Skip to Content

Sad news today as one of LA's most revered restaurant owners has died. William "Bill" Binder, recognizable to older patrons of his most excellent Chinatown spot Phillipe's has died at the age of 94. His sons continue to manage the business. An excerpt from the LA Times article:

Binder, who retired in 1985, died Jan. 28 of natural causes at a care facility in Pasadena, said his son John, who runs Philippe's with his brother, Richard.

"He had a real mild temperament; he always tried to treat everybody with respect," John Binder said. "He had a very, very deep religious belief. He felt we were just so blessed to have the business."

Philippe’s -- or as it's officially known, Philippe the Original -- has been a fixture on Alameda Street near Olvera Street and Union Station since 1951 and has been in Los Angeles for more than 100 years.

Thank you to Kevin from WheresMyHippo.com for the tip.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

From Florida to SoCal: The Vietnamese Creator Spotlighting Hidden Gem Restaurants for Millions

Moving to California felt healing—and almost like entering "a new country," says Soy Nguyen. For the first time, she saw Vietnamese and Asian cultures openly embraced, a stark contrast to Florida.

May 5, 2026

Los Dorados And Los Cholos Are The Big Winners At TACO MADNESS 2026

Over 2,000 of you packed Gloria Molina Grand Park and completely sold out multiple taquerías.

May 4, 2026

Daily Memo: 18th Death in ICE Detention Is Presumed a Suicide After An Alleged Altercation Left a Guard Unconscious

According to original reporting by Andrew Free, “Sources close to the facility report the man was in solitary confinement following an altercation with a CoreCivic guard that left the guard unconscious.” He was 33, from Cuba, and was found dead on April 28th at the Georgia facility run by CoreCivic, where 15 people have died overall.

Weekend Eats: You Can Now Eat These Egyptian Tacos Every Day In Lincoln Heights

Plus, Ray Garcia brings back his pioneering Alta California taco menu for just one day.

May 1, 2026

Daily Memo: California Is Installing ICE AI Surveillance Tools As Trump Goes After Your Civil and Constitutional Rights

Either through willful ignorance or foolish naivety, our local governments are building the surveillance apparatus that ICE currently uses and will continue to use to persecute immigrants, people of color, and dissidents to Trump. 

Why Did Anaheim City Council Vote to Install Nearly $1M-Worth of License Plate Surveillance?

Forty-one of the cameras will be deployed across the broader Orange County operational area as part of a regional surveillance network.

April 29, 2026
See all posts