The Best Food at the STAPLES Center

Photo credit Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

It’s best to fast before attending any event at the STAPLES Center. The arena is spoiled for food vendors, including a few big name restaurants that prepare exclusive treats for sports fans and concert-goers. We gathered up the best options from the bounty, so you can plot a direct course whenever there’s a lull in the action and get back to your seat without missing a thing. Just be careful bringing your snacks courtside at a Lakers or Clippers game. You don’t want to end up on a blooper reel when an errant ball sends your concessions flying all over the first three rows.

Fried Chicken Sandwich

Where to find it: Ludo Bird (Main Concourse, near section 119)
When Ludo Lefebvre opens an arena eatery, he doesn’t do it to oversell cheap snacks. The chef behind the Trois Mec family gives the people what they want—fried chicken sandwiches with all the fixins. The gargantuan sandwich comes packed with chicken (dark meat or bust), coleslaw, pickles and special sauce on a potato roll. You can (and should) add more sauces for an extra charge. Do not leave without a honey lavender biscuit as well.

Carne Asada Tacos

Where to find it: B.S. Taqueria (Main Concourse, near section 117)
The casual cousin of Broken Spanish, B.S. Taqueria has a bumping concession stand right on the Main Concourse. The tacos may only come two for $9, but the hefty carne asada with guacamole, salsa and pico de gallo fill out the savory treats nicely. (The carnitas are another worthy order.) If that doesn’t sound filling enough to quench your massive third-quarter hunger, opt for the carne asada nachos. Treat yourself to a margarita too while you’re at it.

Mac N’ Cheese Dog

Where to find it: Dave’s Doghouse (Main Concourse, near sections 102 and 112)
Three cheese mac ‘n cheese would be an awesome snack at a game all by itself. Mac with bacon bits and onion would be worthy of a repeat visit. But mac with bacon bits and onion layered on top of a hot dog? That’s a game day winner in our book.

BBQ Chkn Pizza

Where to find it: Blaze Pizza (Main Concourse, near section 109)
Sure, pizza isn’t the neatest food to eat in the stands, but the personal pizzas from national chain Blaze are worth the logistical hassle. We highly recommend the barbecue chicken pizza, which comes loaded with chicken, mozzarella and gorgonzola, red onion and banana peppers, all beneath a layer of house barbecue sauce. If that doesn’t sound like enough awesome, you can customize your own barbecue pie the stand’s other topping choices.

Churros

Where to find it: B.S. Taqueria (Main Concourse, near section 117)
Circle back to B.S. Taqueria as the game winds down to finish the evening on a sweet note. The airy dough pockets are perfect little bites of joy beneath a solid dusting of cinnamon sugar. Dip the churros in the side of chocolate, repeat, order more, repeat. Who won the game? You did.