With less than two weeks left before Christmas, Angelenos in need of last-minute gifts can find parcels of hope in the form of merchandise from local restaurants. Swag comes in many forms with gift cards, hats, hoodies, T-shirts, and wine. Purchasing restaurant merch comes with the bonus of supporting local restaurants. But some (including a housemade Mexican cocktail or Eater’s first cookbook) are downright necessary, even if for oneself. In any case, we’ve got you covered.
Hats
Heavy Handed
Heavy Handed T-shirts boast colorful bold art, but don’t miss the Santa Monica burger joint’s baseball hats and beanies.
Little Fish
Echo Park’s new daytime shop sells hats that fit just about any head type with logo stitching and multiple colors. Order from Little Fish’s online store.
Family Style Food Festival
Though it ended in October, the Family Style Food Festival’s retail store is still operational. Look online to find T-shirts, oven mitts, hats, and hoodies from the participating vendors. There’s a spiffy Interscope x Ggiata Dickie’s Jacket, a hat from El Ruso, with totes and T-shirts from Villa’s Tacos.
Villa’s Tacos
Speaking of Villa’s Tacos, walk into Highland Park restaurant where owner Victor Villa’s hats, T-shirts, gift cards, and hoodies are some of LA’s most colorful and stylish.
Irv’s Burgers
Visit any Irv’s Burgers locations in West Hollywood, Hollywood, or Malibu to score T-shirts, hoodies, or a casual hat from one of LA’s oldest operators.
Shirts
Yeastie Boys
Though it’s always a good idea to grab a dozen bagels at the Yeastie Boys truck, get online to purchase hats or a T-shirt that is owner Evan Fox’s ode to LA: his food truck superimposed over a photo of OJ Simpson’s Bronco truck being chased by the LAPD.
Genghis Cohen
West Hollywood’s beloved Chinese-American haunt is selling hats in nearly every hue with bold stitching to boot. Also available are baby onesies and long-sleeved shirts.
Badmaash
There’s plenty in the Badmaash store, but owners Arjun and Nakul Mahendro designed this striking tee that’s available on the website.
Ototo and Tsubaki
Merchandise at Ototo and its sister restaurant Tsubaki can be purchased online or in the store for local delivery. Also, from December 16-17 and on Christmas Eve from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., they’ll have sparkling sake, Kinto glassware, and ceramic cups.
Goldburger
Gift ideas from Goldburger include aprons, beanies, hoodies, and mugs, but we’ll take these classic Goldburger T-shirts in black, white, red, and yellow.
Outerwear
Casalena
Hoodies are the equivalent of winter clothes in Los Angeles. The online shop at Woodland Hills’ Casalena has a soft hoodie available along with mugs, visors, tees, plus a canvas bag.
1010 Wine and Events
Inglewood’s first wine bar has sweatshirts and gift cards available for purchase directly on the 1010 Wine website.
Camphor
Though DTLA’s modern French restaurant sells T-shirts, hats, bandana, and Swiss army knife, they’ve also got a Dodger blue-colored hoodie for cool LA nights.
All Day Baby
Inspired by Schitt’s Creek’s Moira Rose’s pronunciation of the word “baby,” Silver Lake’s All Day Baby has one of this year’s best sweatshirts.
Booze and more
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
Santa Monica’s historic Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows has something for LA’s whiskey cocktail drinkers: a Sazerac box. It comes in a wooden box and recipe card with everything needed to make a Sazerac. Find this kit at the Fairmont’s lobby lounge.
Pasadena Wine Shop
Pasadena’s small but mighty wine shop sells holiday wine gift sets that range from $70 to $100. Pasadena Wine Shop staff will ship anywhere, but a visitor can also experience a wine tasting before taking a few bottles home.
Mírate
Mírate puts a dazzling spin on rompope, an eggnog-like Christmas drink. But here, staff added mushroom-infused Charanda rum from Oaxaca and raicilla from Jalisco. They also developed a housemade pasita, which is a famous Pueblan rum-based raisin liqueur. A bottle can be purchased on-site or consumed at the bar. If that’s not on your list, try Mírate’s candles, hats, or shirts.
Baby gear
Connie & Ted’s
Call or visit Connie & Ted’s for baseball-style T-shirts for grownups, or baby onesies with an anchor logo.
Prime Pizza
Prime Pizza’s game is vast with T-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts, but this baby onesie is where it’s at for holiday gifts.
Food products and more
Ammatolí
In addition to serving excellent Levantine food from Long Beach, Ammatolí’s has a market dedicated to regional Mediterranean products including olive oils, za’atar spice, chili oil, soaps, Dead Sea masks, and hand cream. Order online or visit to pick something up.
Benny Boy Brewing
A coffee or tea drinker will easily enjoy a campfire mug duo from Benny Boy Brewing this holiday season.
Botanica
Silver Lake’s Botanica Restaurant already has a market full of goods, but they also assembled a box of goods from California farmers and vendors. One collection is stocked with a bottle of olive oil from Weibe Farms, spiced honey, Daybreak Seaweed seasoning, pickles, K&K Ranch raisins, and Woon stir-fry sauce.
Valerie Confections
Valerie Gordon’s seasonal sweets assortment is truly grand and includes an almond fleur de sel toffee, almond toffee, mint toffee, black pepper truffles, scotch truffles, and liquid caramel bonbons. She’s also prepared a collection of oils infused with aromatics, plus a 20-piece box of chocolate truffles.
Jitlada
Coffee mugs, hats, and one vibrant T-shirt are for sale at Thai Town’s Jitlada. But these Christmas ornaments just might be the perfect addition to any tree.
Strings of Life (S.O.L.) Cafe
Since opening in 2020, West Hollywood’s Strings of Life Cafe has food items available for purchase. Potential gifts include housemade chili crisp, tomato chutney, everything bagel seasoning, strawberry-rose-geranium jam, and coffee beans.
Guerrilla Tacos
For the home cook in your life, Guerrilla Tacos partnered with BlueCut Aprons for a limited edition taquero apron. They designed this apron with a pocket towel loop and a lighter pocket. It’s also customizable.
Bloom & Plume
Support brothers Maurice and Moses Harris and their Historic Filipinotown coffee shop with a dependable tote. Also in the merch shop are insulated mugs and well-fitted tees. The key chain is also a must.