Wonder Women Restaurateurs

In November 2020, nine acclaimed female restaurateurs in Los Angeles founded the nonprofit Regarding Her (RE:Her) in response to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry. RE:Her's first event was the inaugural 10 Days RE:Her, which united more than 100 female food and beverage entrepreneurs across LA for a 10-day culinary festival.

Taking place throughout March, the RE:Her Women's History Month Festival showcases women-led food and beverage businesses through a series of exciting events, including curated dining experiences, exclusive pop-ups, chef collaborations, mini-marts and special events across LA.

Read on and discover some of the wonder women restaurateurs who co-founded RE:Her and their establishments.

In 2015, Sandra Cordero opened Gasolina Cafe, which became a community hub renowned for its paellas. After a 10-year run, Gasolina closed in January 2025.

Meaning "together" in Gallego, Xuntos (516 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica 90401) was opened by Cordero in July 2023, showcasing pintxos (small bites) and tapas from her native Spain. Favorites include the Croquetas de Jamón, Vieiras (scallops in the shell with saffron butter), Squid Ink Pasta and Bistec Con Salsa Verde (Denver Cut Wagyu Steak). Save room for the Tarta de Santiago - almond cake with honey whipped cream.

Priced at $67, the Tapas Tasting features a rotating list of 12 dishes spread over four courses. Recent highlights include Deviled Egg Topped With Sardine, Octopus With Chorizo & Potato Purée and Grilled Sea Bass Collars.

Located steps from the historic Manhattan Beach Pier, Love & Salt (317 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach 90266) has become a stalwart of the South Bay dining scene since its opening in 2014. Sylvie Gabriele spearheaded the transformation of her father's neighborhood institution, Cafe Pierre, into a modern bistro serving Italian cuisine with SoCal soul. Highlights include Shaved Fennel Salad, Wood Oven Meatballs, Tomato Braised Pork & Polenta (roasted sweet & pickled pepper relish, parsley) and Duck Egg Pizza with pancetta, panna, potato, rosemary, fior di latte and parmesan.

Guelaguetza (3014 W Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles 90006) is much more than a restaurant - it’s a Oaxacan cultural center with a performance stage, Mezcaleria and boutique market. Located in Koreatown, Guelaguetza is owned and operated by Bricia Lopez and her siblings, Paulina and Fernando, Jr. Guelaguetza’s Oaxacan cuisine has earned local and national acclaim, including the prestigious James Beard America's Classics Award in 2015.

Go with a group and share family-style platters like the Festival de Moles - four individual servings of mole negro, mole rojo, coloradito and estofado; served with shredded chicken or pork spare ribs and veggie rice. For larger groups, the Botana Oaxaqueña serves six and includes quesillo, pork chorizo, beef tasajo, pork cecina, chicken chile relleno, pork spare ribs, grilled onions, cactus paddles, guacamole, beans and 12 memelitas.

"We ditched the patriarchy long ago and took charge of our own destiny." ~ Mary Sue Milliken

Mary Sue Milliken is a true trailblazer, best known for the Mexican-inspired eateries she's opened with Susan Feniger, her business partner of 40-plus years: the colorful Border Grill cantinas (now at LAX and popping up as a food truck); and Socalo, a California canteen and Mexican pub in the Gateway Hotel (1920 Santa Monica Blvd. Ste 150, Santa Monica 90404). Don't miss the guac!

Famously known as the “Too Hot Tamales” after taping nearly 400 episodes of their Food Network show (1995-99), the dynamic duo have won numerous awards, including the Julia Child Award in 2018. In addition to co-founding RE:Her, Milliken also sits on the boards of the James Beard Foundation and Share Our Strength. As Milliken told the Julia Child Foundation, “We ditched the patriarchy long ago and took charge of our own destiny.”

A third generation restaurateur, Kim Prince moved back to Los Angeles from Nashville and launched her Hotville Chicken pop-up in 2016. Her culinary legacy dates to the 1930s, when her great-great uncle Thornton Prince and his brothers started the hot chicken tradition in Nashville. In March 2025, Forbes named Prince to its list of 11 Inspiring Black Entrepreneurs & Business Women: "By continuing her family’s tradition, Kim has grown their business in LA and helped define today’s food culture, demonstrating the invaluable contributions Black women make to the restaurant industry."

