Mexican corn dog? Chicken Philly? Ranking Boise State’s new football game food
If you’re heading to a Boise State football game this year at Albertsons Stadium, don’t worry about getting the bland food that cemented itself as a feature of sports stadiums around the country over the years.
Whether you’re in the mood for a special corn dog, a Philly cheesesteak or a bowl of veggies and protein, Boise State has you covered.
Boise State Athletics announced a range of new menu items for the 2025 season on Thursday. The selections include some locally inspired fare, such as Basque-inspired chili dogs and fries, and pastrami burgers with the meat sourced from Snake River Farms’ Double R Ranch.
We painstakingly sampled each new dish, crafted by Boise State dining chef Roland Cruz, to give fans a taste of what to expect when they cheer on the Broncos. The rankings are from least favorite to favorite, but don’t worry — you aren’t going to go wrong with any of these choices.
If you still just want a hot dog or some pizza, don’t fret — that stuff will be available at concession stands around the stadium, of course. Other favorites from last season, including loaded brisket nachos and coned pizza, also will return.
10. Chorizo chili dog
One food item had to take the bottom of the list, and the chorizo chili dog slots in because it wasn’t too far removed from a regular hot dog with chili.
The chorizo chili, cheddar cheese and thinly sliced red onions on top add flavor. And bonus points are awarded for the chorizo oil, which provides a nice spicy kick, seeped into the hot dog bun.
9. Pastrami burger
Pastrami lovers will be all over this one. The pastrami burger is made using Wagyu beef and was a personal favorite of Chef Cruz — you could tell it was Wagyu, too, with each bite being exceedingly tender.
But it’s not just a bun filled with pastrami meat. The pastrami is stacked on top of a Double R beef burger and is accompanied by sauerkraut, pickles in creamy Thousand Island dressing and melted Swiss cheese.
8. Chicken nachos
As far as stadium food goes, the chicken nachos join the chorizo chili dog as being fairly run-of-the-mill.
The chicken used here is shredded and has a good kick of spice, though, and that’s offset by a smooth cheese sauce, pico de gallo and a zesty lime crema sauce. For those looking to kick up the heat, there are also a couple of jalapenos.
7. Chili chorizo fries
The chili chorizo fries are similar to the chili dog, but what gives them a bump is how the chili seeps throughout and pools a little at the bottom, letting you mop up some more spice into your fries. There’s also a tasty cheese sauce to balance out the spice, as well as pico de gallo and a side of jalapenos.
6. Beef Philly cheesesteak
Here’s where we start to kick things up a notch. The beef Philly cheesesteak features Wagyu roast beef and is accompanied by thick red and green peppers, and provolone cheese. Pretty classic, and good. The roast beef is just as tender as with the pastrami on the burger, but it could use an extra sauce to give it some extra moisture and flavor.
Fortunately, there’s another cheesesteak down the list that does just that.
5. Broccoli beef
Who says all stadium food has to be belt-busting? You’ll also be able to dig into some Chinese food options at games this season. This broccoli beef is served with chow mein. The tender beef feeds into the chow mein, and the broccoli pieces are substantial in size, soaking up some flavors while providing their own fresh and earthy taste.
4. Orange chicken
The orange chicken doesn’t try to be too crazy, and that’s what makes it great. Juicy pieces of chicken and the sauce are not too sweet or overpowering, and the hot fried rice with green onions and small chopped carrots is a good sidekick.
3. Buffalo chicken sandwich
You won’t be hungry after enjoying an entire Buffalo chicken sandwich.
The piece of chicken is thick and fried in a wing sauce that manages to be spicy but not overwhelmingly so. It’s squished between two thick pieces of bread that hold up well, with sliced pickles on the underside, lettuce on top, and a spread of ranch sauce on either side. Delicious.
2. Chicken Philly cheesesteak
The chicken Philly cheesesteak takes everything the beef cheesesteak does well and ups it a notch.
The chicken used is a chicken tinga, which is shredded chicken in a smoky tomato and chipotle pepper sauce — this sauce added the extra moisture the original Philly cheesesteak was missing.
But that’s not all. It’s accompanied by chipotle ranch, onions, red and green peppers, pico de gallo, avocado crema and jalapeno jack cheese. This is a tough one to pass up. Have one after the first touchdown.
1. Street corn dog
A corn dog at the top spot? Hear us out.
The Mexican-inspired street corn dog on the inside is just that — a hot dog surrounded by a golden-brown cornmeal-batter crust. But it’s what’s on top that sets this corn dog apart.
It’s topped with a little bit of mayonnaise, but what sets it apart is the dashing of cotija cheese — an aged Mexican cheese with a salty taste — along with Tajin and cilantro. It’s tough to describe how the flavors blend, but it’s a delightful mix of spicy, salty and sweet that’s a must-try.
This story was originally published August 22, 2025 at 4:00 AM.
