L.A.’s Restaurant Community Rallies Together To Offer Relief During Wildfires

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Multiple eateries located near Los Angeles are joining forces to offer aid to nearby neighborhoods, which are being affected by ongoing wildfires that are destroying parts of the city.

The local food landscape has taken a significant blow due to the fires raging across L.A. County. Notable establishments like Reel Inn, Cholada Thai, and Moonshadows were among those damaged in the Palisades Fire. This fire is just one of six ongoing wildfires, with containment at only 6% as of last Friday. The fire started in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday and quickly spread to areas of Malibu and Santa Monica.

Restaurants across town are stepping up to lend a helping hand to individuals who’ve recently faced displacement. This assistance takes various forms – from providing meals to emergency workers, serving as temporary shelters, or contributing their earnings towards relief efforts. Here are some establishments that have chosen to get involved and make a difference:

(Note: This version maintains the original structure but is written in a more conversational tone to make it easier for readers to understand.)

Pizzana

Brentwood, Marina Del Rey, Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, West Hollywood

As a gamer living in L.A., I’m proud to be a part of this city, and it’s my home too. This weekend, the renowned pizza shop I love, with branches across town, is donating every single penny they make from all their LA restaurants to the California Fire Foundation. It’s heartbreaking to see our community being affected by these fires, but knowing that we can help makes it a little easier. We’re in this together, L.A.!

Yeastie Boys Bagels

Silver Lake, Studio City, Melrose Place, Los Feliz, Venice, DTLA, Highland Park

The well-known L.A. bagel food truck, often associated with the city, set up shop and provided meals for frontline workers. On Thursday, this mobile eatery collaborated with World Central Kitchen to serve individuals at the Pasadena Convention Center. It appears that Yeastie Boy’s Instagram post, presumably written by its owner Evan Fox, mentioned his evacuation on Wednesday night. “I picked up my Bar Mitzvah photo album and my passport. Nothing else matters now. I mean it,” the message read. “Love and gratitude to everyone extending a helping hand and heart. Los Angeles is truly the best city in the world.

Cafe Tropical

Silver Lake

As a loyal fan, I’m thrilled to share that my favorite haunt, Cafe Tropical, announced via Instagram that they’ll be open late on Wednesday, providing a cozy corner for coffee lovers or simply those seeking a comfortable spot to unwind. What’s more, the cafe has teamed up with Feed The Streets to create 600 breakfast burritos for our brave firefighters! Feed The Streets shared this exciting news on their Instagram account, assuring us that they’ll keep operating out of Cafe Tropical through next week. What a wonderful collaboration between two fantastic organizations!

Din Tai Fung

Century City, Glendale

On Thursday, the cherished Taiwanese restaurant chain announced that its Los Angeles locations would stay open to provide a comforting meal during these challenging times. An Instagram update from the chain mentioned potential alterations in operations and menus because of smaller staff and meals being donated to first responders and shelters. They assured their commitment to supporting their team members, their families, and emergency workers by saying, “We will persist in looking after our team, their loved ones, and the first responders.

DTown Pizzeria

West Hollywood

The Detroit-style pizzeria is giving out free pizza slices to firefighters and first responders as stated in a post on their social media platform. They are also providing discounts for evacuees. Furthermore, they plan to make a donation to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Irv’s Burgers

West Hollywood

The well-liked WeHo burger stand, restored to the Los Angeles culinary world in 2022 by Lawrence Longo of Off the Menu and supported by industry heavyweights like Brad Slater from WME talent agency, along with several celebrities, extended a kind gesture to first responders on Thursday. Reports indicate that this quick-service eatery supplied burgers and fries to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Fat and Flour Bakery

Culver City

On Thursday, the downtown Los Angeles branch of the bakery stayed shut, but their store in Culver City operated instead. This location provided complimentary food and coffee, and they announced via social media that they had bread, pies, cookies, and more importantly, power supplies for people who might be without electricity. Additionally, it served as a shelter or charging station for those in need. The bakery made it clear on Instagram that they would only accept donations on this particular day.

Guisados

Here are some neighborhoods in Los Angeles: Boyle Heights, Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA), Echo Park, West Hollywood, Burbank, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Hermosa Beach, Long Beach, and Venice.

A well-loved taco restaurant in Los Angeles, Guisados, announced that they will carry on opening with reduced staffing to support their affected workers. The eateries also shared their plan to contribute food to local shelters daily during this period.

Jitlada

East Hollywood

Jitlada, a Thai restaurant highlighted in the Michelin Guide, expressed gratitude to firefighters and first responders by offering them free meals. In a heartfelt Instagram post, they stated: “We’re showing our appreciation by providing free meals to the brave men and women who are tirelessly working to keep us safe. Your courage moves us, and this is our way of saying thank you from the deepest part of our hearts.

Spago

Beverly Hills

On Thursday, Wolfgang Puck’s main restaurant in Beverly Hills commenced operations, also providing meals for emergency responders as part of its efforts. The eatery shared a post on Instagram, announcing that they were extending free meals to frontline workers.

The Ruby Fruit

Silver Lake

At the community hub known as The Ruby Fruit Sapphic wine bar, individuals seeking refuge with water and internet access found a welcoming space. They also encouraged contributions in the form of donations, such as blankets, non-perishable food items, high-quality KN95 masks, and more. In their recent Instagram post, they wrote: “We’re proudly here, we’re queer, offering water, WiFi, and open to donations – water, canned goods, clothing, blankets, diapers, face masks… what else do you have to give?

This is a developing story.

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2025-01-10 21:24