If a hipster couldn’t post his meals on social media, would he starve to death? Although we ask the question with tongue firmly in cheek, the obsession with showcasing foods on Instagram is a defining hipster trait.
However, if you look past the pics, and focus on the food itself, you might find yourself surprised at the culinary treats available.
QUICK LOOK: OUR 3 FAVORITES
stonewall kitchen bacon caesar dressing
pabst blue ribbon fleece throw blanket
the big recipe book of kombucha
The Top 11 Hipster Food Favorites
Truthfully, hipster food gets an unfair rap. Although hipsters seem to be on a never-ending quest to eat the weirdest foods possible, they’re actually responsible for introducing many delicious dishes into the mainstream.
Plus, hungry hipsters help promote many worthwhile causes such as locally-sourced ingredients and sustainable farming. When you eat where the hipsters eat, you’re likely supporting fresh, organic foods and avoiding anything from a corporate farm.
Today, we’re taking a closer look at delicious dishes and places to eat popularized by hipsters, which you’ll want to try for yourself.
From unique twists on traditional favorites to exciting new foods from faraway places, here’s a rundown of what hipsters like to eat.
Bacon
stonewall kitchen bacon caesar dressing
A traditional Caesar dressing flavored with real bacon. Also delicious poured over plain pasta or served as a dip with raw veggies.
Everyone loves bacon, but hipsters take it to the next level. To eat more like a hipster, add more bacon to your diet. It’s a welcome addition to breakfast, pasta, salads, PB&J, and many other dishes. If you’re looking for ideas, The Food Network lists a whopping 50 recipes you can make with bacon.
Of course, not every meal in the world calls for bacon. However, you can always add the taste of bacon without adding pieces of bacon directly. Stonewall Kitchen offers a variety of bacon-flavored jams, dressings, and sauces.
PBR
pabst blue ribbon fleece throw blanket
This throw blanket features the iconic Pabst Blue Ribbon label, and text that reads "Established in Milwaukee 1844". 100% polyester with super soft and cozy microplush fleece makes this the perfect blanket for any Season or binge-watch night.
Pabst Blue Ribbon is the hipster drink of choice. Hipsters like the brand so much they revitalized it from near-bankruptcy back in 2009.
What’s so special about this not-so-special beer? First, hipsters liked its old-school, blue-collar style, which they deemed authentic. Also, PBR wasn’t actively trying to market to hipsters, or anyone else, for that matter. The brand was in such dire straits financially that they had no marketing presence whatsoever.
Hipsters felt inundated by TV advertising from the major beermakers like Coors and Budweiser. Instead of drinking what they were “told” to drink, they chose the relatively-unknown PBR. Today, PBR fully embraces the hipster label, actively marketing towards a young, hip demographic.
Interestingly, their marketing efforts walk a fine line. They want to reach hipsters, but they don’t want to drive them away with mainstream advertising, so they avoid Super-Bowl-scale ads in favor of art contests and other hipster-friendly promotions.
Of course, hipsters love to broadcast their love for PBR almost as much as they love drinking it. PBR-branded trucker hats, PBR fleece blankets, and other branded merch are sure indicators someone is a hipster.
Kombucha
the big recipe book of kombucha
This complete guide, from the proprietors of Kombucha Kamp, shows you how to do it from start to finish, with illustrated step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting tips. The book also includes information on the many health benefits of kombucha, fascinating details of the drink’s history, and recipes for delicious foods and drinks you can make with kombucha.
Kombucha is a hipster favorite because it’s far outside the mainstream. Unfortunately for the rest of us, there’s a clear reason why. Kombucha is, to put it mildly, an acquired taste.
Also called mushroom tea or fungus tea, Kombucha is a fermented black or green tea. It’s often enhanced with juices and spices. Although hipsters swear by its antioxidant benefits, researchers say more testing is necessary to support those claims (but it’s unlikely to harm you).
With questionable health benefits and a more-than-questionable taste, the main reason to drink Kombucha is to tell other people that you’re drinking Kombucha. In that regard, it’s the ultimate hipster beverage.
If Kombucha sounds like something you want to try, you can make it at home fairly easily with a home brewing kit. Also, check out The Big Book of Kombucha for recipes and other info.
Kale
kale organic powder
Kale contains very little fat, but a large portion of the fat in it is an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha linolenic-acid. Given its incredibly low calorie content, kale is among the most nutrient-dense foods in existence. Eating more kale is a great way to dramatically increase the total nutrient content of your diet.
Believe it or not, hipsters love vegetables, especially kale. It’s a leafy type of cabbage with green or purple leaves. It’s a superfood packed with protein, vitamins, and other goodness.
Kale goes great with just about anything. Mix the smaller leaves into a fresh salad. Use the large leaves as a pizza topping, add them to stir-fry, or swirl them into your favorite soup.
If you’re mainly interested in the health benefits, kale is also available in powder foam, such as All-Natural Kale Powder from Hoosier Hill Farms and Organic Kale Powder from Micro Ingredients. Stir the powder into a shake, smoothie, or even plain water for a drinkable nutrient boost.
Kimchi
the korean kimchi cookbook
The Korean Kimchi Cookbook is the first Korean cookbook in English to present Korean kimchi recipes in so many different forms. Learn about the alchemy of vegetable fermentation and its health benefits, which include healthy digestion, anti-aging results, lower cholesterol, and a stronger immune system.
Hipsters love foods from foreign countries. A traditional Korean dish, Kimchi saw a surge in popularity stateside thanks to hipster fandom. It’s a delicious dish featuring Napa cabbage, Korean radish, spring onions, ginger, garlic, and a variety of other salted and fermented veggies.
