What to Eater Editors, Writers, and Photographers Ate at Outside Lands August 2025

Outside Lands 2025 had all of it: youngsters nearly brawling to get the most effective angles for his or her 48 and counting TikTok followers, a drizzling layer of cloud offering musicians a dependable pity chortle (“I thought California was warm!”), and, right here and there, fascinating efficiency artwork rising above silly commercialism. No purpose to be bitter, although. Doechii riveted followers. Vampire Weekend even performed twice. And Hozier made certain his viewers remembered the worldwide protection business’s ongoing expropriation of colonized folks from their land isn’t only for love of the sport, however profit.

The meals at Outside Lands retains some coming again yr after yr, irrespective of the climate or the fee. Local cooks and cooks make unique objects sprayed with caviar like a child’s thumb pressed over the backyard hose on a summer time day.

Here are just a few of the ringers for many delectable meals in 2025.

Beef chimichurri pho dip at Bodega

By the time the fog rolled in thick on day two, all I needed was one thing heat and comforting. Bodega got here via with the meat chimichurri pho dip, a mash-up of banh mi and pho that in some way simply labored. Thin slices of tender beef, vibrant pickled greens, and a tangy swipe of chimichurri have been tucked right into a crusty-yet-soft baguette. The transfer was to dunk it into the fragrant pho broth till it soaked simply sufficient to drip down your wrist. It was a savory hug that took the sting off the fog’s chill. — Patricia Chang, freelance photographer

Bodega, 138 Mason Street, San Francisco

Lobster tail Korean corn canine at Um.ma

The caviar was flowing liberally at Outside Lands this yr. A dozen of the almost 100 meals distributors had a dish that includes beneficiant dollops of cavi from Tsar Nicoulai or The Caviar Co and I made my approach via lots of them. But the lobster tail Korean corn canine from Um.Ma. achieved the proper mix of decadence and extremely scrumptious performance. The Inner Sunset Korean outpost solely made ten of those per day and I snagged the ultimate one on the Polo Field sales space on Saturday afternoon at round 4:30 p.m. whereas Bakar performed on the primary stage. The lobster tail was dipped in a mochi tempura batter blended with kimchi and gojuchang. Fried and painted with spicy kimchi mayo, methodically topped with osetra caviar and sprinkled with chives, we are able to safely say that you just gained’t discover something this excessive at a Seoul night time market on the streets of Gangnam. But in San Francisco at Outside Lands weekend? This is the stuff competition meals desires are made from. — Adrian Spinelli, freelance author

Um.Ma., 1220 Ninth Avenue, San Francisco

Nobu’s chirashi bowl was my little deal with on day three. Luscious salmon and yellowtail, poppable ikura, nutty roasted sesame seeds, and contemporary microgreens for a vibrant, peppery pop all got here collectively over seasoned rice. The bowl felt small, and at $30 I needed twice as a lot to gasoline the treks between levels, however the high quality of the elements made it price savoring. Each chew felt like just a little luxurious in the midst of all of the craziness. — Patricia Chang, freelance photographer

Nobu, 180 Hamilton Avenue, Emerson Street, Palo Alto

Peruvian choripán at Michoz

Firmly within the mixture of the entire meals distributors at Outside Lands, the pop-ups have been crushing it alongside cubicles from extra established outposts. Let’s be sincere, pop-ups are constructed for this “kitchen in a field” train. On a stretch of Hellman Hollow, Peruvian-Eritrean pop-up Michoz and Oaxacan fusion extraordinaire Provecho have been side-by aspect on probably the greatest meals drags of the fest. Late Friday night time, Michoz’s Peruvian choripán rocked my world. The home made Peruvian hen sausage was flavored with aji panca (a smoky and flavorful Peruvian pepper), chimichurri, mayo and salsa criolla (with crimson onion, lime, herbs) on a toasted ciabatta roll. While that Costco ciabatta roll wasn’t essentially spectacular, it was the suitable vessel required to carry the entire intense flavors packed into this unhealthy boy in place. The sandwich checked the entire salt/acid/fats/warmth packing containers, and a wonderful sauce ran via the snappy sausage. I advised folks on Friday night time about how implausible this sandwich was and, by Sunday, my texts have been crammed with “Omg that Peruvian chorizo sandwich was insane!” — Adrian Spinelli, freelance author

I ate at Outside Lands, however I didn’t eat meals. I levitated from present to point out, Artemis and Royal Otis and different kinky hotties speaking about automotive intercourse. I used to be so near the solar one would’ve thought I used to be Icarus if not for the thicc fog and recurring Liquid Death in my grasp. So, like that tragic winged son, I crashed after the crowds exhumed like one congested breath via the darkish Eucalyptus. I wanted to bodily eat. Halfway throughout city, Taisho’s nice vibes and unfussy meals was my hard-earned respite. The curry was unremarkable in the correct approach, an low cost order of fries plentiful and thick, an order of chips and guac with blended edamame enjoying the function of avocado, delicate and herby. Then two patrons started a powerfully horrible karaoke rendition of Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. They didn’t eat.

Taisho, 1161 Post Street, San Francisco