On Wednesday night in Chinatown, the sidewalk was filled with several mobile pizza ovens. Cardboard boxes of all colors and designs flowed in and out of La Sorted's, where the pizzeria once again served as a base to offer relief food to anyone in need. Some of the most famous chefs in the region gathered to cook pizzas, sandwiches and cups of tiramisu, which then spread to every corner of the city. LA Pizza Alliance was back, double the size of last year's operation.
In response to the January 2025 fires, approximately two dozen local pizzerias came together to create a coalition that could feed Los Angeles in its time of need. The free meals were coordinated and delivered by a team of volunteers.
Chefs prepare stacks of pizzas to deliver during LA Pizza Alliance's second food relief event at La Sorted's in Chinatown.
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
On Wednesday he returned sending free pizzas to those affected by the Altadena and Palisades fires, as well as immigration raids or any other misfortune of the last year. The message was simple: If you need a hot meal, LA Pizza Alliance has you covered.
“This is not an anniversary, this is not a celebration,” said organizer David Turkell. “This is just a commitment to the promise we made a year ago to the people of Los Angeles… We just want to make sure that the public knows that we have their back, no matter what happens in the face of anything that's going on.”
According to Turkell, last year the event delivered more than 1,000 whole pizzas. This year it exceeded 1,800, in addition to desserts, bagels, salads and other items.
“I need 36 cakes, you 36!” —a voice shouted to the ovens on the sidewalk. The chefs sprang into action. To one side, the owner of Taquería Frontera, Juan Carlos “JC” Guerra, cut the pastor with a spinning top, helping to feed the participating pizzaiolos.
After the success of the initial LA Pizza Alliance event, the chefs asked Turkell to participate year-round. He expected the 2026 free pizza night to be larger, but he didn't anticipate it doubling. Last year, more than two dozen participants came forward to provide food. This year, there were approximately 75.
The inaugural event took place in 48 hours, in what Turkell called pure chaos. This year, he and host Tommy Brockert, owner of La Sorted's, planned the event in a week.
Joe Iverson of Cliq Claq Pizza tosses dough during Wednesday night's event.
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
“It's twice the size,” Brockert said, “but twice as organized.”
The extra days helped them optimize the system for using the ovens.
Delivery drivers lined up in the adjacent Mandarin Plaza garage, waiting for their stacks of pizza boxes.
One new vendor, Jeffrey Vance of Los Feliz's Old Gold Tomato Pies, called the event a good excuse for camaraderie and networking within the pizza community. But the most important factor, he said, is the provision of community help.
“It's a tough place to live, expensive and the housing is tough,” Vance said. “Seeing what these guys did after the fires last year was very inspiring, so it was a no-brainer for us to say yes when David [Turkell] “came closer.”
Other new vendors included William Joo, chef and owner of Pizzeria Sei, a highly acclaimed pizzeria on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants list. Joo set up a table in a corner of La Sorted's kitchen, baking sandwich flatbreads in the oven, some smeared with her pesto and bologna, others with marinated meats from Korean destination Soban.
Volunteer chefs and drivers prepared piles of pizzas for delivery.
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
Legendary pizzaiolo Chris Bianco wanted to participate last year but was out of town. This year, he made dozens of slices from his Arts District restaurants, Pizzeria Bianco and Pane Bianco.
“The hospitality community, in this case the pizza community, is a very close-knit group,” Bianco said. “This is one of the kindest groups of people. They will be there when people need them. They show up. They don't ask questions. A part of me came here just to summon and interact with humanity, and just make sure we don't give up.”
In 2025 the restaurants traveled from San Diego. This year Bettina from Montecito joined, as well as Fat Lip Pizza and Beer from Corona.
Nearly all of 2025's vendors returned this year, including Lupa Cotta chef and owner Ines Glaser.
LA Pizza Alliance organizer David Turkell (right) with chef Lupa Cotta and volunteer pizzaiola Ines Glaser on Wednesday.
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
“Last year I was in a very dark hole looking at my phone and the news,” Glaser said. “[Now] Everyone seems to be in a better place and happier. I think everyone is ready to make pizza and feel good. … It will be interesting to see over the years how it changes and what other community efforts they might pursue. “If we can all network and be there for each other, then I think we can all lift each other up.”
Brockert and Turkell are planning multiple new ways to raise funds and feed the community this year, including an event that will coincide with March's International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. And, Turkell added, LA Pizza Alliance will continue to work with mutual aid organizations like Slice Out Hunger, a national nonprofit that fights food insecurity with free pizza.
