Where to Eat at Lollapalooza Chow Town 2016 and What to Pair it With
It’s the middle of summer, the sun is out, the air is hot and sticky, and that means it’s every Chicagoan’s favorite time of year: Lollapalooza. We can’t wait to see Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and so many other amazing performers strut their stuff at Grant Park. Besides all the awesome music, we can’t forget about the mouth-watering food at Lollapalooza that’s going to be served in Chow Town. Some of Chicago’s best purveyors of grub, including Billy Goat Tavern and Lou Malnatti’s Pizzeria, will be dishing out delicious food at Lollapalooza. We couldn’t resist perusing the menus of the food stations at Chow Town and came up with a shortlist of three delicious-looking meals, and the best drinks at Lollapalooza to pair with them. While most of the food stands won’t serve alcohol, you can find a selection of alcoholic beverages at Mix’d Up Cocktail Bar.
Pulled Pork Sandwich + Allagash White @ County Barbeque
If you want something meaty, smoky, and rib-sticking delicious to fill you up in between sets at Lollapalooza, a great choice is County Barbeque. Our vote goes for their smoky and tangy pulled pork sandwich. A generous serving of tender, juicy pork is piled high on a bun with coleslaw, pickles, and zesty Carolina mustard sauce – definitely some of the best food at Lollapalooza. County Barbeque has a pretty diverse drinks selection, but with their pulled pork sandwich we’d recommend an Allagash White Wheat Beer. It’s refreshing, slightly fruity – brewed with orange peel – and is the perfect light complement to that pulled pork. Definitely one of the best drinks at Lollapalooza.
Double M Burger + Vodka Red Bull @ M Burger
After many hours of bouncing around and dancing the day and night away, you need to refuel. That’s why you should opt for a stacked Double M Burger from the eponymous M Burger stand. It comes with two juicy patties cooked to order plus crispy bacon, pickles, onion, and M’s secret sauce. Once you’ve got some good food at Lollapalooza in your stomach, it’s time to order a vodka with wings over at the Mix’d Up Cocktail Bar to get you back in the musical mood.
Curry Chicken Sandwich + Bacardi Mojito @ Tank Noodle
Tank Noodle is one of the top-rated Vietnamese restaurants in Chicago, with notoriously delicious southeast Asian favorites such as Pho and Banh Mi sandwiches. Their food at Lollapalooza is probably going to be more on-the-go friendly, which is why their Curry Chicken Banh Mi is the perfect choice for a quick meal in between sets. It’s stacked with chicken and spicy green curry sauce, but it’s balanced out with carrot, green onion, and cilantro. Taro gives it a bit more heaviness than your average sandwich, but it’s useful when you sashay over to the Mix’d Up Cocktail Bar and order yourself a tangy, minty Bacardi Rum Mojito to keep the good times rolling. A Mojito on a hot day is one of the best drinks at Lollapalooza you can ask for, but don’t forget to stay hydrated and drink water too!
