{"id":483341,"date":"2025-12-31T22:21:27","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T22:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/483341\/"},"modified":"2025-12-31T22:21:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T22:21:27","slug":"here-are-more-than-100-l-a-restaurant-closures-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/483341\/","title":{"rendered":"Here are more than 100 L.A. restaurant closures in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last year was difficult for Los Angeles chefs and restaurateurs. Many entered 2025 hoping for reprieve from previous setbacks and pitfalls<\/a>: years of inflation, diminished business due to local entertainment-industry strikes and fewer productions, COVID-era back rent coming due, increases in the cost of labor and rent. But 2025 proved to be even more disastrous, compounding existing issues<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It started with wildfires across the region, which destroyed thousands of Southern California homes, restaurants, bars and other businesses. Tariffs caused the price of some ingredients to soar, while rent and labor continued to increase. Immigration raids<\/a> and lower tourism only exacerbated diminished sales. It was not an easy year for L.A. restaurants, and accordingly, many closed \u2014 with some, like Sprinkles Cupcakes, announcing closures on the last day of the year, right up to the publishing of this list.<\/p>\n

The closures were indiscriminate: Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants like Gucci Osteria and Shibumi shuttered alongside more casual mom-and-pop operations, including some of L.A.\u2019s most celebrated. Guerrilla Tacos, Here\u2019s Looking at You, Cassia, Post & Beam and many others closed their doors in 2025.<\/p>\n

Some single closures marked the end of multiple restaurants at once, such as Culver City\u2019s food hall Citizen Public Market, which until November housed food stalls and pop-ups from some of the best chefs in the city. Some restaurants closed due to a cocktail of factors too difficult to stomach, while a few were optimistic: Mitsuru, in Little Tokyo, closed so that its community-beloved owners can finally retire after decades in the industry.<\/p>\n

Multiple restaurants are rumored to have closed in the last days of 2025, or are rumored to be closing soon, but The Times was unable to confirm these by the publication of this list. Other restaurants such as Cole\u2019s, Angel City Brewery, Blue Plate Oysterette and the 140-year-old Saugus Cafe announced closures slated for early 2026.<\/p>\n

Here are more than 100 restaurants and bars that closed in 2025, with mention of how else to find and support other locations and new projects, if applicable.<\/p>\n

A.O.C. Brentwood<\/b>
Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne spent 16 years in their Brentwood restaurant space, first operating it as Tavern, then, in 2021, flipping it to a new outpost of their celebrated wine bar A.O.C. It received positive reviews, including one from L.A. Times Food critic Bill Addison<\/a>, but this summer the business partners said they would close the restaurant due to losses from the January fires, a decrease in entertainment-industry production and more. \u201cAt this point, with this confluence of circumstances, continuing felt untenable,\u201d Goin and Styne said via email<\/a>. Their other A.O.C. location, at the edge of Beverly Grove and West Hollywood, remains open.<\/p>\n

\"Caroline <\/p>\n

Caroline Styne, left, and Suzanne Goin photographed in A.O.C. Brentwood in 2021.<\/p>\n

(Myung J. Chun \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Akasha<\/b>
A Culver City stalwart of nearly two decades closed in October. The Indian-influenced restaurant \u201chelped kick off the culinary revival in Culver City\u201d<\/a> and ran for 18 years there. Owners Akasha Richmond and Alan Schulman cited a range of considerations in their decision, including entertainment-industry strikes, the pandemic and rising labor and food costs. \u201cThe challenges of recent years,\u201d they wrote on Instagram, \u201chave become too great to overcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Richmond and Schulman continue Akasha with catering menus and pop-ups.<\/p>\n

Amara Kitchen (Altadena)<\/b>
Paola Guasp\u2019s health-minded cafe prided itself on using fresh fruits, whole grains and local ingredients for its buckwheat pancakes, colorful salads, tartines and more \u2014 and Altadena loved it. But Guasp\u2019s Amara Kitchen was destroyed by January\u2019s Eaton fire, one of many community culinary losses this year. While the Altadena location is still gone, Amara Kitchen can be visited at its Highland Park location.<\/p>\n

Amour<\/b>
This chic brasserie closed in August just shy of two years in service. West Hollywood\u2019s Amour served French classics such as asparagus tarts, steak au poivre and frog legs and truffled gnocchi in a dining room with patterned wallpapers, checkered flooring and tassels that hung from light fixtures. Its owners cited \u201cfinancial burdens\u201d that included the L.A. wildfires.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not the end \u2014 it\u2019s a pause,\u201d the restaurant posted to its since-deleted Instagram account. \u201cWe will take time to rebuild, reimagine and return.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arroz and Fun<\/b>
After nearly three years in Lincoln Heights, coffee shop and cafe Arroz and Fun closed on Halloween \u2014 but \u201cthis isn\u2019t goodbye,\u201d its team posted to Instagram. Cipota Coffee roaster Gardenia Rosales and the family behind Arroz and Fun \u2014 including Humberto Leon and his mom, Wendy Leon, who also operate Chifa in Eagle Rock \u2014 plan to move the cafe to Chifa in early 2026. Expect coffee, tea and daytime bites, plus new menu items, according to staff.<\/p>\n

Bahr<\/b>
This ambitious cafe serving house-made falafel, fluffy pita, borek, soujuk breakfast sandwiches and Armenian coffee opened and closed this year at the base of the Reef in Historic South-Central. Chef-founders Travis Matoesian and Alan Rudoy \u2014 who met while cooking at Funke \u2014 parted ways, with Rudoy leaving to cook beyond L.A. Matoesian is continuing Bahr as a pop-up and catering operation, along with their other former joint venture, a pizza pop-up called El Gato Negro. Follow on Instagram<\/a> for updates.<\/p>\n

Boo\u2019s Philly Cheesesteaks (East Hollywood)<\/b>
The family-run local chain known for its Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks oozing with Cheez Whiz shuttered its original location, but Boo\u2019s lives on. The Ahn family launched their cheesesteak operation from a small A-frame at the edge of Silver Lake and East Hollywood 14 years ago. In October, they posted, \u201cWhat an amazing journey!! But some journeys ultimately have to come an end in order to move forward.\u201d Their locations in Echo Park and Koreatown remain open.<\/p>\n

Bar Bohemien<\/b>
When Culver City food hall Citizen Public Market announced its closure (more on that below), rooftop cocktail spot Bar Bohemien planned to remain open. \u201cBar Bohemein will not be impacted!\u201d the bar\u2019s Instagram account posted in September. But the popular bulb-lit Bar Bohemien closed suddenly on Nov. 28 anyway. \u201cWe are now permanently closed,\u201d the last update read. \u201cThank you for all the good times in Culver City!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bar <\/p>\n

Bar Chelou as seen from the bar area.<\/p>\n

(Dino Kuznik \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n

Bar Chelou<\/b>
When faced with renewing its Pasadena lease just after the January fires, the team behind Bar Chelou bistro decided to close. The French-leaning restaurant from Trois Mec alum Douglas Rankin garnered local and national acclaim since its 2023 debut. In his 2023 review<\/a>, L.A. Times Food critic Bill Addison said the restaurant was delivering \u201ca jolt of eccentricity\u201d to the neighborhood and serving a \u201cnouvelle cuisine fever dream.\u201d But after the fires, Rankin said sales fell 20% to 30%. \u201cAll the signs were pointing towards: We have no clear path forward,\u201d Rankin said at the time<\/a>. \u201cWhen an entire neighborhood burns down that accounts for a certain percentage of your business, it\u2019s like, what do you do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Bar Monette<\/b>
Sean MacDonald\u2019s Neapolitan pizzeria and tapas bar ran for two years in Santa Monica before announcing its closure in early January. The debut L.A. restaurant from the Canadian chef was slated to close Jan. 31, but due to the Palisades and Eaton fires, shuttered on Jan. 9 and did not reopen. Its adjacent restaurant, Burgette (see below), also closed that day. But MacDonald\u2019s work can still be found in L.A. As a member of Dominique Crenn\u2019s corporate-chef team, he helped open the new Monsieur Dior in Beverly Hills.<\/p>\n

Birdie G\u2019s<\/b>
Genre-bending Birdie G\u2019s debuted in 2019 to wide acclaim. Jeremy Fox, the former Rustic Canyon chef, introduced creative dishes that wed Midwestern sensibilities, Jewish classics and L.A. ingredients in a way that felt fresh and exciting. The Santa Monica restaurant from the Rustic Canyon Family hospitality group weathered the pandemic, challenging parking, and downturns in business from loss in entertainment-industry production, but when the fires tore through the city, Fox said it felt almost impossible to navigate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Blu Jam Cafe (Tarzana)<\/b>
The popular, brunch-focused local chain Blu Jam closed its Tarzana location in January after eight years in operation, citing \u201can impasse in our lease renewal negotiations,\u201d according to the closing statement. In August a fire temporarily closed the Woodland Hills location as well, though the Sherman Oaks, Atwater, downtown and Fairfax restaurants remain open.<\/p>\n

Brennan\u2019s<\/b>
After decades of turtle races and pints of beer, Marina del Rey mainstay Brennan\u2019s closed its doors this month. The longtime dive bar saw a revival in 2017, when it was acquired by hospitality group Artisanal Brewers Collective (ABC), which owns the Stalking Horse, Library Bar and others. The bar offered a litany of live programming, including trivia, \u201cbar Jeopardy\u201d and themed events, but the largest draw was the turtle race, which drew generations of fans as well as years of animal-rights protests. \u201cThank you for supporting us, showing up, and making this place feel alive,\u201d the closing statement read.<\/p>\n

Burgette<\/b>
Chef-owner Sean MacDonald envisioned Burgette as a Parisian-inspired burger restaurant: Copper pots hung on the walls, and the menu included imported cheese and charcuterie and sides such as haricots verts and frisee salads. The upscale, French-tinged burger restaurant sat beside his pizzeria, Bar Monette, and closed on the same day. Burgette was open for less than one year.<\/p>\n

Cabra<\/b>
The Peruvian-leaning rooftop restaurant from \u201cTop Chef\u201d winner Stephanie Izard closed over summer after more than three years in operation at the Hoxton hotel downtown. Izard\u2019s Girl & the Goat \u2014 an outpost of her celebrated Chicago restaurant \u2014 is still in operation in the Arts District. \u201cWe\u2019re incredibly proud of what we built together at the Hoxton, Downtown L.A.,\u201d Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz, co-founders of Boka, wrote in an email statement<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s been a privilege to be part of this community, and we\u2019re excited to keep doing what we love at Girl & the Goat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Canto VI<\/b>
This celebrated wine bar from a M\u00e9lisse and Augustine Wine Bar alum debuted in 2024 in Chatsworth with thoughtfully curated bottles and Italian cuisine. But in September, owner Brian Kalliel and his team announced Canto VI\u2019s sudden closure and the cancelation of all future reservations. \u201cThis decision,\u201d they wrote on Instagram, \u201cwas not made lightly,\u201d while adding, \u201cExciting news to come!\u201d on the page. Canto VI remains closed.<\/p>\n

Carla\u2019s Fresh Market<\/b>
A community-focused corner store and cafe in Highland Park closed in September after nearly two years in business. Owner Ariell Ilunga stocked Carla\u2019s Fresh Market with independent brands, local produce and fresh sandwiches, salads and more, and regularly hosted fundraisers, wine tastings, pop-ups and other events. \u201cFrom our local economy being in a general slump to rising costs and just one unprecedented event after the other, and increased expenses due to this location, it just no longer makes sense to operate here,\u201d Ilunga said in a video posted to Instagram.<\/p>\n

Cassia<\/b>
Husband-and-wife team Bryant Ng and Kim Luu-Ng electrified Santa Monica\u2019s dining scene when they debuted Cassia a decade ago, a restaurant blending Singaporean, Chinese, Vietnamese and French sensibilities. In February the couple \u2014 along with their partners in the Rustic Canyon Family restaurant group \u2014 closed the restaurant, citing entertainment-industry fallout, the January fires and other economic concerns. Ng and Luu-Ng recently opened casual Chinese restaurant Jade Rabbit, also in Santa Monica.<\/p>\n

Chin Chin (West Hollywood)<\/b>
The Sunset Strip restaurant that popularized Chinese chicken salad closed this summer<\/a> after more than 40 years in operation. Chin Chin became a local chain, but it all began in West Hollywood; this location, with its proximity to the Hollywood Hills, was a frequent spot for celebrity sightings \u2014 especially in the \u201980s and \u201990s. Unable to renew the lease, the restaurant\u2019s owners vacated Sunset Plaza. Neighboring French restaurant Le Petit Four (see below) also closed this year.<\/p>\n

Cholada Thai<\/b>
The future of one of the most beloved restaurants along PCH hangs in the balance. Cholada Thai served a lengthy list of curries, seafood specials and pan-fried noodles from a little blue wooden structure at the edge of Malibu and Topanga. In January the restaurant was destroyed by the Palisades fire; its owners raised more than $146,000 to rebuild it, but due to its location on state-owned land<\/a>, its future remains uncertain \u2014 alongside the futures of neighbors such as the Reel Inn and Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio (see below). Husband-and-wife team Nikorn Sriwichailumpan and Sawai Theprian bought the restaurant in 2000 after working in the kitchen, and turned it into a family operation with their children. The family\u2019s second location, in Long Beach, remains open.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

Cholada Thai served fresh seafood, curries and stir fries from a beachy blue wooden shack along PCH. Its flavors can still be found in Long Beach.<\/p>\n

(Silvia Razgova \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n

Citizen Public Market<\/b>
Sporting some of the city\u2019s most recognizable names in food, this Culver City food hall drew an array of guests and chefs over its five-year run. Citizen Public Market, located in the historic Citizen Publishing Company Building, launched with concepts such as a pizzette stall from Nancy Silverton and went on to add casual restaurants such as Uoichiba Handroll Bar and Go Go Bird from Hinoki and the Bird chef Brandon Kida. It gave Ventura-based Lonely Oyster an L.A. outpost and hosted pop-ups such as Jikoni by Kiano Moju. In September the food hall announced its November closure. Co-owners Rick Moses and Jeff Appel also partnered in Hollywood\u2019s Grandmaster Recorders, which also closed this year (see below). <\/p>\n

Cobras & Matadors<\/b>
After a number of starts and stops over the course of 20 years, restaurateur and food-scene fixture Steven Arroyo revived his lauded Cobras & Matadors along Melrose Avenue in 2024<\/a>, where he served his signature Spanish-L.A. cuisine until his death later that summer<\/a>. The entrepreneur died at age 55 due to medical complications from cancer treatment. His children and partners hoped to continue the restaurant, which drew diners with dishes like garlicky shrimp, patatas fritas, lomo embuchado and events such as live jazz, but Cobras & Matadors is now closed. Arroyo\u2019s culinary legacy continues at his other ventures, including the nearby Escuela Taqueria and Burger She Wrote.<\/p>\n

Cosa Buona<\/b>
In 2024 Zach Pollack shuttered his celebrated Silver Lake restaurant, Alimento, and in March he closed his red-sauce-leaning Echo Park spot, Cosa Buona. The eight-year-old neighborhood restaurant excelled in pizza, hot wings, mountains of chopped salads and sides like smoked mozzarella sticks. \u201cI will forever cherish the many memories we\u2019ve made at Cosa and hope you will, too,\u201d Pollack wrote at the time, adding, \u201cBut as the sun sets in the East, it rises in the West.\u201d He went on to open Italian Californian restaurant Cosetta in Santa Monica, which landed on the L.A. Times 101 List<\/a> of best restaurants. Some Cosa Buona dishes \u2014 including the smoked mozzarella sticks \u2014 can now be found here.<\/p>\n

