Like music festivals across the country, Coachella organizers see the event as an opportunity to show what the area has to offer in terms of interesting and mouthwatering food. Festival goers can usually expect to try something they’ve never seen before and be faced with such a variety of options, they could eat drastically different food every day.
This year, Coachella boasts of raising the bar for festival food, offering a diverse range of eating experiences. However, unless you’re ready to spend your entire beer and merch budget on food, this “diversity” is not for you.
Coachella added 5 acres to the festival grounds this year, mainly so they could increase dining options for festival guests, including pop-up restaurants from a few well known LA hot spots, a craft beer garden and a full 4 course meal option from Outstanding in the Field. This company has just started on the festival circuit, but for those looking for a an elite experience, $225 gets you a 4 course, 2 hour meal, one night of the festival. Oh, and for those of you worried about blowing your beer budget on this option, one beer or glass of wine is included.
Other than spending 2 hours during the peak hours of band performances thinking of what else you could’ve spent $225 on that day, you could sample any one of the many food fronts lined up in The Terrace or down by the Outdoor Stage. Spoiler Alert: they’re basically all the same thing. Greek gyros, pizza, burritos, steak sandwiches, orange chicken… you get the idea. Coachella’s food options for the Average Jane or Joe have diluted to the level of a mall food court. Only here, you’re spending $12 on a sampling of chicken fingers and French fries.
But wait, there’s the grilled s’mores sandwich!
This little delicacy resulted in the longest lines in the entire food area.
For those of you out there with restricted diets, vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free, etc, you can still find something to eat at Coachella. Just be prepared to pretty much eat that one thing all weekend. For those of you out there with asinine diets like “Cut by Coachella” circulating, go get a beer and a burrito and get back on the field to experience music. Unless you genuinely forgot that’s what you’re here for.
