10 places to eat and drink around Dodger Stadium during home games this season
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2023 season begins this week with a home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, March 30.
Thousands of Dodger fans will be flocking to the stadium this season and while it’s part of the game to fill up on Dodger dogs and beer at the field, there are also plenty of places fans can head to before and after games for food and drinks.
Here’s a list of 10 places to fuel up before watching the boys in blue on their journey to the World Series and to celebrate after the games.
Places to Eat
Guisados, 261 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-250-7600. guisados.la.
In a city filled with great tacos, these are among the best you’ll find. It’s a big statement and we’re sticking with it. Guisados are meats that are braised and stewed, and here they offer all sorts of options, which can be overwhelming. Just do yourself a favor and go directly with the six mini taco OG sampler. It comes with a steak picado, bistek roja, tinga, mole, chicharron and cochinita pibil tacos served on handmade corn tortillas. You will be stuffed and it will be worth it. The Boyle Heights-born taco spot has several locations and this one is about a mile from the stadium. Be warned, they have a tiny parking lot so on game day it could be difficult to find a parking spot.
Mexicali Taco & Co., 702 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. 213-613-0416. mexicalitaco.com.
It’s easy to miss this place while heading down Sunset Boulevard, but it’s a spot you’re going to want to find since they have some of the best Baja-style Mexican food in the city. Just look north on Figueroa and you’ll see its colorful modern restaurant sign and inviting patio. Some of the items on the menu are not typically seen in other Mexican restaurants, like the Vampiro, which is a crispy quesadilla-type dish filled with options like carne asada and al pastor all drenched in a house-made garlic sauce.
Mirnas Pupuseria, 1467 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles.
Yes, Dodger Dogs are great, but the city’s real hot dog legacy is the L.A. Street Dog. The bacon-wrapped dog is street food perfection cooked by mobile vendors on a griddle with caramelized onions, peppers and then topped off with ketchup, mustard and mayo. And Mirnas Pupuseria does it just about as good, if not better, than any vendor in the city. This veteran street dog spot sets up shop under a tent in front of the United Oil gas station every day except for Tuesdays and they stay open until about midnight or so. Definitely get the dogs, but they also have Salvadorian grub like pupusas, empanadas and even yucca con chicharron.
Monty’s Good Burger, 1533 W Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles. montysgoodburger.com.
For vegan Dodger fans who love burgers, fries, tots and shakes, this is a good spot for pre-or after-game grub party. Sporting a baby blue and red exterior, the vegan restaurant is easy to spot and even easier to digest for non-vegans as well since they use the plant-based Impossible patty, which recreates the texture and flavor of real meat. Sodas are made from pure cane sugar and they make oat milk-based shakes. Just keep it simple and go with the double burger with the fries and tots combo.
Philippe the Original, 1001 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles. 213-628-3781. philippes.com.
This more than century-old restaurant became part of the fabric of the city even before the Dodgers came to L.A. During the season this is the place to go before and after a game. Although it’s in dispute, Philippe is known as the place where the French Dip was invented, and that’s what Dodger fans order when they come here. The Beef Dip and Lamb Dip are two of the favorites. Lines are long, but they move fast and make sure to wear your Dodger gear because on game day this place is a sea of blue.
Places to drink
Bar Flores, 1542 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-266-8006. barflores.com.
This is a good spot for pre-and post-games for couples or even those going out on their first Dodger date. The second floor place is softly lit and with an arched wood ceiling and beige walls, it looks a bit like an upscale cantina. There’s also a colorful back patio under a canopy of flowers and plants that adds to the date-mood of this location. The drinks to have here are the mezcal cocktails and margaritas. If you really want to get happy before the game, fork over $59 for the mezcal margarita pitcher.
Bar Henry, 1228 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-988-7208. barhenry.la.
Located right by the mural of Fernando Valenzuela on Sunset Boulevard, Bar Henry is a more upscale, classic cocktail spot with a big emphasis on music that will appeal to the hip Dodger fans. Cocktails on the menu include the Weekend Warrior, which is made with tequila, lime and pineapple. There are also options for the designated drivers, too, since they have non-alcoholic mocktails like a faux old fashion.
Gold Room, 1558 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-482-5859 or on Instagram @goldroomechopark.
This Echo Park dive can get pretty lively especially with the daily $9 beer and whiskey shot special. For pre-games, get there early and fuel up. And for those going for a post-game celebration, be ready for an exciting night — win or lose — because a DJ is usually spinning tunes and the locals pack the house.
The Douglas, 1400 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-947-3180. thedouglasla.com.
There’s no problem spotting this Dodger bar since there is a neon blue LA sign above a side door, as well as a well-lit, street-facing patio that gets pretty packed on game days. The interior of the bar sports checkered floors and green vinyl booths. It’s not traditional Dodger colors, but that’s OK because there are pictures of players and the team all over the place, including one signed by Dodger great Orel Hershiser. This is a beer and wine bar only, so the choices are limited, but there is food — and it’s pretty good. Go ahead and order the LA pretzel or the big beefy Backyard Burger and make sure to ask about the weekly sweet treat.
The Short Stop, 1455 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. On Instagram @theshortstopechopark.
It’s been known as a cop bar, a dive, a hipster dance spot, but more than anything over the decades The Short Stop has been a Dodger Bar. You’ll know you’re in a Dodger bar because you’ll see all the pictures of old school players hanging up on the walls. And the drinks are reasonably priced including the $4 Miller Highlife special. It’s an ideal place to start your pre-game drinking and for post-game celebrations since there’s also a dance floor and pool table.