The Best Things to Eat and Drink on Coachella Weekend 2

In 2026 I will be attending the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival for the eighth time. “Whoa, you’re a mega fan maniac!” my stepdad exclaimed in admiration (I think?) when I revealed this fun fact.

In four episodes, between 2010 and 2018, I attended the festival for fun and since 2023 I have been reporting on the food and drink options for The Times. That combination of experience—including a year of camping—is what I bring to these recommendations for the best bites and drinks to try when heading to Indio on the second weekend.

With Coachella ticket prices and so many other things now more expensive than ever – gas, lodging – I made a mental note to look for affordable snacks, which meant forgoing the extra course Outstanding in the field Dinner series and Nobu Omakase. Most of the groceries you'll find at retailers range from $17 to $30, with occasional discounts for groups, such as the Munchies Box from Cena Vegan There are also two crunchy tacos, a crunch wrap, tortilla chips and nacho cheese for $30.

I can't emphasize enough how important constant hydration is at the festival. There are water stations throughout the site. The bottles are inexpensive and are often given out free to prevent dehydration. I also recommend regular stops in electrolyte Activation at the Coachella Courtyard where you can receive free samples of the hydrating sports drink.

The focus on hydration is complete, here are the food recommendations.

If you are a VIP ticket holder, your first meal of the day should be at Kazunori's sushi counter in the rose garden, which usually involves a wait. Thanks to my genius planning, I was first in line and sat at the counter within minutes. I ordered a set of five hand rolls, which were delivered so quickly that all I could do was take random photos and videos. However, each roll – warm and packed with scallops, toro and lobster – was delicious and refreshing, with plenty of omega-3 fatty acids to fuel me for the rest of the day.

If you're in the Rose Garden, stop by Smashburger Love hour – The Koreatown location is temporarily closed while the restaurant is remodeled – for $12 caviar bumps or a full spread with caviar, crème fraîche and nuggets.

Fans of spicy food can try their hand here Buldak Crawl, a heat challenge from the Korean hot sauce brand that features shared dishes from various food vendors, including a foot-long Japanese-style hot dog from Sumo dog at Street Food Alley and a birria quesadilla from Birrieria San Marcos in the 12 Peaks VIP area.

One of the best parts of Coachella is enjoying the sherbet-colored sunset at the end of the day. This event was made even sweeter when I paired the actual sunset with the Coachella Sunset Cocktail, which mixes citrus and a skewered kumquat with tequila and is served in a branded cup that doubles as a souvenir.

On Coachella Day 1, I kept seeing festival-goers carrying grilled crepes in bags full of savory ingredients, and I knew I'd seek them out first on day two. I was delighted to find out that the crepes were mine Gabino's Creperiea recommendation for Palm Springs restaurant critic Bill Addison's updated restaurant guide, which recently opened a second location in Indio. The cheesy crepe was studded with creamy pesto, crisp lettuce, sliced ​​red onions and tender grilled chicken pieces.

Make sure you visit at least one hidden speakeasy. Coachella made it easy for festival-goers by placing two bars across from each other in Street Food Alley. Look for an old-school photo booth as the entrance to an air-conditioned bunker with draped ivy, seating and a groovy playlist. A neon cactus marks the other speakeasy entrance, making way for a rave scene complete with smoke machines, strobe lights, wall speakers and – remarkably – no seating. Depending on who is at the door, you may be asked for a password, but a group of us were allowed straight in without being asked.

Friday headliner Sabrina Carpenter is behind Indio Central Market's hidden cocktail bar, whose entrance is marked by a vintage elevator door. Inside, it feels like a vintage hair salon with pink accents, antique furniture, a photo booth, and an espresso martini on the menu. The Tiki Bar is again in the 12 Peaks VIP area next to it Menotti's Coffee stand with tropical cocktails garnished with paper umbrellas and adjacent Medjool Lake.

One of my favorite festival foods came from the vendor in Smorgasburg, LA Lobsterdamus. The lobster fries were buttery with a generous helping of poached crustacean, along with truffle mayonnaise, mozzarella, garlic confit and cilantro. The fries were hot and it was an extremely filling meal as the second evening came to a close.

A refreshing frosé slushie from Darkhorse Wine & Slushie bar is always high on my priority list at Coachella and is usually easy to get to as there was previously a booth at 12 Peaks where VIP guests enter the festival grounds. The wine brand changed it this year. To save you the two days it took me to find the stall at the spot called Terrace South Food on the map, I'll instruct you to go through the Empire Polo Club bar on the other side of the Beer Barn and near Street Food Alley.

I discovered some of my favorite burgers at Coachella and added a new name to my rotation this year. Find Gardena based Oh my burger at the Coachella Courtyard, with thick single or double smash burgers, generously doused with a spicy special sauce, with pickles and melted cheese on a croissant bun. And don't forget an order of curly fries.

The festival has expanded its plant-based offerings this year, with options like Civico in the 12 Peaks VIP area and at the Smorgasburg vendor ManEatingPlant at the Indio Central Market. The Crunch Wrap by Cena Vegan was my favorite vegan meal of the weekend; It tasted remarkably similar to the version I ate at Taco Bell many years ago, but contained no preservatives and other ingredients that might weigh you down.

I can't say that the management at Villa's Tacos at Indio Central Market is no shorter than those at Victor Villa's taquerias in Highland Park and downtown LA, especially after Villa made a cameo appearance at Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance. What I can guarantee is that the serving size is the same, with three large blue corn quesatacos topped with onions, cilantro, guacamole, cotija cheese and crema mexicana.

One of my favorite things about eating at Coachella is taking advantage of places in LA that have limited hours or availability Delmy's pupusas from the 101 Best Restaurants list, appearing at some local farmers' markets and found in the VIP section of 12 Peaks and near the Mojave Stage, featuring stuffed blue corn pupusas, available with vegan fillings or beans and cheese.

Perhaps the best and definitely most surprising bite of the weekend came from Double dragon grill near the Mojave Stage. The loaded shrimp chip nachos are more like a salad, with tender charred chicken, Sichuan cucumber and wood ear mushroom salad, and fermented tofu aioli sprinkled over the puffy chips. To wash it down, order a Taiwanese yuzu soda.

There are churro carts throughout the property, but the Mexico City version is served Churreria El Moro – with a new location in Silver Lake – stands out from the crowd with cajeta, guava and dark chocolate dips. The blue and white structure is located near the famous Ferris wheel in Terrace North. Don't emphasize the line. It's quick and you'll receive a bag of piping hot and crunchy churros within seconds of placing your order.