Medina’s Mediterranean
Finding great food at Energizer Park is always a fun challenge. Sometimes the best bites are right in front of you, and sometimes you have to know where to look. Medina Mediterranean is definitely in the second category. Tucked behind the drink dispenser station in Section 103, this small stand can be easy to miss if you are just walking the concourse. Once you know it is there, though, it is hard not to stop by.
HUGE Rice Bowl
In this review we will cover the two dishes we tried, the Palestine Beef Wrap and the Palestine Chicken Rice Bowl, and share our full experience with ordering, flavor, shareability, and value.
Ordering Experience
Walking up to Medina Mediterranean feels different than most of the stadium’s food vendors. The line is usually shorter, and the people working the stand greet you warmly. When we ordered, they immediately asked if we wanted to customize the dishes. That might not sound like a big deal, but in a stadium where so much food is pre-assembled, the ability to make it just the way you like it is worth pointing out.
My son asked for no tomatoes and no pickles in his wrap. The staff had no problem making it exactly how he wanted. For me, I went with the rice bowl and decided to add the spicy sauce. It was an extra charge of $1.50. More on that later.
One quick tip: if you wait until halftime you may find that Medina has sold out of food. It is clearly becoming a popular choice, and that means supply does not always last through the whole game. If you want to guarantee yourself a wrap or bowl, grab it before kickoff or during the first half.
Palestine Beef Wrap
Price: $17.99
The beef wrap makes a strong first impression. It is a big item and feels hefty in your hands. The pita was warm and soft, the beef was tender, and the garlic tahini sauce tied everything together. Since my son asked for no tomatoes and no pickles, the wrap ended up being a little emptier than it would normally be. That was his choice, but it is worth noting that the standard version of this wrap would feel a bit more complete.
Value and Portion Size
For $17.99 the wrap lands in the middle of stadium pricing. It is more filling than a $15 hotdog but does not quite stretch as far as some of the other wraps we have tried at Energizer Park. I gave it a 2 out of 3 for budget friendliness.
Shareability
You could share the wrap with someone else, but it does not hold together as well as a burrito or something with a tighter wrap. Once you start splitting it, pieces are likely to fall out. I gave it another 2 out of 3 for shareability.
Flavor
The flavor was solid. The beef had seasoning that gave it personality without being overpowering, and the garlic tahini added depth. I would have given it a 3 if we were only comparing to traditional ballpark food, but with so many other strong options in this stadium, I gave it a 2. That is still a good score, just not quite the top tier.
Palestine Chicken Rice Bowl
Price: $17.99
The chicken rice bowl is packed with food. It comes with chicken, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, sumac onions, pickles, and garlic tahini sauce over a bed of rice. When you open the lid, you can immediately see how much food is inside. This is not a skimpy portion.
Value and Portion Size
This dish is a strong 3 out of 3 for budget friendliness. At the same price as the wrap, you get more filling food. Between the rice, chicken, and toppings, you could comfortably share this with at least two people. If you are willing to ask for an extra bowl or two, you could stretch it to three.
Shareability
This is where the rice bowl shines. Because it is easy to scoop out portions, it is one of the more shareable dishes we have tried in the stadium. That is why I also rated it a 3 out of 3.
Flavor
Flavor is where the bowl lands closer to average. I gave it a 2 out of 3. The chicken was cooked well and had seasoning that gave a Middle Eastern feel, but the flavors were mild. I think that is intentional so it can appeal to a wide audience. The rice was cooked perfectly and made a good base. Where I was disappointed was in the spicy sauce. For $1.50 extra, I was expecting a real kick of heat or at least an additional layer of flavor. Instead, it barely made a difference. If anything, the bowl needed more garlic tahini to keep the rice from drying out by the end.
Atmosphere and Vibe
The staff at Medina make the experience feel welcoming. They are friendly, upbeat, and happy to walk you through the customization options. It is a nice change of pace compared to the high-volume pressure of many other stands.
Kid-friendliness is another plus. Since the food is not naturally spicy and can be adjusted to individual taste, kids can enjoy it just as much as adults. My son certainly did.
Tips for Ordering
Go early. They sometimes sell out by halftime.
Customize. If you do not like a topping, they will gladly make it your way.
Skip the spicy upcharge. It does not add enough to be worth $1.50.
Share the rice bowl. It is the better value and can easily feed more than one person.
Suggested Improvements
Medina is doing a lot of things right, but I would love to see their sauces offered more like condiments. For example, Mayo Ketchup lets people sample different sauces without paying extra. If Medina made their spicy sauce available on the counter, people could try it and add as much or as little as they like. That small change could take the overall experience up a level.
Final Thoughts
Medina Mediterranean is one of those spots that makes Energizer Park special. It is not flashy, and if you are not looking carefully, you could walk right past it. Yet once you find it, you realize it is worth coming back to.
The Palestine Beef Wrap was good, and the Chicken Rice Bowl was even better for its portion size and shareability. While the flavors may lean on the mild side, the freshness, customization, and friendliness of the staff make this stand a hidden gem.
Would I order here again? Yes. The only reason it is not higher on my personal list is because there are still so many vendors I have yet to review. But once I make my way through the rest of the stadium, Medina will be one of the spots I circle back to.
So next time you are near Section 103, look behind the drink dispensers and give Medina Mediterranean a try. You might just find your new go-to meal at the match.
