Skip to Content

A Comprehensive Guide to the Food of Lollapalooza

Sharing is caring!

IMG_9302

Wondering what to eat a Lolla? Lucky for you I ran around Chow Town yesterday and captured photos from almost every Chow Town stand. It turns out that strangers at Lolla are incredibly friendly and very willing to let food bloggers take photos of their food. The food vendors themselves were equally helpful. Thanks to everyone for the team effort on this post!

Chow Town has two sections (North and South), plus there is some food available at the Farmer’s Market. I’ll break it all down for you:

CHOW TOWN SOUTH

IMG_9337

You can choose a single cheeseburger, a double cheeseburger, or a rib eye steak sandwich at Billy Goat Tavern.

IMG_9449

IMG_9335

Looking for a sharable snack? BJ’s Market and Bakery Homemade Potato Chips are just the thing. Also on the menu: a Turkey Burger with Beer Battered Onion Rings, BBQ Chicken Tenders, and Fried Bacon Mac and Cheese.

IMG_9338

Chubby Wieners is serving up the Chubby Wiener, a Veggie Dog, and Cheese Fries.

IMG_9331

Connie’s Pizza is a staple at all Chicago festivals, and they have Deep Dish Cheese, and Sausage Slices, Thin Crust Veggie Personal Pizzas, Boneless Chicken Wings, and Waffle Fries.

IMG_9340

County Barbecue is serving Burnt End Brisket Nachos, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, and Chile Verde and Cheese Nachos.

IMG_9339

Goddess & Grocer is offering some of the lighter items at Lolla with a Thai Chicken Wrap with Peanut Sauce, a Thai Tofu Wrap with Peanut Sauce, a Chicken Noodle and Veggie Bowl, and Curly Fries available.

IMG_9306

Graham Elliot Bistro is home to the most iconic Lolla food: the Lobster Corn Dog, which is a generous amount of lobster, coated in typical corn dog breading. You can order Truffle and Parmesan Popcorn too.

IMG_9332

IMG_9333

Leghorn Chicken has a Fried Chicken Sandwich available in both original and spicy, plus and Organic Kale Salad. (The original is on the top and the spicy is on the bottom).

IMG_9341

The Original Rainbow Cone is serving its namesake rainbow ice creams in cones and cups.

IMG_9330

Owen + Alchemy Cold-Pressed Juice has a trio of juices available. Grabbing one of these juices to drink between beers might be the best way to prevent the dredged Lolla hangover that is oh so easy to get when it is so steamy outside.

IMG_9336

Publican Quality Meats has Jalapeño Cheddar Bratwurst, Andouille Sausage, and Beer Bratwurst.

IMG_9329

Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs is the only vendor that serves fries with their sandwiches. They have four choices available: BBQ Pulled Chicken, Chicken Tenders, BBQ Angus Burger, and a Boneless Rib Sandwich.

IMG_9334

Tank Noodle isn’t serving noodles, instead they have a Chicken Banh Mi (pictured), Satay Chicken Wings, Grilled Corn on the Cob, and Egg Rolls.

IMG_9328

Tuscany has Italian Beef Sandwiches, Italian Sausage Sandwiches, Chicken Parmigiana Sandwiches, and Toasted Ravioli on the menu.

CHOW TOWN NORTH

IMG_9315

IMG_9316

Cheesie’s Pub and Grill is selling three different grilled cheese sandwiches: the Caprese, the Popper (pictured), and the Tenderizer, and Tater Tots and you can top with a choice of cheese sauce and bacon.

IMG_9345

IMG_9346

IMG_9321

Dia De Los Tamales is selling individual tamales, and pairs of tamales that you can turn into a combo meal for $3 adding Cuban Style Black Beans and Spicy Corn Salad. They have Cuban Slow Roasted Pork, Buffalo Chicken, Roasted Pepper and Goat Cheese, and Spicy Black Bean and Corn Tamales. All are gluten free, one two are vegetarian, and one is vegan. They also have house made chips and salsa.

IMG_9289

Do-Rite Chicken Sandwiches has Fried Chicken Sandwiches available in both original and spicy, and Hand Cut Fries. I tried this, devoured it, loved it.

IMG_9314

Edzo’s Burger Shop has Cheeseburgers, Bacon Cheeseburgers, and big cones of Fries that can be served plain or seasoned with truffle and parmesan.