\"Cosa <\/p>\n

Cosa Buona\u2019s chicken wings with house-made Gorgonzola dipping sauce.<\/p>\n

(Stephanie Breijo \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

The Den<\/b>
In March, with just a few days\u2019 notice, popular Sunset Strip spot the Den announced its closure, calling it \u201cthe end of an era.\u201d The American restaurant and bar became a neighborhood institution over the course of its 16-year run with its hearty burgers, skillets of gravy fries, sports events and themed parties.<\/p>\n

Downtown Dough<\/b>
The new restaurant group from Issa Rae and her business partners, Ajay Relan and Yonnie Hagos, is making waves in L.A. with Somerville, Lost DTLA and Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen. But one of its newer ventures \u2014 a Neapolitan-leaning pizzeria \u2014 is now closed. Downtown Dough debuted in May<\/a>, flipping the downtown Hilltop from cafe by day into a full Italian restaurant in the evenings. On Dec. 15, the restaurant closed with a \u201ctemporary pause,\u201d but is still available for private events.<\/p>\n

El Mar Azul<\/b>
This white \u2014 and in later years, bright blue \u2014 food truck parked in Highland Park for 41 years, its painted octopus hinting at the fresh-seafood tostadas, tacos and cocktails. In February, El Mar Azul announced its closure via Facebook, saying, \u201cWe\u2019re grateful to our loyal customers who chose us for family gatherings, lunches, dinners and birthdays. To those who braved long lines and rain for our famous tostadas and cocktails, thank you.\u201d But the legacy won\u2019t stop there. Members of the founding family are launching a new business: Rosie\u2019s Canteen, built out of a refurbished Airstream trailer. Follow along on Instagram<\/a> for updates.<\/p>\n

Elf Cafe<\/b>
An Echo Park stalwart of nearly 19 years closed in June, soliciting hundreds of comments on Instagram in response to the news. Elf Cafe established itself as a chipper cafe by day and an intimate neighborhood wine bar and restaurant by night, always spotlighting vegetables and fresh produce. \u201cWhat started as more of a chaotic dream than a plan \u2014 almost no money, a tiny room, a few tables we built ourselves, a couple of hot plates and a convection oven \u2014 became something enduring and beautiful thanks to all of you,\u201d its owners wrote via Instagram. The team recently flipped the space into new amaro bar the Ramona Room<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ester\u2019s Wine Shop & Oyster Bar<\/b>
The Rustic Canyon Family\u2019s wine shop and oyster bar closed in November after a decade of pours, grilled cheese sandwiches and caviar. Ester\u2019s sat adjacent to Cassia, at the base of an Art Deco building, and cultivated community with events such as workshops, \u201cwine school\u201d events, dinner series, book clubs and a focus on independent winemakers and women vintners.<\/p>\n

Father\u2019s Office (Arts District)<\/b>
Longtime restaurateur Sang Yoon closed two restaurants this year<\/a>, and the first was the Arts District location of Father\u2019s Office. His celebrated gastropub made waves in 2001 when it debuted in Santa Monica with one strict rule \u2014 no ketchup \u2014 and spread its inventive bar food and broad beer selection with multiple locations, including one in the Arts District in early 2020. The location weathered the pandemic, then multiple other setbacks, including what Yoon called a steep downturn in foot traffic in the neighborhood in 2025. Because of this, he closed the outpost in September. The Santa Monica and Culver City Father\u2019s Offices remain open.<\/p>\n

Fox\u2019s<\/b>
One of the most mourned Altadena restaurant losses this year is Fox\u2019s, the 1947-founded cafe that husband-and-wife team Paul Rosenbluh and Monique King ran since 2017. The little red neighborhood restaurant served homey meals with a focus on brunch classics. \u201cWe will rebuild if we can,\u201d the owners wrote in an Instagram comment. \u201cWe\u2019re committed to the community, we just simply don\u2019t know what the future brings.\u201d In the meantime, King and Rosenbluh still operate Eagle Rock restaurants Cindy\u2019s and Little Beast.<\/p>\n

The Friend (Silver Lake)<\/b>
Long-running neighborhood bar the Friend closed its Silver Lake location, announcing \u201ca break\u201d in October. Earlier this year the official Instagram account posted: \u201cThe Friend is temporarily closing and looking for a new owner.\u201d The seven-year-old Silver Lake location that was rife with DJ sets and other live entertainment remains closed, but its sibling bar, Venice\u2019s the Little Friend, is open.<\/p>\n

Gasolina Cafe<\/b>
Woodland Hills\u2019 charming, decade-old Spanish restaurant Gasolina Cafe closed Jan. 19, with chef and co-founder Sandra Cordero shifting focus to its sibling restaurant, Xuntos in Santa Monica. Cordero and her team spent the final weeks of Gasolina Cafe cooking for first responders and those displaced by the fires. Her famous paellas also can still be ordered for catering services.<\/p>\n

Gigi\u2019s<\/b>
This chic, modern French restaurant in Hollywood closed in May after nearly five years in business. With seafood towers, steak tartare, icy martinis, wood paneling and green velvet seating, Gigi\u2019s was intended to be a jewel of the burgeoning Sycamore Avenue corridor. \u201cThis is about as bittersweet as it gets,\u201d owners posted to Instagram.<\/p>\n

\"An <\/p>\n

Goldburger took over the former Burgerlords space in Chinatown\u2019s Central Plaza.<\/p>\n

(Stephanie Breijo \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Goldburger (Chinatown)<\/b>
Goldburger makes some of the city\u2019s most iconic burgers<\/a>, but that couldn\u2019t stop one of its locations from closing this year. The local chain took over the former Burgerlords space in 2024, but in August closed abruptly, citing a range of difficulties. \u201cWe opened during the start of what seems like a historic downturn for nearly every restaurant in this city and the industry as a whole,\u201d owner Allen Yelent posted to Instagram. \u201cThrow in some fires and rains and curfews and being in a sleepy plaza \u2026 We loved it so so so much I can\u2019t even begin to tell you how sad I am.\u201d Goldburger\u2019s locations in Highland Park, Los Feliz and Granada Hills remain open.<\/p>\n

Grandmaster Recorders<\/b>
The buzzy restaurant and rooftop bar with a rock-and-roll theme closed quietly after more than three years in operation. Grandmaster Recorders, from some of the team behind E.P. and L.P., flipped a former Hollywood recording studio into a sprawling restaurant, lounge space, and a rooftop with a view of the Hollywood Hills. The Italian-meets-Australian restaurant and bar did not announce a formal closure, but the space has been closed for months and is currently for lease.<\/p>\n

The Greyhound (Glendale)<\/b>
The Glendale counterpart to Highland Park\u2019s long-running gastropub and sports bar closed in January. The Greyhound\u2019s Glendale outpost debuted in 2019 and served the brand\u2019s famous wings<\/a> along with a number of specials unique to the location. \u201cWe are so grateful to you, the Glendale community that has supported before, during and after a global pandemic,\u201d owners posted to Instagram. \u201cWe are grateful to our regulars, our fan clubs, and the people that came in once. When we opened this place, we didn\u2019t know what to expect and we didn\u2019t know who we\u2019d meet. This has been the most fun, ever.\u201d Highland Park\u2019s the Greyhound remains open.<\/p>\n

Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura<\/b>
The Michelin-starred Italian restaurant atop Gucci\u2019s Beverly Hills flagship closed without warning in November, in order to make other use of the space, according to staff. Adorned with Gucci wallpaper, velvet banquette seating and Gucci-designed tableware, the restaurant served Italian cuisine in couture style for nearly five years. It was lauded Italian chef Massimo Bottura\u2019s first U.S. restaurant and served some of his most iconic dishes, including the famed tortellini en brodo, while executive chef Mattia Agazzi created L.A.-meets-Italy fine dining unique to the Beverly Hills location. Gucci Osteria remains open in Japan, Korea and Italy.<\/p>\n

Guerrilla Cafecito<\/b>
The sibling cafe to Arts District restaurant Guerrilla Tacos (see below) closed in January alongside the full taqueria next door. The sunny daytime spot debuted in 2020, decorated with colorful murals and hanging plants; it was beloved for its coffee and breakfast burritos.<\/p>\n

\"Guerrilla <\/p>\n

(Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Guerrilla Tacos<\/b>
One of the city\u2019s most influential restaurants announced its closure in the first days of the year<\/a>. Guerrilla Tacos \u2014 founded as a cart in 2012 before expanding to a truck and an Arts District restaurant \u2014 helped proliferate Alta California cuisine with chef and co-owner Wes Avila\u2019s hyper-seasonal tacos and tostadas. \u201cSince COVID things have been extremely strained,\u201d Guerrilla Tacos managing partner Brittney Valles-Gordon said in a video posted to Instagram at the time. \u201cAs the years passed and we had hope that things were going to get better, they simply have not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guido\u2019s<\/b>
A longstanding Westside Italian restaurant closed in May after nearly a half-century in business. Guido\u2019s red leather booths sat the likes of Frank Sinatra, David Byrne, Tom Selleck and more, with neon signage and red leather booths that beckoned. Local historian Alison Martino, who broke the news<\/a>, announced that famous-guest photos already were being removed from the walls prior to the Sawtelle restaurant\u2019s last night. Guido\u2019s sibling locations, in Malibu and Calabasas, shuttered more than a decade prior.<\/p>\n

Ham Ji Park (both locations)<\/b>
A beloved Korean restaurant and L.A. Times Hall of Fame inductee<\/a> closed both locations this month, bidding farewell to its bone-in grilled pork ribs and the gamjatang that former L.A. Times Food critic Jonathan Gold once wrote<\/a> \u201cmay be the single-best hangover cure in an area dense in hangover cures.\u201d With a restaurant in Koreatown and another in Arlington Heights \u2014 and a previously shuttered outpost in Buena Park \u2014 Ham Ji Park\u2019s flame-grilled flavor cast a wide net since its founding roughly 40 years ago. \u201cUntil we meet again,\u201d the restaurant\u2019s Instagram account posted this month.<\/p>\n

Helms Bakery<\/b>
After years of planning and stalled starts, Father\u2019s Office chef-owner Sang Yoon finally unveiled one of the city\u2019s most anticipated restaurants in late 2024: the return of Helms Bakery<\/a>, the once-prolific bread service based out of Culver City. Yoon renovated a portion of the original, 1931-founded bakery, flipping it into a bakery, market, a ready-made-foods deli and a coffee stand. This month Helms Bakery closed. \u201cI really wanted the Helms sign to mean something again,\u201d Yoon said earlier this month<\/a>. \u201cJust to feel that there\u2019s a history and there\u2019s real people alive who remember it, and then to try to connect that to kids today, that was really my chief motivator.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An <\/p>\n

An interior of the new Helms Bakery on opening day.<\/p>\n

(Stephanie Breijo \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s Looking at You<\/b>
One of the most influential, boundary-pushing and celebrated restaurants in Los Angeles closed in Koreatown this summer<\/a> following years of industry difficulties and personal tragedy. Here\u2019s Looking at You \u2014 from owners Lien Ta and Jonathan Whitener \u2014 drew local and national acclaim with cross-cultural dishes such as frog legs with salsa negra, uni panna cotta and chicken liver with passion fruit and smoked maple. Whitener, who led the kitchen, died at 36 in 2024<\/a>, from which Ta said the restaurant never fully recovered professionally or personally. But the restaurant went out with a bang, serving classic Whitener dishes in his honor along with items from guest chefs, a tiki pop-up and more.<\/p>\n

Holy Cow BBQ (Culver City)<\/b>
After a decade of serving smoked meats in Culver City, Holy Cow BBQ \u2014 the \u201cCalifornia-style\u201d barbecue operation with smoked sandwiches, hand-rubbed meats, and sides like pork rinds, street corn and chili fries \u2014 announced via social media it would close in April to concentrate on its catering services. Holy Cow BBQ still maintains its restaurant in Santa Monica.<\/p>\n

I Like Pie<\/b>
Annika Corbin\u2019s I Like Pie bakeshop launched in 2012, and over the years and two locations she amassed a small army of fans hungry for her mini pies, hand pies, whole pies and pie-laced ice creams. In February, she closed both storefronts and suspended all operations. Her Pasadena storefront closed temporarily due to the Eaton fire; it reopened for mere weeks before it closed permanently, along with the original Claremont shop.<\/p>\n

Kahuna Tiki (North Hollywood)<\/b>
After more than a decade of tropical drinks, sushi and burlesque in North Hollywood, Kahuna Tiki closed its doors. \u201cLos Angeles just won\u2019t do enough to make the city and the street what we worked so hard to realize,\u201d according to an Instagram post in August. \u201cWe won\u2019t survive another winter at this location.\u201d But owners of the bar said they can still be found in Valley Village, where they\u2019re putting \u201cfull focus\u201d on Kahuna Tiki Tu, the tiki bar\u2019s newer sibling concept, which opened in 2020.<\/p>\n

The Kind Sage (all locations)<\/b>
The Kind Sage, formerly known as Sage Vegan Bistro, closed in the first days of 2025 following a controversial business pivot. In spring of 2024 Mollie Engelhart announced that her plant-based Echo Park destination would begin serving meat and dairy<\/a>, tied to her newfound focus on regenerative farming, and would introduce the ingredients at her Pasadena offshoot. The decision faced support as well as widespread backlash from the vegan community, some of which called for a boycott of the restaurants. In 2025, she closed the remaining locations of what was a local chain. Engelhart is now based in Texas with a regenerative farm and restaurant.<\/p>\n

Kitchen Mouse (Mount Washington)<\/b>
Plant-based cafe and bakery Kitchen Mouse maintains its hub in Highland Park, but earlier this year the operation closed its nearby walk-up stand in a Mount Washington parking lot. In 2023 owner Erica Daking restored a former doughnut shop<\/a> to build a quick-casual outpost for her vegan operation, and served her own doughnuts, house-blend coffee, bagels, pastries and fan-favorite waffles. The waffles have since migrated north to the Highland Park location.<\/p>\n

Koast<\/b>
This seafood-focused restaurant from the team behind Kali launched at the start<\/a> of the year, but closed by end of summer. The decision to closed was a difficult one, Meehan told The Times earlier this year, informed by difficulties in permitting its planned rooftop seating, lowered check averages and slow foot traffic. Facing difficulties at the Michelin-starred Kali as well, Meehan and his business partner quietly closed Koast to focus on rebranding Kali into a modern steakhouse<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kusaki<\/b>
After multiple starts and stops, plant-based sushi restaurant Kusaki called it quits in November. Pearl Steffie\u2019s vegan Sawtelle destination served both a la carte and omakase, with options such as vegetable nigiri and plant-based shishito burgers. Steffie wrote on Instagram that though Kusaki is ending, she will continue to share its flavors through sushi classes, private dinners and other future events.<\/p>\n

