Topline:
For the season opener next Tuesday, when the Dodgers take on the Cubs at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite Japanese dishes to enjoy during the game.
What’s on the menu? Items on sale at Tokyo Dome include fried octopus balls, pan-fried noodles and bowls of curry rice.
Where can I get them? In L.A., you're never far from great Japanese food.
Read on ... for a list of our local favorites.
Dodgers fans, rejoice! The official start of the 2025 baseball season is Tuesday, when the Dodgers face the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome in Japan in a two-game series.
The historic matchup will be the first time two teams will feature Japanese starting pitchers, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the Dodgers and Shota Imanaga for the Cubs.
If you plan to watch it live, we salute you — the time difference means first pitch is at 3 a.m. (LaSorted's in Chinatown will be hosting their own viewing party if you need a place to watch).
For those who can't be in Japan but want a taste of the experience (literally), we've checked out what's on offer for hungry fans at Tokyo Dome and put together a guide to where you can get (some of) it in L.A.
Because what goes better with some early-morning baseball viewing than fried octopus balls?
As they like to say in Japan, katto-base-yasu!
At the Suntory Stadium Bar in Tokyo Dome's infield section, you’ll find karaage, a popular bar snack that goes great with a cold beer. Juicy bits of chicken are marinated with soy sauce and garlic overnight, coated in a starchy flour batter and then deep-fried. The crispy, crunchy morsels are usually served with a side of rice or thinly sliced cabbage slaw.
Karaage was said to be the late Anthony Bourdain's favorite food in Japan, something he'd buy at convenience stores like 7-11 whenever he was there.
Where to get it in L.A:
In the 4F infield section, you’ll find the Tsukiji Gindaco Public Bar. Gindaco is a popular Japanese chain specializing in takoyaki, fried octopus balls.
The piping hot fritters are filled with chunky bits of octopus tentacles, tempura bits and pickled ginger. They're made to order; you can watch the staff pour batter into a specialized cast iron molded pan, giving them their spherical shape. Once cooked to crisp perfection, they’re served with toppings like sweet and tangy takoyaki sauce, seaweed, bonito flakes and mentaiko mayo, made with spiced pollock roe.
Where to get it in L.A:
You'll find Rookie Curry in the Gourmet Street section on the first field level of the Tokyo Dome. It offers fast-casual curry options with ground beef, sausage and eggs, among others.
The roots of Japanese curry rice can be traced to the mid-1800s when the British brought over spices from India. The flavor has since evolved, reflecting Japanese taste, and is now known for its sweet and savory profile and thick consistency, similar to American-style gravy. The curry sauce is usually paired with short-grain white rice and a katsu fried chicken cutlet.
Where to get it in L.A:
Can't decide on just one menu item? The bento box is for you.
It started in 12th century Japan as small boxes containing various proteins, rice and vegetables. Today, bento lunches are known for their segmented trays, bought in a restaurant or as a quick grab-and-go option at convenience stores.
During the regular season, when the home team Yomiuri Giants play at Tokyo Dome, you can buy bento boxes hand-picked by your favorite player as part of the Giants Gourmet menu. Otherwise fans can head over to Dome Shop 109 for options like Makunouchi Bento which contains rice, fish, meat, pickles, eggs and vegetables or the Asakusa Imahan Sukiyaki Bento, which comes with braised beef, rice and veggies.
Where to get it in L.A:
A popular Japanese dish usually made with pan-fried buckwheat soba noodles, cabbage, green onions, julienned carrots, and a choice of thinly sliced pork belly, beef, chicken or tofu. The mixture is then doused with a sauce made with Worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, ketchup and sugar, garnished with magenta-colored pickled ginger.
The history of yakisoba began in the 1930s when Chinese noodles were first introduced and sold at food stalls. As the dish's popularity caught on, it started being sold to diners and at various outdoor events and festivals.
Fans can head to Dome Shop 207 at the Tokyo Dome for a great to-go option. However, if you want to take it to the limit, order Giants Helmet Cup Yakisoba, a plastic baseball helmet filled with yakisoba.
Where to get it in L.A: