Popular Malibu Restaurants Affected By The LA Wildfires

As the sun rises on another harrowing day of largely uncontrolled, widespread wildfires in the Los Angeles area, the harm from this disaster continues to mount. The fires, which originated in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood and quickly spread to nearby Santa Monica and Malibu, have claimed homes, personal property, and even lives — as of today, at least five deaths were attributed to the fires. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate from their homes. The rest of the country has been following the devastation, including social media reports of beloved restaurants that were reduced to ashes by the flames.

Some of the best restaurants in Los Angeles are located in the areas threatened by the fires. While over 70 New York City restaurants claim Michelin Stars, L.A. is no slouch either with 24. The loss of these eateries represents not just a blow to locals, who have had their entire existence uprooted by tragedy, but also to the greater cultural landscape of southern California and beyond.

Los Angeles is widely regarded as a foodie heaven. Our guide to the best burritos in California lauds several L.A.-area eateries, for instance. With its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the city is also known for its seafood. Reel Inn, a seafood spot on the Pacific Coast Highway that first opened in 1986, posted on Instagram that the restaurant was destroyed, although, thankfully, all staff were safe. A few doors down, Cholada Thai was also lost, as per the Instagram of its Long Beach sister restaurant. The Malibu outlet of Cholada Thai has been serving the community for over 25 years.

Also located on the Pacific Coast Highway, Rosenthal Winery shared that, while all employees were accounted for, the restaurant was no more. Pasadena pizza joint Side Pie deemed itself "beyond devastated," posting a stark Instagram photo showing the burnt-out shell of its building. It's possible that many more businesses have been leveled by the catastrophe but have not gotten around to making similar announcements just yet. This is an ongoing calamity and news is trickling in by the hour.

In addition to the restaurants that were irreparably damaged by the smoke and flames of the wildfires, dozens of additional Los Angeles eateries have shuttered temporarily due to the dangerous conditions in the area.