Want to help LA fire victims? These East Bay establishments are raising funds

Los Angeles County lost roughly 38,600 acres to the Palisades and Eaton fires that ripped through the coastal and inland hillsides last week. Entire neighborhoods — and livelihoods — were destroyed in an instant. It’s been brutal watching this disaster unfold from afar, but if you’re wondering if there’s anything you can do to help here in the Bay Area, there is: go out to eat. 

Amid the heartbreak Californians are collectively feeling this month, many East Bay establishments have pledged to donate a portion of their proceeds to help Los Angeles residents, firefighters and mutual aid organizations. If you’d like to pitch in (and get a tasty treat or a bottle of wine while doing so), check out this list of participating East Bay establishments. Nosh will update this list as more events and benefits are announced. 

Aguita Dinner Club

Chef Abel Vista, who has worked at L.A. institutions like Damian and All Day Baby, is hosting a benefit dinner party at Oakland’s Safariii Camp (755 E 10th St.) on Jan. 27 through his multi-hyphenate pop-up, Aguita Dinner Club. The proceeds will be donated directly to Vista’s LA-based peers affected by the fires. 

Akka’s Supper Club x Purity Wine

Purity Wine in Richmond is teaming up with Akka’s Supper Club for a special dinner with natural wine pairings with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Displaced Black Families of Altadena Fires mutual aid fundraisers. The dinner will be Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $200 per person. Seating is limited, and you can message Purity Wine on Instagram @puritywine or email [email protected] to reserve a spot. 

Friends & Family

Iconic queer institution Friends & Family has always made a point of showing up for community, and that isn’t stopping anytime soon. From now until the end of January, all funds from their “daily affirmation” shots (which normally go directly to folks seeking gender affirmation surgery) will go towards L.A. fire relief efforts.

Friends & Family: 468 25th St, Oakland, open 5-11 p.m. Monday through Saturday; friendsandfamilybar.com

Monterey Fish Market

Today and tomorrow, Jan. 18, Berkeley-based Monterey Fish Market is selling fresh crab rolls and donating the proceeds to World Central Kitchen to provide meals to folks in LA.

Monterey Fish Market: 1582 Hopkins St., Berkeley; open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday and Monday; montereyfish.com

Polaris Cafe

Polaris Cafe in Emeryville, serving breakfast, coffee, pastries, boba drinks and more, will donate all proceeds from sales on Jan. 18, 8 a.m. to noon, to World Central Kitchen to aid fire victims relief efforts. 

Polaris Cafe: 5858 Horton St., #151, Emeryville; thepolariscafe.com 

Popoca

Popoca, Old Oakland’s acclaimed Salvadoran restaurant, announced on Instagram that all proceeds from lorocco pupusa sales will be donated to mutual aid funds for LA fire victims through the end of this week. 

Popoca: 906 Washington St., Oakland, open 5:15-9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 5:15-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; popocaoakland.com

Of All Places

For the rest of January, Berkeley’s buzziest neighborhood market is donating 10% of wine sales to help LA’s essential and domestic workers who lost jobs and resources in the fires. 

Of All Places: 1841 Solano Ave, Berkeley; open noon to 6 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday; ofallplacesmarket.com

Rose Pizzeria

Rose Pizzeria is donating the proceeds from a special pizza to Slice Out Hunger, an organization, until Feb. 5. The special is a white sauce pizza topped with pork sausage, green cabbage, green onions, mozzarella and a drizzle of Queens Universe chojang, a gochujang-based vinaigrette made with lacto-fermented hot pepper, rice vinegar, maesil and roasted sesame seeds.

Rose Pizzeria: 1960 University Ave., Berkeley; open noon to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday; rosepizzeria.com

Tay Ho

Through the end of January, downtown Oakland Vietnamese restaurant Tay Ho will donate $2 to a fire victims fund for every bowl of pho and banh mi sold. 

Tay Ho: 344 12th St., Oakland; open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5:30-9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; tayhooakland.com

Third Culture Bakery

Third Culture Bakery, home of the mochi muffin, will donate $1 for every chili crisp mochi muffin sold to the California Fire Foundation through the month of January. Third Culture has locations in Berkeley and Walnut Creek. 

Third Culture Bakery: 2701 8th St., Berkeley; open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; thirdculturebakery.com