Festival food guide 2019: The best stalls to check out this summer

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Harry Fletcher12 April 2019

As anyone who has ever handed over £10 for a tasteless burger in a dry bun, or a boring burrito will know, there’s little more disappointing than bad festival food.

Choosing the right stall can sometimes be pot luck. Still, if you know where to go, there’s always something fantastic to get your teeth into. In fact, some places are almost worth going to on the strength of the food selection alone.

From delicious curries, to amazing grilled cheese sandwiches and vegan junk food treats, these are the best food stalls to head to out at this summer's festivals.

Biff’s Jack Shack

Biff’s have been almost single-handedly improving festival experiences for vegans up and down the UK over the last few years. Vegan junk food is nothing new, of course, but the team here have really honed their craft — the burgers have an incredible texture and taste that far surpass the average veggie patty. The range of ‘fried chicken’ dishes are far more than mere novelties too. It’s no secret how good the food is, so expect lengthy queues forming outside their stalls this summer. The wait, though, is definitely worth it.

Where to find it: All Points East, Field Day, Mighty Hoopla, Cross The Tracks, Download, Glastonbury, British Summer Time, Lambeth County Fair, Standon Calling, Boarmasters, Lost Village, UK Vegan Camp Out.

The Duck Truck

Duck doesn’t always spring to mind when it comes to festival food classics, but the Duck Truck is on a mission to change all that. The wraps here are fantastic, the duck fat chips are ludicrously tasty and the scotch eggs are a steal at £4 too. As a bonus, their crispy wraps are like big versions of delicious duck pancakes from your local Chinese — which, let’s face it, are always the best bits of the meal. The truck is parked up in Spitalfields most of the year, before heading out on the road in the summer so, if you fancy sampling it beforehand, you know where to go.

Where to find it: RunRestRun, Glastonbury, Latitude, Wilderness, Lost Village

Goan Fish Curry

Goan dining is still a relatively new concept in the UK, but it’s been a mainstay at festivals for the last few years thanks to the Goan Seafood company. These guys create some of the tastiest dishes you’ll find at summer events, with their curries boasting intense, hearty flavours and beautifully cooked fresh fish from the Cornish coast. Best of all, it’s gluten and dairy free, making it a versatile, crowd-pleasing option — this year, why not Goan treat yourself.

Where to find it: Glastonbury, Love Supreme, ​Larmer Tree, Womad, Cropredy, Green Man, Greenbelt

Anna-Maes

Sometimes after a day of warm lager in the sun, comfort food is the only thing that’ll cut the mustard; time for Anna-Maes' mac 'n' cheese. Expect a bowl of stringy cheese, creamy macaroni and an array of great sauces — it’s simple, it’s affordable and it’s absolutely delicious. Look out for Anna-Maes’ diddy camper van at your next festival and fill your boots.

Where to find it: Junction 2, Mighty Hoopla, Glastonbury, Wilderness, Latitude, Green Man, Shambala, Big Feastival, X the Tracks, We Are Here, Marylebone Summer festival

Paellaria

There’s nothing like the smell from a huge pan of paella to draw hungry punters in, and Paellaria is one of the very best places to find it. Set up by four best friends nearly 10 years ago, it's gone on to become a regular festival fixture. You can’t miss it either — the colourful stalls themselves are as vibrant as the food, standing out a mile away. Expect big, bold flavours and liberal portions here, as well as reasonable prices, perfect for soaking up the day’s drinking.

Where to find it: All Points East, Speed Machines, Shindig Weekender, Run Fest Run, Bath Festival Finale, Gottwood Festival, Download Festival, Black Deer Festival, Nocture Live, Glastonbury, Cornbury, BST Hyde Park, Love Supreme Festival, Houghton Festival, Lovebox and Citadel, 2000 Trees Festival, Latitude, Truck Festival, Womad, Bluedot Festival, Lambeth Country Show, Camp Bestival, Carfest North and South, Boomtown, Bloodstock Festival, Wilderness Festival, Wickham Festival, Glastonbury Extravaganza, Arctangent, Beautiful Days, The BIG Feastival, End of the Road Festival, The Long Road Festival, Mucky Weekender​

Pieminister

Whether they’re meat-eaters, veggies, vegans or gluten-free diners, every festival-goer can find something to like at Pieminister. Since launching at Glastonbury in 2004, the chain has become one of the most dependable stalls at summer festivals, as well as one of the most versatile. All their fantastic pies are served with a big dollop of mash, with the option of thick gravy on top. This year Pieminister are introducing a new range of patties, which come in jerk chicken, BBQ smoked pork or vegan options, and are well worth seeking out.

Where to find it: Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Parklife, 2000 Trees, Tramlines, Kendal Calling, Truck Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Greenman, Shambala, Shrewsbury Folk, End of the Road

The Cheese Truck

The humble toastie — in many ways, it’s the perfect festival dish. It's hard to beat as a hangover cure, an afternoon snack, or a stodgy dinner and the Cheese Truck do a particularly good one. These guys have been serving grilled cheese sandwiches from their converted ice cream vans since 2014, and they’ve absolutely nailed the formula since then. Their original toastie packs in all the gooey cheddar cheese and delicious grilled bread you’d expect, while both the goats cheese with honey and stilton with bacon options are divine too. The truck pitches up at Maltby Street Market most weekends during the rest of the year, just in case you can't wait until the summer to get your toastie fix – or else, head to Camden market to try the spin-off restaurant, the Cheese Bar.

Where to find it: Porthilly Spirit, Glastonbury, Pete the Monkey, Bluedot, Camp Bestival, Wilderness, Houghton, Green Man, Lost Village, Big Festival, End of the Road

Jumping Bean Burrito

The burrito is an absolute staple of festival cuisine, and Jumping Bean is one of the very best places to find them. Expect big, fluffy tortillas packed with succulent beef chilli or chipotle marinated chicken, as well as an array of delicious veg, rice, guacamole and salsa. It all gets wrapped up in foil, ready to enjoy on the move — the ultimate festival meal. The veggie option is great too, stuffed with all manner of chick peas, kidney beans and crunchy peppers. It's a crowded field (buritto stalls are ten a penny at festivals) but Jumping Bean is a winner every time.

Where to find it: Bearded Theory, Parklife, Glastonbury, Blue Dot, Kendal Calling, Boomtown

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