Dodger Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is one of the most iconic baseball stadiums in Major League Baseball. With a capacity of over 56,000 people, Dodger Stadium is the largest stadium in the MLB. When it comes to amenities, Dodger Stadium has a lot to offer fans including an array of food options. One of the most frequently asked questions about Dodger Stadium is whether or not there is an all you can eat seating section.
All You Can Eat Seating Sections
Many major league baseball stadiums have designated all you can eat seating sections that allow fans to purchase tickets that include unlimited food and drinks. The availability of all you can eat sections provides a terrific value for fans looking to maximize their food intake during a game. Unfortunately for Dodgers fans, Dodger Stadium does not currently have a designated all you can eat seating section.
Food Options at Dodger Stadium
While there isn’t an all you can eat section, Dodger Stadium still has a wide selection of delicious food options. Fans can enjoy classic ballpark fare like hot dogs, burgers, nachos, and peanuts. More unique offerings are also available like Dodger Dogs wrapped in bacon, Korean barbecue tacos, and Frito pie burgers.
Many of the food stands scattered throughout the stadium allow fans to purchase food at their own pace throughout the game. However, there is no unlimited food seating section where you can eat as much as you want for one flat fee.
History of Food at Dodger Stadium
When Dodger Stadium first opened in 1962, food options were fairly limited. Most of the menu consisted of standard ballpark fare like hot dogs, popcorn, and Cracker Jacks. Over the past 60 years, the stadium has expanded its food offerings greatly. Here is an overview of how the food selections have evolved over the stadium’s history:
1960s
During the first decade since its opening, Dodger Stadium featured concession stands selling hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, and a few other basics. Options were very limited especially compared to the wide array of cuisine served today.
1970s
More variety was introduced at Dodger Stadium during the 1970s. Items like pizza, ice cream sundaes, and Mexican food made appearances on the stadium menus. However, food choices were still quite basic during this timeframe.
1980s
The 1980s saw the introduction of more substantial meal items like barbecue chicken and sausages. Vegetarian options also became available for the first time during this decade. The increased selections reflected changing tastes as fans sought more diversity at baseball games.
1990s
Food selections continued expanding tremendously during the 1990s. Unique offerings like sushi, Korean barbecue, and pasta stations were added to menus. Premium seating areas also began to emerge with more upscale dining choices.
2000s – Today
In recent decades, the food choices at Dodger Stadium have grown exponentially. The stadium now features cuisine reflecting Los Angeles’s diversity including Mexican, Asian, and barbecue selections. Gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads, and health-conscious choices are now plentiful throughout the stadium.
While Dodger Stadium still does not have an all you can eat section, the food offerings continue to reflect MLB’s overall trend towards unique, upscale ballpark cuisine. Fans can find basically anything they might crave at a stand or concession area around the stadium.
All You Can Eat Options Outside the Stadium
Since Dodger Stadium does not have an official all you can eat seating area, some fans choose to eat at nearby restaurants beforehand where they can eat unlimited amounts for a fixed price. Here are some of the most popular all you can eat spots outside Dodger Stadium:
Hometown Buffet
This classic buffet restaurant is located just over a mile from Dodger Stadium. Their massive food stations allow diners to load up on salads, pizzas, rotisserie chicken, and a daily array of changing hot dishes. The fee is around $15 per adult.
Lucille’s Smokehouse
For barbecue lovers, Lucille’s offers an affordable all you can eat option near the stadium. On weekdays from 11am – 3pm, diners can enjoy unlimited trips to their salad bar, cornbread, and BBQ ribs.
Tom’s #5
This casual restaurant near Dodger Stadium offers weekday lunch specials where you can get unlimited burgers, fries, and shakes for one set price. It’s a perfect pre-game spot for hardcore burger fans.
Bludso’s BBQ
Bludso’s serves up Texas-style BBQ near the stadium and features an all you can eat ribs special for around $25 per person. It’s a great way to eat your fill of smokey ribs before enjoying the game.
Zen Buffet
This Asian buffet spot about 1.5 miles from Dodger Stadium offers over 175 items including sushi, dim sum, curries, noodles, and more. Their weekday lunch special provides an affordable option to eat unlimited amounts.
