Event Catering LA
Guests in evening wear seated at a gala dinner

2026 guide · Corporate events and galas

The best event caterers in Los Angeles for corporate events and galas (2026)

Galas, product launches, conferences, award nights. When the food is part of the program, you need a caterer that staffs events, and that is who is on this list. Every listing names the services and the kind of event each caterer suits.

Updated October 27, 2026. 10 listings, checked October 26, 2026.

Photo: Filip Rankovic Grobgaard on Unsplash

Event caterers in Los Angeles

  1. 1

    Marbled LA

    Best for: company receptions and launches

    This guide is published by MEDZ, which owns Marbled LA.

    Area: Glendale

    • Event catering
    • Corporate events
    • Passed and stationary bites

    Caters corporate events, launches and receptions from its Glendale kitchen, with passed appetizers, stationary bites and buffets sized to the guest list.

    Marbled LA plans event menus around how guests will eat: passed bites for a standing reception, and stations or a buffet when the event runs through a meal. Send the date, the venue, the guest count and the run of show through Request a quote, or call (323) 963-3475.

    Google4.8 out of 5from 85 reviewsRead the reviews on GoogleYelp4.9 out of 5from 202 reviewsSee the Yelp page

    Ratings as of October 2026, copied from Marbled LA's Google and Yelp profiles. The links show every review.

    Request a quoteVisit website
  2. 2

    Bite Catering Couture

    Best for: galas, premieres and conferences

    Area: Los Angeles

    • Corporate catering
    • Wedding catering
    • Galas and fundraisers
    • Product launches

    Caters conferences, awards shows, film premieres and fundraising galas, typically for 25 to 500 guests and up to 2,500 with streamlined menus.

    Visit websiteDetails checked October 26, 2026
  3. 3

    Border Grill

    Best for: company parties with a food truck

    Area: Los Angeles

    • Full-service catering
    • Weddings
    • Quick catering
    • Food truck catering
    • Photo and film shoots

    Offers full-service catering for corporate events and sends its food truck to office parties and large crowds, cooking with antibiotic-free meats and sustainable seafood.

    Visit websiteDetails checked October 26, 2026
  4. 4

    Crateful Catering

    Best for: luxury brand launches

    Area: West Hollywood

    • Weddings
    • Kosher catering
    • Corporate catering
    • Film and production catering
    • Italian catering

    Caters exclusive galas and luxury product launches at venues such as Greystone Mansion, Playa Studios and The Lot at Formosa.

    Visit websiteDetails checked October 26, 2026
  5. 5

    Gourmet Celebrations

    Best for: black-tie galas and product launches

    Area: Westchester, Los Angeles

    • Corporate events
    • Social events
    • Weddings
    • Holiday parties
    • Delivery and drop-off

    Caters black-tie galas, product launches, wrap parties and boardroom lunches, and can supply rentals, staffing, bartenders and alcohol.

    Visit websiteDetails checked October 26, 2026
  6. 6

    KMR Gourmet Catering

    Best for: conferences and brand activations

    Area: Downtown Los Angeles

    • Corporate catering
    • Holiday party catering
    • Film and production catering
    • Weddings
    • Drop-off or full-service

    Caters conferences, galas and brand activations, offering plated, family-style or buffet service along with rentals, bar, setup and staffing.

    Visit websiteDetails checked October 26, 2026
  7. 7

    Patina Group

    Best for: premieres and championship events

    Area: Downtown Los Angeles

    • Weddings and celebrations
    • Private events
    • Corporate receptions
    • Galas
    • Film premieres

    Caters film premieres, brand launches and sports championships, with featured work at the 2024 and 2025 PGA Championships and the Segerstrom Center 50th Anniversary Gala.

    Visit websiteDetails checked October 26, 2026
  8. 8

    Schaffer

    Best for: brand launches and galas

    Area: Mid-City, Los Angeles

    • Event catering
    • Hospitality
    • Corporate events
    • Weddings
    • Bartending

    Its past events include a Covergirl launch event, the Core Gala at The Wiltern, a Skechers global brand celebration and the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.

    Visit websiteDetails checked October 26, 2026
  9. 9

    Well Done! Catering Los Angeles

    Best for: retreats, conferences and launches

    Area: Los Angeles

    • Full-service catering
    • Film and TV production catering
    • Crafty table setup
    • Holiday parties
    • Weddings

    Caters executive retreats, conferences, launches and brand activations from its Factory Place kitchen in downtown LA, with drop-off or fully staffed service.

    Visit websiteDetails checked October 26, 2026
  10. 10

    Wolfgang Puck Catering

    Best for: conferences at major LA venues

    Area: Los Angeles

    • Weddings
    • Social events
    • Corporate events
    • Workplace dining
    • Private chef

    Its LA team caters conferences, meetings and corporate parties, with featured partner venues such as the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall and the Audrey Irmas Pavilion.