After closing her Baldwin Hills Crenshaw brick-and-mortar, Prince partnered with Greg Dulan (Dulan's Soul Food) on a co-branded food truck, DulanVILLE. In addition to popping up at numerous festivals and events like the RE:Her Women's History Month Festival and CicLAvia, the DulanVILLE truck served thousands of free meals as part of World Central Kitchen's wildfire relief efforts. The duo appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live in January 2025 to discuss their humanitarian work.

Dina Samson describes herself as an “unexpected restaurateur” when she opened her first restaurant, Sotto, alongside husband/chef Steve Samson, in 2011. Following Sotto, the couple headed to Downtown LA with two Italian concepts in the Fashion District: Rossoblu, inspired by memories of summers in Bologna; and Superfine Pizza, which features a delicious mix of Neapolitan and New York pizza styles. (NOTE: Superfine is temporarily closed and will reopen on May 1.)

In March 2023, the couple returned to the Westside with Superfine Playa (12746 Jefferson Blvd, Suite 2200, Playa Vista 90094), expanding the concept to a full service restaurant and fulfilling Dina's longtime desire to open a California Osteria - light and bright Italian cuisine; fresh, local produce; and authentic SoCal vibes.

Superfine's signature 12" pizzas include the veg-friendly Roll With It (Escarole, Red Onion, Salt-Cured Olives, Chilies, Smoked Mozzarella), Bee Spicy (Spicy Salami, Provolone, Grana Padano, Buckwheat Honey) and yes, the Aloha Oe with Superfine cheese, tomato, prosciutto cotto, pineapple, pickled Fresno chilies, smoked provolone and Sicilian oregano. Mains include house-made pastas, wood-grilled meats and fish, and dishes highlighting seasonal produce.

Silver Lake's popular Cal-Med restaurant and market, Botanica (1620 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles 90026) was opened in 2017 by Heather Sperling and her business partner Emily Fiffer. Featuring an all-female management team, Botanica has garnered praise for its vibrant, vegetable-forward dishes and ambitious natural wine program.

A must on the Daytime Menu are the Chilaquiles with La Princesita tortilla chips, tomatillo salsa, feta, avocado, radish and sunny side up eggs. A light dinner can start with the Baja Kanpachi (Meyer lemon, chiltepin, fish sauce, radish, avocado, mint) then the Beets & Citrus With Tea Rose Cheese - honey mustard vinaigrette, Cara Cara oranges, tangerine, quinoa and fennel frond. For heartier appetites, there's Mussels in Spicy Coconut-Turmeric Broth; Roasted Half Chicken and a Heritage Pork Chop with Tokyo turnips, blood orange, Tardivo radicchio and red eye gravy.

In November 2024, Sperling teamed up with Siesta Co. to open Bar Siesta (1710 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles 90026) in the former Alimento space, just a block from Botanica. Bar Siesta serves Siesta Co. conservas, snacks and drinks from 3 pm; and seasonal tapas - referencing Spanish cuisine and rooted in seasonal California produce - beginning at 5pm.

Lien Ta and the late Jonathan Whitener opened Here's Looking at You (3901 W 6th St, Los Angeles 90020) in July 2016, earning accolades like "Restaurant of the Year" from Food & Wine and being ranked #26 in Jonathan Gold's 101 Best Restaurants in LA.

The beloved Koreatown restaurant was forced to close due to COVID-19 in July 2020 - seemingly forever. But the community rallied and donated more than $85,000 to the HLAY GoFundMe campaign. HLAY reopened in January 2022, which was wonderful news after so much heartbreak in the LA dining scene. Following its reopening, The New York Times added HLAY to its list of "50 Restaurants in America We’re Most Excited About."

Highlights include Chicken Liver (apricot & mango jam, pickled peppers, crispy shallot, sesame bread), Shrimp Toast (grits, chipotle mayo, radish, sweet potato crisp, minari, chili oil), Fried Half Chicken (ube cornbread, banana hot sauce, calamansi butter) and a 30-day dry-aged Bone-In Ribeye with JW's steak sauce, peppercorn-marinated king trumpet mushroom and fried thyme.

A newer favorite is the HLAY Double Cheeseburger - available only during Happy Hour (8:30pm till sold out), it's made with two thicker dry-aged beef patties, double cheese, fried onions and au poivre mayo, served on a from-scratch sesame bun.