steak of the Union, Section 309: Cheesesteak place.
Taste of the Majors, Section 313: This stand sells signature food items from other Major League ballparks across the nation such as a Florida Cuban, Philly hoagie, and New York pastrami.
The Union Pub, Section 306: Full-service bar.
Widely available throughout the stadium: Beer from Baseline Brews; funnel cakes, Dippin Dots and cotton candy from Capitol Candy.