L.A. restaurants are opening their doors to provide shelter and food to fire evacuees, first responders and those in need, including the Serving Spoon in Inglewood.
(Damon Casarez/For The Times)
Updated: 47 L.A. County restaurants offering food and relief to fire evacuees and first responders
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L.A. County is consumed in smoke as multiple wildfires across the Palisades, Pasadena, Altadena and Sylmar remain mostly uncontained, with thousands of acres burned and high-speed winds predicted to exacerbate conditions throughout the day.
As with past natural disasters, L.A.’s chef and restaurant communities are stepping up to provide assistance to those affected by the fires. Humanitarian chef José Andrés has already deployed a relief team from his World Central Kitchen organization to provide sandwiches and water to those in need. Yeastie Boy Bagels and its fleet of food trucks are giving away free bagels at evacuation centers, and other local spots are following suit.
Here is our growing list of L.A. food spots staying open to support those displaced or affected by ongoing fires, including one Santa Monica restaurant that’s offering 10% lunch and dinner discounts throughout the week and a Virgil Village walk-up window that’s providing free food to evacuees and first responders.
This list will be updated as new information is provided.
This article is provided free of charge to keep our community safe and supported in the aftermath of the devastating fires in Southern California.
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Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery
Pasadena American Cheese Shop $$
(Maggie Shannon/For The Times)
While the Pasadena restaurant and cheesery from chef Thomas and Vanessa Tilaka Kalb is closed for regular business, they have opened their doors to provide shelter, water, boxed lunches and a place to charge electronics. Agnes is also preparing meals to deliver to those displaced at the Pasadena Convention Center.
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Alder & Sage
Long Beach Coffee Breakfast/Brunch $$
(Sterling Reed)
Long Beach has become a safe haven for fire evacuees and Alder & Sage owner Kerstin Kansteiner is supporting relief efforts at her breakfast and brunch cafe on Retro Row by offering all customers 20% off the seasonal menu, outlets to charge electronics, wifi, free parking and a pet-friendly patio.
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Bé Ù
East Hollywood Vietnamese $
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
Uyên Lê’s Virgil Village walk-up window is providing free meals to fire evacuees and first responders, including deliveries to local fire stations. The value-minded menu focuses on Vietnam’s Buddhist cuisine, with plenty of vegan options, including Vietnamese street corn, banh mi and noodle, egg and rice plates. The restaurant will close early at 3:30 p.m. in the interest of health and safety for staff.
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Café Tropical
Silver Lake Cuban Bakery $
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
Cuban-leaning stalwart Cafe Tropical in Silver Lake is offering free meals for those impacted by the fires. “If somebody comes by and is in need, we’re happy to accommodate,” chef and co-owner Ed Cornell told The Times. Staff are also delivering food to firefighters and first responders, and serving as a food donation center this weekend: If other chefs or restaurants have food such as wrapped sandwiches and burritos to donate on Saturday morning, the team will be leaving Cafe Tropical at 7 a.m. Saturday for delivery.
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Coucou
West Hollywood French $$
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
Both locations of this French-inspired bistro will be open for dinner service and offering a choice of the burger Americaine or veggie French dip to first responders and anyone displaced by the fires.
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Danny Boy's
Westwood Pizza $$
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
Chef-owner Daniel Holzman is offering free slices of his signature New York-style pizza to first responders and those displaced by local fires. Whole pies will be given out on a case-by-case basis. Visit either Danny Boy’s location (also in Downtown L.A.) to pick up a slice.
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Detroit Pizza Depot
Hollywood Hills Pizza $$
Both locations of Detroit Pizza Depot — in Hollywood and downtown — are offering free pizza for first responders and those displaced by the fires. The Hollywood restaurant also features free wifi and charging stations for those who need it.
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Din Tai Fung
Glendale Chinese $$
(Yasara Gunawardena / For The Times)
World-famous soup dumpling specialist Din Tai Fung is offering complimentary takeout meals to first responders (with professional ID) at the Glendale, Century City, Del Amo and Santa Anita locations. Local outposts of the global chain are also donating meals to fire houses and shelters; in addition, they are coordinating a household-goods drive.
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Dtown Pizzeria
West Hollywood Pizza $$
(Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times)
On Thursday, the West Hollywood destination for Detroit-style pizza will give away free slices of pizza to first responders and evacuees whose homes were destroyed in ongoing fires. The pizzeria will also offer discounted pizza to locals under evacuation orders.
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Dudley Market
Venice Seafood $$
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
One of Venice’s favorite seafood restaurants is offering a respite for those in need. Dudley Market will be open for dinner service with three air filters running and free food for first responders and those displaced by the fires. The restaurant will also donate 20% of end-of-day sales to Community Brigade, a program in partnership with LA County Fire Department that provides support to communities impacted by wildfires and other natural disasters.
