As Americans drink less, restaurant bar sales are sliding — forcing chefs and owners to rework menus, cut shifts and lean on mocktails and food to hit the numbers.

Los Angeles will give away more than 280 health‑code carts and subsidize permit fees to help qualifying street vendors register and operate legally.

Mexico City’s El Moro opened in Echo Park in January and already has long lines for cinnamon‑dusted churros, Consuelo ice‑cream sandwiches and Mexican hot chocolate.

Born Wild Sporting Club is planning to open at 4133 E. Anaheim St. in Long Beach. Owner Tomas De Los Reyes confirmed permitting is underway but a date is not set.

Caffe Luxxe opened its first Culver City café at the Washington Triangle, debuting a limited Culver & Washington roast plus opening-day $1 drinks and a yellow mug giveaway.

Chattanooga, billed as “Pure Persian Flavor,” is set to take over 1433 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica — the former home of Izzy's Deli — with design renderings offering early clues.

A cash-only, open-air counter on Pasadena Avenue is serving Jalisco classics — birria, carne en su jugo and house-made tortillas.

A retro, tequila-forward spot from the Marvin team has taken over the old Gardens of Taxco on Harper Avenue, serving late-night tacos, a smashburger and curated small-batch tequila.

A small new counter on Valley Boulevard serves cocktail-style coffee, house‑roasted beans and pastries in a minimalist, speakeasy-leaning space. Weekend hours and a fuller April launch are noted on the shop's Instagram.

A storefront sign and hiring ads point to a Joe & The Juice opening at 12915 Ventura Blvd in Studio City. The company has not announced an official date.

SoLa Foundation’s Kitchen to Capital runs a student‑operated café on 60th Street that trains young adults in kitchen, barista and front‑of‑house skills through a paid six‑week program.

American Express and Blackbird withdrew support for Noma’s sold‑out Los Angeles residency after a New York Times report alleging abuse by Chef René Redzepi.

After more than a year closed by wildfire and mudslides, Duke’s Malibu will reopen its dining room and Barefoot Bar this Friday with limited hours. The reopening is a small but visible step in Malibu’s recovery.