Fried chicken and biscuits at the new Ludo Bird at Staples Center

1/5

Fried chicken from Ludo Bird. (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

2/5

The new Ludo Bird at Staples Center. (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

3/5

The brioche ice cream sandwich from Ludo Bird. (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

4/5

The Ludo Bird opened Sunday at Staples. (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

5/5

The menu at Ludo Bird includes buttermilk Provencal fried chicken and a fried chicken sandwich on a potato roll with special sauce, coleslaw and pickles. (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

By Betty Hallock

Oct. 1, 2013 3:42 PM PT

Acclaimed chef Ludo Lefebvre’s Ludo Bird opened Sunday at Staples Center, a coq-covered concession stand selling his buttermilk Provencal fried chicken and brioche ice cream sandwiches to the masses who filed in for that evening’s Depeche Mode concert.

With an 18,000-person capacity and 280 events a year, Staples is a big venue for the fried chicken that first made an appearance during Lefebvre’s LudoBites pop-up and spawned the LudoTruck food truck.

“Staples is a renowned, world-class venue, so why not bring in some renowned, world-class chefs?” said Staples Center general manager Lee Zeidman. Zeidman says he hopes to bring in other chef-driven concepts. Among Staples’ current concessionaires are Wetzel’s Gourmet Pretzels, California Pizza Kitchen, Tap Haus and Sunset Taco.

PHOTOS: Ludo Bird at Staples Center

On the menu: buttermilk Provencal fried chicken dark meat ($11.50), buttermilk Provencal fried chicken white meat ($11.50), the fried chicken sandwich on a potato roll with special sauce, coleslaw and pickles ($12.50), popcorn chicken bites ($11.50) and sides (all $3.50) such as Ludo slaw, the honey lavender biscuit, potato salad and house-made chips (no French fries here because McDonald’s has a lockdown on the fries).

Sauces ($2) include honey mustard, spicy bird sauce, ranch and Ludo Bird special sauce, as well as béarnaise and piquillo pepper sauce.

On Ludo Bird’s debut evening, Lefebvre was there to handle quality control, while Dennis Suh of LudoTruck will oversee daily operations.

The Lakers’ first preseason game is this weekend. Provencal fried chicken and basketball may be in your near future.

Ludo Bird at Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, located across from Section 119.

ALSO:

Jonathan Gold quiz: Food and the power of rock ‘n’ roll

On National Coffee Day, five great things about the Humble Cup

Pumpkin bread and 18 other pumpkin recipes you must make now