Restaurant Review: Chicago Cubs hit an early home run with new menu items

“Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd;

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,

I don’t care if I never get back…”

‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer 

The 2026 MLB season gets underway Thursday, March 26 with our Chicago Cubs opening the season at Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison hosting the Washington Nationals at 1:20 pm CDT. 

As a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, I looked forward to three things, in no particular order, at the Friendly Confines: 1) Singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ during the seventh-inning stretch. 2) Catching a fly ball at my seat (still hasn’t happened) and 3) Something more accessible to me… eating an Oscar Meyer smoky link, drinking a root beer, and begging my Mom for a Frosty Malt! 

Things have changed a great deal at the Friendly Confines since I was a kid, mostly for the better. You can still get a hot dog and a beer…even drinking a beer out of a baseball bat! And that baseball bat also carries the option of a cocktail, if beer isn’t to your liking. 

Over the past couple of decades, the Cubs have created a more expansive, diverse array of cuisines around the park and its patios, better reflecting both the community around them and the rise of Michelin-rated Chicago restaurants in Wrigleyville and the North Side of Chicago. 

Where The Action Is: Marquee Classics-Section 117

The Cubs introduced a rotational menu a few years ago, and if you want to taste much of what is new and good at the Friendly Confines, head to Section 117, where the ‘Marquee Classics’ stand serves the most decadent of the 2026 season offerings.

Take, for example, the new Bao Wow Dog. It’s a Vienna Beef hot dog tucked inside a soft bao bun with Heinz mustard slaw, tempura sport peppers, Fresno peppers and sriracha aioli. It’s served with McCain’s fries, which have the reputation of being the best French fries in the business.

Tostada Stack. Tostadas are layered with Hatch green chile beef, seasoned refried beans, queso fresco, Pico de Gallo and crema, topped with a fried egg, and served with a side of salsa roja. 

Double Diamond Waffle Fries This decadent treat is made for sharing! Seasoned waffle fries are topped with braised beef short rib in a red wine sauce. If that weren’t enough, that’s topped with Fontina cheese sauce, bacon, mushrooms, fried onions and scallions. Be still, my heart! 

Chicken & Churros For dinner (or lunch) and dessert combined, the chicken and churros appear to be the most decadent of the bunch, according to several taste-testers, with fried chicken thighs brined in pickle juice and served with golden brown churros, ancho syrup and strawberries, topped with powdered sugar and a caramel drizzle. 

The Rami  Short for ‘pastrami,’ The Rami is essentially a Reuben sandwich made with Pastrami and coleslaw instead of Corned beef and sauerkraut. The Rami is topped with Swiss cheese, and served on rye bread, with creamy Russian dressing and a pickle spear.

The Kingston This Jamaica-inspired treat is a sweet-savory-spicy Jerk-spiced grilled chicken with pineapple salsa, spicy slaw, picked red onion and garlic aioli on a brioche bun. 

Dill Pickle Tater Tots Capitalizing on the popular dill pickle trend (dill pickle juice, anyone?) Levy has created tangy salt and vinegar seasoned tater tots dusted with fresh dill, and served with dill pickle dip.

The Home for Gluten-Free: Clark Street Grill– Section 112

Another stand to get in line for is the Clark Street Grill in Section 112. There you can find the Cubs’  gluten-free options. Take, for example, their latest twist on French fries in their gluten-free Garlic Parmesan Fries: Thick-cut fries are bathed in garlic aioli, shaved parmesan and fresh parsley. Word has it they’re delicious! 

Other gluten-free items include: A Chicken Tender Basket: Chicken tenders are served with thick-cut fries and BBQ sauce.

Gluten-free also deserves decadent desserts, and the Levy company has created two new ones this season: try their new, individually packaged Brown Butter Rice Crispy Treat and/ortheir Chocolate Brownie. 

Section 121: Mobile Cart

Sunday Kids Build-Your-Own Mac & Cheese (only on Kids Sundays). Something for the kids besides their Kid’s Meals, young fans of the Cubs can build their own Kraft Mac & Cheese creation with choice of bacon, chicken, hot dogs, BBQ sauce, ranch, Cheetos and Doritos.

Happy Opening Day, All!! 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago