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

Several restaurants in the Los Angeles area have rallied together to provide relief for surrounding communities as a slew of wildfires continue to ravage the city.

The local food scene has been hit hard by the fires that have broken out around the L.A. County. Multiple Malibu institutions were destroyed in the Palisades Fire, including Reel Inn, Cholada Thai and Moonshadows. That fire, one of six blazing wildfires that was at 8 percent containment as of Friday, initially broke out in the Pacific Palisades on Tuesday before spreading to parts of Malibu and Santa Monica.

Companies have joined in to help restaurants themselves. InKind, which provides upfront capital purchasing food and beverage credit to restaurants, is donating proceeds from e-cards purchased on its site directly to restaurants in its network.

Eateries around the city have been doing their part to help those suddenly finding themselves displaced, whether that be through meals to first responders, offering their restaurant as a shelter or donating profits to relief efforts. Below, find some of the spots that have joined in to help.

Pizzana

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

The award-winning pizza shop, which has several locations throughout the city, announced it was donating 100 percent of the profits from all L.A. restaurants this weekend to the California Fire Foundation. In an email announcing the donations, the restaurant said: “Los Angeles is our home. It is where we work, where we gather and where our neighbors live. Watching these fires devastate our community has left us heartbroken.”

Yeastie Boys Bagels

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

The iconic L.A. traveling bagel restaurant had several of its trucks stationed and feeding front-line works. The food truck partnered with World Central Kitchen on Thursday to feed those at the Pasadena Convention Center. Yeastie Boys’ Instagram account, presumably from its owner Evan Fox, posted that he also evacuated Wednesday night. “I grabbed my Bar Mitzvah photo album and my passport. Literally nothing else matters. Straight up,” the post said. “Love & gratitude to everyone lending a helping hand and heart. Los Angeles Forever. Best city in the entire world.”

Cafe Tropical

Silver Lake

The Cuban cafe posted to Instagram that it was staying open Wednesday night to offer “a place for people to come get a coffee or just need somewhere to hang.” The cafe also posted videos of its partnership with nonprofit Feed the Streets to make 600 breakfast burritos for firefighters. Feed the Streets said on its Instagram account that its will continue to operate out of Cafe Tropical into next week.

Din Tai Fung

Century City, Glendale, Del Amo, Santa Anita

The beloved Taiwanese chain announced Thursday that all L.A. restaurants would remain open to serve up a “comforting meal.” Friday through Sunday, the Century City, Glendale, Del Amo and Santa Anita locations are offering complimentary takeout meals to firefighters and first responders. “We will continue to take care of our team members, their families, and the first responders,” an Instagram post from the chain said.

DTown Pizzeria

West Hollywood

The Detroit-style pizzeria is offering free pizza slices to firefighters and first responders, according to a post on its social media. It is also offering discounts to evacuees. In addition, it will be donating to L.A. Fire Department.

Irv’s Burgers

West Hollywood

The beloved WeHo burger stand — which returned to the L.A. food scene in 2022 thanks to Off the Menu founder Lawrence Longo and industry backers including WME talent agent and partner Brad Slater and a slew of celebrities — helped out first responders Thursday. The fast food spot reportedly sent burgers and fries to the L.A. Fire Department.

Fat and Flour Bakery

Culver City

The bakery’s DTLA location remained closed on Thursday, however, its Culver City spot was open, offering free food and coffee. The spot said it had bread, pies, cookies and, most importantly for those who might be without electricity, power for anyone who might need somewhere to be or a place to charge devices. The bakery emphasized in an Instagram post that it was donation-only for the day.

Guisados

Boyle Heights, DTLA, Echo Park, West Hollywood, Burbank, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Hermosa Beach, Long Beach, Venice

An Angeleno favorite taco chain, Guisados said it would continue to open with minimal staff to accommodate impacted employees. The restaurants said they’d be donating to local shelters throughout the week.

Jitlada

East Hollywood

The Michelin Guide-feature Thai food spot announced it would offer free food to first responders and firefighters. In an Instagram post, the restaurant said: “To give back, Jitlada is offering free meals to the firefighters and first responders tirelessly working to keep us safe. Your courage inspires us, and this is our way of saying thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Spago

Beverly Hills

Wolfgang Puck’s flagship Beverly Hills restaurant opened Thursday, chipping in to help feed first responders. The restaurant reposted an Instagram story that it was offering free meals to first responders.

