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Here are SoCal restaurants offering free food for SNAP recipients
Bar Becky, in Long Beach, will feed a child for free with a show of a SNAP card and an entree purchase
(
Gab Chabrán
/
LAist
)
SNAP benefits are restarting after federal courts ordered the Trump administration to restore funding — but recipients will receive only half their regular payment, and funds will arrive days late.
With more than 1 million L.A. County residents relying on CalFresh, a growing number of local restaurants and businesses are stepping up to provide free or discounted meals to SNAP recipients affected by the change.
Since our initial story last week, we've been hearing from more and more places offering support — as well as individuals seeking help. We're updating the list as we receive more information. If you know of any other businesses that can offer assistance, contact me at gchabran@laist.com.
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Bé Ù Viet Street Food (Virgil Village)
The Vietnamese counter-service restaurant, Bé Ù, offers a pay-what-you-can, no-questions-asked option on certain menu items.
Location: 557 N. Hoover St., Los Angeles, CA 90004
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed Monday.
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Kreung Cambodian pop-up (Culver City)
The Cambodian pop-up at Bar & Garden in Culver City offers a free bowl of chicken rice porridge every Sunday, available while supplies last, as long as benefits are affected.
Location: 6142 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Hours: Sundays, 2.00 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Bar Becky (Long Beach)
Chef Johnathan Benvenuti's Bar Becky has pledged that throughout November, anyone who shows proof of a SNAP benefit card and purchases a regular entrée will have kids eat free with a bowl of pasta, fruit, and a scoop of ice cream.
Location: 3860 Worsham Ave., Unit 330, Long Beach, CA 90846
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m.to 9:30 p.m. (Closed Monday)
Jeff's Table (Highland Park)
The sandwich spot Jeff's Table is offering free grilled cheese, no questions asked, and $1 ham-and-cheese.
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Location: 5900 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Closed Monday & Tuesday)
OyBar (Studio City)
OyBar is offering a "pay what you can" pasta special.
Location: 12446 Moorpark St, Studio City, CA 91604
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Closed Monday)
Rick's Produce (multiple farmers' market locations)
The farmers market stand, with locations throughout L.A., posted on Instagram that if anyone is struggling due to the loss of benefits, they'll provide free food.
- Torrance Farmers Market - Charles H. Wilson Park, 2200 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90501 (Tuesdays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
- Chino Hills Farmers Market - The Shoppes at Chino Hills, 13920 City Center Dr., Chino Hills, CA 91709 (Wednesdays, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.)
- LA River Farmers Market - LA State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 (Thursdays, 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
- Silver Lake Farmers Market - 1500 Griffith Park Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026 (Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
- Hollywood Farmers Market - 1600 Ivar Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028 (Sundays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
- Atwater Village Farmers Market - 3528 Larga Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039 (Sundays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Lucky Nick's Pizza (Inland Empire)
The Inland Empire-based pizza pop-up is offering free food at its next few pop-ups in Upland and San Dimas. They're asking people to reach out beforehand on Instagram or by email to let them know you are coming so they can plan accordingly.
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Neighbors Feeding Neighbors, (various Venice locations)
When customers buy a meal at the following participating restaurants, they can add $5 to "feed a neighbor." The restaurant then matches that contribution with a meal of its own. Each prepaid meal is marked by a receipt posted on a community board inside each restaurant/business — anyone in need can simply come in, take a receipt, and redeem a meal, no questions asked.
- Triple Beam Pizza, 1521 Pacific Ave., Venice, CA 90291
- Junior's Cookies, multiple locations
- Davey Jones Liquor Locker and Market, 1517 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, CA 90291
- The Kinn, 1235 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291
- The Baked Potato Venice, multiple locations
Other forms of help
There are multiple food banks in the region — you can find a comprehensive list here.
Supermarket chain Gelson’s has recently partnered with Flashfood, an app. It offers discounted produce boxes filled with fresh fruit and vegetables for $9 at select locations in Silver Lake, Hollywood, West Hollywood, West Los Angeles and North Hollywood.
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