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    Back to Which Way, L.A.?

    Which Way, L.A.?

    Have You Eaten Out Lately?

    Americans spend 49 percent of their food budgets in restaurants, compared to 25 percent in 1955. The restaurant industry's growing fast, and it employs one out of every 12 private-sector workers. Los Angeles is one of the country's biggest markets for eating out.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Americans spend 49 percent of their food budgets in restaurants, compared to 25 percent in 1955. The restaurant industry's growing fast, and it employs one out of every 12 private-sector workers. Los Angeles is one of the country's biggest markets for eating out. But, despite the smiles of the waiters and maitre d's, it's a tough business with sometimes abusive labor conditions. KCRW's Saul Gonzalez speaks with restaurant owners and workers (Eric Padilla, Mariana Huerta, Diep Tran, Oscar Alemán) and Jot Condie of the California Restaurant Association.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Wages and Working Conditions in the Restaurant Business
    1. 0:00Health Conditions on LA's Skid Row
    2. 7:37Have You Eaten Out Lately?You’re reading this
    3. 27:04Cyberwarfare in the Era of Stuxnet and Flame
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Frances Anderton

      architecture critic and author

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jot Condie

      California Restaurant Association

      News

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Wages and Working Conditions in the Restaurant Business
    1. 0:00Health Conditions on LA's Skid Row
    2. 7:37Have You Eaten Out Lately?You’re reading this
    3. 27:04Cyberwarfare in the Era of Stuxnet and Flame
    Back to Which Way, L.A.?