No one could have predicted the surprise the Chicago White Sox provided baseball fans in 2024. Children will tell their future children about how they endured 121 losses while sipping on milkshakes to soothe their pain.

Hope for the 2025 campaign remains in short supply, and it can’t be a good sign when Brooks Boyer, the team‘s senior vice president, chief revenue and marketing officer, is delivering remarks during the stadium food preview.

“We always try to raise the bar,” Boyer said of the food (not the roster) at a stadium preview held in March. “Every single year, we look at ideas from other ballparks, public entertainment facilities, state fairs — whatever it might be.”

Face it: More people will be interested in tasting the sequel to the Campfire Milkshake or trying David Chang’s fried chicken sandwich versus figuring out if Colson Montgomery’s defense at shortstop will allow him to stick at the position.

Jack X. Li/Eater Chicago

Chris Peters/Eater Chicago

Perhaps the White Sox are lame ducks. The team’s stadium lease expires in 2028, and they’ve been lobbying for a new South Loop ballpark. How much are they willing to invest in upgrading the stadium experience at — checks notes — Rate Field? Naming rights holder Guaranteed Rate rebranded to Rate in 2024.

Given a string of seasons involving sleepy managers, injuries running the bases, and a new and elusive TV home, Sox fans are due for a pleasant surprise. Maybe 2025 is their year?

For a rundown of the new food items for 2025 at Rate Field, head over to the preview. Meanwhile, here’s a guide to the stadium’s offerings.

New Items Available at Club Level

35th Street Rueben, Stadium Club Bar

The Chi-Talian, Stadium Club Level

Patty Melt, club level in-seat service

Loaded Brisket Curds, club level in-seat service

Longtime Chicagoans will be familiar with D.B. Kaplan’s, a legendary Jewish American deli that served customers from 1976 to 1995 inside Water Tower Place. The deli was the first restaurant from Larry and Mark Levy. Levy is now a food service powerhouse and one of the food vendors at Rate Field. For 2025, a lightbulb sparked and the Sox culinary team realized they had nice rye bread, Vienna Beef corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. Dadgummut — they had all the essentials to recreate D.B. Kaplan’s Reuben. There’s also the All-Pro — a ham and Swiss sandwich with mustard butter on pretzel bread — and the Chi-Talian — a classic Italian sandwich with all the meats, giardiniera relish, shredded lettuce, tomato, onion, oil, and vinegar.

Fans will find these sandwiches at the Stadium Club Bar.

Strawberry Cream Nachos, club level in-seat service

Seasonal Roasted Vegetable Couscous Salad, club level in-seat service

Lucky’s at Section 154

Lucky’s is a new Korean Street-food stand developed by Sox partner Delaware North. Management felt Korean Dogs would do well at the ballpark and that the team needed better Asian food options, especially as Chinatown is nearby — there was a community disconnect.

Jack X. Li/Eater Chicago

Korean Dogs

Fans will find five Korean Dogs. There’s the All American with a hot dog, Frosted Flakes, ketchup, and mustard, and the El Diablo — mozzarella, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, sambal mayo, and Fu Suace. Then there’s the Papas Freedom with a hot dog, hash browns, and barbecue sauce, and the Stadium Nacho with a hot dog, tortilla chips, stadium cheese, and pickled jalapeños. Finally, there’s the Unicorn with marshmallows, Fruity Pebbles, and sweet condensed milk.

Bubble Waffles

While the goal was for more meats on a stick, Delaware North brought more Asian influences to the ballpark with bubble waffles. There are four varieties. There’s the Changeup Bubble Waffle with vanilla ice cream, black sugar bobba, ginger, mocha syrup, and pirouline cookies. Then there’s the Gojujang Bubble Waffle with fried chicken, gojujang honey, and toasted sesame seeds. The Heater comes with vanilla ice cream, miso chili, caramel, peanuts, and crushed Oreos. The Sweet Chili Bubble Waffle, again, uses fried chicken, sweet chili sauce, and peanuts.

Chili Crunch Noodles

A vegetarian option with green onions, cilantro, and peanuts.

Fuku in Section 110

Fuku is a fast-casual chain that started in New York in 2015 and has been popping up at MLB stadiums in recent years. It’s a chicken recipe from David Chang, a celebrity chef who started the Momofuku empire. The chicken is flavored in a habanero brine, and folks would line up and wait when the restaurant first opened. What we have here is a chicken sandwich that can be easily replicated with a tried and true formula. The OG Sando is available, as are original tenders served with Fuku mayo or a miso-scallion ranch.

Polombia in Section 152

Once in a while, the White Sox offer local independent restaurants a chance to shine. That’s the case at Section 152, where Polombia, a unique Polish-Colombian mashup, serves items like short rib and vegetarian emparogis (empanadas and pierogis combined) and a gluten-free arepa burger (those griddled corn cakes stuffed with honey-glazed pork belly, coleslaw, sofrito, garlic aioli, and aji sauce). There’s a veggie version with a black bean and chickpea patty, as well as the sal chi papa, a smoked kielbasa with crunchy potatoes, garlic, tomato aioli, pineapple glaze, and chives. That smoked sausage is no joke. Be the envy of your row.

Polombia, which has bounced around the city, currently has a home in on the first floor of the Acecenture Tower, 500 W. Madison Avenue.

Polombia

There are also a few other new items:

• Waffles Fries, Section 110
• Veggie Delight (roasted cauliflower, arugula, red onion, chipotle cauliflower sauce on wheat toast), Section 109
• Pineapple Slaw Dog, Section 110
• Sonoran Dog, Section 110

Cheers to 125 Years

The Sox have unveiled a special drink menu for the team’s 125th anniversary. Look for a batch of cocktails at locations including the Beggar’s Pizza Pub (163), Jack Daniel’s Bar (109), ChiSox Bar and Grill, and Leinenkugel’s Craft Lounge (107).

Rainbow Cone

The classic South Side Chicago ice cream stand has partnered with Buona, the official Italian beef sponsor of the White Sox, to open more locations. Part of its expansion is working with the Sox.

Sections 111, 158, and 526

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

BEER

In 2022 Molson Coors brought Miller products back to the ballpark, but team management stressed that this isn’t the end of craft beer at Sox Park. Delaware North is selling more than 50 beers from 30 breweries.

Here are some new brews for 2025 served at Leingnekugel’s Craft Lounge (Section 107)

• Crispin Cider’s Crispin Original
• Golden Road Brewing’s Mango Cart
• Moody Tongue Brewing’s Orange Blossom Belgian Blonde
• Moor’s Brewing’s Session Ale and Moor’s IPA
• Roadhouse Bewing’s Family Vacation Light Lager and Plasma Hazy IPA
• Saugatuck Brewing’s Blueberry Lemonade Shandy

Yuengling, which just arrived in Illinois, and Sapporo will also be served at various locations.

VETERAN PRESENCES

These are holdovers from past seasons and include ballpark classics and other items that became hits.

Organic Apple Strawberry Frozen Juice Cups: Available from seat vendors.

Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade: Seat vendors and Sections 105, 161, 518. Freshly-squeezed and shaken lemonade. Get it spiked with vodka.

Creamery: Section 105. The Creamery serves soft-serve ice cream. Get those helmet sundaes here.

Fried Pickle Chips: Sections 110 and 524. Panko breaded and served with a chipotle-ranch sauce.

Garlic Fries: Sections 110 and 544. Served in a green souvenir helmet.

Chicken Tenders: Sections 122, 140, 160, 544.

Chicago-style hot dogs: Sections 109, 114, 122, 544, Dragged through the garden with all the appropriate toppings.

Cuban sandwich: Available on 100 and 500 levels. The Sox have a long tradition of Cuban players, including the late Minnie Minoso. They're not new on the 100 level, but the sandwiches even share Minoso's Cuban Comet nickname. These pressed hot sandwiches have different bread depending on which level you buy them. The suite-level version features roasted pork and ham with Swiss, adorned with sliced dill pickles and whole-grain mustard between toasted French bread.

Elotes/Corn off the Cobb: Sections 105, 128, 144, 526, fresh corn topped with an assortment of ingredients, including butter, salt, and pepper. It's not typical, but it's quite possibly the best item at The Cell.

Polish/Hot Dogs/Bratwursts: 100 and 500 levels. Everyone loves the hot dog man or woman who brings fans food while they're enjoying the game, but the truth is the sausages prepared on the grill and topped with fresh onions or sauerkraut are vastly superior. It's worth the effort.

Irish Nacho Helmet: Sections 110, 524 Another item in a helmet. Waffle fries covered with cheese sauce, sour cream, and chives.

Garden Burger: Sections 140, 260, 524, 544

Burger Barn: Sections 113 and 529. Trying their best at the upscale burger concept, this cart also slings turkey burgers.

Buona Beef: Sections 120, 149, and 531. The official beef of the White Sox.

Funnel Cake: Sections 111, 155, and 533. Funnel cake isn't just for carnivals, despite what the White Sox record's been the last couple of years.

Cuban Sandwiches: Section 148. The pressed sandwich represents the Sox’s Cuban connection with players like Minnie Minoso, Jose Contreras, Jose Abreu, and Yoan Moncada.

Churros: Sections 104, 127, 135, and 524. A sweet treat and a ballpark tradition.

Buenos Nachos Tex Mex: Sections 123, 154, 159, 550. Build your own burrito or nacho helmet. Keep the helmet.

Vegetarian options: All levels. Quesadillas and veggie burgers and dogs are options.

GET OUT OF YOUR SEAT

The Cell has a few special spots fans can dine or drink at, as opposed to staying in your ticketed seat the entire game.

ChiSox Bar & Grill: Gate 5. It's the second year of this venue's existence. Special make this an ideal place to meet before the game. Jalapeño-cheddar hush puppies and smoked brisket nachos are some of the highlights.

Beggar's Pizza Pub: Section 163. The official pizza sponsor of the Sox