The Ruby Fruit

Silver Lake

Sapphic wine bar The Ruby Fruit not only offered those in need of water and Wi-Fi a place to go, it also put out a call to action for donation items including blankets, nonperishable pantry food items and high-quality KN95 masks. In an Instagram post update, the bar wrote: “We’re here, we’re queer, we’ve got water and WiFi and we’re accepting donations: water, canned food/pantry items, clothing, blankets, diapers, food masks… what else ya got??”

Milo & Olive and Huckleberry Cafe

Santa Monica

The Wilshire Boulevard eateries, both hailing from the Rustic Canyon Family of restaurants, are each offering free food to first responders. Pizzeria and bakery Milo & Olive is offering free pizza to first responders, while Huckleberry is offering free burritos. In a joint post on Instagram, the restaurant family urged any displaced community members facing food insecurity to message them for support. They’ve also partnered with L.A. nonprofit It’s Bigger Than Us to deliver meals and resources to those affected by the fires.

Hamburger Habit

West L.A.

This L.A. burger joint is offering free meals to firefighters who have been working throughout the week. In an Instagram post, they wrote: “To our incredible firefighters: We appreciate you and we want to thank you for everything you’re doing to save our city. If you’re in the area, please stop by for a meal on us!”

Kreation Juice

Santa Monica Location

The smoothie and juice chain, an L.A. staple with over 20 locations across the city, is offering relief at its 1023 Montana Ave. location, according to an Instagram post from the company. The cafe is offering firefighters, first responders and anyone who lost their house in the wildfires a free meal at that specific Santa Monica location.

Anajak Thai Cuisine

Sherman Oaks

The Los Angeles-based Thai restaurant is currently donating meals to shelters and refueling stations. It is also open for business for displaced people and first responders. In a social media post, the restaurant said: “Honestly, just trying to cook what we can for the people that need it. Staying open to cook for the community and first responders.”

Dog Haus

Pasadena

Dog Haus’ original Pasadena location has announced it is offering free Haus Dogs to anyone who has been displaced by the fires. In a statement, the restaurant said, “Our hearts go out to those who have been displaced by the Eaton Canyon wildfire. During this challenging time, Dog Haus Pasadena, our original location, is here to help.” The offer will be while supplies last and requires no purchase necessary to receive the free Haus Dog. The restaurant is also offering free meals for firefighters all throughout Los Angeles. The addresses of all participating locations can be found here here.

Panda Express

Los Angeles

The restaurant chain Panda Express is offering free meals to firefighters and emergency responders throughout the impacted zones in L.A. until Sunday. An ID must be shown to redeem the free offer. In a statement, the company said, “Panda is grateful to the brave men and women keeping our communities safe.”

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Los Angeles & Ventura counties

The coffee chain has announced it is offering free brewed coffee or tea (hot or iced) to first responders at its locations throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The offer is valid from Jan. 10-17. An ID will need to be shown in person to redeem the offer. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf shared in a statement: “It’s our way of saying thank you for all you do to protect and serve our community.”

Met Her At A Bar, Met Him At A Bar and Her Thai

Mid-Wilshire

The trio of restaurants along La Brea, owned by a husband and wife duo, are staying open for normal business hours, offering space for families to collect and gather and a free meal for all first responders. The restaurants are also dropping off meals to fire stations around the city.

Augie’s On Main

Santa Monica

The popular Santa Monica-based restaurant is open for donations, offering discounts to those that donate. “Together, we can make a meaningful impact during this difficult time. Thank you for standing with us and for your generosity,” the restaurant said in an email to customers.  

The Benjamin Hollywood

Hollywood

The Melrose Ave restaurant will be donating 100 percent of its profits to wildfire relief efforts from Jan. 10-11.  

L’antica Pizzeria da Michele

Long Beach, Hollywood, Santa Barbara

The popular pizzeria will be donating 100 percent of its profits from all locations (including New York City) to Los Angeles Fire Department, California Fire Foundation and Southern California Wildfire Relief Fund. The restaurant is also collecting toys at its SoCal locations to offer comfort to displaced families.

The Surfrider

Malibu

The restaurant’s team is bringing an In-N-Out food truck to Will Rogers Park on Monday (Jan. 13), offering food, cookies and beverages. The event is meant to bring the community together and express gratitude for first responders. The restaurant urged community members to share the event’s details with crews in the area.

This is a developing story.