Telepeer

Stagecoach 2023: What vegetarians can eat at the barbecue-focused festival

May 1, 2023

Grilled and smoked meats at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival are a really big deal.

Restaurateur and TV personality Guy Fieri has been manning the Stagecoach Smokehouse now for several years and it has become quiet the spectacle. He brings the heat by hosting cooking demos with pitmasters from across the country and has a good time creating outrageous barbecued meals — like a mac and cheeseburger that included a whopping six pound meat patty — with some of the festival’s Mane Stage talent, too.

But what if you’re a vegetarian or vegan attending this mostly meat-focused fiesta?

Although it’s a stark contrast from the wide variety of eats available during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, there are options for those seeking a plant-based bite or a non-meat dish at Stagecoach.

Here’s some of the vegetarian and vegan food we tried during the three-day festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.

The Monty’s Good Burger mascot sports a cowboy hat for the Stagecoach Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Contributing Photographer)

Meal boxes sit on the counter at Monty’s Good Burger during the Stagecoach Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Contributing Photographer)

Corn in a cup at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Contributing Photographer)

Expand

Monty’s Good Burger

The all plant-based spot is slinging chicken tenders and hamburgers all weekend long. The Los Angeles-based joint makes sure to give each customer a cute box with the famous Monty’s dog logo, that also happens to be sporting a cowboy hat for the event. The tenders or burgers come in the box with fries and a handful of crispy tater tots. Each meal also includes a drink and a sauce of choice. Meals start at $21 per box.

Sign up for our Festival Pass newsletter. Whether you are a Coachella lifer or prefer to watch from afar, get weekly dispatches during the Southern California music festival season. Subscribe here.

Delmys Pupusas

The Salvadoran eatery brings a modern twist in serving pupusas for a variety of diets. Vegetarian options include beans and cheese and vegan pupusas, including farmer’s market veggies and beans. Regardless of the pupusa chosen, each comes with pickled cabbage, caliente salsa and crema. Meals start at $16.

Mac Shack

Serving simple, quick easy bites, the Mac Shack has white cheddar mac and cheese bowls that are reasonable in price. The bowls are filled to the brim with shell pasta and creamy cheese. Meals start at $11.50.

Juniors Munchies

Junior Munchies is the place to hit when attendees are craving a hot corn on the cob. The joint also has esquites, the off-the-cob version of elotes, in a big cup. The esquites and cobs come with butter and parmesan. If vegans want a little something, just let the workers know, and they’ll happily remove the dairy. There’s also a bar with hot sauce, lemon juice, chamoy and other amenities for taste. Meals start at $7.

Heritage Mediterranean Grill

One of the best options for vegetarians, Heritage serves up falafels and rice bowls that are equally large in size and tasty. The falafel sandwiches and bowls come with sliced cucumbers, tomato, red onion, and feta cheese. Plant-based attendees can also grab a bowl without the cheese and dairy. Meals start at $20.

Spicy Pie

“I Love Spicy Pie” is a well-known slogan on the pizza boxes that come with each order. This is a festival food staple and guests can snag plain cheese and veggies. Additionally, there is a vegan option, but it needs to be requested and they tend to run out quickly. Prices start at $12.

More Stagecoach Country Music Festival news

Stagecoach 2023: 5 fun non-music activities to do at the festival

Stagecoach 2023: Ready to party, yet stay sober? There’s a tent for that

Stagecoach 2023: See photos of performers and fans from Day 2

Stagecoach 2023: Kane Brown, Bryan Adams and Nelly close out Day 2

Stagecoach 2023: Guy Fieri, Jon Pardi toss barbecued turkey legs to hungry fans

Stagecoach 2023: Trixie Mattel slays Late Night in Palomino performance

Stagecoach 2023: See photos of performers and fans from Day 1

Stagecoach 2023: Luke Bryan keeps fans singing, Jon Pardi gets a surprise on stage during Day 1

Stagecoach 2023: Country music fans, performers brave the heat and cut loose during Day 1

Stagecoach 2023: How to livestream the country music festival from home

Stagecoach 2023: Brooks & Dunn return to the desert and they’re ready to party