Heading to Dodger stadium? The best places nearby to eat, drink and be merry

Editor's note: We first ran this guide at the start of the season. We've updated it with a few more spots and some great specials for the World Series.

In the immortal words of Vin Scully: "It's time for Dodgers Baseball" — World Series edition.

The stadium seats will soon be packed with the SoCal sunset casting its warm golden shadow against the palm trees and bougainvilleas.

If you're lucky enough to have scored tickets (congrats), you may be looking for somewhere to eat beforehand.

Consider it the fuel you'll need to get through the traffic into the stadium and the trek to your seats.

Here are some of my favorite places to eat and drink within five miles of the ballpark. If I missed one of yours, please let me know, and I might add it to this list later on. Email me at gchabran@scpr.org or reach out via Instagram.

Pro-tip: If you’re short on time (which you will be, since time, traffic, and parking are always issues in L.A.), consider ordering ahead and having a passenger jump out to pick up the food while the driver circles the block. There's no parking cost, and you can have your private tailgate in the parking lot and still make the starting pitch.

Little Fish in Echo Park

Grab the fried fish sandwich with a side of crispy nori potatoes at Little Fish in Echo Park.

(

Gab Chabrán

/

LAist

)

Little Fish is located about a mile from the ballpark and is an excellent casual "order-at-the-window" establishment. It started as a pop-up specializing in seafood, and recently earned a mention in the Michelin Guide.

The most popular item is the beer-battered striped bass sandwich ($17), with a slice of American cheese, Kewpie mayonnaise, and sliced pickles on a potato bun.

The superb-tasting fish, whose breading resembles a delicate crackly Japanese tempura, interplays with the creaminess of the umami-inflected mayo, the fresh crunch of the pickles, and the softness of the bun. They also offer a tofu version ($14) for non-meat eaters.

Pair it with crispy nori potatoes seasoned with seaweed and salt and served with hearty garlic aioli for a supreme dipping experience.

Both items travel exceptionally well, making L.F. a tremendous to-go option if you need to eat on the run. Also, Little Fish's sister establishment, DADA, is in the back alley entrance behind the cafe. With a cool-looking speakeasy vibe, they serve various upscale bistro plates. It's a great place to unwind after the game.

Lowboy in Echo Park

The Dodgers Blue Cheeseburger, topped with blue cheese mornay, caramelized onions, apple, and pickled mustard seed relish

(

Courtesy of Lowboy

)

Located on Sunset, Lowboy is a casual sit-down bar restaurant just down the street from the main stadium entrance in Echo Park. Lowboy goes hard with the neighborhood vibes, offering an extensive array of cocktails, beer, wine, and reasonably priced food.

For the World Series, they're offering a special Dodgers Blue cheeseburger ($13) made with a half-pound beef patty, blue cheese mornay sauce, caramelized onions with an apple, and pickled mustard seed relish. The cheeseburger will be available every day starting Friday until the end of the World Series last game.

Looking for drink specials? Try their Sho-time special, where you get an Asahi beer and + a shot of Toki whiskey for $10.

There's also plenty of happy hour deals, including The Triple Play Lowburger, small fries, and a draft beer for $15 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Simón in Silver Lake

The fish al pastor taco, soft shell crab and enchilada suiza tacos from Simón in Silver Lake.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

The cobalt blue truck known as Simón is parked in Sunset Triangle Plaza, with signage featuring text around its logo that reads "Mariscos Chingones, Seafood Bomb A.F." And indeed it is. It’s one of my favorite places to get mariscos in Los Angeles.

Chef Francisco Aguilar came to L.A. after stints in Oaxaca and Chiapas in southern Mexico, where he worked, studied, and developed his culinary language.

Now, armed with only a fryer, a plancha, and staple ingredients like beans, cheese, and bacon, he seeks to hypercharge the flavors of each dish. The fish al pastor, for example, is rubbed with spices, grilled, garnished with a sizable slice of lightly caramelized pineapple and a generous helping of guacamole, and then topped with crispy onions.

