Pasadena’s food fortunes have risen dramatically over the past few years. The area known as Old Pasadena has become a hotbed of new activity backed by names like Tacos 1986, U Street Pizza, and Agnes on Green Street. The latter is a marketplace, daytime casual lunch option, and robust comfort food dinner destination (with an open hearth) that is ideal for scaling up or scaling down a day (or night) at the Rose Bowl.

Few places on the east side or anywhere has such die-hard fans as Little Dom's. And for good reason: the quaint Italian bistro is exactly the neighborhood restaurant Los Feliz deserves. The warm atmosphere and service, al fresco dining, and menu stacked with classics is the reason you're sure to see a friend or neighbor next time you have dinner here. This said, it's also a short (but robust) walk to the Greek Theater up in Griffith Park. Swing by before the show and grab a plate of pasta with red sauce or chicken parmesan. —Oren Peleg

There are endless options for a fine sit-down meal in the Los Feliz area before a show at the Greek, but sometimes the smartest move is to eat well on the quick before heading up the hill. Enter Goldburger, an ideal stop for fries, burgers, and pie before a show; filling but not too overwhelming, and it leaves room for some wine (and maybe a few more snacks) at the venue itself.

Don’t have time to catch a full-service meal in Hollywood before a big night out? 

Grab some sandwiches and other fare from Banh Oui on the early side, then pack it up the hill to the Hollywood Bowl. This easy-snacking menu moves from banh mi sandwiches to salads to rotating specials like bacon yakisoba with ease, meaning there’s something for everyone.

There isn’t a single restaurant that’s closer to the Palladium other than Sugarfish by Sushi Nozawa. The 81-year-old venue is a staggering .1 miles away from the Sunset Boulevard restaurant, where sashimi, sushi, and hand rolls are abundant. Don’t sleep on the “trust me” menu, where the chef picks out a selection sure to dazzle before the show. —Mona Holmes

Heading out for a big show? Why not make it a big day with a starter meal at Issima, one of the hottest restaurants in greater Los Angeles at the moment. Here the room is as much a feast as the menu itself, thanks to big colors and boisterous tables that keep the action lively — along with the amped-up music and free-flowing drinks, of course.

Koreatown is really the ideal neighborhood for catching a bite before a show. The options are endless, thanks to the density of the area, and diners can move up or down the price and service scale as needed. At Quarters Korean BBQ, the rowdier sister to Kang Hodong Baekjeong, excited partiers can prep for a night out with lots of drinks, grilled meats sold by the quarter-pound, and the kind of vibe that keeps the evening’s energy high from start to finish.

The Chinese dumpling house serves some of the best xiao long bao/pork potstickers this side of the San Gabriel Valley, and the crispy chicken is a delicious mouthful of spice. The cumin lamb is another favorite, one that adds some depth along with its crunch. Just be sure to factor in enough time for dinner, and a walk to Royce Hall. —Oren Peleg

The Mint is not only a great place to see new up-and-coming musicians and comedians perform, it is also a short distance from a stretch of Fairfax known as Little Ethiopia. Head to Merkato for deliciously spiced beef in dishes like the Yetibbs Fir-Fir, stuffed puff pastries like the Yesega Sambusa, and plenty of injera bread, or Ethiopian honey wine. —Oren Peleg

In 2016, the late Jonathan Gold declared Timothy Hollingsworth’s Otium as LA’s “most ambitious new restaurant in years.” Situated next to The Broad and blocks away from Disney Hall and The Music Center, it’s pretty filled before a show. If dinner doesn’t suit the mood, Otium’s cocktails deliver. —Oren Peleg

Stop by the Rooftop at the Wayfarer ahead of an evening out at the newly-named Crypto.com Arena. This is the spot for sunset views, casual drinks with a citrus-y punch, and — before weekend games, at least — a busy open-air brunch with options like salmon benedict, New York steaks, and beignets for dessert.

Holbox, a stone's throw across the 110 freeway from the Shrine, is the right stop. Named for the small barrier island in Mexico, Holbox presents a deceptively small menu: each dish is bursting with fresh, bright flavors. Chef Gilberto Cetina Jr.’s dresses east coast scallops with chiles and morita for the scallops al carbon. The shrimp cocktail is cut with the butteriness of avocado. And the yellowtail and uni tostada, a true stand-out on the menu, pairs chewy and crispy textures, sharp flavors with richer ones, and a full display of beautiful colors with an otherwise simple presentation on the dish.

This family-owned operation makes some of LA’s most respected soul food, which is well-known for its shockingly large portion sizes of smothered pork chops, fried fish, smothered chicken, or oxtails, served with mac and cheese, greens, stuffing, and gravy. And all within a short walk to the Fabulous Forum or SoFi Stadium. —Mona Holmes