Commentary: Will tariffs threaten the diversity of L.A. menus? Spiking ingredient prices have chefs scrambling

""There is a lot of back-and-forth and the president will make a decision and switch, and our vendors are not taking chances.""

""The tariffs aren't just putting these businesses in jeopardy. They're threatening the diversity of the culinary landscape of Southern California.""

Billie Sayavong, co-owner of Nok's Kitchen, highlights the negative impact of recent tariffs on Southern California restaurants that rely on Southeast Asian imports. His restaurant's costs have surged by 30%, reflecting broader economic uncertainty in the industry. Amid ongoing struggles from the writers' strike and fire disasters, many businesses face closure. The tariffs, part of President Trump's trade policy, not only threaten individual restaurants but also the diverse culinary landscape that defines Los Angeles as a premier dining destination.

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