Beverly Hills Restaurant Crustacean to Close, Relocate Out of State
Citing rising costs and a changing business climate, the celebrity-favored eatery will shutter its Los Angeles location at the end of the month before opening new outposts in Atlanta, Sun Valley, and Honolulu.
Crustacean, a long-standing Beverly Hills restaurant and a known haunt for celebrities, will close its doors at the end of October, with plans to relocate and open multiple locations in other states. The decision comes amid a broader trend of restaurant closures in Los Angeles, attributed to increasing operational costs and a challenging business environment.
The family-owned Asian fusion restaurant, popular for its garlic noodles and roasted Dungeness crab, has hosted numerous stars over the years, including Barbra Streisand, Flea, Samuel L. Jackson, and Diane Warren. The closure marks the end of an era for the establishment, which first opened its Beverly Hills location in 1997.
A source close to the restaurant described the farewell events as emotional, with notable attendees such as “Crazy Rich Asians” writer Kevin Kwan, former “The View” host Lisa Ling, and Kiss frontman Paul Stanley. The restaurant has been offering takeout service throughout its final week.
Factors Driving the Closure
The closure is linked to a new landlord and the overall cost of doing business in Los Angeles County. Reports have detailed a significant number of restaurant closures in the area over the past 18 months, a phenomenon described as a “restaurant bloodbath.” Factors contributing to this trend include soaring rent, increased food and labor expenses, decreased foot traffic, and the lingering economic effects of the pandemic and Hollywood strikes. Natural events like wildfires have also been cited as contributing factors.
Future Plans
While the Beverly Hills location is closing, the An family, which owns Crustacean, has confirmed plans for new outposts in Atlanta, Sun Valley, and Honolulu. Additionally, a Crustacean pop-up is scheduled for late November at its sister restaurant, AnQi Bistro, located in South Coast Plaza.
The restaurant’s history includes a notable event in 2005 when actress Holly Robinson Peete went into labor while dining at Crustacean and was taken to the hospital to give birth to her third child, Roman Peete, whose father is former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete.
Earlier reports had indicated potential new locations within California, such as Calabasas and Pasadena, but the finalized plans involve relocation outside the state entirely. 
