We all know how seriously I take my duty as a journalist, particularly when a stadium introduces a new menu. After covering severe weather this week, I determined we all needed a break, so I headed to Frisco to try the new dishes they’ll serve at FC Dallas’ home opener Saturday.

The stadium’s executive chef aims to bring us an array of new items, a Texas-sized menu, she explains.

Because of our diverse state, FC Dallas wants to provide you with all the tools you need to make each match your own, ranging from brisket in nachos to brisket in tacos.

Brisket Tacho Tacos
Location: Stand 8
“14-hour house-smoked brisket in flour tortillas topped with crispy tater tots, cheddar cheese sauce, and fresh pico de gallo.”

Erika Dabney explains her staff looks at what’s trending among the food circuit when they consider new items. This year, we’re all enjoying more brisket and tater tots.

Why just stop with a taco? The marriage of brisket and tater tots shows us we can dream of more. More on the brisket shortly. In that clip, she talks about how the taco is a smaller version of…

The Striker Burrito
Location: Stand 9
“Refried beans, tater tots, ground beef, shredded Monterey jack blend, pico de gallo, jalapeños, drizzled with sour cream and topped with BBQ chicharrónes.”

The brisket did not advance to the burrito, but the tater tots did, and they provide an insouciant crunch. I didn’t know what chicharrones were prior to this, but I may now start adding pork rinds to the top of every sandwich. If someone questions that, I shall suggest that person is pedestrian.

Coca-Cola® BBQ Bacon Burger
Location: Stand 8
“A perfectly grilled beef patty topped with amazing Coca-Cola BBQ sauce.”

The Classic FC Dallas Cheeseburger is pictured above. My research indicates the addition of BBQ sauce, giant pickles and onion does give the burger some tang. Not so much tang that it becomes a distraction, mind you, but just enough that you notice they all work together. The cheeseburger is similar to a symphony, but instead of oboes, they’re pickles.

Cross Bar Chicken Tinga Quesadillas
Location: Winners Club
“Flour tortillas filled with delicious chicken tinga and cheese and grilled, with a side of salsa and sour cream.”

You may recall last year, FC Dallas introduced chicken tinga nachos. Those return, but similar to additions to the cheeseburger, Dabney says they just wanted to find a way to increase deliciousness from 2024.

Kicked-up Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich
Location:  Stand 7
“Sautéed beef and onions topped with a spicy cheese sauce.”

Dabney says the “Everything’s Bigger in Texas” stand was a success last year, so this year, they’re takin’ it to Pennsylvania. She warns against ordering this unless you remembered to bring your appetite.

But maybe you did forget your appetite, so Toyota Stadium is also serving several vegetarian and vegan options.

Folks who devise vegetarian menus often do their best to make their dishes taste like meat, which seems overly complicated. Plus, when Dabney said the vegan sausage even comes in a vegan bun, she had to explain to me bread isn’t, technically, vegan.

But back to the brisket…

Burnt Ends Brisket Nachos
Location:  Winners Club
“Plenty of yellow corn tortilla chips topped with 14-hour smoked brisket and amazing Coca-Cola BBQ sauce.“

With visitors following their favorite MLS teams from across the country, Dabney says the different uses of brisket can introduce them to Texas.

FC Dallas can show kids all they can achieve with hard work. You might not end up where you expected, but if you put in the effort, you’ll be happy with the results.

I, for instance, devised my own nacho plate, making sure to incorporate more brisket.

To the right, you’ll see the Vegetarian “Chicken” Salad Croissant Sandwich. Typically, I would try to avoid a sandwich that has to use quotation marks to describe its ingredients, but they really did succeed in making it taste like chicken.

Toward the top of that picture, you’ll see a basket of Meatzza Pizza Fries, which are “Crispy, delicious fries topped with marinara, mozzarella, Italian sausage and pepperoni” available at Stand 7. Concessions workers became concerned I wasn’t getting enough pizza fries in my diet, so a staff member walked by and offered another tray.

With FC Dallas’ help, when I go in for my annual physical next week, I’ll be able to confidently tell the doctor yes, I am getting enough pepperoni and brisket in my diet.