As the Anaheim Ducks take to the ice for the new season, Mighty Ducks fans can look forward to a six new concessions this year that offer a wider array of glorious, gorge-worthy grub to enjoy while watching their avian-themed heroes take to the ice.
Among them are:
Wild Wings: Featuring fried bone-in wings in buffalo or whiskey barbecue flavors, as well as boneless chicken wings (lemon pepper, Nashville, plan). Other items include a honey mustard chicken wing wrap, hot dogs, waffle fries, hummus and veggie plates, soft-serve ice cream and more
Slapshot Grill: Offering traditional American grill favorites like smashburgers, hot chicken sandwich, barbecue bacon burger, chicken tenders, hot dog and waffle fries.
Two Sticks Teriyaki: Teriyaki bowls with rice and steamed veggies.
Blue Line Taqueria: A Mexican pit stop featuring loaded nachos, soft and hard-shell tacos, churro nuggets, nachos, frozen cocktails and agua fresca.
Hat Trick Hawaiian BBQ: Island-inspired barbecue fare likes a bone-in short-rib plate, hot dogs, pretzels, pineapple and vanilla soft serve.
The Sweet Spot: As the name implies, desserts galore like organic soft serve, soft serve nachos, popcorn, assorted candy, cakes, cookies and cereal treats.
Hat Trick Hawaiian BBQ’s short-rib plate is a Honda Center concession menu item introduced during a food preview on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Guests can still look forward to Honda Center stapes like pineapple soft serve, churro nuggets, pizza, brisket sandwiches and more. The loaded fries from Go Mango, in particular, were a glorious combination of savory, gravy, french-fry goodness. (Next to Celine Dion, poutine remains Canada’s greatest export.) And the pulled pork nachos from Smokehouse should not be missed.
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During a Tuesday media preview inside the arena’s swank Impact Club (formerly a locker room), rink bites were presented to the press and a handful of influencers.
“The loaded fries are amazing. They’re my go-to when I come here,” said Jordan Hardin of @mightyducksonfilm, while her social media partner Holly Nou, also of @mightyducksonfilm, noted, “I love the lemon pepper wings. Perfectly crunchy and not dry at all.” Indeed, the lemon pepper wings, coated with plenty of titular pepper and lemon zest, was one of the major standouts of the event.
Slapshot Grill’s barbeque bacon burger is a Honda Center concession menu item introduced during a preview on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
New libations can also be found this season care of Weston Garcia, food and beverage manager of premium services at Honda Center. His latest citrus-tinged concoction is the Orange County Margarita (billed as “Orange County’s signature cocktail with a hint of fire”) featuring Herradura tequila, lemon juice, triple sec, housemade orange chile de arbol peppers syrup, orange juice, paprika, hibiscus and a Tajin-flacked rim garnished with a dehydrated orange slice. For those who eschew alcohol, he also makes a zippy OC Mocktail Margarita using the aforementioned orange-chile syrup, lemon and lime juices and club soda.
For the 2024-25 season, Honda Center also upped its culinary game with new visual menu boards, custom food photography and kitchen facilities across all three levels of the arena — and that’s only the beginning.
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“Long term, there are big plans underway to really revamp and enhance the broad scope of what we’re doing with our food beverage offerings,” said Morell Marean, chief operating officer of OC Sports and Entertainment and the new entertainment district, OCVIBE, in Anaheim. “Each corner of the arena will have new restaurants, almost like a neighborhood.”
Marean said that by 2027 an “authentic Mexican cuisine” eatery, barbecue joint and an “upscale burger concept” will open inside Honda Center. “We’re not done with the naming process yet,” he said. “We’re in the midst of doing the kitchen designs now, and that’ll happen in conjunction with a major refresh and renovation throughout the arena.”
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“It’s all part of Honda Center being part of the launch of OCVibe, starting in 2026,” he added. The $4 billion OCVIbe development, which will build on the parking lots surrounding the Honda Center and the ARTIC transit station, is an attempt to create a new downtown area, what developers are billing “the new heart of Orange County.”
Brewery X also has a biergarten at Honda Center, found above the south entrance of Honda Center, which opens two hours before puck drop. Its outdoor patio is accessible to all ticket holders.
In addition to the new foods, the Ducks unveiled a refreshed brand showcasing an updated version of the classic Ducks logo, as well as new home and road uniforms.