IMG_9347

Franco’s Ristorante was offering BBQ Bacon Sliders, a Nutella and Gelato Ice Cream Sandwich, and (drumroll please) Caramel Coated Bacon and a Stick, which my friend Emily was very excited to try.

IMG_9455 IMG_9453

Franks ‘N’ Dogs had The Southerner, a pork loin sausage with corn bread, cherry bourbon bbq sauce, and scallions, a Bacon Mac ‘n’ Cheese Dawg, Truffle Mac ‘n’ Cheese, and Triple Truffle Fries.

IMG_9325

Kamehachi is serving California Crunch Rolls, Summer Shrimp Rolls, Chicken Teriyaki Sandwiches, and Edamame.

IMG_9326

IMG_9327

Labriola has Classic Italian Sandwiches, Sausage & Pepper Sandwiches, and Tater Tots.

IMG_9320

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria has slices and whole pies of Cheese, Sausage, and Pepperoni Pizza for sale. Mr. Malnati himself very kindly posed for this photo. Seriously, everyone was so nice.

IMG_9319

MBurger has Cheeseburgers, Double Cheeseburgers, and Fries.

IMG_9323

Pizano’s Pizza and Pasta is offering Deep Dish Pizza in three varieties: Cheese, Sausage, and Pepperoni.

IMG_9317

IMG_9318

Reggie’s has Veggie Burgers, Giant Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Mac and Cheese, and Fried Pickles. I ate the mac and cheese and it was wonderful cheesy deliciousness.

IMG_8544

The Crave Bar would likely be the fastest way to get ice cream since the bars are packaged and ready to go – no scooping required. I discovered these treats at the Windy City Smokeout and let me explain: the stick is a pretzel and has been coated and caramel and chocolate, and then a square of ice cream is added on top. Yes. Please.

IMG_9177

The Smoke Daddy has Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, and BBQ Chips. For $2 you can add chips to the sandwich.

IMG_9324

Tsamma Juice has Watermelon Juice and Slices of Watermelon.

IMG_9456

Windsor Ice Cream Shoppe is scooping Chocolate Chip Ice Cream on Waffle Cones, Brownie Sundaes with Hot Fudge in a Waffle Bowl, and Chocolate Dipped Frozen Cheesecake on a stick.

IMG_9322

Wow Bao has their signature Hot Asian Buns filled with Mongolian Beef, Teryaki Chicken, BBQ Beef, and Vegetables. They have Chicken Potstickers too.

FARMERS MARKET

IMG_9344

La Boulangerie has a French Dog and Pepperoni-Cheddar Baguettes, Chocolate and Ham and Cheese Croissants, Plain, Chocolate and  Apple Beignets, and Butter Sugar and Chocolate Crepes.

IMG_9366

Puffs of Doom (great name) has both sweet and savory cream puffs. The Savory can be filled with Bourbon BBQ Pork, Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese (pictured), Sausage Potato Beer Cheese, Jalapeño Chicken Popper, Black Bean Cilantro Lime Enchilada, or Spinach Artichoke. The Sweet can be filled with Salted Caramel Chocolate, Banana Coconut Nutella, Peach Cobbler, Oreo, or Peanut Butter Cup. They have Ice Cream Puffs and Boozy Lollipops too.

IMG_9343

Brunkow Cheese, which I discovered recently at Bar Takito, is serving grilled cheese – straight up. It’s cheese that has been grilled. You can get it drizzled with Black Rum Maple Syrup, Hot Pepper Jelly, or Pineapple Chipotle Syrup. They have Caprese Salad too.

DA BEER GARDEN

IMG_9516

Da Brats is located in the Beer Garden and they are serving up

There you have it. Go eat (and rock) your hearts out Chicago.

IMG_9299

In case you are wondering about the music, Paul McCartney was AMAZING last night. He’s a true entertainer and he seemed to be having a blast. He hit all the major Beatles songs, and even brought Britney from the Alabama Shakes out to sing Get Back with him (can you even imagine being asked to perform with Sir Paul?!).

Spinach Artichoke Omelettes Story Breakfast Bread Boat Story Puff Pastry Breakfast Tarts Story Lemon Ricotta Raspberry Muffins Story New Mexico Style Huevos Rancheros Story