Workers at L.A. Yoshinoya striking over ‘dead cockroaches, black cooking oil, ceiling leaking grease’
Employees of a Yoshinoya in Los Angeles are going on strike over unsanitary working conditions and demanding a safe workspace.
The Yoshinoya in question is located in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood at 1461 South La Cienega Boulevard.
Cooks and cashiers at this restaurant are set to walk off the job around noon on Tuesday, citing dead cockroaches, black cooking oil and the ceiling leaking grease as three major workplace hazards, according to the California Fast Food Workers Union.
“Striking workers will demand Los Angeles lawmakers codify Know Your Rights trainings in fast food stores across the city, which would empower workers to speak out against unsafe conditions and abuses on the job,” the California Fast Food Workers Union said in a statement to KTLA. “At the lunchtime rally, workers will call out Yoshinoya’s disregard for the health and safety of cooks, cashiers and customers.”
California Fast Food Workers Union officials added that the employees are also pushing for officials to pass the Fast Food Fair Work Ordinance, which they say would provide all fast food workers across the city with information and resources for on the job complaints. Video: Benihana worker fights security guard inside Southern California restaurant
In a complaint, the Pico-Robertson Yoshinoya workers said that they aren’t only worried about themselves, but customers too.
“Management cuts corners on ordering supplies such as personal protective equipment, such as gloves for handling raw chicken, dish soap, grill cleaner and oil,” the complaint reads in part. “We often run out of these items and have to make do by improvising – for example, using plastic bags as gloves, using lemonade and water to clean the grill, cleaning the dishes without dish soap and using water after it has turned black.”
KTLA reached out to Yoshinoya for comment regarding the strike and received the following statement:
“Yoshinoya remains firmly committed to the safety and well-being of our employees and guests at every restaurant in our system, including our La Cienega location. Our corporate office has not been made aware of any employee safety concerns at this restaurant and has not received any information suggesting substandard conditions. Our restaurant at 1461 S. La Cienega Blvd. was inspected by the Los Angeles County Department of Health on April 29, 2025, and received a passing score. That said, maintaining safe and welcoming restaurant conditions is always a top priority for us, and we will review all available information to ensure our high standards continue to be met.”
