Coachella continues to up its game each year. So it’s no surprise that 2018’s food lineup is just as good as the musical one. Here’s our list of must-eat bites for this (and next) weekend’s fest.
PIZZANISTA
The thin-crust, New York-style pies have earned Pizzanista a ’za seal of approval from just about everyone. Since 2013, Salman Agah has attracted locals and non-locals alike to his East Coast-inspired pies made with West Coast flair. Sold by the slice, the pizzas offer unusual flavor combinations, such as a trendy sourdough-bread crust (with a gluten-free option) topped with white sauce, vegan cheese and house-made meats. Grab your slice, fold it in half, and get all the feels with the sweet sounds of Cuco.
AFTERS ICE CREAM
It’s amazing no one thought to stuff ice cream into doughnuts until Andy Nguyen and Scott Nghiem debuted their milky buns in 2014. Tasty flavors such as milk and cereal, cookie monster, jasmine milk tea, and Vietnamese coffee make for the perfect icy treats to survive the desert sun while enjoying some beats.
GUERRILLA TACOS
Wes Avila is your taco headliner for the weekend . . . mic drop. Taste alta California cuisine at its best with roasted-sweet-potato tacos (with fried corn, scallions, feta and almond chile) and Treager-smoked brisket tacos (with pickled onions, chile de arbol, aged Cheddar and cilantro).
SHAKE SHACK
Did someone say steamed hams? The cheeseburger is a tried-and-true, all-American classic that we can all agree on. Wind down between sets with a delicious burger from New York-based char slingers Shake Shack. Get ready for flavor-packed patties served on pillow-soft Martin’s potato rolls and crispy crinkle-cut fries with cheese. For vegetarians, the ’shroom burger (a crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with melted Muenster and Cheddar cheeses that’s topped with lettuce, tomato and Shake sauce) is just as meaty and savory as the rest.
FUKU
There’s no end in sight to the fried-chicken wars, and we’re not mad about it. Momofuku’s David Chang brings his New York fast-casual fried-chicken shop, Fuku, to the Indio Central Market (which features more than 15 of the most celebrated restaurants under one large, shaded tent). Expect a variety of chicken options, including spicy chicken sandwiches, as well as loaded fries with spicy cheese sauce, ranch, bacon and scallions. Wash it all down with a strawberry-lemonade slushie.
Cynthia Rebolledo covers anything and everything food, culture and spirits.