    Visit websiteDetails checked October 26, 2026
A ballroom set with round tables, chairs and centerpieces
Photo: Ibrahim Boran on Unsplash
An outdoor evening event with a tent and a crowd on the lawn
Photo: Daulet Rakhymzhan on Unsplash

How to choose an event caterer

Start with the run of show

An event caterer plans around the schedule as much as the headcount. Share when doors open, when the speeches happen and when guests are expected to eat. A launch with a 20-minute keynote needs food that waits well. A seated gala needs courses timed to the program.

A gloved hand finishing plated courses on a banquet line
Photo: Gastro Editorial on Unsplash

Reception, stations or seated

Standing receptions suit passed bites and a few stationary displays, and they keep people moving and talking. Stations handle a few hundred guests arriving over time. A seated dinner gives the most control over timing but takes the most staff and rentals. Pick the format before you compare menus.

Venues have their own rules

Hotels downtown and in Century City usually insist on their in-house catering. Museums, Pasadena estates and DTLA rooftops often keep approved-caterer lists, charge a kitchen or buyout fee, ask for a certificate of insurance and set a load-in window, sometimes at a dock that closes at a fixed hour. Some ban open flame, which rules out chafers with fuel cans. Get the venue's catering rules in writing first, then send them to every caterer you are considering.

Lines kill the energy in a room

Ask how many serving points the caterer recommends for your count, how many bartenders it will staff, and how it handles meals for guests who registered with restrictions. For a conference, ask about coffee service, breaks and boxed meals for sessions that run through lunch.

Staffing estimate

Use this to check whether a quote has enough people on the floor. Short staffing is the reason plates sit on tables and the bar line backs up.

Ratios used

  • 1 server for every 20 to 25 guests, covering the line, refills and clearing plates.
  • 1 bartender for every 75 guests when it is beer and wine only.
  • A captain for any staffed event of 50 or more, and for every plated dinner. Under 50, the lead server usually covers it.
  • Each person is on site about 1.5 hours before guests arrive and 1 hour after they leave. Many crews also bill a minimum shift, so check the quote for one.
8people on the crew, up to 9 with the optional spot
  • 5 Servers, plus 1 if the budget allows120 guests at 20 to 25 per server
    6.5 h each
  • 2 Bartenders120 guests at 1 per 75
    6.5 h each
  • 1 CaptainRuns the timeline and the crew, arrives first
    7 h each
Hours on site per person
6.5
Total staff hours
52.5 to 59

Kitchen staff are not counted here. Plated and family style dinners usually add a chef or two on site.

What it costs in Los Angeles

A staffed event in LA is priced per guest, and whether guests stand, graze at stations or sit down sets most of the budget. Unless noted, these figures cover food and service before the bar, rentals, service charge and tax.

Corporate events and galas in LA, per guest unless noted
WhatTypical range
Reception with passed and heavy appetizers$35 to $80 per guest
Buffet or food stations$60 to $130 per guest
Plated gala dinner$90 to $200 per guest
Open bar$35 to $75 per guest
Servers$40 to $60 per hour, 4 to 5 hour minimum
Service charge18 to 22 percent

Staffing guides commonly plan about one server per 8 to 10 guests for plated service, one per 20 to 25 at a buffet and one bartender per 50 to 75 guests, so the format changes labor costs quickly. A required service charge is taxed in California along with the food, and venues may add their own kitchen or buyout fees.

Event pricing at Marbled LA: passed appetizers from $15 per guest, stationary bites from $3 each, and full menus at $24, $48 or $70 per guest, with delivery from $150 per drop, $2.50 per guest for disposables and a 15 percent service charge.

Tips

  • Before a budget goes up for approval, get the all-in per-guest number, with staff, rentals, bar, service charge and tax included.
  • For a long reception, a few generous stations often cost less per guest than enough passed bites to stand in for dinner.
  • If the venue only allows load-in during a short dock window, ask whether the caterer bills the extra crew needed to unload fast.

These are typical Los Angeles market ranges drawn from public price lists and cost guides, not quotes. Every caterer prices its own menus, so ask each one for a written quote.

A printed menu on a gold charger at a formal place setting
Photo: Zane Persaud on Unsplash

Frequently asked questions

How many servers does a staffed corporate event need?

That depends on the format. Buffets and stations need fewer servers than plated service, and passed appetizers need enough staff to reach every corner of the room. Ask each caterer for a staffing plan for your format and count.

What should a gala catering quote include?

Food per guest, staff hours, rentals such as tables, linens and glassware, bar service, any venue or kitchen fees, the service charge and sales tax, each as its own line.

Can event caterers handle a conference that runs all day?

Many can, with breakfast, breaks, lunch and an evening reception. Share the session schedule so food is out at each break, and ask about individually packed meals for working sessions.

When should we lock in a caterer for a gala?

Two to four months ahead is common for a gala or a large launch, and earlier for anything in December. A smaller reception can come together in a few weeks if the caterer has the date open.