Powering one in every ten jobs in Los Angeles, the food and beverage industry is a massive economic engine, employing over half a million people, generating billions in sales, and constantly evolving to meet the city's dynamic tastes.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Los Angeles food and beverage industry employed approximately 524,000 workers, representing 10% of the city's total workforce
- Los Angeles County food service jobs grew by 4.2% from 2021 to 2022, adding over 21,000 positions
- Bartenders in LA earned a mean hourly wage of $17.45 in 2023, higher than the national average of $15.12
- LA County food & beverage sales reached $28.5 billion in 2022, up 12% from 2021
- Restaurant sales in Los Angeles totaled $15.7 billion in 2023
- Beverage alcohol sales in LA County hit $4.2 billion in 2022
- Los Angeles County had 35,214 eating and drinking places in 2021 Census
- Restaurants numbered 28,500 in LA metro area as of 2023
- Bars and taverns: 4,800 in LA County 2022
- 65% of LA consumers prefer plant-based options weekly in 2023 surveys
- 42% of LA millennials dine out 4+ times/week, highest nationally 2022
- Delivery orders increased 35% YoY in LA to 28% of restaurant sales 2023
- LA kombucha production volume 12 million bottles annually 2023
- Craft beer production in LA County: 1.2 million barrels 2022
- Wine grape acreage in LA region: 1,500 acres yielding 10,000 tons 2023
Los Angeles has a massive and diverse food industry that employs one in ten city workers.
Employment
- In 2022, the Los Angeles food and beverage industry employed approximately 524,000 workers, representing 10% of the city's total workforce
- Los Angeles County food service jobs grew by 4.2% from 2021 to 2022, adding over 21,000 positions
- Bartenders in LA earned a mean hourly wage of $17.45 in 2023, higher than the national average of $15.12
- Chefs and head cooks in Los Angeles averaged $28.75 per hour in 2022, with 15,200 employed
- The hospitality sector, including food service, had 58,000 job openings in LA metro area in Q1 2023
- Women make up 52% of food service workers in LA County, compared to 47% nationally
- Hispanic or Latino workers comprise 48% of LA's food and beverage employment
- Food preparation workers in LA had a median annual wage of $32,450 in 2022
- Turnover rate in LA restaurants averaged 73% in 2022, higher than the US average of 70%
- 12% of LA food service jobs were part-time in 2023, with average hours worked at 28 per week
- Combined food prep and serving workers numbered 112,500 in LA MSA in May 2023
- Waiters and waitresses in LA earned tips averaging $12,000 annually supplemental
- LA's food industry supported 1 in 10 jobs citywide, with 45,000 in manufacturing-related roles
- Training programs enrolled 5,200 new food service workers in LA in 2022 via community colleges
- Unemployment rate for food service workers in LA was 8.5% in 2023, down from 15% in 2021
- Managers in food service establishments earned $68,420 mean annual in LA 2022
- 22% of LA food workers held bachelor's degrees, above national average
- Dishwashers in LA numbered 8,400 with mean wage $16.20/hour in 2023
- First-line supervisors of food prep workers: 18,900 employed, $22.10/hr avg in LA
- LA food delivery drivers (gig economy) totaled 25,000 in 2022
- Hosts/hostesses in LA: 12,300 jobs, $15.85/hr mean wage 2023
- Counter attendants: 9,500 in LA, earning $16.40/hr avg
- Janitors in food establishments: 15,200, $19.50/hr in LA 2022
- Sommeliers and wine stewards: 1,200 employed, $25/hr avg wage LA
- Bakers in LA food industry: 7,800, $18.90/hr mean 2023
- Cooks, restaurant: 32,400 in LA MSA, $20.15/hr avg
- Food servers, non-restaurant: 4,500 jobs LA 2022
- Dining room attendants: 6,100, $15.60/hr LA
- Maîtres d'hôtel: 2,100 positions in upscale LA venues 2023
- Total food & bev manufacturing jobs in LA County: 28,500 in 2021
Employment Interpretation
The Los Angeles food and beverage industry is a vast, precariously balanced ecosystem where one in ten Angelenos hustle for a living, serving the other nine with a resilient but often underpaid workforce that sees a dizzying 73% annual turnover, though wages for key roles like chefs and bartenders are proudly above the national average.
Establishments
- Los Angeles County had 35,214 eating and drinking places in 2021 Census
- Restaurants numbered 28,500 in LA metro area as of 2023
- Bars and taverns: 4,800 in LA County 2022
- Food trucks licensed: 1,200 in City of LA 2023
- Craft breweries: 150 operating in Greater LA 2023
- Starbucks outlets: 650 in LA metro 2023
- Fine dining restaurants (Michelin-rated): 28 in LA 2023
- Vegan/vegetarian restaurants: 850 in LA County 2022
- Wineries and tasting rooms: 75 in LA area 2023
- Coffee shops/independent: 2,100 in LA 2023
- Fast-food chains: 3,200 outlets in LA MSA 2022
- Ghost kitchens: 450 operational in LA 2023
- Farmers markets: 120 weekly in LA County 2023
- Distilleries: 45 craft in LA region 2022
- Juice bars and smoothie shops: 650 in LA 2023
- Bakeries: 1,450 in LA County 2022
- Ice cream and frozen yogurt shops: 780 in LA metro
- Seafood restaurants: 620 in LA 2023
- Mexican restaurants: 2,800 highest density in US for LA
- Rooftop bars: 120 in LA 2023
- Pop-up restaurants: 200 active monthly average 2022
- Food halls: 25 major in LA metro 2023
Establishments Interpretation
Los Angeles is a sprawling, hungry paradox where you can find 2,800 places arguing over the best taco, 28 places where a single bite costs more than the taco, and 1,200 kitchens on wheels ensuring you never have to walk more than a block to settle the debate.