LA Cha Cha Ch\u00e1<\/b>
In September downtown-rooftop hot spot LA Cha Cha Cha posted cryptically it would be moving. Eventually it became clear that the modern Mexican restaurant and bar would be moving to Miami. LA Cha Cha Cha \u2014 the sibling restaurant to Mexico City\u2019s Terraza Cha Cha Ch\u00e1 \u2014 posted without explanation that the L.A. outpost would close in October. But co-owner Alejandro Mar\u00edn told Eater<\/a> that the city\u2019s summer immigration raids and ensuing protests and curfews slowed business to the point where \u201cit seemed like everyone was avoiding downtown.\u201d The hospitality group\u2019s Mexican seafood restaurants Loreto and Mariscos Za Za Z\u00e1 in Frogtown and lauded modern panaderia Santa Canela in Highland Park are open.<\/p>\n

La Grande Orange<\/b>
La Grande Orange was the first L.A. flag planted by chef and restaurateur Bob Lynn, who went on to open a string of restaurants through the county. The modern American restaurant served fluffy pancakes, deviled eggs, crab tostadas, daily-baked English muffins and more since its 2008 launch in Pasadena\u2019s historic Del Mar Train Station. But in March La Grande Orange, along with sibling concepts the Luggage Room and Otis Bar (see below), called it quits. A statement taped to the front door cited landlord disputes and building conditions. Lynn and his restaurant group continue with Santa Monica\u2019s the Misfit and the recently opened Diner Antonette, and multiple restaurants in Arizona.<\/p>\n

Layla<\/b>
Chef Chris Sayegh made waves in L.A. with Secret Supper Club, his cannabis-focused dinner series<\/a>, but in early 2024 he opened a new bricks-and-mortar venture with Layla, a haute, French-tinged Levantine restaurant named for \u2014 and inspired by \u2014 Sayegh\u2019s Jordanian jiddeh, or grandmother. Sayegh hopes to reopen Layla, posting in the February closure announcement, \u201cThe beginning of the year presented us with many challenges as a city. Please bear with us as we are currently closed to find our new location to serve our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Le Petit Four<\/b>
A West Hollywood mainstay of nearly a half-century closed in March, citing increasing labor costs and rent, the pandemic and diminished foot traffic. The community rallied around Le Petit Four after the 44-year-old French bistro announced its impending end: Hundreds of comments rolled in over social media, many recounting memories and celebrity sightings on the Sunset Strip. A surge in business convinced the owner Alexandre Morgenthaler that he could cover back rent and remain open after all, but the landlord would not accept it. \u201cHe refused it,\u201d Morgenthaler said<\/a>. \u201cHe said, \u2018You\u2019re not strong enough. You\u2019re not going to make it.\u2019 Basically we\u2019re back to zero so I have to close the doors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Le Petit Paris<\/b>
Fanny and David Rolland opened their first Le Petit Paris in Cannes. In 2015 they expanded with a location in downtown Los Angeles, where they served truffle-topped pasta from a cheese wheel, decadent brunches and artful French pastries<\/a> from the base of the El Dorado building. In October they announced their sudden, immediate closure, calling their decade in operation \u201ca privilege and an inspiration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leopardo<\/b>
The anticipated modern Cal-Italian restaurant with some of the city\u2019s best new pizza<\/a> quietly closed toward the top of the year, announcing a planned reopening in February. But Leopardo \u2014 a new project from Angler founder Joshua Skenes \u2014 never reopened. Its social media is gone, as is the restaurant\u2019s website. Skenes went on to launch Happies Hand Made, a gourmet chicken tenders restaurant in the Arts District, which announced it would be \u201ctaking a break\u201d in October and isn\u2019t currently open.<\/p>\n

\"An <\/p>\n

Leopardo\u2019s Hail Satan pizza: a sweet-spicy pizza that layers flavor with salumi, hot tomato sauce, chile flakes and garlic with wildflower honey and a side of giardiniera.<\/p>\n

(Stephanie Breijo \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Little Sister (downtown)<\/b>
The downtown location of this popular modern-Vietnamese chain closed quietly earlier this year, with a simple message posted to the door: \u201cThank you, DTLA. After 10 incredible years, we\u2019re closing our doors at this location. We\u2019re grateful for your support, memories and shared meals.\u201d Little Sister\u2019s El Segundo, Redondo Beach and Irvine locations remain open, and the restaurant \u2014 from founders Tin\u202fVuong and Jed Sanford \u2014 has posted about plans to open future locations outside of downtown.<\/p>\n

Liu\u2019s Cafe Creamery<\/b>
Koreatown\u2019s Taiwanese and Chinese cafe still draws lines down the block, but for nearly eight months this year, so did its adjacent ice cream parlor. Liu\u2019s Cafe Creamery debuted in January with ambitious house-made ice cream and house-made toppings such as cilantro syrup, chili crisp and butter cookie crumbles all by pastry chef Isabell Manibusan. The innovative ice cream parlor closed in early August, but Liu\u2019s restaurant group, Long Hospitality, has more in the works. \u201cSomething else exciting will be taking the place of the creamery, so stay tuned,\u201d the since-deleted closing announcement read.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

The oyster-garnished house martini at Echo Park\u2019s the Lonely Oyster.<\/p>\n

(Stephanie Breijo \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

The Lonely Oyster<\/b>
Echo Park\u2019s oyster bar with late-night service, lobster rolls, industry nights, oyster-rimmed martinis<\/a> and a science-tinged cocktail program closed this month after nearly three years in operation. The Lonely Oyster\u2019s final service was held Dec. 21. The owner\u2019s nearby cocktail bar, Little Joy, remains open.<\/p>\n

The Luggage Room<\/b>
One of Pasadena\u2019s favorite pizzerias shut its doors in March alongside sibling projects La Grande Orange (see above) and Otis Bar (see below). The pizzeria from chef-owner Bob Lynn and LGO Hospitality served seasonally minded pies inside the 1954-founded Del Mar Train Station for 15 years. <\/p>\n

Lynn and his restaurant group continue with Santa Monica\u2019s the Misfit and the recently opened Diner Antonette, and multiple restaurants in Arizona.<\/p>\n

Lustig<\/b>
One year after opening in Culver City\u2019s Helms Design District, Austrian-leaning restaurant Lustig announced its closure. Chef-owner Bernhard Mairinger \u2014 formerly of BierBeisl and Patina Restaurant Group \u2014 offered schnitzel, bratwurst, pretzels and other classics seen through a California lens. But operating costs paired with an inconsistent customer base proved untenable for Lustig. \u201cThe minute you have a day where you lack the customers to make up for the cost, it\u2019s almost like you never catch up because it\u2019s so inconsistent,\u201d Mairinger said at the time<\/a>. Mairinger and Lustig can still occasionally be found through catering services and pop-ups; follow on Instagram<\/a> for future appearances.<\/p>\n

Luv2eat Express<\/b>
One of the city\u2019s top Thai destinations<\/a> debuted a quick-and-casual sibling restaurant in 2024, but this month it closed. Luv2eat Thai Bistro\u2019s Somruthai Kaewtathip and Noree Burapapituk launched Luv2eat Express<\/a> as a way to explore the flavors of Thai street food, offering a range of less-U.S.-ubiquitous dishes such as tamarind-fried whole eggs, stir-fried ginger fish with celery, fried taro, and crackling pork dip picked from a steam tray. In 2026, the restaurateurs plan to utilize the space for a new, yet-to-be-named restaurant.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

Luv2eat Express, the quick-and-casual sibling restaurant to Luv2eat Thai Bistro, offered Phuket-style street food in a Hollywood strip mall.<\/p>\n

