Will Bo Nix recover from last season’s ankle injury to lead the Denver Broncos to the playoffs for another year? Will the Mile High Salute be replaced by the (Jaylen) Waddle as the end-zone celebration? Will the week one showing against the Chiefs become old news after the Broncos smack the Jacksonville Jaguars in their home opener this Sunday? These questions will be answered as the season unfolds. And luckily, you’ll be able to mull them over with new eats from the vendors at Empower Field.

Beyond Mile High Stadium’s nifty new self-serve beer machines in section 130, which use a high-tech combo of ID and face recognition to make sure users are at least 21, and tempting hot dog choices at Club Market counters throughout the venue (why stop at mustard and relish when you can land a Cuban, poblano-bacon, Ragin’ Cajun, or Spam dog?), some of Denver’s top restaurants are chipping in to make game day even more enjoyable. Here, the best new eats and drinks at Empower this football season.

The Beast in a Blanket

  • Vendor: Aramark Sports & Entertainment
  • Location: Section 128

Empower Field’s food and hospitality partner, Aramark, is fueling your food fantasies with the Beast in a Blanket, a two-foot long hot dog cozied up to brisket burnt ends, cheddar, and goat cheese in a puff pastry wrapper, all topped with avocado cream, crispy pickled onions, jalapeño, and secret sauce. That’s two-thirds of a yard of deliciousness—enough to share with your entire row. Rumor has it that NFL refs will be calling in the Beast instead of the chains to measure short-yardage situations this year.

Mojo Pork Tacos

  • Vendor: Mister Oso
  • Location: Sections 103, 311, and 339

The Culinary Creative Group’s upscale taqueria and Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient (with RiNO, Speer, and Boulder locations) brings a handful of its menu options to the stadium, including the customer-favorite mojo pork tacos. If the coconut braised pork shoulder proves a little spicy, reach for a Mister Oso frozen margarita as the perfect complement.

The Cali Burrito

Despite our many sports superstitions, we don’t think eating a San Diego–style burrito during a Broncos game will affect the outcome. We know that the Broncos will overcome the Chargers, just as we know that Carrera’s Tacos, a Greenwood Village favorite since 2022, makes one of the best french-fry-studded carne asada burritos in town. Enjoy it knowing you won’t change the scoreboard; the Patrick Surtain jersey that you’ve never washed is enough to ensure victory for the men in orange.

Tuna Poke Nachos

Tuna poke nachos from Aloha Cones
Tuna poke nachos from Aloha Cones. Art courtesy of Finn Partners

Hawaiian fresh fish specialist Aloha Cones made its Denver debut in March 2024, bringing what the Honolulu-based company calls “sushi in a bowl” to the Centennial State. Get the signature ahi tuna poke in its classic form over rice or as stadium-friendly nachos that you won’t find at the brick-and-mortar eatery located in Lincoln Park’s Denver Health complex.

Korean Barbecue in a Cup

Korean barbecue in a cup
Korean barbecue in a cup from CupBop. Art courtesy of Finn Partners
  • Vendor: Cupbop
  • Location: Section 518

Korean barbecue in a cup? Seems like something created just for a sports stadium. Cupbop was actually founded as a Salt Lake City food truck before leaping the Continental Divide in 2019; the company now has brick-and-mortars in Arvada and Aurora. The signature cups of rice, veggies, zingy sauce, and proteins are available in chicken, beef, or pork. Need a side? Cupbop’s mandoo (Korean dumplings) are just as easy to eat—even when you’re leaping to your feet in celebration.

The Godfather Italian Beef Sandwich

It’s been 50 years since Italian butcher shop and deli Carmine Lonardo’s opened in Lakewood. A year later, the Broncos went 12-2 on the way to their first Super Bowl. Coincidence? Perhaps the team feasted on Godfather sandwiches piled with juicy beef and giardiniera to power their victories. Now you can do the same at Mile High Stadium.

Suppli al Telefono

  • Vendor: Coperta
  • Location: United Globe Clubs

This ten-year-old Uptown Italian staple brings a short menu of Rome-inspired dishes to gameday. The most portable is a crispy appetizer called suppli al telefono: deep-fried rice balls so packed with gooey cheese that they form long strands like telephone lines when you pull them apart. For something more substantial, try Coperta’s fiery pollo alla diavola.

Mala Mozzarella Sticks

Several fried mozzarella sticks topped with fresh herbs and chiles with creamy dipping sauce in a paper-lined black plastic basket
MAKfam’s mala mozzarella sticks. Art courtesy of Finn Partners
  • Vendor: MAKfam
  • Location: United Globe Clubs

Michelin Bib Gourmand–awarded MAKfam has been serving up modern Chinese comfort food in the Baker neighborhood since 2023. For a dose of the Chinese tingly-spicy combo known as mala, try MAKfam’s fried mozzarella sticks. The eatery’s stadium menu also includes fluffy bao buns stuffed with either marinated mushrooms or shredded pork belly based on a recipe from co-owner Kenneth Wan’s mom.

Korean Cheese Corn Dogs

Owners of Mukja
Owners of Mukja. From left: Kayla and James Makowski and Julie Rivera. Photo by Sarah Banks
  • Vendor: Mukja
  • Location: United Globe Clubs

Korean street food specialist Mukja began slinging cheese-filled corn dogs from its food truck in 2019 before opening a Globeville brick-and-mortar this year. We’re thrilled to see stadium-only versions of the crunchy, gooey treats topped with either blue Taki crumbles or orange hot Cheetos. Order one of each to guarantee victory—for your taste buds at least.

Seasonal Popsicles

You’re going to need something refreshing to keep you cool on sunny football Sundays. City Park Farmers’ Market favorite Denver Pops has sweet treats in fun flavors like blackberry-ginger, cookies and cream, and piña colada for thirst-quenching hydration on a stick. We only wish we could buy a round for the boys on the bench.