Rebecca Roland Rebecca Roland is an editor of the Southern California/Southwest region, who covers the evolving landscape of Los Angeles’s food scene.
Willie Mae’s, an iconic New Orleans-based fried chicken and gumbo shop, is closing its last remaining Los Angeles location. A statement posted to the restaurant’s website says that it began “winding down” operations of its Venice, California outpost on February 16, 2025; the restaurant has not provided an official last day and, as of February 24, is still accepting online orders. The statement attributes the closure to “significant challenges” associated with the recent Los Angeles wildfires, as well as the fire that burned down the New Orleans location in 2023.
Willie Mae’s previously had a ghost kitchen location in West LA that is now closed. The statement about its Venice restaurant closure suggests that this is not the end for the restaurant in California — instead, it is taking a “step back” to work on a more “sustainable model.” Eater LA has reached out to Willie Mae’s for further comment…