Also check out the soft shell crab, which comes whole and is garnished with chipotle mayo, pico piña, (their version of pico de gallo, with pineapple and pickled onion.), and the picadillo taco, which, at first glance, gives the impression of an empanada rather than a quesadilla or taco. It's made with a fried corn tortilla stuffed with a mixture of fish and shrimp, habanero cream, and proper hints of lime, cheese, and avocado.

All of the tacos hover just under $5.

Burgers Never Say Die in Silver Lake

A double cheeseburger and fries from Burgers Never Say Die in Silverlake.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

Many often cite Burgers Never Say Die as the gold standard of smash burgers in Los Angeles. Owner Shawn Nee was a cameraman when he started a side hustle slinging burgers in the courtyard of his East Hollywood apartment complex.

Slowly developing a cult-like status in the burger world, he opened his Silver Lake location while continuing to meticulously refine his concept.

When you head over to the window and order the Regular ($11), you'll see that Nee has achieved nothing short of alchemy. He's somehow channeled what a McDonald's hamburger tasted like when we were younger. The perfectly cooked burger patty with its smooth and lacey edges, and the mixture of ketchup, mustard, pickles, and tiny bits of white onion stirs up waves of nostalgia. The burger has no business being this good, but it is, and we are all better for it.

Avocado egg and cheese, pork bulgogi roll and bacon egg and cheese sandwiches from Bodega Park

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

Bodega Park in Silver Lake

It's an all-day breakfast menu at Bodega Park, which specializes in breakfast sandwiches seen through the lens of a Korean American chef who grew up in Los Angeles and trained on the East Coast.

About two miles from the ballpark, it’s an excellent choice for ordering sandwiches. My go-to is the pork bulgogi roll ($13), featuring a house-made marinade, a few slices of raw white onion and mayo on a modern rustic-style bun, somewhere between a ciabatta and a French roll with a crusty outside and a moist, fluffy inside.

Add a few splatters of the accompanying smokey-sweet hot sauce; the results are fantastic. But you also can't go wrong with the bacon, egg, and cheese ($11), executed perfectly with a superbly cooked piece of thick-cut bacon, a simple slice of American cheese, and an over-medium-fried egg.

Bánh Mì Mỹ Dung Sandwich Shop in Chinatown

The special and Vietnamese cold cut sandwiches from Bánh Mì Mỹ Dung Sandwich Shop.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

A banh mi sandwich is one of life's many pleasures, with its crusty bread, fresh garnishes made of sweet-tasting carrots and daikon radish, and a protein combo of your liking.

A good banh mi can be found in areas such as the San Gabriel Valley or Westminster in Orange County, known as Little Saigon, but finding them in other parts of Los Angeles can be more challenging.

One under-the-radar gem is the Bánh Mì Mỹ Dung Sandwich Shop, located in a tiny storefront on Ord Street between Broadway and Spring, about 1.5 miles from the stadium.

A warning — it doesn't exactly scream neighborhood sandwich destination on arrival. You're greeted by fresh produce stacked outside the entrance, including hanging bunches of bananas, and you'll feel like you’ve entered a corner store.

But take a quick stroll to the back, and you'll find a menu board with about eight sandwiches for around $5 to $8. The ultra-fresh ingredients, paired with the salty-savory cuts of meat, create a highly satisfying experience.

Mariscos Jalisco in Boyle Heights and DTLA

The Tacos de Camaron and Oysters Peinados from the beloved Mariscos Jalisco food truck.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

If you've ever discussed where to find the best tacos in L.A, the Mariscos Jalisco food truck will have invariably been mentioned. Founder Raul Ortega's M.J. menu is minimal, consisting of tacos and ceviche. However, the care given to each item shines through, especially in dishes such as the tacos de camarón.

This is not a classic Ensenada-style shrimp taco; it is something completely different, a corn tortilla containing finely minced shrimp, vegetables, and other secret ingredients that Ortega refuses to divulge.

The tacos, which come in two to an order ($5), are then deep-fried and topped with a light red salsa de mariscos and a sliver of avocado. The result is taco magic.

