One of Los Angeles’ most iconic eateries was forced to close its doors for a few days, due to a nasty “vermin infestation.”
Jitlada, the iconic Sunset Boulevard Southern Thai restaurant that was a favorite of Anthony Bourdain and Jonathan Gold, was forced to close briefly by the Los Angeles County Health Department.
The closure happened on April 30 after health inspectors cited the restaurant for health code violations, though the restaurant quickly fixed the issue and re-opened on May 2, according to KTLA.
The restaurant did not address the closure publicly on social media, though they did release a brief statement via social media to the Los Angeles Times.
“We take health and safety extremely seriously and have already implemented additional preventative measures,” the statement read.
The LA County Health Department has issued 120 such vermin infestation citations to Los Angeles restaurants in 2026, 67 of which were issued in April alone.
Other restaurants cited were beloved West Hollywood restaurant Dan Tana, an events kitchen at the private club San Vicente Bungalows and the rooftop restaurant at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills.
There were also multiple school cafeterias that were closed, along with local supermarkets and corner stores, including the Gardena Supermarket, which was cited two separate times in April.
The citations continued into early May as well, with King Harbor Yacht Club in Redondo Beach cited on May 4, and Santa Monica’s Rick Bayless’ Red O on May 5.]
Other notable places issued these citations in 2026 include Genghis Cohen, a restaurant in the Los Angeles Zoo, a food counter at 99 Ranch and the now-permanently closed Cole’s in downtown LA.
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When any of these businesses are cited, they are mandated to close for a minimum of 48 hours, with business owners recommended to consult with pest-control services.
The “vermin infestation” can include rodents, cockroaches and flies.
The business is asked to, “identify potential rodent entry locations, recommend effective prevention strategies, and monitor for rodent activity in and around the building,” according to a representative for the Department of Health.
After the business owners feel they have addressed the infestation, they can request another inspection and re-open upon passing it.
Jitlada opened in East Hollywood’s Thai Town neighborhood in 1970, with brothers Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong and Suthiporn “Tui” Sungkamee purchasing it in 2007.
The restaurant was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins and The Best Thing I Ever Ate, plus Travel Channel’s Food Paradise.
Chef/owner Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong was nominated by the James Beard Foundation for the Best Chef in California Award in 2022 and 2023, and it was featured in the Michelin Guide in 2025.
