Another beloved restaurant in Los Angeles is closing its doors.
Un Solo Sol, a vegan hotspot serving Latin American cuisine on the city’s east side for 16 years, announced it will shut down on September 28.
Owner Carlos Ortez shared the difficult news on social media and cited a mix of rising costs, inflation, and a challenging economic landscape that is pressuring small business owners throughout LA, especially in the changing Boyle Heights area where the restaurant is located.
“This decision wasn’t made lightly,” Ortez remarked recently. “As many of you are aware, the current economic situation has placed unprecedented demands on small, independent businesses. Increasing operational expenses, inflation, and the overall issues facing the restaurant sector have made it increasingly hard to maintain a small presence.”
Situated across from Mariachi Plaza, the vibrant yellow-and-green exterior attracted a loyal following by merging traditional recipes with plant-based options.
Popular menu items included a rich vegan pozole stew, dairy-free pupusas, and even a Persian stew, ghormeh sabzi, featuring herbs and beans instead of meat.
Ortez disclosed that the restaurant stopped being profitable in 2022, revealing that he had been using his personal funds to keep it afloat since then.
The restaurant encountered additional struggles due to a series of crises impacting businesses in the historic district, including a recent prominent warehouse fire that spoiled millions of pounds of food for weeks.
Fans of the restaurant reacted to the closure with disappointment.
“We are heartbroken by this news,” a neighboring business commented on Un Solo Sol’s post. “This year has been exceptionally tough for us after 14 years on the block, and we want you to know that this brutal economy doesn’t diminish your incredible efforts.”
Another patron expressed their sorrow: “Such heartbreaking news. So many LA restaurants are closing! This will only worsen the gentrification in this city!”
Ortez mentioned that he “fought hard” to keep prices reasonable, but ultimately the business reached a point where a pause was necessary.
Though he plans to take a “strategic rest,” Ortez insisted this isn’t truly the end and hopes to return eventually with a new plant-based concept.
