Mariners’ new menu serves everything, from mealworm and cricket ice cream to fried chicken

Mariners opening day is Friday, April 15th, and if peanuts and Cracker Jack are too pedestrian for a baseball fan with a polished palate, T-Mobile Park’s new menu includes delicious dishes from local restaurants: everything from poké to organic free-trade açai bowls. I had the pleasure of eating my way through a bountiful media tasting and warded off a food coma just long enough to share some of my favorites.

Fuku

I was thrilled to see that New York City celebrity chef and TV host, David Chang, is now serving up his fried chicken at the T-Mobile ‘Pen. Fuku is the fried chicken spin-off of Chang’s uber-popular Momofuku Noodle Bar restaurants.

• Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich – Buttermilk marinated battered breast meat seasoned with habanero pepper, served with “Fuku butter,” a puree of pickles, butter and garlic, served on a Franz Bakery potato roll.
• Fingers — Fried chicken breast tenders marinated in a spicy buttermilk coating. Gluten-free option available.
• Waffle Fries – Waffle-cut potatoes with sweet jalapeño-seasoning. Gluten-free option is available.

Catch, by Just Poké

Just Poké is owned by a couple of diehard Seattle Mariners fans who met in the fourth grade and went on to open more than a dozen poké restaurants in the greater Seattle area. The fish I tasted was exceptionally fresh and delicious; the tuna is line-caught, by hand, in the Pacific Ocean, exceeds USFDA standards, and the salmon is Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) chain of custody certified.

• Hawaii Ahi Bowl – Hawaiian ahi seasoned with tamari, sesame oil, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, sweet onion, and scallion, served over sushi rice with edamame, pickled ginger and seaweed salad.
• Salmon Avocado Bowl – Salmon chunks served over sushi rice with avocado, sesame seeds, scallions, edamame, pickled ginger, and seaweed salad.
• “Grand SPAM” Musubi – Fried SPAM on sushi rice, wrapped in nori seaweed.
• Sushi Rolls — Classic California or Spicy Tuna roll with option to upgrade to Hall of Fame-style with seasoned Hawaiian ahi chunks on top.
• Spicy Ahi Nachos – Tokotsu-flavored ramen chips smothered in spicy ahi tuna chunks, sesame seeds, scallions, and spicy aioli.

Marination

My favorite fast-casual, women-owned Seattle restaurant is now available at T-Mobile Park! Marination serves up comforting Korean-Hawaiian-inspired dishes that bring a little bit of island cheer to gloomy Seattle.

• Aloha Slider – Kalua pork (Hawaiian braised pulled pork) served on a soft Hawaiian-style roll with nunya sauce and Marination’s signature slaw.
• Luau Plate Lunch– Choice of kalua pork, Huli Huli chicken or tofu, with Hawaiian style macaroni salad, signature slaw and rice.
• SPAM Musubi – Seasoned rice topped with a marinated, sautéed SPAM slice, all wrapped in nori.

Salt & Straw

The Portland-based ice cream chain, known for its hyper-creative and adventurous flavors, already had a presence at T-Mobile park, but this year they’re introducing a special, limited-time flavor available Opening Day until supplies run out. The Creepy Crawly Critters flavor is exactly that: a scoop of creamy, matcha ice cream studded with toffee-brittle mealworms and chocolate crickets. Don’t worry, the bugs were raised in Oakland, CA for the express purpose of being eaten by humans.

Pure Açai

If you’re looking for fresh and healthy, Just Poké’s sister fast-casual chain offers 100% pure organic bowls featuring the superfood açai berry. Top your bowl with granola, nuts, fresh fruits, berries and creamy Nutella. Or go full-hipster with an order of avocado toast or Nutella toast, topped with banana, granola and coconut.

As home and gas prices consider to soar in Seattle, it’s reassuring to know that a day at T-Mobile Park, enjoying America’s favorite past time, is still within reach. If you buy a $10 ticket to one of the Mariners 35 Value Games (including Opening Day, April 15th!), you can get a seat, a hot dog and a beer for under $20.

Mariners to slash prices on food, drinks at T-Mobile Park for 2022 season

Stadium refreshments are notoriously expensive, but this year the $3 value menu has been expanded to include hot dogs, Coca-Cola fountain drinks (with free refills!), bottled water, popcorn, nachos, peanuts and Red Vines licorice, available at every game at all Rolling Roof concession stands.

The Value Beers program now features a wider selection of 12oz Northwest craft beers for $5 or $6, including local breweries like Reuben’s Brews, Dru Bru and Georgetown Brewing Co. Check out the options on the Beer Finder feature of the MLB Ballpark app.

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