Los Angeles, California — Horses, once one of Hollywood’s hardest-to-book celebrity restaurants, is preparing for a comeback on the Sunset Strip after closing its original location in 2025 amid a highly publicized divorce dispute, allegations involving the treatment of pets and mounting financial troubles.

The restaurant, which opened in 2021 on Sunset Boulevard, quickly became a major fixture of Los Angeles’ celebrity dining scene. Its intimate setting, high-profile clientele and acclaimed food helped turn the historic brick-and-mortar location into one of the city’s most sought-after reservations.

Now, after more than a year away, Horses says it is preparing to return at a new location.

Horses Announces a New Home

Horses recently announced its comeback on social media, posting a message that read:

“Coming back to a new home on the Sunset Strip,”

The announcement comes after the restaurant’s original location never reopened following a temporary closure in 2025.

A sign posted on the door said the restaurant was temporarily shutting down for repairs and building maintenance because of structural issues reportedly connected to heavy rain in December 2025.

The temporary closure ultimately became permanent, leaving the future of the restaurant uncertain.

The new announcement now suggests that the Horses name will return to the Los Angeles dining scene, although details about the new location and reopening timeline remain limited.

From Hollywood Newcomer to Celebrity Magnet

When Horses opened in 2021, it quickly developed a reputation as a destination for celebrities and influential figures.

At the height of its popularity, getting a reservation could be extremely difficult. The restaurant attracted a notable list of guests, including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Jeff Bezos and Will Ferrell.

But Horses was not known solely for its celebrity crowd.

The restaurant also earned praise for its food, with its menu combining elements of French brasserie cooking with seasonal California cuisine. That combination helped distinguish Horses from celebrity-driven restaurants where the atmosphere and clientele can overshadow the food.

Its reputation as both a culinary destination and a Hollywood hotspot helped fuel its rapid rise.

A Public Divorce Changed the Restaurant’s Story

The restaurant’s trajectory changed dramatically in May 2023, when founding chef-owners Liz Johnson and Will Aghajanian became involved in a highly publicized divorce dispute.

Court filings included allegations from Johnson accusing Aghajanian of domestic assault and of torturing and killing the couple’s pet cats.

Aghajanian strongly denied those allegations. He countersued Johnson and alleged that she had been physically abusive toward him and their dogs.

The allegations were contested, and the legal dispute ultimately ended with both Johnson and Aghajanian leaving the business and settling their dispute.

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The controversy became closely associated with the restaurant’s public image at a time when Horses had already established itself as one of Los Angeles’ most talked-about dining destinations.

New Leadership Tried to Keep Horses Going

After the founders departed, chef Brittany Ha took over leadership of the kitchen alongside her husband, Lee Pallerino. Ha continued operating the restaurant despite the damage to its reputation and a decline in private-event revenue.

The restaurant remained open until its eventual closure in 2025, when the structural issues at the building provided another major setback.

For a restaurant that had once been among Los Angeles’ most exclusive dining destinations, the shutdown marked a dramatic change in fortunes.

Financial Trouble Added Another Challenge

The restaurant’s problems were not limited to its public controversy and operational difficulties.

Horses Holdings LLC, the company’s parent entity, was hit with nearly $530,000 in California state tax liens across two filings in December 2025.

The tax liens added another layer of financial pressure as the restaurant’s original location remained closed. Now, however, the Horses brand is attempting to turn the page with its planned move to a new home on the Sunset Strip.

Whether the new location can recapture the excitement surrounding the original restaurant remains to be seen. But the announcement signals that one of Los Angeles’ most controversial celebrity dining destinations is not finished yet.

Would you visit Horses if it reopens on the Sunset Strip? What do you think about the restaurant making a comeback after everything surrounding its original location? Share your thoughts in the comments.