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Customers in baseball outfits wait before a game at a sandwich restaurant.
Fans line up at Philippe the Original in Chinatown.
Wonho Frank Lee

Where to Eat Near Dodger Stadium This Season

Tacos, pizza, and burgers all make for excellent ballgame food

by Matthew Kang and Mona Holmes Updated
11 comments / new
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Fans line up at Philippe the Original in Chinatown.
| Wonho Frank Lee
by Matthew Kang and Mona Holmes Updated
11 comments / new

As one of the nation’s last standing original ballparks, Dodger Stadium holds a special spot for Angelenos who waited some 30 years for the Boys in Blue to bring home a World Series win in the 2020 season. Three short years later the stadium is set to be rocking again, packed with fans ready to cheer the team on to (hopefully) another World Series win in 2023.

This season is going to be busy not just for the stadium, but for the many bars and restaurants that populate nearby neighborhoods like Chinatown and Echo Park. Some of them, like reborn arcade restaurant Button Mash, have a loyal local following already, while others truly come alive during baseball season as fans crowd in for drinks and food before the games. Here now are 14 of the best places to grab a bite or a beer before a game at Dodger Stadium. Want to grab some food to-go instead, to bring into the stadium to eat? That’s possible too; here are the full guidelines.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Cosa Buona

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Zach Pollack’s Cosa Buona is an Echo Park staple on the corner of Sunset and Alvarado. This neighborhood mainstay is perfect for a glass of wine and some mozzarella sticks before a game, and it also works for families eager to down blistery wood-fired pepperoni pizzas and some salads.

2100 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 908-5211
(213) 908-5211
Cosa Buona Crystal Coser

Also featured in:

Lowboy

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Lowboy is the kind of drinks and snacks spot that every neighborhood deserves, with a weekday happy hour, strong cocktails, and a menu that ticks off several burgers, a California-style burrito, and more. Those looking to have a particular kind of night out can opt for the beer and shot combo list.

1540 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 266-8161
(213) 266-8161
For a big, messy burger with a side of hope: Lowboy.
Smash burger from Lowboy.
Farley Elliott

Also featured in:

Quarter Sheets Pizza

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Pizza, especially the square type, tends to travel better than the thin-crust round variety. Quarter Sheets, which took over the former Trencher space in Echo Park, has creative takes on the Sicilian pizza genre, along with cake slices by House of Gluten. The carb-loaded one-two punch is great for taking to Dodger Stadium, but the place also works as a hyper-local, walkable-to-the-stadium option for game day.

1305 Portia St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
The crisp edge of a piece of a Detroit-style pizza.
Crisp edges of pizza.
Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Mexicali Taco & Co.

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A constantly underrated taco gem, this enduring Chinatown-area taco spot has amazing grilled carne asada, chicken, and shrimp served in tacos, quesadillas, and vampiros. The salsa and agua fresca game here is incredible too.

702 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-0416
(213) 613-0416
Shrimp taco and carne asada tostada on a white plastic plate.
Taco and tostada from Mexicali Taco & Co.
Matthew Kang

Also featured in:

Katsu Sando

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Daniel Son and his family churn out reasonably priced, flavor-packed Japanese-style convenience store sandwiches at this humble Chinatown restaurant. Classics like the pork katsu or chicken katsu sandos are excellent, while the slightly sweet crispy shrimp and candied walnuts sando is a gamechanger.

736 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 395-0710
(213) 395-0710
Honey and walnut encrusted shrimp between bread at Katsu Sando restaurant.
Shrimp and walnut katsu sando from Katsu Sando
Matthew Kang

Also featured in:

Philippe the Original

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Rumor has it that Philippe the Original made the world’s first French Dip in 1918, so it is only appropriate to eat there before watching one of MLB’s oldest teams. Everything is made to order, especially the beef double dip with jus. But the sandwich must be layered with Philippes’ house-made mustard which packs a bit of heat, but in the best way possible.

1001 North Alameda, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 628-3781
(213) 628-3781
Philippe’s, a French dip restaurant, with red tables and a hand dipping a sandwich into jus. Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Angry Egret Dinette

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Legendary modern Mexican chef Wes Avila serves tortas, burritos, and tacos out of low-key window in Chinatown, with some handy tables just outside. Avila founded Guerrilla Tacos, imprinting Mexican American flavors in familiar dishes. Recently the Friday and Saturday dinner menu has expanded to more sit-down fare, like carne asada steaks, lamb birria, and roasted halibut with white wine butter sauce, so be sure to allocate enough time before games to enjoy Avila’s inventive food.

970 N Broadway Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 278-0987
(213) 278-0987

Also featured in:

El Ruso

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Roaming around in a wide trailer, this Swiss Army knife-style taqueria serves carne asada, chile colorado, chicharrón, and even mole in tacos, burritos (called sobaquera here for their wide, paper-thin tortillas), and more.