(Stephanie Breijo \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Mama Shelter<\/b>
The Hollywood hotel with the Instagrammable rooftop bar announced its sudden closure in February. Mama Shelter debuted in Paris in 2008 and made its way to Hollywood in 2015, with one of the city\u2019s most popular see-and-be-seen rooftops. According to the hotel\u2019s website<\/a>, a new Mama Shelter is planned to open at 124 E. Olympic Blvd.<\/a> in downtown with a ground-floor restaurant and \u201can island bar.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mandarette<\/b>
Before there was P.F. Chang\u2019s, there was Mandarette. One of Beverly Grove\u2019s favorite old-school Chinese restaurants closed quietly in spring after 40 years of service. It was founded by Cecilia Chiang in the 1980s, and at the time her son, Philip Chiang, characterized Mandarette\u2019s cooking<\/a> as Chinese family food based on his favorite dishes found in Hong Kong cafes. (He would go on to help launch P.F. Chang\u2019s.) It served a range of combination plates, chocolate wontons and stir-fried noodles. Though Mandarette is gone, its staff shared a few recipes with The Times through the years, including those for its beef noodles<\/a> and curry chicken turnovers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mars<\/b>
In early 2024<\/a> an almost-hidden cocktail bar debuted in Hollywood from an owner of Mother Wolf, Ka\u2019teen, Bar Lis and more. Giancarlo Pagani\u2019s Mars sat behind Mother Wolf \u2014 the acclaimed Roman restaurant owned by Pagani and chef Evan Funke \u2014 and served drinks and hosted live entertainment. This year Pagani closed Mars and flipped the project to Bar Avoja<\/a>, which is now attached to Mother Wolf and accessed through the restaurant\u2019s dining room.<\/p>\n

Michael\u2019s on Naples<\/b>
This long-running Long Beach restaurant shuttered in September after 18 years of farm-to-table Neapolitan-style pizzas and fresh pastas. The Michael\u2019s on Naples space will become another location of Italian restaurant Bacari in 2026. \u201cAs we pass the torch, we take comfort in knowing the same spirit and philosophy \u2014 centered on quality, integrity, and community \u2014 will live on,\u201d Michael\u2019s on Naples posted to Instagram.<\/p>\n

Mitsuru Sushi & Grill<\/b>
This Little Tokyo stalwart of nearly 50 years closed in August, with owners Mamoru and Dora Hanamure ready for retirement. The sushi bar and casual Japanese diner aided members of the community by cooking for neighborhood seniors and generations of fans. \u201cOur restaurant will always be remembered,\u201d the husband-and-wife team wrote in their closing statement. \u201cThank you to everyone \u2014 here and in heaven \u2014 who has come through our doors over the last 49 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moon Juice<\/b>
With smoothies, adaptogenic powders and carefully placed crystals, Moon Juice helped define a certain brand of lifestyle that permeated the 2010s and beyond. Earlier this year the juicery and wellness shop closed its Silver Lake location, followed later by its Venice store \u2014 the last IRL Moon Juice standing. While no longer a smoothie shop and juicery, Moon Juice lives on with online sales and subscription services that focus on its powders and supplements.<\/p>\n

Moonshadows<\/b>
Few Malibu restaurants were as iconic as Moonshadows. Dangling over the waves, the destination restaurant served as a see-and-be-seen pitstop along PCH for 40 years. Famed for its celebrity sightings, its cocktails and seafood-forward menu all enjoyed with an oceanfront view, it became an emblem of coastal dining. But on Jan. 8 the classic-L.A. restaurant perished in the Palisades fire<\/a>. Sibling Malibu spot the Sunset Restaurant has begun serving some of Moonshadows\u2019 most popular dishes. <\/p>\n

\"Moonshadows, <\/p>\n

Moonshadows, pictured in 2023.<\/p>\n

(Brian van der Brug \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Mother Tongue<\/b>
Michael Mina\u2019s health-forward restaurant Mother Tongue debuted inside Hollywood\u2019s luxe members-only gym Heimat in 2022, but closed quietly this year. The open-to-the-public restaurant offered beet hummus on spelt flatbreads, vegan pea soft serve<\/a>, hand-cut steak tartare and roast duck breast with hazelnut dukkah, among other dishes. In fall it was replaced by new restaurant Heimat Kitchen. Mina now operates a new L.A. restaurant: Orla in Santa Monica<\/a>.<\/p>\n

MXO<\/b>
The Mexican steakhouse from Guerrilla Tacos founder Wes Avila closed quietly in June. The West Hollywood restaurant operated for under one year and was a collaborative venture with restaurateur Giancarlo Pagani, whom Avila also partners with in Ka\u2019teen, as well as SBE restaurant group. MXO drew inspiration from the grilled meats of Monterrey, serving steaks and seafood alongside Avila staples such as a taquito spin on his famous sweet potato tacos \u2014 available here with dollops of caviar. Hollywood\u2019s Ka\u2019teen and Avila\u2019s restaurant in Japan are open; he is planning to launch a restaurant in Arizona.<\/p>\n

\"Fried <\/p>\n

Fried green tomatoes with a side salad and remoulade from My Two Cents.<\/p>\n

(Silvia Razgova \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n

My 2 Cents<\/b>
Chef Alisa Reynolds served shrimp and grits, turkey meatloaf, fried green tomatoes and other Southern-comfort classics for 12 years in her Mid-Wilshire restaurant, earning her community support and acclaim that included multiple years on the L.A. Times 101 List. This summer Reynolds announced the closure of My 2 Cents, to shift to a catering model and developing products for home cooking. \u201cIt\u2019s something that I\u2019ve been thinking about for the last few years,\u201d Reynolds said in July<\/a>. \u201cFor me, I think the best thing to do is to be able to feed people in their homes, do pop-ups, do collabs, and make the city excited again. I can do more as chef Alisa than I can do at My 2 Cents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Norma<\/b>
This restaurant and cocktail lounge launched in early 2024, filling the former Fellow Traveler space with Southern-meets-Mediterranean-meets-L.A. dishes such as crab-and-grilled corn ravioli, sweet potato hash with pork belly, and al pastor prawns. Veteran chef Jason Fullilove led the kitchen, and live music could be found weekly. But Norma closed quietly in late summer. Its building is currently for lease.<\/p>\n

Oriel<\/b>
The pink neon under the Chinatown Metro stop now draws guests to Cafe Tondo, but until April, for roughly seven years, the space was home to Oriel. The cozy French cafe and wine bar was run by a handful of industry vets, including Bar Covell and Augustine Wine Bar\u2019s Dustin Lancaster. It served French onion soup, bone marrow, Ni\u00e7oise salad and other bistro classics alongside a French wine list and under hanging plants.<\/p>\n

The Original Pantry<\/b>
After a dispute over negotiating a union contract<\/a> for its workers, downtown\u2019s iconic diner the Original Pantry closed in March<\/a>. Stewards of the Richard J. Riordan Trust \u2014 founded by the late, former mayor who once owned the 101-year-old restaurant \u2014 said a contract would make the sale of the diner nearly impossible and that the union\u2019s demands were \u201ctotally unacceptable.\u201d The owners chose to close the restaurant instead, and it felt like an entire city mourned the historic restaurant: one of the oldest remaining in Los Angeles. Months later real estate developer Leo Pustilnikov purchased the restaurant<\/a>, promising to reinstate much of its former staff. He plans to reopen the Original Pantry as soon as permitting allows.<\/p>\n

Otis Bar<\/b>
Bob Lynn\u2019s classic-minded cocktail bar within La Grande Orange closed in March along with its host restaurant and its tandem project, the Luggage Room pizzeria (see above). <\/p>\n

\"Chrys <\/p>\n

Chrys Chrys, owner of Papa Cristo\u2019s, does his signature pose behind the counter in 2016.<\/p>\n

