13 Homerun Restaurant Options Near Dodger Stadium

This buzzy red-sauce-Italian joint brings a much-needed dose of ‘60s nostalgia (and some giant meatballs) to Echo Park. From the same owners as perpetually packed neighboring spots Lowboy and Bar Flores, Park Hospitality tapped chef Sathia Sun (who has worked at top-notch Italian favorites like Felix and Union) to helm the kitchen. Expect classics like spaghetti and meatballs, parmesan-strewn garlic bread, fried calamari, and more.

Related: How to get a reservation at Donna’s

An Indian sports bar, you say? No destination could be more perfect for a Dodgers pre-game than Piija Palace (if you can get in, that is). Echo Park native and Dodger fan Avish Naran is behind the concept — ostensibly a spot for wings and pizza, though the genre-bending Malai Rigatoni has been one of the most Instagrammed dishes of the year. (Along with the equally photogenic — and delicious — dosa-battered onion rings).

Pro Tip: They are also open for weekend daytime service, which can be an easier table to snag than dinner.

From the same team that brought you neighborhood Italian gem Alimento, this standby pizzeria and Italian-American spot on a prime corner of Sunset has a sports-bar undertone with favorites like its famed smoky mozzarella sticks and chicken wings. Known for its wood-fired pizzas, Cosa Buona offers both traditional round pies as well as Sicilian style.

Bonus: Enjoy specials for all Dodgers home games all season long — $5 beers, $8 wines, and the Ohtani special of $17 for all pizzas.

For more of a culinary tour de force, head over to Poltergeist at Button Mash, Echo Park’s most unhinged barcade restaurant. The clever fusion menu from chaos-cooking guru Diego Argoti combines Asian, Middle Eastern, and European flavors with familiar comfort foods like Parker House rolls and Caesar salads. An impressive Eastern European-derived wine list is rife with affordable and unique selections in addition to Button Mash’s lauded beer program.

POV: You just finished watching all of The Bear Season Two and you’re looking for a restaurant to match the vibe. Look no further. This modern-chic David Chang-owned destination in the industrial outskirts of Chinatown is a reliable upmarket dinner option near the stadium. From the large-format smoked short rib served with all the fixings to the crispy mushroom rice with shiitakes, burdock, and yuzu, every dish at Majordōmo is a uniquely chef-driven creation.

Formerly known as Freedman’s, owner Jonah Freedman abandoned the OG Jewish-inspired concept to go Greek during the pandemic, setting up a parking-lot patio in front. The new theme was so popular that, some two years later, they’re still running with it. The entire space is now an homage to all things Hellenic, from the marinated feta and olives to whole-roasted fish and more. For a crowd, make sure to order the Souvlaki Party, complete with hummus, tzatziki, pitas, pickles, and one of each type of skewer.

From the folks behind adjacent Tilda wine bar, this stylish Roman-inspired eatery is open for both weekend brunch and dinner. Don’t miss the wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas like the mushroom campanelle, and of course, their famous round focaccia. Fuel up on top-notch natural wine and aperitivo drinks before or after the game, too.

From the same owners as nearby Little Joy Cocktails, the Lonely Oyster replaced former Dodgers bar The Holloway earlier this year, and brings a much-needed raw bar option to Echo Park. From oysters on the half shell to lobster rolls to crudos and whole-roasted fish, there’s plenty of seafood to go around on the East Coast-inspired menu. Open for both lunch and dinner, the sleek spot is perfect for a visit before or after the game. 

Located in Silver Lake, Alimento is the move if you’re looking for creative Italian food in a refined but casual atmosphere. Don’t miss the all-natural wine list helmed by Heather Rioux.

The Instagram-famous all-day-cafe from chef-owners Eric and Miriam Park is the spot to head to if you’re catching a daytime game. Inspired by Eric’s Korean-American heritage, time in New York, and deep love for Italian sandwiches, the resulting menu is as delicious as it is eclectic. From an aji chicken burrito (eggs, hash browns, piri piri chicken, and gochujang) to a bulgogi roll or a chopped cheese sandwich, every item is a hit. No reservations, more info here. 

Call it pan pizza or Detroit-style, but either way, Echo Park’s Quarter Sheets is one of the most talked-about contenders in the thick-crust pizza category to come along in years. What began as a pandemic pop-up out of owner Aaron Lindell’s Glendale home is now a full-fledged brick-and-mortar serving not one, but multiple styles of thicker-crust pizza. Open for dinner only (with the exception of Sundays), don’t sleep on pastry chef-partner Hannah Ziskin’s rotating menu of layered cakes for dessert. More info here. 

In nearby Cypress Park, this sliver-sized newcomer from the restaurant group that brought you hits like Nossa Caipirinha Bar is one of the city’s best options for Portuguese snacks and wine. The concise but well-executed menu has favorites like piri piri chicken, bifana (a fried pork sandwich), tuna crudo, and bacalo fritters. Seating is limited, but the vibe is convivial, so grab a glass of something funky and refreshing from the Iberian peninsula while you wait. No reservations; more info here.

Tsubaki has been serving impeccable izakaya fare since 2017, with favorites like yakitori skewers, roe-topped Japanese “latkes,” and chawanmushi. Sister restaurant Ototo, right next door, came along in 2019 and focuses more on craft sake and a smallish menu of Japanese drinking snacks like okonomiyaki, katsu sandos, and fresh sashimi — and was recently recognized by the James Beard Foundation for its excellent beverage program. Stop by either after the game for a good time. No reservations at Ototo; more info here.