ESPN Zone 20s / 30s / 40s / Average Joes / Bar Food / Burgers / Casual / Dinner / Finger Food / Former Jocks / Good for Groups / Groups / Happy Hour / Lunch / Moderate / Outdoor Area / Parking Lot / Rowdy / Sandwiches / Sports / Sports Fans / TVs / Wi-Fi / Restaurant / Sports Bar

So are you looking for casual but delicious food but an entertaining atmosphere to go with it as well? The ESPN Zone fits this description perfectly. Not only do you get large and yummy portions of food but you can chill out with a cold beer and watch a football game at the beer. When your done with that you can go play one of the many interactive games that the ESPN Zone offers. You can play basketball, you can even go rock climbing. The ESPN Zone has something for all ages and will not only offer you dinner but an entire evening of fun and relaxation!

I've been to plenty of ESPN Zones before a majority of them closed. They offer the same things just different environment. I came to this one before a Laker game on St. Patricks day and have to say I was impressed. Everything was organized people were seated fast considering all the festivities going on at L.A Live. I have tried many items in the past, but this time had the waiter recommend me something. It was the cheese pizza. Man! was I glad he did .I don't know how I passed up this delicious pizza every time. It is by far the best item on their menu. The cheese was so thick and cheesy on top of soft bread that was toasted just right. I will now get this every time I come here. My one downfall for ESPN zone is they don't offer happy hour, only on special occasions. When I went they had special on green beer and Irish car bombs, I took advantage. Don't expect gourmet food when coming here, just a good time watching a game, drinking a beer in a sports environment. And again don't forget to try the cheese pizza!

I went here before a Laker game and came in with heavy expectations for the food. If you have a restaurant in downtown LA especially the LA Live area, I would expect great food. However the food I had was very overpriced for the mediocre taste. I am not a picky eater or anything, but I remember paying about $15 for wings that tasted like frozen wings you buy at a grocery store. I was pretty disappointed because I expect the burgers and wings at any sports bar to be at least a little above average. But then again, everyone is so infatuated with their name "ESPN Zone" and will continue to eat there. The sports scene there is great though, you can watch so many different games at the same time. I wouldn't say never eat here, but I also wouldn't say you should eat here if you come to the LA Live area. Overall pretty mediocre if you factor cost into your experience heavily like I would.

The ESPN Zone is a bit too loud and overcrowded for my taste. It is definitely a solid family-friendly sports bar and restaurant but it really is not anything special. The food is good and so is the beer, but you can get similar stuff at most sports bar. The main difference is that ESPN Zone has an arcade upstairs, but if you’re not into that kind of thing then it obviously won’t appeal to you. I like arcade games every once in a while but the place is just way too packed with kids usually. It’s a decent place to sit down and have a beer while watching the game but there are certainly more chill sports bars around town.

ESPN Zone is exactly what you'd expect - it is a sports bar designed more for drinking and bar food while watching a sporting event. Nothing at all wrong with that, but if you're looking for a great meal, look somewhere else. That being said, if you just want to get your drink on, this is the place for you. Good beer choice, though the prices are a little high. For those with children, there is an arcade upstairs, which is a good place to leave your kids while you go watch the Trojans beat the Bruins downstairs. Service is ok, nothing special. All-in-all, nothing too spectacular, but a fun place to watch the game.

My Take This is a big, loud, state-of-the-art Sports Bar...sensory overload. It's always packed with people and there are HUGE tv screens everywhere. ESPN Zone is a little too chaotic for me...I prefer more of a chill atmosphere in my sports bars. The Scene The bar/restaurant is filled with uppity sports fans - business people getting off work, tourists attracted to the noise, people coming from/going to Staples Center, and the occasional downtown resident. Oh, and kids, kids, kids...which definitely adds to some of the noise. Cocktails & Cuisine The food isn't all that great (it's actually a step below Chili's), but - let's be honest - onion rings are onion rings. Look around and you'll see everyone eating fried bar food with burgers and wings and pizzas. Full bar. Prices Everything is overpriced. If you're counting pennies, this isn't the place for you. What To Wear Casual wear, but not lazy casual. Unless it's a sloppy tourist, you generally see ESPN customers wearing jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, etc. Insider Info/When to go With all the great sports bars in LA, this shouldn't be your first choice to go to watch sports. You can do much better. However, if you arrive downtown early for a show at Staples, this might be a good place to have a seat, watch some TV, and get something to eat/drink to pass the time.