(Marcus Yam \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Papa Cristo\u2019s<\/b>
News of Papa Cristo\u2019s closure felt like a shockwave, with thousands of social media responses pouring in to mourn the 77-year-old Greek restaurant. Operated by three generations of the Chrys family over the decades, the Pico-Union restaurant became a gathering place for the Greek Orthodox community and beyond. Part market, part restaurant, it formed a one-stop shop for imported cheese, spices, olive oils and pastries alongside grilled lamb and lemony potatoes. Its building, which the family did not own, was listed for sale in the spring. \u201cIt finally came to a point where we decided we\u2019re gonna go on our terms,\u201d said Mark Yordon<\/a>, cousin of owner Chrys Chrys and an employee of roughly 40 years. Papa Cristo\u2019s seasoning blends are now available in an official online shop<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Pie Room by Curtis Stone<\/b>
Aussie chef Curtis Stone launched some of L.A.\u2019s best sweet and savory pies at his Hollywood restaurant and butcher shop, Gwen, and they took on a life of their own. The pies made their way to local farmers markets and, during the pandemic, took over the Maude space in Beverly Hills<\/a> with a limited-run pie shop. He invested in a large bakery<\/a> and, in 2024, replaced Maude with the Pie Room by Curtis Stone entirely and served small plates, salads and more. But this month, the celebrity chef announced its closure on Instagram. \u201cThe Pie Room was always meant to be a pop-up, and while this chapter comes to a close, the story is far from over,\u201d the restaurant posted.<\/p>\n

Pizza of Venice<\/b>
One of Altadena\u2019s favorite pizzerias perished in the Eaton fire after nearly 12 years in business. The neighborhood fixture served generously topped pies, thick wedges of lasagna, specials such as smoked chicken and ribs and more. Currently, owners Sean St. John and Jamie Woolner do not plan to reopen Pizza of Venice as the city knew it. \u201cWe will not be reopening a brick-and-mortar location for the foreseeable future,\u201d they wrote on their social media. \u201cHowever, there is a possibility of hosting pop-up dinners a couple of times a year, so stay tuned on Instagram<\/a> or through our mailing list for updates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pono Burger<\/b>
Chef-founder Makani Carzino operated her Hawaiian-leaning burger spot with a simple philosophy for a decade: \u201cpono,\u201d or \u201cdoing things the right way.\u201d She sourced much of her produce from the nearby farmers market, she used grass-fed, free-range beef in her patties, she utilized organic ingredients. Pono Burgers maintained multiple locations, including Venice and West Hollywood, which closed over the years. In November the last location standing \u2014 in Santa Monica \u2014 closed too. Carzino\u2019s other burger operation, Ultimate Burger in Hawaii, remains open.<\/p>\n

Post & Beam<\/b>
Over the course of its 13-year run Baldwin Hills\u2019 Post & Beam became an icon of South L.A. dining, a recipient of the L.A. Times Gold Award<\/a>, a James Beard Foundation Award nomination and a multi-year L.A. Times 101 List awardee. Husband-and-wife team John and Ronie Cleveland, who joined the operation in 2019, served some of the most inventive Southern cuisine in the city. In February \u2014 citing a number of factors, including the redevelopment of its home at the edge of the Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw Plaza \u2014 the Clevelands announced the restaurant\u2019s closure. \u201cThis isn\u2019t the end of Post & Beam, but we\u2019re mourning the building,\u201d Roni said at the time<\/a>. The pair are currently continuing Post & Beam through its catering operations.<\/p>\n

Rancho Bar<\/b>
A kind of mountain-town Cheers, Altadena\u2019s Rancho Bar was a well-loved watering hole until its demise in January. The rugged dive bar with more than 70 years of history was destroyed in the Eaton fire, and the community still mourns it. The Larson family, its current owners, hope to one day rebuild, according to an online fundraiser for the business.<\/p>\n

The Reel Inn<\/b>
Almost no restaurant in L.A. epitomized the beachy seafood shack better than the Reel Inn, a long-running restaurant bedecked with Christmas lights and an aquarium at the edge of Malibu and Topanga. The funky PCH seafood destination known for its fresh-fish combination plates, fish tacos, steamed clams and other specialties enjoyed atop picnic benches and checkered tablecloths met its end in January\u2019s Palisades fire. It was the first and the last remaining location from husband-and-wife owners Andy Leonard and Teddy Seraphine-Leonard, who hope to rebuild in the same place. Due to its locale \u2014 on California State Park land \u2014 the approval and reopening process is proving fraught and frustrating for the owners<\/a>. In the meantime, they are planning a Reel Inn cookbook filled with favorite recipes from the last three-plus decades.<\/p>\n

\"Lonnie <\/p>\n

Lonnie Edwards keeps meat moist inside the pit at his RibTown BBQ in 2020.<\/p>\n

(Brian van der Brug \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

RibTown BBQ<\/b>
For years Lonnie Edwards popped up<\/a> with a food trailer, a 500-gallon offset smoker he calls Sarah and a larger smoker called El Jefe, filling takeout containers with mounds of rib tips, pulled pork, mac and cheese and greens. \u201cFellow Southern expats \u2014 this \u2019cue will take you home,\u201d L.A. Times Food critic Bill Addison once wrote<\/a> of RibTown. Edwards, Sarah, El Jefe and the rib tips became a fixture in Jefferson Park \u2014 where Edwards was raised \u2014 until the sudden announcement that RibTown would close permanently in March. \u201cThis was a tough decision, but my body is just worn down,\u201d Edwards posted to Instagram. \u201cI love what I do but I can\u2019t let my ego get in the way.\u201d He has since posted that he hopes to return for occasional holiday pop-ups; follow along on Instagram<\/a> for updates.<\/p>\n

Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio<\/b>
For more than a decade travelers and locals would visit this Malibu winery, sip flights, catch live music and pose on the Instagrammable giant blue chair. But Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio lost its taproom along PCH when the Palisades fire tore through the region in January. While it \u2014 along with neighbors the Reel Inn, Cholada Thai, Malibu Feed Bin and others \u2014 await permission<\/a> to rebuild on California State Park grounds, the Rosenthal family recently developed a new space for wine tastings \u2014 and even rebuilt that large blue chair for photos. The new, weekend-only \u201cvineyard experience\u201d<\/a> offers tastings on the winery\u2019s estate in the Santa Monica Mountains.<\/p>\n

The Ruby Fruit<\/b>
After a few tumultuous years Silver Lake\u2019s Ruby Fruit closed its doors for good earlier this month. The lesbian bar and community hub took over<\/a> the strip-mall spot that was formerly Eszett and quickly began hosting LGBTQ+ events while pouring a natural-wine-focused list. But citing difficulties in the industry, the Ruby Fruit closed suddenly at the start of 2025. In spring the Ruby Fruit reopened, but it closed again this month. \u201cFor real this time,\u201d the closing announcement read. \u201cWe have, devastatingly, come to the end of the line. We have tried everything in our power to keep this dream alive, but the fact of the matter is we just simply cannot make this work anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shibumi<\/b>
Chef-owner David Schlosser dedicated nearly a decade to serving meticulous and traditional Japanese cuisine at Shibumi, which closed in July. The upscale, downtown izakaya garnered wide praise and one Michelin star in 2019; late L.A. Times Food critic Jonathan Gold wrote<\/a> that it \u201cfeels like a Tokyo restaurant in important ways.\u201d In his closing announcement, Schlosser wrote that more projects are in the works from him, including a collaborative Japanese cookbook \u201ccelebrating the cuisine and culture of the Edo era.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

Cypress Park slice shop Shins Pizza served pizza, seasonal side salads and Italian ice.<\/p>\n

