LA Restaurants Are Selling Groceries and Pantry Items to Help People Fulfill Basic Needs

The closure of all Los Angeles bars and restaurants and countywide ‘safer at home’ orders for all have sent the food industry into a tailspin, as panicked people flock to grocery stores and Costco to buy in bulk. Hoarding basics like produce, meat, dairy, and of course, paper products, they’ve cleared the shelves, leaving people without a predictable daily supply of pantry essentials.

Some Los Angeles restaurants, in dire need of cash to pay back wholesale suppliers and employees, are trying to fill the gap in the market, offering essential groceries and dry goods in hopes of meeting the new need. In addition to Porridge and Puffs, here are 9 restaurants now selling everything from toilet paper to organic eggs to produce.

Note: To ensure availability, please call, email, or check delivery apps ahead, as businesses are changing their inventory and opening hours by the day. Check Instagram or call ahead for updated hours of operation.

Tesse

Located on a busy stretch of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, upscale restaurant Tesse has temporarily converted to Tesse Market, offering fresh produce, fresh baked bread, beef, eggs, chicken, and more, including much sought after toilet paper and gloves. They also offer their signature deli-style dishes. Groceries and take-out are currently available for pick-up and delivery via Postmates. Check Postmates app for daily availability. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, electronic payments accepted only.

8500 W Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood. Pick-up (with order ahead through Postmates) and deliveries available.

Bacari

California Mediterranean restaurant chainlet Bacari, which has locations in Playa del Rey and Glendale, has converted all of their restaurants into small-scale markets to sell essentials like eggs, butter, cheese, milk, canned goods and meat. Delivery is available on Postmates. Call ahead to Playa del Rey location (310-439-2100) or Glendale (818-696-1460) to ensure availability. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

6805 S Vista Del Mar Lane, Playa Del Rey.
757 Americana Way, Glendale.

Biibiip

A fast casual Mediterranean take-out window in Culver City, Biibiip is currently offering wholesale groceries for delivery through a Google Form listing daily availability for essentials like an array of fruits and vegetables, eggs, chicken, as well a few dairy products, spices, and other cuts of meat. Email orders@biibiip.com for more information or call 424-603-4402 with at least 24 hours advance notice.

9626 Venice Boulevard, Culver City. Deliveries only.

Wood

This Silver Lake neighborhood pizzeria is offering a list of ever-changing grocery essentials, including panry basics, fruits and vegetables, dairy, and toilet paper products. They’re also offering their pre-baked house pizzas and 50% off wine and beer. Email orders@woodsilverlake.com for more information or call 323-667-9940. Open 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily.

2861 W. Sunset Boulevard, Silver Lake. Pick-up and delivery available.

Go Get Em Tiger

This coffee shop chain from Charles Babinkski and Kyle Glanville has begun selling a limited selection of “GGET Pantry” goods at their Arts District, Los Feliz, Larchmont, Highland Park, Culver City, and Grand Central (G&B) locations. Check Instagram for location-specific hours of operation. Offerings include coffee, milk, oat milk, flour, sugar, pasta, rice, and different types of stock. Pantry items available in-store only.

5916 N Figueroa St, Highland Park.
230 N Larchmont Blvd, Hancock Park.
4630 Hollywood Blvd, Los Feliz.
https://gget.com/locations/

HomeState

The team behind the city’s best Tex-Mex tacos has converted their Highland Park and Hollywood locations into HomeState General Store, selling a small selection of dried goods and other basics like flour, sugar, potatoes, and dairy products. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for pick-up only via their order form.

4624 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood.
5611 N Figueroa St Unit #1, Highland Park.

Bar Avalon

Temporarily named Bodega Avalon, this Echo Park neighborhood restaurant is selling a deli selection of cold case salads, hot sandwiches, low-prep meal kits, pantry essentials, and wholesale produce and meats. Open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for pick-up and delivery via Postmates and Caviar. Place orders through nathaniel@baravalon.com or 213-908-5352.

2112 W. Sunset Boulevard Suite K, Echo Park

L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele

In addition to date night-worthy meal kits, the Hollywood pizzeria by way of Naples has opened up a local market with high-quality Italian cheeses, fruits, prepared meats, eggs, milk, produce, and more. Email in advance via orders@damicheleusa.com, call 323-366-2408, or order groceries via UberEats, Doordash, or Postmates. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

1534 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood

Gwen

During the coronavirus crisis, this Hollywood steak-centric restaurant has opened a marketplace with pantry staples, high-quality cuts of meat, eggs, dairy, and shelf-stable artisan condiments like plum preserves and apple butter. And since Gwen also has a front-facing butcher shop, it’s a good time to pick up some quality meats, from steaks to sausages. Stop by to see what’s in stock 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, or order in advance for delivery through Caviar and Postmates, with email orders available through a morning newsletter sent out with daily inventory.

6600 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood

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