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Fat + Flour
Culver City Bakery $$
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
The Culver City location of Nicole and Blaine Rucker’s bakeshop is open with outlets available for charging devices and customers are encouraged to pay what they can for food and drink, with no one turned away for lack of funds.
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Fountain Grains & Greens
East Hollywood Farm-to-table $$
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
The newly opened walk-up window from chef-founder Aric Attebery is open for takeout and giving out complimentary chicken and rice soup with a side of Bub and Grandma’s bread to first responders and local fire evacuees today and tomorrow, while supplies last.
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Gasolina Cafe
Woodland Hills Spanish $$
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
While Sandra Cordero has closed her Santa Monica tapas restaurant due to ongoing fires, the kitchen at Gasolina Cafe in Woodland Hills will remain open until 5 p.m. today, offering its regular Spanish-influenced menu with coffee and tea, conservas, sandwiches and toasts, salads and a few desserts. Customers who have lost power at their homes are welcome to charge devices at the cafe.
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Guisados
West Hollywood Mexican $$
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
All Guisados locations are open for dine-in, takeout and delivery with limited staff. The menu includes one of our favorite tacos in L.A., breakfast burritos and tamales, plus sodas and aguas frescas on the beverage side. The taqueria chain is also donating food to community shelters throughout the week.
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Heavy Handed
Santa Monica American $
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
The Santa Monica and Studio City locations of this maximalist smashburger spot are open regular hours for walk-in and delivery, with a full menu that includes single-, double- or triple-stacked burgers, beef-tallow-fried French fries, soft serve and dipped cones. Fire fighters, police officers and other first responders eat for free and can reach out to the restaurant via Instagram DM to request a food drop off.
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Howlin' Ray's
Pasadena Hot chicken $$
(Silvia Razgova/For The Times)
In Pasadena, hot chicken specialist Howlin’ Ray’s is open for dine-in service, takeout and delivery with an extended radius. First responders can order at the pickup counter for faster service or text or DM the restaurant for group order deliveries.
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Huckleberry Café
Santa Monica American Bakery $
(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
The Rustic Canyon Family’s all-day bakery and cafe is offering free coffee to first responders and will remain open for safe shelter with the full food and drink menu available, including pastries, breakfast items, sandwiches, soups, salads and grab-and-go items.
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Jame Enoteca
El Segundo Italian
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The El Segundo restaurant from “Top Chef” contestant Jackson Kalb is offering free fresh-pasta meals for anyone displaced by the fires, as well as for first responders. Jame Enoteca is also offering its free wifi to guests in need, and plans on delivering food to evacuation centers around the city.
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Jitlada
East Hollywood Thai $$
(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
The Hall of Fame restaurant from Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong is offering items from its spicy Southern Thai menu to firefighters and first responders free of charge.
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La Sorted’s Pizza
Silver Lake Pizza $$
(Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times)
LaSorted’s Silver Lake pizza window is open and giving out whole pies to first responders and anyone who has been displaced by local fires.
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Le Great Outdoor
Santa Monica American $$
(Joel Barhamand / For The Times)
The open-air restaurant in the Bergamot Station complex is providing support to evacuees and those affected by local fires by offering a 10% discount on lunch and dinner throughout the week. The seasonal menu is centered around locally sourced ingredients cooked over open fire, such as chicken and shrimp skewers, peppers stuffed with albacore tuna and sweet yams drizzled in jalapeño yogurt with cilantro. Note that all seating is outdoors, but takeout is available.
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The Lobster
Santa Monica Seafood $$$
(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
At the seafood institution helmed by executive chef Govind Armstrong on the Santa Monica Pier, first responders, relief workers and fire evacuees can enjoy 50% off their bill with proof of ID.
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Norms
Los Angeles County American $
(Norm’s)
Firefighters and police officers responding to local fires are welcome to a free entree at participating Norms locations, with valid ID, uniform or proof of service required, from Thursday, Jan. 9 through Sunday, Jan. 12. The one-time offer applies to takeout and dine-in orders and taxes and gratuity are not included. In addition, Norm’s will donate $1 of every Bigger Better Breakfast order to LAFD Foundation’s emergency funding.
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O&R Bagels
Long Beach Farm-to-table $$$
(Jennifer Chong / For The Times)
The daytime concept at newly renovated Sonder City Center motel in downtown Long Beach is offering a free bagel and coffee to firefighters as well as a 20% menu discount to those displaced by fires.
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Otus Thai Kitchen
West Hollywood Thai Coffee $$
(Kat Thompson)
This Thai breakfast specialist in West Hollywood is open during regular business hours for dine-in and offering complimentary meals to fire fighters in uniform.
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Oy Bar
Studio City Jewish American $$
(Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times)
While owner Jeff Strauss has closed Oy Bar and Jeff’s Table for regular business, the chef is offering free soup to those in need, no questions asked. Customers can pick up a free burger, fish sandwich, fries or bowl of soup — chicken or vegan — at Oy Bar from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, or while supplies last. Strauss is also encouraging donations to World Central Kitchen.
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Rock & Brews
El Segundo Brewery $$
(Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
Classic-rock-themed Rock & Brews’ El Segundo and Redondo Beach locations are offering free pizza — available one per person — to first responders. This includes firefighters, EMTs and police officers with proof of service, valid ID or uniform.
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The Ruby Fruit
Silver Lake Wine Bars $$
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
The LGBTQ-centered wine bar in Silver Lake is open for full dine-in service and offering outlets to charge devices, free wifi and sharing resources for people who are displaced. For those who wish to donate, blankets, non perishable foods and KN95 masks are requested.
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Saucy Chick Goat Mafia
East Pasadena Indian Mexican $
(Oscar Mendoza / For The Times)
In Pasadena, Saucy Chick Rotisserie and Goat Mafia, two former Smorgasburg vendors who collaborated to launch a Pasadena bricks-and-mortar in 2023, are open for business and extending a 20% discount to first responders and those impacted by the fires through Sunday. The full menu is available, including tacos, burritos, bowls, rotisserie chicken and charred haldi cauliflower that blend Mexican and Indian ingredients and flavors.
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The Serving Spoon
Inglewood Southern $
(Damon Casarez/For The Times)
One of Inglewood’s best restaurants is showing its appreciation for first responders by offering them free meals until further notice. The soul-inspired breakfast and lunch menu features generous plates of fried chicken, salmon croquettes and pork chops, with daily specials including oxtails on Wednesday and shrimp and grits on the weekend.
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Sonoritas Prime Tacos
Sawtelle Mexican $
Today and Thursday, Sonoritas is giving away one free taco per customer to first responders and those displaced by the ongoing fires. More tacos may be given out on a case-by-case basis to those in need. This offer is available at both West L.A. and downtown outposts.
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Sora Craft Kitchen
Downtown L.A. Mediterranean $$
In downtown, Sora Craft Kitchen chef-owner Okay Inak is preparing grilled chicken bowls for first responders and fire evacuees. The Mediterranean-inspired bowls can be reserved by sending a DM via Instagram or by calling the restaurant.
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South L.A. Cafe
Exposition Park Coffee $
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Community-oriented South L.A. Cafe, from husband-and-wife owners Joe and Celia Ward-Wallace, is keeping three of its five (including Jefferson and Kaiser) locations open to provide shelter to evacuees and anyone in need. The full coffee menu is available, as well as food such as pastries, toasts and empanadas.
The coffee shop is also providing free groceries, water and masks to anyone impacted by the fires or in need, at the Western location from 12 to 4 p.m. on Thursday.
The coffee shop is also providing free groceries, water and masks to anyone impacted by the fires or in need, at the Western location from 12 to 4 p.m. on Thursday.
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Sunday Gravy
Inglewood Italian
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
Brother-and-sister duo Sol and Ghazi Bashirian are providing ongoing free meals of spaghetti marinara or spaghetti Bolognese, with Caesar salad and garlic bread to first responders and those impacted by fires. The Bashirian siblings shared that the cost to provide these meals is $20 each, and are collecting donations via Venmo, for those who want to support the effort. Reach out to the restaurant directly via Instagram to arrange a meal.
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Tam O'Shanter
Atwater Village Bar
(Adam Tschorn / Los Angeles Times)
Atwater Village’s century-old, Scottish-inspired den Tam O’Shanter is offering free sandwiches for first responders and evacuees. Its westward sibling restaurant, Beverly Hills’ icon Lawry’s the Prime Rib, is serving free prime rib sandwiches in the bar area for all affected.
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Taquería Frontera
Cypress Park Mexican $
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
The Tijuana-style taqueria that opened in Cypress Park last fall is offering free meals to first responders. The menu includes tacos, burritos, vampiros, mulitas, quesadillas and tortas that can be stuffed with carne asada, birria, pastor, chorizo, lengua or veggies, plus daily aguas frescas to wash it all down.
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Woon
Historic Filipinotown Chinese $$
(Mariah Tauger/Los Angeles Times)
While modern Chinese restaurant Woon temporarily closed its new Pasadena location due to ash and water contamination, the original Historic Filipinotown restaurant remains open and is serving free meals to first responders and those impacted by the fires. Additionally, Woon is accepting bottled water and other essentials to be transported to donation centers.
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Zira Uzbek Kitchen
Fairfax Uzbek $$
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
One of L.A.’s only restaurants dedicated to Uzbek cuisine is open during regular business hours with the full menu available. Zira Uzbek is also offering free food to first responders and firefighters and will deliver if needed. First responders can place orders via Instagram DM or by calling the restaurant directly at (213) 332-4086.
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