User's Guide

Where to Eat Around the World and Watch the World Cup in L.A.

The World Cup starts early (very early) tomorrow morning and restaurants like Santino’s, Waterloo and City, and Alpine Village will be awake and serving food and booze to all you hardcore soccer hooligans out there. For the more casual futbol fan, The World Cup provides a perfect excuse to get out there and try some new cuisine, whether it’s cheering on Mexico while eating South African spooky curry at Springbok or welcoming Honduras back to the field over sopa de caracol at South Central’s La Nueva Casa. To help our food fanatics navigate the varied cultural eats available in L.A. while watching the World Cup games, we put together a guide to eating around the globe at L.A. restaurants who have futbol fever this summer. Enjoy!

Argentina
El Morfi Grill: There are soccer nuts and then there’s Argentines and Brazilians, arguably on another level of futbol fanaticism. Here you’ll get a passion for the sport alongside pizza, pasta, milanesa, and empanadas, and hopefully a row with Guacho’s Village down the street. 241 N Brand Blvd. Glendale. 818-547-4420.

Santino’s: The new panineria branch of Santino’s will be showing all games on its big screen in this cozy new Venice space. They will be especially spirited during the Argentina games, with parties already booked for tapas, Italian sandwiches, and coffee by Groundworks keeping everybody awake at 4:00 A.M. 1611 Pacific Ave. Venice 310-450-5313.

Brazil
Bella Vista: You’ll find better pizza in town, but we don’t know if you’ll have nearly as much fun as you will here, waiting to see what exotic slice emerges next at this all-you-can-eat Brazilian pizza place. Three television sets have just been installed for the games as Bella Vista is expecting bigger crowds than usual on its patio and will charge $25 for all-you-can-eat and drink during Brazilian games, and though it’s BYOB-only and more expensive than its usual offers on non-game days, it will likely be more spirited. 10826 Venice Blvd; Culver City; 310-558-2374

By Brazil: Showing all Brazilian games that start at 11:30 A.M., starting with June 15th and June 20th, with a full schedule of later games coming online. $25 buys all-you-can-eat Brazilian BBQ with the game, $35 during weekend games. “Real futebol with Brazilians” is promised here, along with endless steak. Reservations at 310-787-7520. 1615 Cabrillo Ave. Torrance.

Gaucho’s Village: Despite over 300 seats, this churrascharia will fill up and be jam-packed with Brazilian nationals watching the massive screen and live samba breakdowns. Only showing Brazil-involved action with a full schedule of events online and a surplus of sirloin. 411 N Brand Blvd. Glendale. 818-550-1430.

British
Altadena Ale House: Showing the full schedule of games in a newly renovated space. You’ll find Fuller’s on tap and Speckled Hen in the bottle, as well as French and English cheese plates, charcuterie, and European country-style sausages. 2329 Fair Oaks Altadena, CA. 626-794-4577.

Cock N Bull: More for the true Marmite lover than the tongue-in-cheek Anglophile at Ye Olde King’s Head, these guys will rise early to serve stuff like beans on toast and Scottish breakfasts starting an hour before game time. Meanwhile, local soccer hooligans will be up all hours cheering on a new hi-def 135-inch projection screen and LCD TVs showing all games. 2947 Lincoln Blvd. Santa Monica. 310-399-9696.

Waterloo & City: This newcomer declares itself “the official team England hot spot,” and will serve early morning menus with bacon and egg sandwiches, as well as a brunch menu with curried chicken and a burger. Expect cocktail specials like the Buck’s Fizz while watching all games. 12517 Washington Blvd, Culver City (310) 391-4222.

Ethiopian
Industry Cafe: This little restaurant nook serves homey Ethiopian and Southern-influenced eats, while usually providing some form of eclectic entertainment. For the games, there will be a viewing area with specials on food and drink. 6039 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA. 310-202-6633.

French
Lilly’s: Lilly’s is showing all games starting this Friday on a massive new screen that was just installed for Lakers games this week. There will be a special World Cup Happy Hour, with details supposedly coming soon to its website. 1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice. 310-314-0004.

German
Alpine Village: Should be a festive Bavarian scene at this Oktoberfest favorite that shows UEFA soccer games all season. During World Cup, expect beer specials with 32 Oz. glasses on sale for $6, along with the usual bratwurst and schweinebraten. 833 W. Torrance Blvd. Torrance. 310-327-4384.

Honduras
La Nueva Casa Honduras: The Honduran massive will get together at this South Central restaurant/disco on June 16th to watch its home team take on Chile while slurping up specialties like sopa de caracol. The game will be shown on a big screen and wall-bound T.V.s. Expect it to go late and go nuts if the team wins. 6628 S. Vermont 323-752-2176.

Irish
Joxer Daly’s: A full and inexpensive Irish menu of massive plates will compliment a complete run of The Cup at this authentic Culver City pub. A solid spread of ales and Guinness is on tap too. 11168 Washington Blvd. Culver City 310-838-3745.

Italian:
Cecconi’s: All games that begin at 7:00 and 11:30 A.M. will be accompanied by breakfast and lunch specials. Pizette with speck and eggs and a Bloody Mary for $18 or a spicy salami pizza with a pint of Peroni for $25. 8724 Melrose Ave. West Hollywood. 310-432-2000.

Korean: ESPN Zone: The Rundown L.A. lets us know that this massive 150 screen-strong rager will be the H.Q. for a local crew of Korea supporters called The Red Tigers, who will be holding all-ages viewing parties for the team’s first matches, and beyond if they make it through. 1011 S. Figueroa St. 213-765-7070.

Mexican
Guelaguetza: The Oaxacan legend will show all games that start after 7:00 A.M., though Friday will begin with a 5:00 A.M. event. Goodies include a 150” screen along with food and beverage specials. 3014 W. Olympic Blvd. 213-427-0608.

South African
Springbok: Just like its mother country, Springbok is acting quite hospitable while showing all World Cup games, with a full schedule online. Here’s your chance to try South African curries, spooky pudding, and Cape Style fish and chips among other national specialties. 16153 Victory Blvd. 818-988-9786.

Spain
Bar Pintxo: We’re a little disappointed they can’t commit to rising earlier, but Joe Miller’s tapas bar will show all games starting after 10:00 A.M., reports the L.A. Times. The usual suspects of tortilla Espagnola and bacon-wrapped blue cheese dates will be on-hand, but you’ll also have the chance to drink wine straight from traditional porrons. 109 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica. 310-458-2012.

U.S.
25 Degrees: All games will be shown here on plasma TVs and wearing your favorite team’s colors or attire will yield you $1 beers. There will also be daily World Cup happy hours with themed cocktails and 50% off shakes, sides, and drinks. 7000 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood. (323) 785-7244.

Happy Ending: The bar will be open 24 hours a day with drink specials while every game will be shown on 50 plasma sets. Huge comfort menu includes everything from buttermilk chicken skewers and pulled pork po’ boys to Korean babyback ribs. 7038 Sunset Blvd. 323-469-7038.

Tony’s Darts Away: To Celebrate World Cup, this revitalized Burbank legend introduces “eggs and kegs” during all the World Cup games, wherein ten dollars buys breakfast burritos (with meat or vegan) along with six morning-appropriate beers like AleSmith Speedway Coffee Stout. 1710 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank. 818.253.1710.

Where to Eat Around the World and Watch the World Cup in L.A.