A great place to bring out the fan in you. Sitting right in the heart of LA Live, not only do you get to watch great action on the many TVs they've got, but fans of every LA team will come by prior to a game at the Staples Center. Better yet, many Hollywood events happen and Nokia Theater and other nearby establishments, so you can catch a glimpse of a celebrity now and then. The bartenders are cool, and the food is good (though a bit pricey). Place can get loud at times and very crowded for particular events. They have a $10/hr requirement for NFL Sundays and other busy times of the year.

There’s nothing more awe inspiring as a sports fan than sitting in your hometown team’s stadium and watching them wipe the floor with a despised rival. For those of us who can’t afford floor seats to the Lakers vs. Celtics game, there’s always ESPN Zone at L.A. Live. Located amongst the great hustle and bustle that defines Downtown L.A., ESPN Zone is a prime location for a night out with friends to enjoy all of the latest sporting events. The venue space is massive, with various areas to accommodate a small group of 3 to 5 or a party of more than 300. Snag a seat at the SportsCenter Bar to quench your thirst with an ice cold beer while viewing your game on a 55” flat screen. Or slip into one of their 11 booths, each equipped with its own mounted TV. If you’re lucky enough to secure a dining spot before tip-off, you’ll want to find it in the Screening Room. There, enjoy your meal while getting a close up of your favorite athletes on two 110” vertical screens. If you’re a fan of game day foods like hot wings, nachos and spinach dip, you’ll find them and more at ESPN Zone, but at a hefty cost. Happy hour inconveniently ends by 5 pm, and the appetizers are priced more like full entrees. Yet, c’est la vie of downtown dining. But it’s the sports action you’re really after. Post game entertainment continues in the Sports Arena, where fans can play more than 50 interactive games. Venture to ESPN Zone for fun, food, and sports with an atmosphere that puts your couch to shame.

I am not much of a sports fanatic or a lover of sports bars; however the ESPN Zone resides in a different caliber than the average Joe sports bar. Rather than walking into a run down po dunk bar with spilled beer on the counter, the town drunk passed out in the corner, and that stale bar smell clenching your nostrils, The ESPN Zone is a sports bar with class. The very CLEAN and POLISHED venue caught my attention when I was greeted at the door by the charming host. Being there in the midst of an away Lakers game, the venue attracted many local Angelenos suited up in their gold and purple paraphernalia. The upstairs lounge can be reserved for exclusive dining in one of the VIP suites equipped with its own bar. The VIP lounge attracts well dressed professionals who want the experience of a sports bar without having the random stranger in a packed bar spilling a drink on them. What I love about the ESPN Zone is that you can grab a bite, watch the game, and have a little friendly competition with opposing fans, all while having premium service.

If you like generally overpriced, average bar food, then you'll love ESPN Zone at LA Live. Chicken Tenders - $12. Nachos - $13.25. Cheese Fries - $11.50. Those are the appetizers! Thanks ESPN Zone for letting me build my own burger for $17.50. That was nice of you. Though to be fair, they do have $7 lunch specials. But why in god's name would I ever be here for lunch? Why are you coming to ESPN Zone? I GUESS if you live in the area but Big Wangs is also downtown and have comparable food for less cost. I've been here a couple of times - once for a pre-Lakers game and once for a post-Lakers game. The pre-game experience was definitely more crowded - the joint is huge but it fills up quickly when 18,000 people converge on the Staples Center. After the game - it's more quiet. People want to get out of the area or just get home. Ultimately, like most things at LA Live, ESPN Zone has that chain feel where everything is sterile, everything is polished, everything is corporatized, and there's no personality. You may as well be at a Bennigan's or an Applebees. My advice, if you need a beer that badly before the game - hit up Big Wangs, it's still technically walking distance and you won't feel like you've been robbed.