Ways to Maximize Food Intake at Dodger Stadium
While Dodger Stadium does not have an all you can eat section, fans still have ways to maximize their food consumption by:
Come Hungry
Don’t eat a large meal beforehand so you have plenty of room to indulge at the stadium.
Share Dishes
Split food items with your group so you can sample more menu items.
Take Advantage of Refills
Upgrade your soda to the souvenir cup for free refills all game long.
Eat from Multiple Stands
Don’t just eat at one place – spread out your food binge to hot dog, burger, and nacho stands.
Pack Your Own Snacks
Bring protein bars, peanuts, candy, and other cheap snacks in your bag to nosh on all game.
Arrive Early
Get to the stadium when gates open to maximize noshing time and beat long lines.
Purchase Box Seats
Sit in the exclusive Dugout Club or Baseline Club sections for higher end all inclusive dining.
Comparisons to Other MLB Ballparks
While Dodger Stadium currently does not feature an all you can eat section, many other Major League Baseball parks do offer this amenity:
Guaranteed Rate Field – Chicago White Sox
The White Sox offer the Bullpen Sports Bar where fans can purchase all you can eat tickets that include unlimited hot dogs, burgers, nachos, peanuts, popcorn, and soda.
Kauffman Stadium – Kansas City Royals
The Rivals Sports Bar at Kauffman Stadium provides an affordable all you can eat experience with hot dogs, pizza, nachos, peanuts, popcorn, and soda.
Great American Ballpark – Cincinnati Reds
The Reds offer fans unlimited food as part of their Infield Box and Home Run Porch ticket packages including hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, and popcorn.
Coors Field – Colorado Rockies
The Rockpile seats at Coors Field allow fans to eat unlimited hot dogs, burgers, nachos, fries, ice cream, and soda for around $30 per ticket.
Citi Field – New York Mets
The Mets provide the Promenade Club buffet with unlimited hot dogs, sausages, burgers, chicken tenders, fries, salad, and dessert for ticket holders.
| Stadium | All You Can Eat Section | Sample Foods Included |
|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed Rate Field | Bullpen Sports Bar | Hot dogs, burgers, nachos |
| Kauffman Stadium | Rivals Sports Bar | Pizza, hot dogs, nachos |
| Great American Ballpark | Infield Box | Hot dogs, nachos, peanuts |
| Coors Field | The Rockpile | Hot dogs, burgers, ice cream |
| Citi Field | Promenade Club | Burgers, chicken, salad |
The Case for Adding All You Can Eat at Dodger Stadium
While Dodger Stadium has yet to add an all you can eat section, there are many compelling reasons to consider incorporating this type of seating in the future. Here are some of the potential benefits:
Boosting Attendance
An all you can eat area could help drive higher attendance by attracting fans to the unlimited food value. Loyal Dodgers fans may be even more inclined to go to more games each season with this added incentive.
Increased Revenue
In addition to attendance, an all you can eat section could actually increase overall revenue from food sales. Fans purchasing these special tickets often spend more than they normally would on concessions.
Unique Marketing Opportunity
The Dodgers could market the exclusive all you can eat section as a special “experience” and provide analytics on record hot dog consumption and other fun fan challenges.
Keeping Up With Other Stadiums
As other MLB teams continue expanding all you can eat options, the Dodgers may need to add their own version to keep up with the food arms race.
Enhancing the Fan Experience
Access to unlimited food can greatly improve the overall fan experience and satisfaction on game day at Dodger Stadium.
Conclusion
In summary, Dodger Stadium currently does not offer an official all you can eat seating section or tickets. While fans don’t have unlimited food access inside the stadium, there are strategies to maximize your food intake through item sharing, refills, sampling from various vendors, and strategic snacking.
Some nearby restaurants provide affordable all you can eat buffets and specials before games for fans who want to eat to their heart’s content near the stadium. The Dodgers may wish to consider incorporating their own version in the future based on the model other MLB teams have successfully implemented. With the rising popularity of all inclusive food options, an unlimited dining section may emerge at Dodgers Stadium down the road.