(Stephanie Breijo \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Shins Pizza<\/b>
A slice shop from the restaurant group behind Found Oyster, Queen\u2019s, Barra Santos and more closed nearly a year and a half after its launch. The Cypress Park pizzeria offered classic options as well as specials with ingredients like birria, soju tomato cream sauce, and teriyaki pork. Shins was a collaboration between Last Word Hospitality and creative director Shin Irvin, who wanted to pay homage to the standing-room-only, community-minded slice shops of his Philadelphia youth. In January Shins Pizza closed its doors without advanced warning. \u201cWe poured our hearts into making this place a success,\u201d the pizzeria posted to Instagram, \u201cbut despite our best efforts, we were unable to turn the corner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Side Pie<\/b>
The Altadena community \u2014 and pizza lovers throughout the city \u2014 still eagerly await the hopeful return of Side Pie. Kevin Hockin\u2019s pizza pop-up-turned-restaurant served some of the finest<\/a> and most leopard-spotted pizza in L.A., which was forged in an oven that was tile-emblazoned with the Grateful Dead\u2019s \u201csteal your face\u201d skull logo. The restaurant was destroyed by the fire, but a fundraiser to rebuild has the region hopeful it will return.<\/p>\n

Sip & Sonder<\/b>
Community fixture, gathering place and coffee roastery Sip & Sonder is set to close its downtown Inglewood flagship today<\/a>, citing issues such as decreased consumer spending and increases in the cost of goods and labor. Founders Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicholas built their cafe as a celebration of Black culture. Sip & Sonder\u2019s coffee kiosk at downtown L.A.\u2019s Music Center remains open, as will its online shop<\/a> for coffee beans and merch.<\/p>\n

Spoon & Pork (both locations)<\/b>
Some of the city\u2019s best Filipino food \u2014 including one of the best pork dishes in L.A.<\/a> \u2014 is gone, but the owners of Spoon & Pork are not. Chefs and friends Ray Yaptinchay and Jay Tugas launched Spoon & Pork as a food truck in 2017, then expanded it to Silver Lake and Sawtelle restaurants serving comforting California-inflected Filipino cuisine. The Sawtelle location closed in August after four years in operation, and the Silver Lake outpost shuttered in October after six years. But Yaptinchay and Tugas plan to revive the restaurant with kamayan dinner events and a forthcoming bottled sauce line, while also flipping the Silver Lake restaurant space to a new taqueria called Onda.<\/p>\n

Sprinkles Cupcakes (all locations)<\/b>
Candace Nelson\u2019s wildly popular, dessert-zeitgeist-defining cupcake chain, Sprinkles Cupcakes, will close all its storefronts today. Nelson announced the closure in an Instagram video<\/a>. She founded the company in 2005 and went on to make waves with her baked goods\u2019 bountiful flavors, long lines and famous cupcake ATM<\/a>. Though Nelson sold the company in 2014, and though Sprinkles is closing its shops, her sweets can still be found on the dessert menu at her newer chain, Pizzana.<\/p>\n

Stella<\/b>
A celebrated Italian restaurant announced its sudden closure in August, with the Sunset Strip\u2019s Stella citing a general range of issues for its \u201cpause\u201d in service. According to its Instagram: \u201cWe\u2019ve made the decision to pause operations at Stella West Hollywood as we navigate the challenges so many restaurants in Los Angeles are facing right now.\u201d Staff told Weho Times<\/a> that \u201cthe closure was abrupt and sounded final,\u201d that they would be laid off, and that they were unaware of a temporary hiatus. Stella remains closed.<\/p>\n

Sun Nong Dan<\/b>
The original outpost of this Korean stalwart shuttered in November after more than a decade of galbi, long-simmered sulung tang and handmade dumplings. It debuted along Sixth Street in 2013, and though that outpost is now gone, Sun Nong Dan maintains its other locations: in Koreatown (along Western Avenue), in Rowland Heights, in San Gabriel and, more recently, in Sawtelle.<\/p>\n

Superfine Playa<\/b>
Rossoblu restaurateurs Steve and Dina Samson launched this spinoff of their Fashion District pizzeria in 2023 with all of the seasonal toppings and fresh pizzas found in Superfine plus a range of new California-meets-Italy dishes. Earlier this month the husband-and-wife team shared via Instagram that the Playa Vista restaurant will close today. The Samsons\u2019 Rossoblu, along with Superfine\u2019s Sunday pizza service, remain open in the Fashion District.<\/p>\n

Tilda<\/b>
Echo Park wine bar Tilda \u2014 from the team behind Italian restaurant Bacetti \u2014 closed in February after five years of French-leaning snacks and conservas. But the owners quickly reimagined the space as Bar Bacetti, which launched in June with aperitivi and a decidedly more Italian bent.<\/p>\n

\"Chicken <\/p>\n

Chicken plates with sides at Tokyo Fried Chicken in downtown Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

(Ron De Angelis \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n

Tokyo Fried Chicken<\/b>
Some of the city\u2019s most celebrated fried chicken \u2014 and a frequent L.A. Times 101 List awardee \u2014 closed its downtown location in August. The Japanese-tinged Tokyo Fried Chicken was founded 12 years prior in Monterey Park, and served soy-marinated chicken and sides like curry creamed corn and dashi-braised collards. Its owners expanded to a new downtown outpost, and later closed the Monterey Park originator. This year, they realized operating downtown was untenable too. \u201cWe secured this space in 2019 with big hopes for location #2 \u2014 dreaming it would be the first step in growing our brand, but building through the pandemic and everything that followed brought challenges we never could\u2019ve predicted,\u201d the restaurant\u2019s Instagram announcement read. <\/p>\n

Wax on Hi-Fi<\/b>
Chef-owner TJ Johnson launched her restaurant and vinyl bar in 2024, but earlier this year quietly closed the downtown business. Pulling inspiration from Japanese hi-fi bars and culinary cues from Creole, Southern and Japanese dishes, guests dug into andouille-studded katsu curry and nori mac and cheese during hip-hop and R&B dJ sets. Wax on Hi-Fi currently exists as an online vinyl store, but Johnson plans to revive the food component in New York City in 2026.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

Vinyl bar and restaurant Wax on Hi-Fi served Japanese-and-Creole dishes such as chicken katsu curry with andouille.<\/p>\n

(Stephanie Breijo \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Wexler\u2019s Deli (both locations)<\/b>
Smoked-fish specialist Wexler\u2019s Deli shuttered both locations this year: first its stall in Grand Central Market in March, then the Santa Monica restaurant in August \u2014 each after a decade in operation. The company is transitioning to wholesale operations and changing its brand to Wexler\u2019s Smokehouse, hoping to sell its smoked lox via \u201ccaf\u00e9s, bakeries, bagel shops, delis, hotels and more\u201d in the coming months, according to an announcement on social media. An outpost of Wexler\u2019s Deli remains open in Las Vegas\u2019 Proper Eats Food Hall.<\/p>\n

Willie Mae\u2019s<\/b>
The highly anticipated restaurant from New Orleans fried chicken legend Willie Mae\u2019s debuted in Venice in 2022 after soft launching out of a West L.A. ghost kitchen<\/a>. The Southern-cuisine specialist famous for its chicken, mac and cheese and sweet yams closed its ghost kitchen, and then in February 2025, the Venice restaurant also shuttered.Challenges included not only L.A.\u2019s January fires but a previous structural fire that had damaged the New Orleans location. Catering services are still available in L.A.<\/p>\n

\"Dishes <\/p>\n

Banchan at Yangban in the Arts District. <\/p>\n

(Bill Addison \/ Los Angeles Times )<\/p>\n

Yangban<\/b>
Last December lauded Korean restaurant Yangban announced it would close for renovations. In April its owners shared that Yangban would not reopen <\/a>. With fan-favorite sticky wings, matzo ball soup, soft serve, tasting menus and an opening incarnation as a casual deli, Yangban (formerly Yangban Society) lived multiple lives in its two-year run. Husband-and-wife team John and Katianna Hong can occasionally be found cooking around town, including earlier this month in the last run of Birdie G\u2019s annual Hanukkah pop-up; follow on Instagram<\/a> for updates.<\/p>\n