Kia Forum has been bringing people to Inglewood since 1967. The question before the show has changed less than the neighborhood around it: where are you eating?
The Forum’s 2026 calendar makes that question especially useful. Robyn, Billy Strings, Sin Bandera, Mumford & Sons, The Neighbourhood, Juanes, Charli XCX, MONSTA X, beabadoobee, Doja Cat, Gorillaz, Don Omar, Mon Laferte, The Smashing Pumpkins, Slayer, Teddy Swims, Gracie Abrams and other acts are all on the official schedule. A strong restaurant guide therefore serves dozens of event pages rather than one concert.
Start with the places that carry their own Inglewood history. The Serving Spoon was founded in 1983 and received a James Beard America’s Classics Award in 2026. Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen has operated in Inglewood since 2001. Woody’s Inglewood branch opened in 1995 as part of a family barbecue business dating to 1975. None exists because the Forum has a concert that night. That is precisely why they belong in the guide.
For a newer expression of the city, Two Hommés offers West African-influenced cooking through a Southern California lens, with current coverage highlighting jollof rice, catfish, braised short ribs and honey-berbere chicken. It is the kind of reservation that can turn “going to a show” into a night out in Inglewood.
THE FORUM HAS A HISTORY. SO DOES THE COLOR.
Showtime Purple, made for an Inglewood story.
If speed matters, burgers and tacos make sense. Brolly Hut is an old-school Inglewood burger stand whose architecture is nearly as memorable as the food. StormBurger currently operates on North La Brea. Perro Exquisite Taco specializes in a huge Sonora-style taco near the entertainment district, while Coni’Seafood’s seafood tacos offer an entirely different direction. Compare the options in our burger guide and taco guide.
Barbecue deserves its own decision. Woody’s on Market Street and Phillips on Centinela represent related branches of a long Los Angeles barbecue lineage. Our Inglewood barbecue guide explains what makes each worth a separate visit.
For daytime shows or an early arrival, Randy’s Donuts is the obvious photo stop, but do not confuse “iconic” with “the only thing to see.” The original Manchester Boulevard location opened in the 1950s beneath a 32½-foot rooftop doughnut and became one of Southern California’s most recognizable roadside landmarks.
Finally, plan around the event rather than assuming normal traffic. Kia Forum’s official transportation guidance encourages rideshare use and identifies its rideshare lot; it also points visitors toward nearby Metro bus service. Restaurant hours, parking procedures and event policies can change, so check each venue and restaurant on the day you go.
For everything else—from the arena’s 1967 opening to its architectural significance—continue with our history of Kia Forum.
Sources: official venue calendars, the City of Inglewood, the Los Angeles Times and LA28 materials as of September 13, 2026. Dates change; confirm with the venue before you go.
