As Royals return to The K, what fans can expect on the menu this season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City Royals fans can expect a fresh line-up of bites and brews at Kauffman Stadium this season.

First up to bat, the Z-Man sandwich. The Kansas City classic from Joe’s KC Bar-B-Que will now be available for about $15. A combo will bump the price up to about $20. But the new food menu goes beyond barbeque.

“The KC food scene is an up-and-coming food scene. Kansas City, as a whole, has always been known as a barbecue mecca of America. But I think we’re seeing more and more that you have a hint of BBQ in things, but it’s growing,” Corby Stephens, Aramark Sports & Entertainment Resident District Manager, said.

Take the newly-minted Korean BBQ Bao Buns. The dish features Tempura Battered Chicken Tenders slathered in a Korean BBQ sauce with cucumber pepper relish, fried onions and green onions all in a fresh bao bun.

There’s also the Kauffman Fried Chicken Quesadilla a Mexican staple reimagined with a southern twist. Ingredients include mashed potatoes, crispy fried chicken, corn, gravy, cheddar cheese and green onions.

But the so-called Sluggerrr Dog garnered lots of attention with locally-sourced Chorizo topped with Manchego, tempura batter, Doritos Cool Ranch crust, and avocado aioli.

Most of these new food items are set to range in price from $12 to $17. Troy Tornabeni, Aramark’s District Executive Chef, said the new menu was months in the making.

“We start planning these menu items the day after the playoffs ended,” Tornabeni said. “So, usually by December we’re pen to paper doing product development and really thinking about what are the fans going to get excited about this year.”

Speaking of fans, Stephens said this season’s food and beverage menu included Royals fans’ input as well with their biggest ask being tied to the value menu.

Every Royals home game, fans can purchase classic ballpark concessions from beer to hot dogs and popcorn for $5 or less.

“When you look at it from a standpoint of fan friendliness and of families coming in, it can get expensive,” Stephens said. “So how do we minimize that for the fans coming in that want to engage and quite honestly for a young child having a ballpark hot dog? There’s nothing better in the world!”

The food menu is expected to evolve, with limited offerings and additional food items hitting Kauffman Stadium in April.

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