The NBA season is a beautiful time of year. The arenas themselves do an amazing job hosting each team and the fans that support them. Especially with the NFL playoffs upon us (no more football), We need to dig deeper into some of the best dishes at each arena, so without further ado, let’s take a look!
Madison Square Garden (New York Knicks): Pastrami Sandwich
The Knicks play at Madison Square Garden which, aside from being a huge, famous arena, is home to a bunch of delicious foods.
If you’re ever there and want to grab a bite to eat, make a point of swinging by Carnegie Deli. They sell a pastrami on rye that’s to-die-for.
The best part? They don’t skimp on the meat. They’re known for overstuffing their sandwiches with pastrami, keeping you full and satisfied.
Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles Lakers + Clippers): French Dip Sandwich
If you want your sandwich with a little extra flair, this is it. What makes this sandwich stand out is its dipping sauce.
True to their name, French dip sandwiches are served on baguettes with sliced roast beef and melted cheese, dipped into beef broth.
If you want to eat before the game, then go to Philipe’s. Cole’s apparently also sells them, but consensus seems to be that Philipe’s is better.
Scotiabank Arena (Toronto Raptors): Poutine
The first thing you should do when visiting Canada, aside from buying a bottle of maple syrup, is get some poutine.
If you don’t know, poutine consists of cheese curds and gravy over fries. It’s a delicious combo that’s pretty hard to get wrong.
The Poutinerie seems to be the place to go to get top-notch poutine, although most concession stands sell it. Wherever you go, just make sure to try it.
Smoothie King Center (New Orleans Pelicans): Jambalaya
If you’re looking for something to eat in the concourse, look no further than the Cajun Corner. They sell a delicious jambalaya.
Jambalaya is a must-have if you’re visiting Louisiana. It has Creole and Cajun roots, and is similar to gumbo, although it’s less liquid-y.
The jambalaya in the Smoothie King Center is cooked with hot sausage. In general, the dish also includes lots of veggies and chicken breast.
Chase Center (Golden State Warriors): Tacolicious Mexican Street Food
California has some of the best Mexican food in the States, and Tacolicious (a restaurant in the Chase Center) delivers on that.
Their menu is pretty simple, focusing mostly on tacos, salads, and chips with guac. They offer chicken, carne asada (steak), and veggie tacos.
Tacolicious has multiple locations throughout San Francisco, so if you like the food, you don’t have to go back to the Chase Center to get it.
State Farm Arena (Atlanta Hawks): Chicken and Waffle Taco
Chicken and waffles are one of the best breakfast foods to come out of the South (and, honestly, there are a lot).
So, it’s only fitting that the State Farm Arena in Atlanta would offer up some high-quality chicken and waffles — in taco form, no less.
West Nest, specifically, offers a chicken and waffle bowl for you to dine on before catching the big game. Buyer, beware: the bowl includes Koolickles.
TD Garden (Boston Celtics): Lobster Roll
Lobster rolls are a New England delicacy, so of course you’d want to eat one before going to a Boston Celtics game.
You can get your lobster roll at Garden Grill. It’s made like a lobster salad, with mayo, celery, and lettuce, and served with chips.
If this lobster roll isn’t to your taste, don’t count them out entirely. We’ve heard that James Hook & Co. on Northern Avenue sells some of the best.
Spectrum Center (Charlotte Hornets): Carolina BBQ Pork Nachos
Honestly, there are a lot of delicious food options at the Spectrum Center. Charlotte Hornets fans are eating good, no doubt about it.
NoDa Cantina, specifically, sells loaded nachos, complete with barbecue pork. If that doesn’t fill you up (though it probably will), you can try their fish tacos.
If you’re a fan of pork but don’t really want it on your nachos, the Piedmont Pit serves up a Carolina-style pulled pork sandwich.
United Center (Chicago Bulls): Chicago-Style Hot Dog
After you have a slice (do Chicagoans do slices? I don’t know) of deep dish pizza, this hot dog should be next on your list.
At Chicago Dish, you can grab a Chicago-style hot dog with a side of fries. So…how do you even make a hot dog “Chicago style”?
Chicago-style hot dogs are exclusively served on poppy seed buns, topped with mustard, onions, sweet pickle relish, tomatoes, peppers, celery salt, and a dill pickle.
