COLUMBUS — Sprint, scream, headbang, repeat. Metalheads work up quite the appetite as they try to match the intensity at Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival.
While the average person might need a solid breakfast, lunch and dinner to survive an infamous 12-hour Sonic shift, one rock n’ roll disciple told Delaware Source true fans just need metal.
Whether he meant eating metal or listening to more metal, the world may never know.
But for those in-between chomping on pieces of rebar, there is an almost overwhelming amount of top-notch grub across the festival’s footprint.
From hot dogs drenched in chili to fresh sushi bowls, cheeseburger ramen and lobster rolls, there really is something for everyone — many of which even regular folks can enjoy.
Hometown homies: Buck City Sammies & Hai Poke
Friends Chad Berton and Nile Woodson have owned Columbus-based Buck City Sammies since 2022, with Woodson owning Hai Poke since 2015.
Berton described Buck City as a “modern take on a classic deli.”
“[We use] really high-quality ingredients sourced in local areas and from overseas in Italy. We’re just looking to bring the best quality sandwich to you,” he added.
Woodson said he’s served Hai Poke’s Hawaiian-inspired sushi bowls all over, but has served metalheads at Sonic Temple five separate times.
“I’ve been running [Hai Poke] in various areas of Columbus, a couple brick and mortars, festival setups, food trucks,” Woodson said.
“We primarily focus on raw tuna and marinated salmon, rice bowls, fresh veggies, fresh sauce and just slinging them out.”
Berton said Woodson helped get Buck City into Sonic Temple, and both said the festival’s “infectious” environment is a big reason they came.
Despite not being the biggest metal fans, the duo said the music helps them stay in the zone.
Non-Temple visitors can find both booths near Inkcarceration’s The Slammer bar, or Hai Poke at Bridge Park in Dublin, and Buck City at East Market by Franklin Park in Columbus.
Dirty Frank’s Hog Dog Palace weaponizes wieners
Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace has five locations across the Columbus area, and food truck manager Wes Miller said the wiener moguls had 12 different hot dogs available at Sonic Temple.
“We have all kinds of different toppings, mini corn dogs, loaded mini corn dogs, loaded tater tots and we also have our own house-made dessert blondie bar,” Miller said.
Miller said this is Dirty Frank’s fourth year at Sonic Temple and estimated that the food truck will put out 1,500 hot dogs per day of the festival.
He also said a ton of his part-time workers are total metalheads and reach out months in advance to work the event.
But above all else, Miller had the most on-brand Sonic story.
“One time, someone bought a hot dog to throw at security,” he said, laughing.
The Baja Shrimp swims in from California
Steven Lobato manages The Baja Shrimp, a food truck/caterer from Riverside, California, that was slinging some tasty lobster rolls in the VIP section.
Lobato said he’s no stranger to music festivals, detailing how his staff drove from California to Florida before arriving at Sonic Temple.
“We do a bunch of festivals everywhere, EDC, Stagecoach, Coachella. [This is] the first time we’ve ever done a Sonic Temple,” Lobato said.
“We try not to stay close-minded, like to reach for the stars and push ourselves to different limits,” he said. “Bringing our food to Ohio is something we cherish.”
Outside of the popular lobster rolls, The Baja Shrimped served pastrami, animal style, chili cheese and salad fries at the festival.
“I like the setup, the music, all the signs — everything just fits right into place here,” Lobato said.
