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10 LA Comfort Foods to Eat While Watching the Dodgers Play This Postseason

Meals to hunker down with while the Boys in Blue chase another World Series title

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National League Championship Series Game 2: Los Angeles Dodgers v. Atlanta Braves
Mookie Betts
Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Farley Elliott is the Senior Editor at Eater LA and the author of Los Angeles Street Food: A History From Tamaleros to Taco Trucks. He covers restaurants in every form, from breaking news to the culture, people, and history that surrounds LA's dining landscape.

It’s shaping up to be a stressful postseason of Dodger baseball, as the Boys in Blue look to continue their playoff run en route to a second consecutive World Series title. And while nothing is guaranteed on the diamond, at least here in greater Los Angeles there’s no shortage of always-there-for-your comfort food spots ready to help make dinner time planning a little big easier. From game day staples like hot dogs and wings to Israeli spreads and breads not far from the stadium itself, here are 10 great options around LA for comfort food during the Dodgers postseason run.

Gardena: Mom’s Touch

A held-up sandwich in a photo with breaded side of bird sticking out to the left and lettuce on top.
Fried chicken sandwich from Mom’s Touch
Matthew Kang

Trying to understand the absolute overthinking by the Dodgers the first few games of the NCLS can create a less than ideal temperament. And nothing brings more of a sense of comfort than fried chicken, especially Korean fried chicken. Mom’s Touch has a very handy pre-ordering system that allows you to pick up sandwiches, tenders, and wings in a variety of interesting flavors, from green onion powder to soy garlic. The spicy chicken sandwich has a strong kick of heat while the fries boast that easy share-ability that stays fairly crisp for the duration of the game. 1400 W. Redondo Beach Boulevard, Gardena. —Matthew Kang

Crenshaw: Earle’s

Is it possible to make it through a Dodger game without trying a bite of a hot dog from somewhere? Conceivably, but who would ever want to try? Thankfully Earle’s on Crenshaw has one covered with chili-and-cheese-laced hot dogs, plus burgers, Jamaican-style patties, and so much more. It doesn’t get more comforting than downing a dog during game day, after all. 3864 Crenshaw Boulevard, Crenshaw. —Farley Elliott

Pasadena: Pasadena Fish Market

With stressful games on the horizon and cooler weather finally here, it’s best to lean into LA’s many beautiful braises. Thankfully the Jamaican stewed oxtails served over a bed of rice and peas from Pasadena Fish Market are here to comfort us all. The oxtails come caramelized, richly flavored, impossibly tender — and please don’t neglect to nibble on those superbly gelatinous bits. There’s something about slow-cooked meat that falls off the bone that fits the occasion just right. Round out lunch or dinner with an order of flaky beef patties, sweet plantains, or better yet, fried oysters. It’s a fish market after all. 181 East Orange Grove Boulevard, Pasadena. —Cathy Chaplin

Palmdale: Lee Esther’s Creole & Cajun Cooking

A shrimp po boy on a checkered cloth inside a sunny restaurant in Palmdale, CA.
A shrimp po boy from Lee Esther’s.
Farley Elliott

The greater Antelope Valley is a vibrant and diverse section of Los Angeles that is teeming with Dodger fans, despite its far proximity to the stadium itself. Fans there often meet together at bars or watch from the comfort of their couches, rooting on Mookie Betts with food from spots like Lee Esther’s, the Cajun and Creole staple spot in Palmdale. For sandwiches, hearty soups (especially helpful as the weather turns colder), and seafood galore, this is the stop for Antelope Valley long-timers who want to eat well in front of a TV during the postseason. 830 12 E. Avenue Q-6, Palmdale. —Farley Elliott

Glassell Park and Lincoln Heights: The Heights Deli & Bottle Shop

If chicken parm, Italian sausage and peppers, or a sub with genoa and dry salami, capicola, mortadela, and provalone sound like the thing to nosh while the Dodgers fight in the MLB semi-finals, then opt for take out from the Heights Deli & Bottle Shop’s is the place to try. With locations in both Lincoln Heights and Glassell Park, both serve pastas with old-school Italian red sauce or 12 inch pizzas with Boylan sodas, and incredible craft beer selections. 2135 N. San Fernando Road, Glassell Park. —Mona Holmes

Highland Park: Rosty Peruvian Food

A plate of beef, fries, and rice on a wooden table under harsh light.
Lomo saltado
Matthew Kang

This Peruvian restaurant in Highland Park has a fantastic takeout game, where dishes like lomo saltado, rotisserie chicken, ceviche, and arroz chaufa travel well and come in big heaping portions. At Rosty Peruvian Food the deep, comforting flavors of stir-fried beef with fried potatoes pairs well with any anxieties about missed opportunities or runs left on base. The signature rotisserie chicken will taste even better when the Boys in Blue finally strike out the last batter to secure to their next win, too. 5511 N. Figueroa Street, Highland Park. —Matthew Kang

Arcadia: Taco Treat

There’s something timeless about Taco Treat, the takeaway taco and other stuff stand out in Arcadia. The restaurant, known for its deep-fried burritos and retro signage, hews to an old school dining mentality. It’s the kind of place where hard-shelled tacos are served fast and with little fuss; where families can eat for a song; and where groups can gather to pick up trays of meals to take home and collectively catch all the baseball action. As the Dodgers reach for history this postseason, reaching for a historic meal just makes sense. 74 Live Oak, Arcadia. —Farley Elliott

A vertical image of a crumbling piece of pie with a quenelle of ice cream and dash of sugar.
A slice of pie after a game winner
The Ordinaire

Santa Monica: Cha Cha Chicken

Wings and sports go together. It’s the perfect marriage, provided there’s wet naps or napkins nearby. And while it’s perfectly acceptable to order traditional, why not opt for some with some massive Caribbean kick from longtime spot Cha Cha Chicken? Sure, it’s knee-deep in tourist central, but they make some fine food at this 25-year-old restaurant. Even though the most popular and notable is the coconut battered chicken wings smothered in a pineapple jerk sauce. With ample kick, these wings — or the ropa vieja stew — are what’s needed to watch the Dodgers play. If not on the Westside, order from the Northridge location. 1906 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica. —Mona Holmes

Long Beach: The Ordinaire

Want a salad so as to stay lively during the game? The Ordinaire’s got you covered. Prefer a patty melt to better sink into the couch? The Ordinaire’s got that too, plus cocktails, fries, and just about anything else one could want for a night in watching the Dodgers round up a couple of home wins. Don’t sleep on the pie either, because sometimes it’s just what’s needed after a late night watching stressful baseball. 210 The Promenade N., Long Beach. —Farley Elliott

Chinatown: Yang Chow

Looking to feel the energy of the stadium without actually venturing inside for a game? Consider picking up from Yang Chow, the Chinatown legend just down the hill from Chavez Ravine. Here old school Chinese staple dishes make for a comforting meal best shared with family and friends, and eaten over a languishing evening in front of the television while cheering on the Boys in Blue. 819 N. Broadway, Chinatown. —Farley Elliott