The San Diego Padres’ 2026 season gets under way Thursday at Petco Park, but the game won’t be the only attraction for the thousands of fans who will flock to the afternoon opener against the Detroit Tigers.
For the past two years, USA Today has ranked Petco Park the No. 1 Major League Baseball Park in America, thanks to its its beautiful downtown location and because, according to the newspaper, it “has the best food and beer selection in baseball.”
A smorgasboard of Petco Park food items displayed at the media preview on Tuesday. (Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Every year, the Padres’ food and beverage division ups the ante, encouraging its main concessionaire Delaware North to come up with tasty and creative new dishes, and many of its vendors also introduce new items. Plus this year, the park has two new concessionaires, San Diego-based Pop Pie Co. and the Japanese quick-service chain Curry House Coco Ichibanya.
Not sure where to eat at Petco Park this season? Here’s a full ballpark guide
On Tuesday, the Padres hosted a media preview, where they offered tours of their new ’70s-themed bar The Diamond Room, unveiled the new high-def video screens on the park’s first- and third-base towers, shared the 15 free giveaway items being handed out to ticketbuyers this season (bobbleheads, a beanie, scarves, a mini fanny pack and a puffy vest, to name a few) and some of the ballpark’s new merch (a baseball superhero comics-inspired T-shirt and a patriotic Top Gun-inspired Hawaiian shirt). They also debuted the No. 35 patch the Pads will wear on their right sleeves this season in honor of Randy Jones, the beloved Padres player and broadcaster who passed away in November.
But let’s face it, the food was the main attraction for media folks like me on Tuesday, and park concessionaires served up a lot to sample. Here are our picks for the best new and returning foods for the 2026 season:
The fish filet slider available at .394 Bar on the Terrace Level at Petco Park for the 2025 season. (Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The home run: The Fish Filet Slider
I don’t tend to like mass-produced fried fish sandwiches because they’re usually bland, but these crispy flish sliders really pop with the flavors of the sea. A fliet of fish is breaded with panko crumbs, fried and served on a fresh-baked bun with American cheese, house-made pickles, veggie slaw and a tangy sauce. .394 on the Terrace Level.
Bratwurst sliders are one of the tastiest new items being served up during the San Diego Padres 2026 season at Petco Park in San Diego. (Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The slider pitch: Bratwurst sliders
Each season, Delaware North comes up with multiple new dishes, including this delicious new mini-burger duo. Petco Park Executive Chef Phil Dumlao said park visitors enjoy trying multiple foods on each visit, but a full-size bratwurst sausage is hard to follow, so these sliders are a good tasting-size portion. High-quality bratwurst patties are grilled and served on fresh-baked salted pretzel bun with tangy whole grain mustard sauce and grilled onions. It’s a flavor bomb. .394 Bar, Toyota Terrace level.
Bases are loaded: Loaded Tots
North Park-born Carnitas’ Snack Shack knows its way around finger-tasting-good food. In fact, Carnitas’ has expanded to two locations this season, and you can buy its ultra-satisfying Loaded Tots at both locations. Crispy tater tots are topped with the company’s tender and juicy pork carnitas, spicy queso cheese and pico de gallo. Sections 128 and 319.
Chicken pot pie from San Diego-based Pop Pie Co., which is a new vendor at Petco Park for the 2026 season. (Brad Johnson / SCNG)
The infield homer: Pop Pies
I grew up eating Swanson’s frozen chicken pot pies, so when Pop Pie Co. opened its first location in University Heights in 2016, I swooned over its gourmet Classic Chicken pot pie. That buttery, flakey, homey and hearty dish arrived at Petco Park this week, along with other savory and sweet menu offerings. At Petco Tuesday, I sampled Pop Pie’s Green Hog & Cheese pie, made with slow-braised pork shoulder, roasted peppers, tomatillo and Jack cheese. It was yummy. Section 129.
Curry rice with Katsu chicken from Curry House Coco Ichibanya, which is one of this season’s new vendors at Petco Park for the 2026 San Diego Padres seaon. (Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The triple: Katsu Chicken Curry Rice
This dish wasn’t available for sampling Tuesday, but I’ve tried it at Coco Ichibanya in San Diego’s Convoy District and can vouch for its delectability. Coco Ichibanya, a new vendor at Petco this season, has more than 1,400 locations worldwide, including the 4-year-old Convoy outlet and another opening soon to Hillcrest. Japanese curry is thicker, more savory and more mildly seasoned than the sweeter, spicier Indian-style curries, which are often made with coconut milk, yogurt or cream. This is comfort food at its finest. The Mercado, Section 104.
The Shortstop, a braised short rib sandwich, is one of the new food items that offered at Petco Park for the San Diego Padres’ 2026 season. (Armond Feffer / San Diego Padres)
The slugger: The Shortstop sandwich
New this season, this braised beef short rib sandwich is for meat-lovers only. The star of the show is the flavorful, slow-roasted beef which is so tender it practically melts in your mouth. But I was hoping for more flavor contrast in the oversize sandwich, which is is served on a French roll with boursin aioli. The samples on Tuesday didn’t include the au jus or chips it’s usually served with, so I expect with all the fixings it will be flavorful, juicy and filling meal. Section 100 near the Home Plate Gate.
An assort of food items from Padres Pretzels, a new dining concept being introduced at Petco Park next week for the San Diego Padres’ 2026 season. (Armond Feffer / San Diego Padres)
The fly ball: Padres Pretzels
This new concept from Delaware North has a high possibility for success but I’m not yet sure how it will land.The booth serves fresh-baked pretzels in a variety of flavors. The shareable braided pretzels come in ranch, honey mustard, classic salted and s’mores flavors. The pretzel bites come in cinnamon sugar and salted-with-cheese varieties. During the preview Tuesday, the pretzels were not served warm so their texture was chewy and dry, and some of the flavors were off-putting. But i’m a warm pretzel lover and some of their flavor combos are unique enough that I look forward to trying them fresh out of the oven. Terrace Level, Section 206.