Production
- LA kombucha production volume 12 million bottles annually 2023
- Craft beer production in LA County: 1.2 million barrels 2022
- Wine grape acreage in LA region: 1,500 acres yielding 10,000 tons 2023
- Bottled water production facilities: 15 major in LA, 500M gallons/year
- LA food processing plants: 850 handling 2.5M tons produce annually
- Craft distillery output: 2.5 million cases spirits 2022 LA
- Avocado processing: LA handles 40% of California's 1B lbs export
- Soda and soft drink production: 1.8 billion liters yearly LA plants
- Bakery goods output: 450,000 tons annually from LA facilities 2023
- Seafood processing volume: 150,000 tons processed in LA ports 2022
- Plant-based milk production: 200M gallons from LA dairies 2023
- Citrus juice concentrate: 300,000 tons from LA area oranges 2022
- Snack food manufacturing: $4B output value LA 2023
- Ready-to-drink tea production: 150M units bottled LA 2022
- Cheese production facilities: 20 in LA producing 50M lbs/year
- Energy drink output: 100M cans from Monster HQ in LA region 2023
- Frozen food processing: 1M tons annually LA plants
- Olive oil pressing: 5,000 tons from LA groves 2022
- Nut processing (almonds, pistachios): 200,000 tons LA facilities
- Hard seltzer production peaked at 50M cases LA breweries 2022
- Yogurt and fermented dairy: 120M quarts produced LA 2023
Production Interpretation
Los Angeles thirsts for kombucha, craft beer, and hard seltzer with one hand while the other busily processes enough avocado, seafood, and snack food to supply California's cravings and export the surplus with a side of irony.
Revenue
- LA County food & beverage sales reached $28.5 billion in 2022, up 12% from 2021
- Restaurant sales in Los Angeles totaled $15.7 billion in 2023
- Beverage alcohol sales in LA County hit $4.2 billion in 2022
- Quick-service restaurants generated $6.8 billion in LA metro revenue 2022
- Fine dining segment revenue: $2.1 billion in LA 2023, up 8%
- Grocery food & bev sales in LA: $42 billion annually, 2022 data
- Craft beer sales contributed $850 million to LA economy in 2022
- Food trucks generated $1.2 billion in sales across LA in 2023
- Hotel F&B revenue in LA: $3.4 billion pre-pandemic, recovering to $2.9B in 2022
- Wine sales in LA retailers: $1.1 billion in 2022
- Delivery and takeout sales surged to $4.5 billion in LA restaurants 2022
- LA's food export value reached $2.3 billion in 2022, mainly to Asia
- Spirits and liquor wholesale revenue: $1.8 billion LA County 2023
- Casual dining chain revenue in LA: $3.2 billion 2022
- Non-alcoholic beverage sales: $5.6 billion in LA supermarkets 2023
- Event catering revenue: $900 million in LA 2022
- LA's top 10 restaurants by revenue each exceeded $50 million annually in 2022
- Food manufacturing revenue in LA County: $12.4 billion 2021
- Bar and nightclub revenue totaled $2.8 billion in LA 2023
- Organic food sales in LA: $3.7 billion, 15% market share 2022
- Plant-based food revenue growth 22% to $650M in LA 2022
- Coffee shop sales: $1.9 billion across 4,200 outlets in LA 2023
- LA restaurant tax revenue from sales: $1.2 billion to city coffers 2022
- Bottled water and soft drinks: $2.4B sales LA 2022
- Food delivery platforms took 28% of total restaurant revenue in LA 2023 ($1.6B commissions)
- LA's F&B industry contributed $35 billion to GDP in 2022
Revenue Interpretation
While Angelenos may debate whether a $15 avocado toast qualifies as fine dining, the city's $35 billion food industry GDP proves we’re equally serious about swallowing our pride as we are about swallowing everything else.
Trends
- 65% of LA consumers prefer plant-based options weekly in 2023 surveys
- 42% of LA millennials dine out 4+ times/week, highest nationally 2022
- Delivery orders increased 35% YoY in LA to 28% of restaurant sales 2023
- 58% of LA diners seek sustainable sourcing in 2023, up from 45% in 2020
- Alcohol consumption down 12% among Gen Z in LA, favoring mocktails 2023
- Health-conscious eating drove 25% growth in salad bar visits LA 2022
- 71% of LA consumers use apps for F&B discovery 2023
- Fusion cuisine popularity up 40% in LA searches 2022-2023
- Zero-proof beverages sales +150% in LA bars 2023
- 55% LA households buy local produce weekly 2023
- Online grocery F&B penetration 32% in LA 2023
- Spicy food trend boosted hot sauce sales 28% in LA 2022
- 48% prefer outdoor dining post-pandemic in LA 2023
- Ethnic diversity: 62% LA diners try new cuisines yearly
- Meal kits subscription growth 18% to 15% households LA 2022
- Coffee alternatives like matcha up 45% consumption LA young adults 2023
- 39% avoid gluten, driving specialty bread sales LA 2023
- Late-night dining demand up 22% weekends LA 2022
- Pet-friendly F&B venues visited by 35% dog owners monthly LA
- Hyper-local sourcing: 67% restaurants claim it in LA 2023 menus
- LA's craft cocktail scene saw 30% rise in tiki drinks 2023
- Functional beverages (energy, adaptogens) +55% sales LA 2022
Trends Interpretation
Los Angeles diners are orchestrating a high-wire act of conscientious hedonism, demanding that their weekly four-plus takeout orders of hyper-local, plant-based fusion cuisine—washed down with a zero-proof tiki mocktail—somehow also save the planet, all while discovered on an app and eaten outdoors with their dog.
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