West Hollywood bids farewell to a culinary cornerstone, as Chin Chin shutters its Sunset Plaza location after 45 years of service. The neighborhood fixture rang up their final sale on Sunday, leaving a void on the Sunset Strip that loyal patrons are already feeling. Established in 1980, the restaurant was lauded for dishes like its crowd-favorite Chinese chicken salad. In a statement obtained by ABC7, a customer, Jamir Smith, expressed dismay, saying, "The food is amazing. Literally, we were just talking about, 'Where am I going to find this again?'"
Word of the emotional final day spread not only through customer testimonials but also on the restaurant's social media. In an Instagram post, Chin Chin's management shared, "After 45 unforgettable years in West Hollywood, we are heartbroken to announce that Chin Chin will be unexpectedly closing its doors at our Sunset Plaza location and will begin the search for a new home." Fans of the establishment reminisced about the memories made over many years. Looking to support its staff amid the transition, the restaurant has initiated a GoFundMe, hoping the community will help them regroup in another West Hollywood locale.
While the reason behind the closure has not been publicly disclosed, Chin Chin's management stated that the lease would not be renewed, a scenario all too familiar in the rapidly changing face of urban dining landscapes. Despite moving on, some employees plan to join the ranks at the remaining Brentwood and Studio City outlets, as mentioned in an ABC7 interview with the managers.
Patrons such as Brent Brown, who recently moved from the East Coast, lamented the loss, noting, "I was looking and I was hoping that I would be able to find something that would remind me of home. This is the closest to home that I could get," he told ABC7. His sentiment reflects the connection many had to a place that wasn't just about food, but about a shared cultural experience. This sentiment, underscoring the role of Chin Chin not just as a restaurant but as a piece of West Hollywood's fabric, reverberates through the community as it grapples with this change.