Pioneer Chicken in Boyle Heights

A two-piece chicken combo from Pioneer Chicken in Boyle Heights.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

A piece of Los Angeles history stands on the corner of Soto Street and Whittier Boulevard, about five miles from the stadium via surface streets. It's one of the last two locations in L.A. owned by the fried chicken fast-food chain Pioneer Chicken. (The other location is in Bell Gardens.)

At one point, Pioneer Chicken boasted 270 locations and was known for television commercials featuring O.J. Simpson. It's fried chicken nostalgia for Angelenos looking to relive the heyday of the '70s and '80s. It's hard to beat the two-piece dinner with two sides (choices include mashed potatoes and gravy, spicy rice, or crunchy coleslaw) and a fluffy biscuit ($11).

Homage Brewing in Chinatown

Homage Brewery in Chinatown is game day ready with plenty of specials for the World Series.

(

Gab Chabrán

/

LAist

)

The hidden taproom tucked away off a small street in an industrial section of Chinatown does double duty by offering an excellent selection of eclectic beers and great grub.

For the World Series, Homage is going all out with its food and drink specials, including $5 game-day pints during every game, pitchers of its German-style pilsner, and West Coast IPA ($24-$32).

To munch on, including lemon pepper wings and garlic parm fries, plus their Dodger stadium-inspired menu featuring a hot dog ($7) with sausage from Glendale's own Continental Gourmet Sausage, nachos ($7), and a carne asada nacho ($11). There will also be a few game day giveaways, including a 2020 official World Series baseball for Game 1, plus a couple of rare bobbleheads.

Homage is also open late on the weekends, so if you are inclined, you can take advantage of the cadre of DJs to dance the night away after the game.

Highland Park Brewery in Chinatown

Highland Park Brewing in Chinatown offers food and drinks for your pre-game needs, with specials during the big game.

(

Gab Chabrán

/

LAist

)

Highland Park Brewery, the bastion of Eastside craft brewery culture, is just around the corner of Homage. The large taproom overlooks Los Angeles State Historic Park, near the A Line Chinatown Metro Stop, just one stop from Union Station, where you can catch the Dodger Express.

They've built their name on a wide selection of deliciously hopped craft brews and plenty of natural wine. If you are hungry before the game, take advantage of burgers, dogs, wings, loaded fries, and their stellar fish sandwich.

For their WS specials, the brewery will offer $5 pints and $20 pitchers of their aptly named Baseball Lager, which they'll start serving at noon on Friday.

For food specials, they're offering their version of garlic fries, fries topped with chili flakes and parmesan cheese. (We dare you to try both here and at Homage; remember to bring some breath mints). Also, if you are heading to the game, grab one of their Dodger-themed baseball caps ($35) to show off your hometown pride.

Pro tip: HPB is known to fill up quickly before the game, so it's best to get there early. Parking can also be scarce, so plan to take a ride share or go Metro.

LaSorted's Pizza in Silver Lake

Slices of pizza from La Sorted's Pizza in Silver Lake.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

With your choice of sit-down or counter service, La Sorted's Pizza is the place to celebrate all things Dodgers, especially since it’s named after the famed Dodgers coach.

There's always a large selection of slices, and it can be hard to choose, so I usually grab one of everything and assemble a sort of "greatest hits" equivalent to an entire pizza.

My favorite includes the Upside Down Mamba ($5 a slice, $20 for a whole pie), their signature cheese slice, flipped upside down with the cheese melted directly onto the crust and then topped with a thick layer of tomato sauce.

In celebration of the World Series, both LaSorted’s locations will serve slices of their Triple Dog Dare for $7, featuring a yellow mustard béchamel, mozzarella, and provolone topped with Jody Maronis hot dogs and bacon and finished with cornichon and fried onions. So, if you’ve ever wondered what a hot dog tastes like on a pizza, now is your chance.

If you want to catch the game at the new Chinatown location, make a reservation through LaSorted’s website. The minimum per person is $50, so come hungry! The Silver Lake location will be open for take or dine-in; no reservations are required.