This past weekend, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal celebrated the opening of his first restaurant in Los Angeles, Shaquille at LA Live and like its owner, the opening was bigger than life.
The retired basketball legend and sports analyst celebrated his grand opening March 9, just a few days after his 47th birthday. The restaurant is located at Downtown L.A. Live, adjacent to the Staples Center. Celebrity friends and colleagues alike stopped by to support O’Neal’s latest venture, including Paul Pierce, Chauncey Billups, Tiffany Haddish, Adam Sandler, Rajon Rondo and more.
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The cuisine at Shaq’s is best described as “Southern hospitality with modern flair,” according to Eater, with the menu including a wide range of items from shrimp and grits to corn pudding.
It was a star-studded event at the grand opening of @SHAQ‘s new restaurant @ShaquillesLA! pic.twitter.com/6I1zLsIaB2
— L.A. LIVE (@LALIVE) March 11, 2019
Ironically (or perhaps, coincidentally) enough, the only two burgers on the menu are the Shaq cheeseburger and an actual Kobe burger, made of kobe beef, much the way O’Neal was teamed with Kobe Bryant on the LA Lakers from 1996 to 2004.
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The bar hosts a wide range of classic cocktails, craft bears and an impressive, and expansive wine menu.
Although this is O’Neal’s first restaurant in Los Angeles, back in October, Shaq debuted the Big Chicken restaurant in Las Vegas.