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (Cleveland Cavaliers): Polish Boy Sandwich
If you’re not from Ohio, you’re probably wondering what the heck this could possibly be. The name doesn’t exactly explain it well.
A Polish Boy is basically a hot dog from Cleveland (not Poland). It uses kielbasa sausage, topped with coleslaw, fries, and barbecue sauce.
If you’re looking to try one before catching a Cavaliers game, Banter in the Van Aken district is apparently very good.
American Airlines Center (Dallas Mavericks): Brisket Nachos
How could you go to Texas without trying some Tex Mex? While nachos are good just about anywhere, Texan nachos will make your taste buds explode.
There are several places in the American Airlines Center where you can grab some loaded nachos. AvoEats offers barbacoa nachos with avocados.
If you’re not an avocado person, there’s no need to worry. DBQ offers loaded BBQ nachos, avocado-free. Pretty much every concession stand has nachos of some form.
Ball Arena (Denver Nuggets): Rocky Mountain Oysters
Rocky Mountain oysters are a Denver delicacy, but don’t get it twisted — this is nowhere near seafood. “Rocky Mountain oyster” is a nickname for bull testicles.
Yeah. Bull testicles. They’re sliced up and fried before eating, like a chicken nugget, so you can pretend that that’s what you’re eating instead.
While they’re popular in Denver, that’s not the only place you’ll find them. People eat them out West and in parts of Canada, too.
Little Caesar’s Arena (Detroit Pistons): Detroit-Style Deep Dish Pizza
Chicago isn’t the only city that knows how to do a deep dish! Detroit-style pizza is mainly eaten in the Midwest, but has been gaining nationwide popularity.
There’s no better food to have before a Pistons game than a Detroit-style pizza. Check out Mike’s Pizza Bar in the Little Caesar’s Arena to try it.
The edges of a Detroit-style pizza are typically crispy and cheesy, with the pizza itself being rectangular in shape. Top with pepperoni for the full experience.
Toyota Center (Houston Rockets): Texas BBQ Plate
Other than Tex Mex, there’s nothing that Texas does better than barbecue. A Texas barbecue plate is an absolute treat for any meat lover.
Brisket is what ties the meal together, but pork and beef ribs, sausage, turkey, and pulled pork are also included. Bread and pickles are often sides.
At the Toyota Center, a two meat barbecue plate is provided. If you go to an actual barbecue place, they might actually give you free beer.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indiana Pacers): Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
Apparently, the pork tenderloin sandwiches at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse (formerly known as the Bankers Life Fieldhouse) are to-die-for. They come with a variety of sauces.
The sauces aren’t your run-of-the-mill sandwich sauces, either. They offer honey sriracha, maple syrup, and peach butter, among others, at the balcony level.
These sandwiches are a must-have for anyone visiting the Midwest, particularly Indiana. No pork tenderloin sandwich is complete without pickles, mustard, and onions.
FedExForum (Memphis Grizzlies): Memphis BBQ Ribs
Texas isn’t the only state that knows how to do barbecue. If you’re looking to eat some barbecue in the FedEx Forum, Rendezvous is your best bet.
Memphis-style barbecue ribs are usually pork. They can be served wet or dry, though there’s a specific Memphis dry rub that many people use.
The Memphis dry rub usually includes sugar (brown and white), salt, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, ginger powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and rosemary.
Kaseya Center (Miami Heat): Cuban Sandwich
Cuban sandwiches are a Miami must-have. Originating from Cuban immigrants to Florida, the Cuban sandwich is made of ham, cheese, pickles, and mustard.
Tampa might have something to say about this, though. The two cities have a huge rivalry when it comes to their Cuban sandwiches.
If you want to try one while you’re at the Kaseya Center (formerly the FTX Arena), then Pollo Tropical in sections 120 and 325 has you covered.
Fiserv Forum (Milwaukee Bucks): Wisconsin Cheese Curds
No one does cheese like Wisconsin does. You can’t go to Wisconsin and not try some cheese curds. They’re meant to squeak when you eat them.
The Mecca, a sports bar across the street from the Fiserv Forum, offers cheese curds as an appetizer. Motor Bar and Restaurant does as well.
Honestly, you’d be hard-pressed to find a place in Wisconsin that doesn’t sell cheese curds. It’s up to you to find out which places you prefer.
Target Center (Minnesota Timberwolves): Juicy Lucy Burger
Cheeseburger lovers, this one’s for you. For the uninitiated, the Juicy Lucy is a burger stuffed with melted cheese and topped with whatever you like.
