Restaurant insurance from kitchen to dining room.
Property, liability, liquor liability and workers' comp for restaurants, cafes, bars and food service businesses, shopped across carriers that write them.
Quick answer Alishahi Insurance, Saman Alishahi's independent brokerage (California License #4348151), shops restaurant insurance, including property, liability, liquor liability and workers' comp, across carriers that write restaurants, cafes, bars and food service businesses.
- Restaurant insurers look at cooking type, fire suppression, alcohol sales, hours and payroll, so a cafe and a late-hours full-service bar land in very different markets.
- California requires restaurant employers to carry workers' compensation insurance, even with one employee.
- Liquor liability covers claims tied to serving alcohol; landlords commonly require it, and general liability policies often exclude those claims.
- Many restaurants can get a business owner's policy, depending on size, cooking and alcohol sales, while larger or higher-risk restaurants may need separate property and liability policies.
- Alishahi Insurance places California restaurant policies directly; outside California, the request is handled together with a partner agency in the restaurant's state.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · En español · How this page is researched
Every restaurant is rated differently
Carriers look at cooking type, fire suppression, alcohol sales, hours and payroll. A cafe and a full-service bar with late hours land in very different markets.
I match your restaurant to the carriers whose guidelines fit it, then set limits to meet your lease and liquor license requirements.
- Business owner's policyProperty, liability and business income bundled for eligible restaurants.
- Liquor liabilityClaims tied to serving alcohol, often required by landlords.
- Workers' compRequired in California for employers, even with one employee.
- Spoilage and equipmentFood spoilage and equipment breakdown for coolers and kitchen equipment.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- The restaurant: type, seats, hours and square footage.
- Sales: annual food and alcohol sales.
- Cooking: fryers, open flame and hood suppression.
- Staff: number of employees and annual payroll.
- Lease: insurance requirements.
- Current policy: declarations and loss runs.
Restaurant insurance, answered
Do restaurants need liquor liability insurance?
If you serve alcohol, liquor liability protects against claims tied to serving it. Landlords commonly require it, and general liability policies often exclude those claims.
Is workers' comp required for a restaurant?
Yes. California requires employers to carry workers' compensation insurance, even with one employee.
Can a restaurant get a business owner's policy?
Many restaurants can, depending on size, cooking and alcohol sales. Larger or higher-risk restaurants may need separate property and liability policies.
Does insurance cover spoiled food after a power outage?
Food spoilage coverage can, depending on the cause and your policy's terms. It's often added to a restaurant policy.
Do you offer restaurant insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. California policies are placed directly; outside California the request is handled together with a partner agency in your state, and the shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see insurance requirements by state.
Tell me about the restaurant. I'll shop it.
Type, sales, alcohol and payroll are enough to start.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.
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Takes about 30 seconds. I review every request personally and call you back, usually the same day.
(424) 552-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
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