15 MUST EATS at DAYTON’s OKTOBERFEST

This weekend mark’s one of Dayton’s biggest festivals and Food Adventures of the year, …Oktoberfest!

Held at the Dayton Art Institute, it is a plethora of Beer, Crafts, Cigars and Food.  Some blogs will give you tips on parking, but The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House have been eating and drinking their way through this festival for about 40 years.  So who better than the Food Adventure Crew to sort through the food with their hundreds of thousands of calories in expertise?

Grab your lederhosen and let’s dive in….

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

WHAT: Dayton’s 44th Annual Oktoberfest, a celebration of German food and culture

WHERE:  The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton Ohio

WHEN:  

— FRI, SEPT. 25th – PREVIEW PARTY SPECIAL EVENT – 7pm-11pm, COST $95 at the gate

— SAT, SEPT. 26th –  Noon – 11:00 pm, COST $7 at the  gate

— SUN, SEPT. 27th – Noon – 7pm, COST $7 at the gate

 

Now you know where to be and when.   So bring some money and get your eat on… Dayton’s Oktoberfest, where everyone is German for the day !

Drum roll and Accordion intro … here we go with our patented feature, the Dayton Oktoberfest’s 2015 “MUST EATS !”

 

MUST EATS:

— #1  SCHMIDT’S CREAM PUFFS: 
Of course the #1 item is one so creamy and rich, you will pass out from pleasure.  The line might be long, but the end result is worth it.  Grab one of these huge cream puffs from Schmidt’s Booth, all the way from Columbus.  The cream puff is as big as half your head, and more delicious than 100 movie stars.

 

— #2  CHERRY or PUMPKIN STRUDEL from THE ORIGINAL STRUDEL FACTORY:
Another OMG moment at the festival, is when you introduce your friends to this little number.  Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu agree that  the Apple Strudel  and Pumpkin Strudel steal the show.  The food lines are not bad at this booth , and the strudel is fresh out of the oven.

 

— #3  THE BRATWURST in the METTS and BRATS TENT:
We are not sure if these are a German Club item or Dayton Art Institute.. we just know with a little sauerkraut, or Dusseldorf mustard, these babies go great with beer.  Chef House’s pick of the fest.  She could hang out in this booth all night, and with the beer trucks of course!

 

— #4  THE GERMAN POTATO PANCAKES from THE “HEY HEY” FOOD BOOTH:
Giant, delicious and cheap.  Unfortunately everyone knows about these, so the line is a little long sometimes.  Don’t fret, good things come to those who wait, and it’s not like the line to the Beast at Kings Island. But these big potato cakes are beasts in themselves.

 

— #5  THE GERMANATOR at ZOMBIE DOGZ:
Dayton’s #1 food truck rolls in with this hot dog smothered in braised beef brisket, beer cheese and topped with fried onions.  Another original item, where they knock it out of the park.  Fight the line, and get the rewards of this one of a kind, big wiener.  What’s on your zombie?

 

— #6  THE PULLED CHICKEN SANDWICH from SMOKIN’ BAR-B-QUE
This Oregon District mainstay, comes in with an entry like a lightning bolt.  The pulled chicken is perfectly cooked, but the secret is in the sauce.  All foodies know that a condiment table can be where the magic happens and puts the ying to the yang.  In this case it is true.  Find the extra BBQ sauce bottle and squirt some more on your sandwich.  Close the bun, take a bite.  If some sauce drips on your finger, just get a canvas and hang an inspired finger painting in the art museum.

 

— #7  THE SOFT PRETZEL BOOTH:
Happiness is a warm pretzel.  We are talking so fresh you can hardly hold it.  We mean it, right out of the oven into a napkin, to warming your heart.  Soft inside, with the perfect outer crust, this pretzel is meant for some mustard and beer.  Warning:  you might crave a second one later in the night.

 

— #8 THE CRAB CAKES from BROCK MASTERSONS:  Seared on a flat grill, these gargantuan crab cakes are the best in town.  So good, that you will want two.  Also a thumbs up for the sauce served with the cakes.  It is the perfect touch and very tasty.  The crab cakes are full of flavor and worth the treat.

 

— #9  THE HAMBURGER at THE HAMBURGER WAGON: Hamburg, Germany.. that’s a town, right?  Well this Hamburger Wagon is as old as many towns.  Finishing their 103rd year, it is fair to say they are a Dayton icon.  We suggest the Double Burger, it is our newest rage at the wagon.  And as always “they don’t need no stinkin’ condiments.”

 

— #10 CHICKEN ON A STICK at BANGKOK HOUSE BOOTH:
The strange looking skewer, the incredible smell off the grill.  This busy booth sells all kinds of specialties, but the one to grab is the Chicken on a Stick. The marinated chicken comes out perfectly grilled and the result is a cross between somewhere between tender chicken, and other bites having a slight jerky feel to it.  A “must eat at Oktoberfest !

 

— #11  THE SUPERFOODS BURGER at BRIXX:  
Quinoa, spinach, avocados, cranberries and turkey  A surprise Food Adventure on a bun that we weren’t expecting.  Chris Bhai has done it again with his “out of the box” thinking. ion a burger?  YES! But the best thing is the taste!

 

— #12  THE PUB CHEESE FRIES from DUBLIN PUB:
Most Daytonians are familiar with these rich sinful cheese fries.  These hunger busting pub fries, topped with cheese and bacon, deserve a spot on the list.  Everytime we order these we find people reaching into our basket and snagging a bite.  Grab a batch of these hometown favorites. The are Chef House’s guilty little pleasure!

— #13  THE WIENERSCHNITZEL SANDWICH from the GERMAN SCHNITZEL BOOTH:  
Pretty much a fried pork tenderloin looking sandwich.  It is a good sized sandwich that is easily shared.  There is also schnitzel under the Brats and Metts tent in the German Food line.  I’m sure a cabbage roll or potatoes would go good with this.

 

— #14  THE TRADITONAL GYRO from the GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH BOOTH:
So you thought Greek Fest was your last chance in 2015 to get these?  Think again!  Take advantage of this rare chance to get the same gyros served at Greek Fest.  The only other time you can find these is at World a ‘Fair,  We recommend the traditional gyro with everything on it.  We feel it is much more flavorful than the chicken gyro.

 

—  #15  THE ROADHOUSE PORK CHOP from THE BLACKJACK GRILL: 
A giant pork chop, plus a huge grill means the most eye appealing site at the festival.  There is nothing quite like watching these huge porkchops cook.  Served as a sandwich or by themselves, this is your chance to get a big slab of meat for yourself.  Dab it with some of the Blackjack BBQ sauce and it’s time to go to town.

 

Honorable Mention: The Cabbage Rolls and Saeurkraut Balls are also Food Adventure favorites.

 

There you have it!  Our lists of the 15 Oktoberfest foods that need to meet your mouth this weekend.  Did we miss any?  What are your favorites that we should have mentioned?  Please comment!

Also, browse our photo gallery below for killer pictures of the MUST EATS !

As for beer choices, you are on your own, we are having a food baby and can’t be bothered.  But if you want more foodie news, from the Miami Valley’s Food Adventures blog, then “like us on Facebook HERE.