So, where should you grab yours before watching the Timberwolves? Well, that depends. Two places claim to have invented it: the 5-8 Club and Matt’s Bar.
5-8 has multiple locations across Minneapolis, and might be easier to get to. However, people seem to believe Matt’s Bar’s claim more, so it’s up to you.
Paycom Center (Oklahoma City Thunder): Bison Burger
As you’ve probably already guessed, bison burgers are pretty popular in Oklahoma. Oklahoma City Thunder’s mascot is also a bison, so it’s pretty fitting.
There’s no shortage of burgers to be had at the Paycom Center. Slam Burger, in particular, has a very wide variety.
Apparently, there’s a farmer’s market in Oklahoma City on weekends that sells fresh bison meat, so you should swing by during your visit.
Kia Center (Orlando Magic): Gator Bites
Nothing says “Florida” like alligators. And eating them. When in Rome, right? You’d be hard-pressed to find gator bites outside of the South, so take the opportunity!
There’s lots of places to buy gator bites in Orlando, as expected. However, Wild Fork comes highly recommended. Since you’re in the area, try them out.
You could also go to Gatorland, an alligator theme park that also happens to sell gator meat. For similar fare, go to PDQ in the Kia Center.
Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia 76ers): Philly Cheesesteak
As a classic Philadelphia food, it would practically be a crime for the Wells Fargo Center to not offer Philly cheesesteaks.
If you don’t want to buy food at the arena, plenty of places in the area sell cheesesteaks. Do yourself a favor and get one.
Sonny’s Famous Cheesesteaks are, apparently, famous for a reason. If their cheesesteaks didn’t quite make the cut for you, then try Philly Steak or Pardon My Cheesesteak.
Footprint Center (Phoenix Suns): Sonoran Dog
Now, this is a hot dog we’ve never heard of, but people located in the southwest probably know all about these.
Sonoran hot dogs were actually invented in Mexico, then made their way to southern Arizona, where they’re super popular. If you’re in Phoenix, you’ve gotta try one.
Sonoran hot dogs are made of beef, and topped with chopped onions, tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, mayo, hot sauce, salt, and pepper.
Moda Center (Portland Trail Blazers): Voodoo Doughnuts
Voodoo Doughnuts are a Portland must-have. Unlike the other items on this list, this refers to a shop, rather than an actual food.
Still, if you’re going to be in Portland, you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not checking them out. They have two locations in the city.
This one-of-a-kind shop sells gourmet doughnuts, and even takes custom orders. They also have plenty of vegan options to choose from, if you need it.
Golden 1 Center (Sacramento Kings): Farm-to-Fork Fare
California has swaths of rich agricultural land, and have dubbed themselves the “farm-to-fork capital.” When you’re catching a Kings game, sample some organic food.
They offer lots of vegetarian and vegan options at their concession stands, although people seem to think that the food is overpriced.
If you want a good farm-to-fork restaurant to visit in Sacramento, Grange is one of the highest-rated, with a huge wine vault to boot.
AT&T Center (San Antonio Spurs): Tex-Mex Fajitas
We love fajitas, you love fajitas…come on, everyone loves fajitas. What better place to eat them than in San Antonio, Texas?
If you’re in the mood for Tex Mex, Chef’s Street Tacos in the AT&T Center might be your best bet. They also sell Cuban pulled pork sandwiches.
As far as San Antonio in general goes, there are plenty of good options. Pollos Asados Los Nortenos has especially good reviews.
Vivint Arena (Utah Jazz): Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit
They couldn’t have given this a better name if they tried. Every single one of those ingredients sounds amazing. How could you not want to try it?
They’re pretty much exactly what they’re described to be. They’re very popular in southern states as well, which comes as no surprise.
If this has got you in the mood for some barbecue, R&R BBQ in the Vivint Arena has you covered. They’re located at Portal D.
Capital One Arena (Washington Wizards): Half-Smoke Sausage
Located in our country’s capital, the Capital One Arena has an official partnership with Logan’s Sausage. And yes — they make half-smokes.
Just when you thought more hot dog variations were impossible, in comes the half-smoke. A half-smoke sausage is a staple of the D.C. area.
They’re made of both beef and pork, and have a distinct smoky flavor and spice. Many split the sausage in half while grilling, giving it its name.