Iconic LA deli raises costs to deal with hovering price of eggs as enterprise begin to buckle

A famous Los Angeles deli has implemented an egg surcharge as costs for the breakfast staple soar across the country.

Langer’s Delicatessen unveiled an extra 50-cent per egg charge on all orders on Sunday.

The establishment, which opened in 1947,  is known for their pastrami sandwiches which is a fan favorite of locals and celebrities alike – including Chris Pine who was featured on their Instagram admiring one of the treats in August.

After fears of closing last year due to public safety and homelessness concerns at neighboring MacArthur Park according to KTLA, the deli announced it has been forced to raise the price of egg menu items.

‘Like many in the industry, we’ve seen significant increases in the cost of eggs and other essential ingredients due to supply chain disruptions and inflation,’ Langer’s Deli said on social media.

‘While some restaurants are raising menu prices across the board, we’ve opted for a temporary modest $0.50-per-egg surcharge to help offset costs amid the bird flu turmoil while keeping our legendary pastrami sandwiches and other favorites accessible to our loyal customers.’

Owner Norm Langer said he tried to hold off on raising prices for as long as possible, but costs have become too high.

‘I tried to wait and wait in hopes [the price] would go back down, but it’s going to keep increasing,’ he told the Los Angeles Times.

Langer’s Delicatessen unveiled an extra 50-cent per egg charge on all orders on Sunday. The restaurant had fears of closing last year due to public safety and homelessness concerns

The establishment, which opened in 1947, is known for their pastrami sandwiches which is a fan favorite of locals and celebrities alike – including Chris Pine (pictured)

Langer said he does not know how long he will keep the surcharge, but California has been hit particularly hard but the recent egg crisis.

Since 2022, H5N1 — a highly contagious strain of bird flu— has infected 153 million birds across 48 states, forcing the culling of millions more to contain the outbreak.

In just the last quarter of 2024, over 20 million egg-laying hens in the U.S. were lost to the virus, driving egg prices up 9 percent in January compared to the previous year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In the last four weeks alone, prices have been up 15 percent. And while the average cost for a dozen eggs in the U.S. reached a new high of $4.95, in California, some shoppers have been forced pay up to $10.

‘The reason for the egg shortage is very clear. Birds are getting this flu and they have to be culled as quickly as possible,’ Sanjay Sharma, an adjunct professor of finance and business economics at USC’s Marshall School of Business, told the LA Times.

He noted that in some cases, entire flocks must be euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.

California has been hit hard because roughly 40 percent of its eggs are produced within the state. 

The ongoing outbreak, which so far has forced farms to slaughter nearly 159 million chickens, turkeys and other birds – including nearly 47 million since the start of December – is making supplies scarcer and pushing up prices.

While the average cost for a dozen eggs in the U.S. reached a new high of $4.95, in California, some shoppers have been forced pay up to $10

‘Everybody likes fresh eggs, so we typically eat the eggs we produce,’ said Sharma. ‘Right now, that’s presenting a problem.’

As demand surges, some grocery chains, including Trader Joe’s and Kroger, have implemented purchase limits to prevent bulk buying.

However, these restrictions may be fueling consumer panic, similar to the hoarding seen with toilet paper during the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘Whenever there’s a shortage, people start to hoard,’ said Sharma. ‘It’s a human instinct, but it’s a self-defeating cycle. It’s absolutely better for everybody if people don’t hoard.’

Egg shortages have created unprecedented demand for local California farms.

Billy’s Egg Farm in Chino, California, a family-owned business operating for 32 years, has seen massive lines of customers eager to buy organic eggs.

Hundreds of cars have lined up daily outside the farm, with stock typically selling out by 11 a.m. Aerial footage shows vehicles inching forward to a drive-thru window, where they make their purchases.