L.A. restaurants offer free food to those in need during the coronavirus crisis

Thousands of Los Angeles restaurant employees have lost their jobs due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Below is a list of L.A. restaurants offering meals to people in the hospitality industry who have been laid off or had their hours cut due to the shutdown of nonessential businesses, as well as those offering meals to medical workers and first responders.

The Times aims to keep this list as up-to-date as possible, but it’s best to confirm availability with the restaurants as things are changing rapidly.

Employees Only

The West Hollywood bar and restaurant is offering free meals Monday through Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. or while supplies last. The bar plans to make 100 meals a night and provide each person with two. Workers will be asked to show paperwork or a pay stub and an ID. Casamigos, Grey Goose, Casa Azul and El Silencio are sponsors.

Employees Only, 7953 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 536-9045

Kogi BBQ

Roy Choi plans to give away 300 taco plates at 320 S. Mission Drive in San Gabriel on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or until supplies run out. All meals will be delivered to your car. Two more locations will be announced later this week via the Kogi Twitter account and website. Choi said musician Ryan Tedder, his wife and the band OneRepublic made a large donation to pay for the food.

kogibbq.com

Hail Mary

The Atwater Village pizzeria is offering free takeout pizza Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. or while supplies last.

Hail Mary, 3219 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 284-8879

Mozzaplex

Thanks to funding from the Lee Initiative, Nancy Silverton is offering free takeaway meals and limited household supplies at Chi Spacca from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or as long as supplies last.

Mozzaplex, 6610 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 297-1133

Following are restaurants providing meals for medical workers and first responders in L.A. and Orange County:

OC Baking Company

All healthcare workers can receive a free loaf of bread of their choice every weekday between 8 a.m. and 2 p .m. and 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

1960 N. Glassell St., Orange, (714) 998-2253, ocbakingco.com

Habit Burger

The burger chain plans to use its food trucks to donate 8,000 meals to healthcare providers. To abide by social distancing guidelines, they are asking that representatives from each location pick up the meals from the truck to avoid a line. The first stops are Dignity Health St. Mary in Long Beach and Providence Hospital Mission Hills on March 27, followed by Children’s Hospital L.A. on Sunset Boulevard and Second Harvest Food Bank in Anaheim on March 28, then Kindred Hospital in La Mirada on March 30, San Dimas Community on April 1, Keck Hospital USC and Garfield Medical Center in Monterey Park on April 2 and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital on April 3.

www.habitburger.com

La Piazza

The Italian restaurant at the Grove is serving free meals to nurses, doctors, first responders, LAPD and LAFD. Pizza, pasta and paninis are available for takeaway Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. while supplies last.

La Piazza, 189 the Grove Drive, Los Angeles, (323) 933-5050

The Melt

Locations of the Melt in Los Angeles and Irvine are offering free takeout meals (up to $15) to hospital and medical staff with medical badges.

Sweetgreen

Through its Impact Outpost program, Sweetgreen is delivering free salads and bowls to hospitals in cities where there is a Sweetgreen. It is accepting requests and has already sent food locally to West L.A. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, L.A. County-USC Medical Center, and Children’s Hospital L.A.

Starbucks

The coffee chain is offering free tall brewed coffee (hot or iced) to police officers, paramedics, firefighters, doctors, nurses, hospital medical staff and medical researchers. Starbucks plans to offer free coffee through May 3.

To find a food pantry near you, check out the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank.