The Eater LA Guide to Dining at the Hollywood Bowl (2024)

The Hollywood Bowl has been the premier large-format outdoor venue in Los Angeles for the past century. With a capacity for 17,500, the Bowl has been an iconic place for Angelenos for generations, a place to enjoy musical, theater, comedy, and movie performances. Ever since the Los Angeles Philharmonic began performing here in the 1920s, it’s been a place to enjoy classical music under the stars.

The Bowl has also hosted many historic events, from the Beatles in 1964, Jimi Hendrix in 1967, and an epic mariachi show in 1990. Many Angelenos who grew up coming to the Bowl remember bringing picnics and takeout, with the parents opening up bottles of wine while the kids get a chance to hear world-class orchestral music in the summer. As a result of its ownership under Los Angeles County, the Bowl’s mission has always been to be accessible and affordable, with many $1 tickets available throughout the summer for the community. (Note: parking is very difficult at the Bowl; check this guide on how to take a shuttle.)

Eight years ago, the Bowl’s food and beverage company Sodexo Live partnered with chef Suzanne Goin and restaurateur Caroline Styne, who brought culinary and wine expertise to elevate the options available at the venue. Now, there are two full-service restaurants, a full-service box seat area, and numerous other casual and grab-and-go options meant to reflect California’s diaspora cuisines and produce. And remember, any takeout food is permissible and can be enjoyed at a number of lovely outdoor picnic areas spread across the venue. Bring-your-own wine and beer are allowed for most LA Phil shows and non-licensed shows (which means most of the big bands and artists don’t accommodate outside booze).

As warm weather continues to extend from summer into the fall, the Bowl’s season now starts sometime in May and goes all the way to mid-November this year. Here is the Eater Guide to dining at the Hollywood Bowl.

The reservable restaurants

There are two full-service restaurants at the Bowl inspired by James Beard Award-winning chef Suzanne Goin’s other Los Angeles establishments. The Backyard draws inspiration from Goin’s former Brentwood restaurant Tavern, with many dishes sprouting from the restaurant’s open grill. Start with a charcuterie board and some of the Larder’s (Goin and Styne’s wholesale bakery) crusty sourdough bread. Baja striped bass comes with a summery corn succotash and crisp watercress while grilled lamb chops are placed atop marinated eggplant and blistered sweet peppers. Grilled diver scallops are another highlight, served over a cornbread panade and wild mushrooms. For dessert, get the cherry and apricot galette.

Ann’s Wine Bar takes on the name of an LA Phil donor but serves a vintage version of Goin’s iconic A.O.C. restaurant. Grilled hangar steak and grilled prawns with sweet corn pudding come in tapas sizes. The butterscotch pot de creme makes for a fantastic finish.

At both the Backyard and Ann’s, Styne has assembled a stellar, reasonably-priced wine list. Any bottles that aren’t finished at dinner come with an ice bucket and plastic cups so they can be polished off while enjoying the performance. Reservations are recommended for both restaurants, though they accept limited walk-ins. It’s best to arrive right when they open at 6 p.m., allowing ample time before the show starts.

There’s also a Lucques menu served at the Pool Circle, an exclusive set of dining tables at the very front of the Bowl. These are only available for those who have Pool Circle tickets, and dishes are ordered a la carte from the ever-changing menu inspired by Goin and Styne’s now-closed West Hollywood restaurant.

Box seat dining and picnic baskets

Those eating at the Garden and Terrace box seats can order an entire meal, which is called Supper in Your Seats. Meals can be selected by up to 6 p.m. the day before the event. Three-course meals offer plenty of options, such as brick chicken with romesco, braised short ribs with cranberry beans, and grilled seabass with Silician caper salsa. Prices for two range from $115 to $145 for the top-tier seafood extravaganza. There are also shareable sushi platters with 30 pieces each.

Picnic boxes can be ordered and enjoyed anywhere in the Bowl, and include fried chicken, vegan, steak, salmon, and charcuterie themes.

Quick and casual bites

Here’s everything available that’s freshly made at various kiosks and stands around the outside of the Bowl:

• Chao’s Popcorn: One well-known doner gets their own brand of popcorn, which is popped by the hundreds of pounds for every show. There are multiple flavor options, but the off-menu “Around the World” offers a blend of four different ones.
• Suzanne’s Fried Chicken: Suzanne Goin’s famous Spanish fried chicken comes in tender form here, with cornbread and coleslaw.
• Street Tacos: There are various kinds of tacos, but the birria is the highlight. There’s also a vegan cauliflower ceviche for plant-based diners.
• Hot Dogs: All-beef hot dogs, because nothing feels more like summer than a dressed hot dog.
• Pizza: Hand-stretched dough, plus pulled pork sandwiches, are available at the pizza kiosk.
• Burgers: The Kitchen 22 kiosk features burgers, grilled cheese, and Goin’s Spanish fried chicken.
• Sweetshop: Soft-service ice cream, cookies, brownies, and Magpie’s non-dairy ice cream pies.
• Snack bar: Located near the top of the Bowl, a handy spot for candies, chips, and more.

The grab-and-go marketplaces

There are three marketplaces with prepared foods, including sushi, sandwiches, salads, cheese plates, Magpie’s soft serve pints and ice cream pies, chips, candy, beer, and wine. Before shows, the Plaza and East marketplaces tend to be swamped, so find your way over to Buzz McCoy’s marketplace (on the western side, near the Field Gate or valet area) and find a fully stocked market with far fewer people.