Best Restaurants near Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

At Grand Central Market, you'll find a wide assortment of restaurants – and there is sure to be at least one that tickles your palate. Look for lean pastrami and other house-smoked meats and fish at Wexler's Deli; egg sandwiches done to perfection at Eggslut; Texas-style smoked barbecue at Horse Thief BBQ (who also have an outdoor garden and a bar); Las Morelianas, if you love authentic carnitas; and many other taste delights. For dessert, check out Valerie at GCM for baked goodies and McConnell's Fine Ice Cream, where you must try the Salted Caramel Chip and the Dark Chocolate Paso Brittle. All their ice creams are made from scratch, which is obvious from the first lick. So hit the market before heading to the Memorial Coliseum (it opens at 8:00 a.m.) or visit for dinner as the eateries stay open until 10:00 p.m.

The convivial Yard House at L.A. Live is part of a nationwide chain of restaurants devoted to serving up craft beers paired with over 100 menu items. It's an easy place to have a beer (over 100 are on tap) and a burger, but if you're so inclined, you can feast on steaks, ribs, seafood, pasta and more, and wash it all down with wine from around the world or a specialty cocktail. It's close enough to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to make it an easy stop before or after hitting the stadium, especially if you've chosen a hotel at L.A. Live as your home base for all things downtown. Hit it during Happy Hour (3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) or Late Night (10 p.m. to closing) for discounted drinks and half-price apps and pizzas.

Chichen Itza is a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant with a big reputation. Located a few blocks from USC and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum inside the Mercado la Paloma (head straight to the back once you enter and get in the line), this famed Mexican joint specializes in fare from the Yucatan. Their Cochinita Pibil is an achiote-marinated, slow-roasted pork that is some of the best you'll have north of the border. Try their ceviche or the Torta de Pollo Asado, a charbroiled chicken sandwich on their homemade bread. Place your order and then choose one of the tables spread out around the mercado; they will bring your freshly made meal to you. Note that there is no alcohol served here, but do try the Horchata or Guanabana for a uniquely Mexican quaff.

For a quick bite before you stroll over to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Rosso Oro's Pizzeria is the perfect pit stop. Located across from the USC campus and next door to the Radisson Hotel USC, this place makes pizza just the way you want it. Order a single slice "Loaded" and you'll get a pile of mozzarella, pepperoni, sweet peppers, onions, sausage and mushrooms – all for only $3! Or settle in and eat a whole pizza pie for $18; Rosso Oro's has all your favorite combinations (including their signature "Tommy Trojan" pie), or you can build your own. Non-pizza lovers will find salads, pastas and hot italian sandwiches. Beer, wine and soft drinks round out your casual meal here.

Located next door to the Radisson Hotel USC, McKay's features a comfortable lounge, welcoming dining area and a well-stocked bar. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this restaurant named for John McKay, one of USC's legendary football coaches, offers everything from burgers and sandwiches to elegant meals ranging from flat iron steaks to glazed salmon and jerk chicken. And just to prove how close McKay's is to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum where the USC team plays, there's even a salad known as "The Coliseum," featuring Lollo Rossa greens, grape tomatoes and avocado stuffed into a garlic crostini. McKay's is the local spot for fine dining, before or after any big event at the nearby stadium.

The Lab Gastropub at USC is a short, 15-minute stroll from the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, making it a great spot to begin or end your experience there. If you are part of a crowd, choose one of The Lab's "Group Projects" – plates to share of Chipoltle Nachos, Kalbi Short Ribs, Guac Fries, etc. Or try one of the "Class Favorites" like Steak & Fries or Mac & 3 Cheeses; but those are made for one, not the crowd. And in keeping with the in-school theme, be sure to try their "Final Exam," especially the Horchata Ice-Cream Sandwich, made with coconut, chocolate and macadamia nut cookies.

Located inside the Ronald Tutor Campus Center, USC Traditions Bar & Grill is a convivial pub open to all, USC students or not. So grab a bite to eat there before a big USC football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum or simply hang out and watch the action on the pub's big-screen TVs. You'll find typical bar food here, ranging from chicken wings, lobster rolls, tacos and calamari to burgers, kale salad and even a fried honey bun for dessert. Open most days from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., USC Traditions has varied hours on game days, opening earlier to feed all the Trojan fans in the neighborhood.

When your team wins big at the Memorial Coliseum (or perhaps you're about to go and see the concert of your life after dinner), there's nothing quite like celebrating nearby at Wolfgang Puck's WP24. Sky high on the 24th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at L.A. Live, with fantastic views of the city, this haute cuisine Chinese restaurant has to be tried to be believed. Go hungry, as the extensive menu is broken into either a three-course meal (for $80) or a four-course meal (for $110), with a wide range of choices for each segment of the meal. The "Angry Lobster" is a $25 extra supplement, well worth it if a melange of spice and garlic is your idea of heaven. It is ours!

The latest addition to the USC campus culinary scene is the Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop, but this innovative restaurant serving up healthy fare (and a burger or two) is no stranger to Southern California's hot food scene. This outpost, located in the brand-new USC Village housing complex, marks the ninth Chopshop to open in just a few sort years. The brainchild of ex-Patina chef Jon Rollo, the menu allows patrons to build their own salads, choosing from organic greens, various vegetable toppings, proteins and house-made dressings (thus the "Chopshop" idea); or patrons can simply choose one of those juicy Angus-beef burgers, a platter of tacos, pizza or a sandwich. It's all reasonably priced, even with a protein shake, craft beer, fine wine or specialty cocktail added in. Go during Happy Hour for even better deals on Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop's delicious offerings.

For some of L.A.'s best sushi and coolest scene going, head over to Katsuya L.A. Live. Just a quick drive from Memorial Coliseum, the restaurant helmed by Chef Katsuya Uechi and designed by Philippe Starck must be seen to be believed. But don't let the hip decor fool you; this place is serious about its sushi. Try the signature Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno and don't miss the Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna. We'd suggest simply putting yourself in the chef's hands with the Omakase ($75); you cannot go wrong. And don't miss the Flaming Mandarin cocktail, for it is a taste sensation like no other. Keep your eyes open, too, for there's always a chance to see a few famous faces at the table right next to you, enjoying their favorite Katsuya delicacy.