Threats of “recession” have been thrown around a lot throughout Donald Trump’s second term as president, with experts debating whether one is imminent and many Americans suffering from the outrageous costs of living.
As rent and gasoline prices inflate without a rise in wages, "recession menus" are slowly growing in popularity. Some restaurants are releasing their own spins, creating new dishes and deals in response to the crushing economy.
Here are five L.A. restaurants willing to sacrifice profits to take a stand for working Angelenos, one meal at a time.
EL BARRIO CANTINA ~ LONG BEACH
In October 2024, El Barrio Cantina, a spacious Long Beach destination for genre-pushing Mexican cuisine and a creative, decked-out bar, announced its recession menu on Instagram–the first of its kind that we’d seen in L.A.