Outside Lands—San Francisco’s music and arts festival—brings a few unique and colorful worlds together for three days each year at Golden Gate Park. Said worlds include:
1. The world of music;
2. The world of San Francisco;
3. The world of food and drink.
Now when I first decided to attend OSL, I knew what I was getting into regarding the musical lineup and the city—but I was nowhere near prepared for the sheer magnificence of the festival’s food options. So when I entered the park on Saturday morning and caught sight of the food trucks and stands bordering the fields—as well as “Beer Lands” and “Wine Lands” and “Choco Lands”—I pretty much died of excitement.
I then proceeded to eat my way through the next two days of that festival. And it was glorious.
Since OSL is catered by local venues, check out some of its greatest foodie hits for tips on where to stuff your face next time you head up to the city:
The pork belly burger from Big Chef Tom’s Belly Burgers: This was my first meal at OSL, and goodness gracious it was delicious. A pork-belly patty in a toasted bun, slathered with butter … it was tender and flavorful and sustained me for several hours of festival-ing.
An Indonesian fried noodle plate from Sataysfied: Meal No. 2 had me carbed up and ready to go for a night of Radiohead and Zedd. The noodles, topped with chicken satays and roasted vegetables, were greasy masterpieces.
A Korean beef taco from KoJa Kitchen: These suckers were selling at like $6 a pop, so I only got one, but it was surprisingly filling. The hot, tender Korean barbecue beef came nestled in a corn tortilla, topped with sauteed onions, sesame vinaigrette, lettuce, red sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, fried shallots, and nori. It was awesome.
The caprese grilled cheese from The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen: This might have been the best decision I made all weekend. The caprese grilled cheese idea is so simple, but unprecedented in my grilled cheese-eating career. I swear people started following me around as I was eating this because it smelled so good.
A Four Barrel Coffee frozen bar with red velvet topping: Four Barrel was the coffee vendor of the occasion at OSL, and as much as I enjoy their cold brew, I must say their frozen brew is even better.
A brownie ice cream sundae from Charles Chocolates: This. This sundae was magical. First off, it was huge, and I got one all for myself (and I only ate half of it but that’s beside the point). Secondly, at least three people asked my photographer and me where we found those sundaes, so basically they made us popular. And third, I got to wave a sundae in the air as Lionel Richie performed “Easy” (as in “Easy like Sunday morning”). That’s not something you get to do every day, you guys.
All in all, I’d say the food experience at OSL was actually on par with the music experience—and there’s no questioning why, considering the vast culinary options San Francisco has to offer. So next time you hit the city to cheer on the Giants or ride a Segway down Pier 39 (you’re embarrassing yourself when you do that, by the way), make sure to treat yourself to some of the best festival’s best eats.
Brenna Swanston needs another caprese grilled cheese sandwich immediately. Send her one at bswanston@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 18-25, 2016.