Although nothing beats Kimchi prepared by a culinary professional, you can also make your own at home. Check out the Korean Kimchi Cookbook for 82 tasty recipes. For best results, pick up a wooden Kimchi pounder.
Thanks to hipsters, you can find Kimchi flavors in just about everything, including BBQ pork rinds and spicy mayo sauce.
Home-Brewed Beer
everyday ipa beer making kit
Thee Everyday IPA Beer Making Kit is perfect for beginners. Brooklyn Brew Shop makes brewing beer at home simple, fun, and tasty with easy-to-follow videos and step-by-step instructions. Using only seasonally-inspired, real ingredients, we never include sugary malt extracts, meaning you brew the freshest and best-tasting beer possible.
Homebrewing is a decidedly mainstream activity these days, but the trend got its start from hipsters. When you brew your beer, you’re completely in charge of the flavors, alcohol content, and all other aspects. It’s the ultimate artisanal brew – and you’re an artist!
If you’re new to homebrewing, you’ll get the best results with an all-in-one kit for beginners such as the IPA Beer Making Kit from Brooklyn Brew Shop or the Complete Starter Beer Making Kit from Mr. Beer.
Another fun aspect of brewing your beer is meeting with other brewers to swap brews. Check for homebrewers associations in your area. As hipsters already know, getting together to discuss your passions with like-minded folks is a great time.
Donuts
brentwood mini donut maker machine
Powerful 750 watt mini donut maker bakes 7 donuts in just a few minutes. Safely operate with cool touch handles. Convenient power and pre heat indicator lights.
Hipsters have almost single-handed revitalized the donut industry. But you won’t find hipsters hanging out at the local Dunkin’ Donuts. Instead, as featured in a recent article from Forbes, hipsters congregate at artisanal donuts shops adorned with cartoony illustrations and filled with loud indie music.
You won’t find plain chocolate or glazed offerings here. Instead, hipster donut shops feature flavors like lavender, bacon, Nutella, sriracha, and other hipster faves. Even the names are hipster-ized, often reflecting bands and other titles from pop culture.
Of course, why buy when you can make your own? Like beer and coffee, hipsters like to make their donuts at home. Fortunately, doing so is fairly easy with a mini donut maker. If the price is no object, you can also buy an automatic commercial donut making machine.
Food Trucks
around the world in 80 food trucks
Lonely Planet has taken to the streets to bring you 80 fast, fresh and mouthwatering recipes from the most exciting chefs on four wheels. From sea bass ceviche and Lebanese msakhan to old-fashioned American peach cake, discover how to cook some of the world's most crowd-pleasing dishes, meet the chefs and hear the stories behind their passion projects.
Hipsters wouldn’t be caught dead in a chain restaurant such as Chili’s or TGI Fridays. Instead, they flock to restaurants off-the-beaten-path. Their favorite restaurants aren’t traditional restaurants at all; they’re food trucks.
Food trucks are more popular than ever. They’re growing at an estimated rate of 15% per year, outpacing the growth of brick-and-mortar casual dining locations by more than 10%. Their increased popularity is mainly due to hipsters, who were willing to brave the questionable aesthetics of early food trucks in search of something new and delicious.
Today, food trucks are the front line of cutting edge cuisine. The only downside is that finding your favorite food truck can be complicated, as they’re not in the same place every day. If you’re a food truck fan, check out travel expert Lonely Planet’s Around the World in 80 Food Trucks guide.
Mason Jars
kamota mason jars
KAMOTA glass jars have an elegant design and the transparent glass can clearly distinguish what is inside. Each lid is expertly designed with ease of use and storage security in mind. The included lids seal tightly to prevent leaks and preserve foods while still being easy to open and close.
Don’t worry – hipsters aren’t eating mason jars. However, they do love beverages served in them. From beer to coffee to Kombucha, mason jars are the serving glass of choice in any hipster establishment or hipster home.
Fortunately, you don’t need to spend big. A set of 12 mason jars is usually quite affordable. Plus, they’re durable and easy to clean.
Pickles
van holten kosher pickle
Van Holten’s Eight Pickle Sample Variety Pack is a fun introduction to different pickle flavors (Garlic Joe, Hot Mama, Big Papa, Sour Sis, Hot, Sour, Dill, and Kosher).
Although pickles were never in danger of losing popularity worldwide, hipsters took to them with renewed enthusiasm. They love all types, including traditional favorites like dill, sweet, and bread and butter pickles.
Of course, because we’re talking about hipsters, they’re also into more obscure types such as lemon, onion, and carrot pickles. Van Holten’s Eight Pickle Sample Variety Pack is a fun introduction to different pickle flavors.
Hipsters also gave a big boost to the trend of making your pickles at home. It’s surprisingly easy to do. You’ll also save a few bucks if you’re a pickle-eating fiend.
Hipster Cookbooks
the portlandia cookbook
The companion cookbook to the hit show Portlandia by the Emmy-nominated stars and writers Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, with 50 delicious recipes for every food lover, freegan, organic farmer, and food truck diehard.
Are you looking for even more hipster dishes? Plenty of cookbooks are available with dishes sure to please your palette. Check out Keep Portland Weird: Funky Food for the Hungry Hipster or The Portlandia Cookbook. (Note that although a comedy show inspired the Portlandia Cookbook, the recipes are all genuine dishes inspired by Portland cooking.)
Final Word
Hipsters seek out alternative, rare, and exotic foods that are unknown to mainstream diners. While some hipster dishes are often ordered more for show than taste – we’re looking at you, Kombucha – the majority of hipster foods will delight your taste buds with brand-new flavors.
If you’re looking to broaden your horizons with new meals for you and your friends, our hipster-inspired list above will help fill your plate. Bon appetit!