1647 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 502-1272
(213) 502-1272
Carne asada tacos at El Ruso, burnished brown from the comal and with lots of avocado salsa.
Flour tortilla burritos from El Ruso.
Farley Elliott

Also featured in:

Ototo

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The sake flows freely at Ototo, one of LA’s best Japanese hangouts. The sibling restaurant to next-door Tsubaki, this spot is more rollicking and fun, meant for snacks and drinks before a day at the ballpark. There’s a lot to learn inside the restaurant’s extensive drinks book, so it’s to make trips here a season-long habit.

1360 Allison Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 784-7930
(213) 784-7930
A fried chicken sandwich on white bread on a tan plate inside of a Japanese restaurant.
Katsu sando from Ototo.
Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Button Mash

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Echo Park’s favorite arcade restaurant is back, and the games are lit up and ready for action. So too is chef Diego Argoti, whose new project Poltergeist puts some of the city’s most flavorful and inventive cooking front and center. Whether popping in for a bar burger and a beer or a full night in the dining room with friends, this is perhaps the best spot for a Dodgers pregame.

1391 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 250-9903
(213) 250-9903
Button Mash Echo Park shows off a game with joystick and buttons.
Games at the ready at Button Mash.
Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Yang Chow

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Need a classic Chinatown spot to load up on noodles, slippery shrimp, and orange chicken? Yang Chow is the place, with a crowded but fun dining room, white tablecloths, and quick service. Closer to mealtimes the place will fill up, so try and go earlier for heaping platters of saucy, spicy Cantonese and Americanized Chinese fare.

819 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 625-0811
(213) 625-0811
A plate of crispy shrimp on a wide white plate with spoon for serving.
Yang Chow’s famous slippery shrimp.
Yelp/Mary F.

Also featured in:

Phở 87

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Need a blast of Vietnamese flavor before the ballgame? This classic northern Chinatown phở restaurant has it all, from heaping, steaming bowls of spice-laden beef phở to crispy egg rolls wrapped with lettuce and fresh herbs. Reasonable prices, quick service, and a relaxed dining room make it a terrific pre-game choice.

1019 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(323) 227-0758
(323) 227-0758

Also featured in:

Highland Park Brewery

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This corner Chinatown staple is a short trek away from Dodger Stadium but has become ground zero for an afternoon beer ahead of first pitch. The brewery pours the full array of its own award-winning craft beers and also offers guest taps and plenty of food, including poutine-style tater tots, pretzels, wings, a burger, and beyond.

1220 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 878-9017
(213) 878-9017

Bar Henry

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Tucked into the ground floor of a small building between Chinatown and Echo Park on Sunset, Bar Henry is the local’s answer to beating the Dodger crowds. While other spots up the street present more of a party vibe, here it’s all about great cocktails, good music, and a rotating collection of events and curated evenings that make every arrival feel brand new. Want food? There are tacos galore on the sidewalks nearby, too.

1228 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 988-7208
(213) 988-7208

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Cosa Buona

2100 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Zach Pollack’s Cosa Buona is an Echo Park staple on the corner of Sunset and Alvarado. This neighborhood mainstay is perfect for a glass of wine and some mozzarella sticks before a game, and it also works for families eager to down blistery wood-fired pepperoni pizzas and some salads.

2100 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 908-5211
(213) 908-5211
Cosa Buona Crystal Coser

Lowboy

1540 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Lowboy is the kind of drinks and snacks spot that every neighborhood deserves, with a weekday happy hour, strong cocktails, and a menu that ticks off several burgers, a California-style burrito, and more. Those looking to have a particular kind of night out can opt for the beer and shot combo list.

1540 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 266-8161
(213) 266-8161
For a big, messy burger with a side of hope: Lowboy.
Smash burger from Lowboy.
Farley Elliott

Quarter Sheets Pizza

1305 Portia St, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Pizza, especially the square type, tends to travel better than the thin-crust round variety. Quarter Sheets, which took over the former Trencher space in Echo Park, has creative takes on the Sicilian pizza genre, along with cake slices by House of Gluten. The carb-loaded one-two punch is great for taking to Dodger Stadium, but the place also works as a hyper-local, walkable-to-the-stadium option for game day.

1305 Portia St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
The crisp edge of a piece of a Detroit-style pizza.
Crisp edges of pizza.
Wonho Frank Lee

Mexicali Taco & Co.

702 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

A constantly underrated taco gem, this enduring Chinatown-area taco spot has amazing grilled carne asada, chicken, and shrimp served in tacos, quesadillas, and vampiros. The salsa and agua fresca game here is incredible too.

702 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-0416
(213) 613-0416
Shrimp taco and carne asada tostada on a white plastic plate.
Taco and tostada from Mexicali Taco & Co.
Matthew Kang

Katsu Sando

736 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Daniel Son and his family churn out reasonably priced, flavor-packed Japanese-style convenience store sandwiches at this humble Chinatown restaurant. Classics like the pork katsu or chicken katsu sandos are excellent, while the slightly sweet crispy shrimp and candied walnuts sando is a gamechanger.

736 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 395-0710
(213) 395-0710
Honey and walnut encrusted shrimp between bread at Katsu Sando restaurant.
Shrimp and walnut katsu sando from Katsu Sando
Matthew Kang

Philippe the Original

1001 North Alameda, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Rumor has it that Philippe the Original made the world’s first French Dip in 1918, so it is only appropriate to eat there before watching one of MLB’s oldest teams. Everything is made to order, especially the beef double dip with jus. But the sandwich must be layered with Philippes’ house-made mustard which packs a bit of heat, but in the best way possible.

1001 North Alameda, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 628-3781
(213) 628-3781
Philippe’s, a French dip restaurant, with red tables and a hand dipping a sandwich into jus. Wonho Frank Lee

Angry Egret Dinette

970 N Broadway Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Legendary modern Mexican chef Wes Avila serves tortas, burritos, and tacos out of low-key window in Chinatown, with some handy tables just outside. Avila founded Guerrilla Tacos, imprinting Mexican American flavors in familiar dishes. Recently the Friday and Saturday dinner menu has expanded to more sit-down fare, like carne asada steaks, lamb birria, and roasted halibut with white wine butter sauce, so be sure to allocate enough time before games to enjoy Avila’s inventive food.

970 N Broadway Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 278-0987
(213) 278-0987

El Ruso

1647 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Roaming around in a wide trailer, this Swiss Army knife-style taqueria serves carne asada, chile colorado, chicharrón, and even mole in tacos, burritos (called sobaquera here for their wide, paper-thin tortillas), and more.

1647 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 502-1272
(213) 502-1272
Carne asada tacos at El Ruso, burnished brown from the comal and with lots of avocado salsa.
Flour tortilla burritos from El Ruso.
Farley Elliott

Ototo

1360 Allison Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026

The sake flows freely at Ototo, one of LA’s best Japanese hangouts. The sibling restaurant to next-door Tsubaki, this spot is more rollicking and fun, meant for snacks and drinks before a day at the ballpark. There’s a lot to learn inside the restaurant’s extensive drinks book, so it’s to make trips here a season-long habit.

1360 Allison Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 784-7930
(213) 784-7930
A fried chicken sandwich on white bread on a tan plate inside of a Japanese restaurant.
Katsu sando from Ototo.
Wonho Frank Lee

Button Mash

1391 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Echo Park’s favorite arcade restaurant is back, and the games are lit up and ready for action. So too is chef Diego Argoti, whose new project Poltergeist puts some of the city’s most flavorful and inventive cooking front and center. Whether popping in for a bar burger and a beer or a full night in the dining room with friends, this is perhaps the best spot for a Dodgers pregame.

1391 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 250-9903
(213) 250-9903
Button Mash Echo Park shows off a game with joystick and buttons.
Games at the ready at Button Mash.
Wonho Frank Lee

Yang Chow

819 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Need a classic Chinatown spot to load up on noodles, slippery shrimp, and orange chicken? Yang Chow is the place, with a crowded but fun dining room, white tablecloths, and quick service. Closer to mealtimes the place will fill up, so try and go earlier for heaping platters of saucy, spicy Cantonese and Americanized Chinese fare.

819 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 625-0811
(213) 625-0811
A plate of crispy shrimp on a wide white plate with spoon for serving.
Yang Chow’s famous slippery shrimp.
Yelp/Mary F.

Phở 87

1019 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Need a blast of Vietnamese flavor before the ballgame? This classic northern Chinatown phở restaurant has it all, from heaping, steaming bowls of spice-laden beef phở to crispy egg rolls wrapped with lettuce and fresh herbs. Reasonable prices, quick service, and a relaxed dining room make it a terrific pre-game choice.

1019 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(323) 227-0758
(323) 227-0758

Highland Park Brewery

1220 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

This corner Chinatown staple is a short trek away from Dodger Stadium but has become ground zero for an afternoon beer ahead of first pitch. The brewery pours the full array of its own award-winning craft beers and also offers guest taps and plenty of food, including poutine-style tater tots, pretzels, wings, a burger, and beyond.

1220 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 878-9017
(213) 878-9017

Bar Henry

1228 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Tucked into the ground floor of a small building between Chinatown and Echo Park on Sunset, Bar Henry is the local’s answer to beating the Dodger crowds. While other spots up the street present more of a party vibe, here it’s all about great cocktails, good music, and a rotating collection of events and curated evenings that make every arrival feel brand new. Want food? There are tacos galore on the sidewalks nearby, too.

1228 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 988-7208
(213) 988-7208

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