Restaurant Insurance in Chula Vista

Most restaurants in Chula Vista need three policies: general liability for your customers, property for the kitchen and the space, and workers comp once you have employees. If you sell beer or wine with meals, add liquor liability. We quote all of it with multiple carriers, in English or Spanish, from our office on Broadway.

What insurance does a restaurant need?

• General liability (GL). A customer slips on a wet floor or says your food made them sick. The part that covers the food is products liability, and it comes inside the GL.
• Commercial property. The kitchen, furniture, inventory and what you put into the space, against fire, theft and other covered damage.
• BOP. Liability and property in one package. It fits a lot of small restaurants. If yours doesn’t qualify, we quote each policy separately.
• Workers comp. Required from your first employee. What the state says is below.
• Liquor liability. If you sell or serve alcohol, GL usually doesn’t cover those claims. It’s bought separately.
• Business interruption. If covered damage forces you to close, it pays the income you lose and fixed costs like rent, for the period the policy sets.
• Food spoilage and equipment breakdown. The power goes out and the inventory spoils, or the walk-in cooler’s compressor burns out. Both are added to the property policy.
• Delivery and card payments. If your staff deliver in their own cars, ask about hired and non-owned auto; a business-owned van goes on commercial auto. If you take cards, cyber insurance helps with the costs if your customers’ data is breached.

We write the rest of your business coverage too. See commercial insurance in Chula Vista.

Is workers comp required for a restaurant?

Yes, as soon as you have one employee. The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) puts it this way: "All California employers must provide workers' compensation benefits to their employees under California Labor Code Section 3700. If a business employs one or more employees, then it must satisfy the requirement of the law." Source: DIR, workers’ compensation FAQ. The premium is based on your payroll, so have it ready when you ask for a quote. More on our workers comp page.

What your lease asks for

Before you get the keys, almost every landlord asks for a certificate of insurance (COI). The insurance section of the lease says what liability limits they want, whether they’re an additional insured and whether you insure the improvements. Send us that section before you sign and we’ll tell you if your policy meets it. If you’re applying for an SBA loan, see what the lender asks for on our SBA loan insurance requirements page.

Taquerías, cafés, food trucks and more

We insure taquerías, cafés, bakeries, family restaurants, fast food and fine dining, from Third Avenue to Otay Ranch. If your kitchen is on wheels, see our food truck insurance page.

What we need to quote your restaurant

Your type of food and service (table, counter or delivery), annual sales and how much is alcohol, how many employees and your payroll, the address and size of the space, and your claims from the last few years. Call (619) 489-3751, send the form or stop by the office at 985 Broadway.

Questions

How much does restaurant insurance cost?

It depends on your sales, payroll, whether you sell alcohol, the kind of kitchen and your claims. With that information we get you prices from multiple carriers to compare.

Does insurance cover a customer who gets sick from the food?

Usually yes, through the products liability that comes inside general liability. We go over your policy’s exclusions with you.

Do I need liquor liability if I only sell beer with meals?

If you sell or serve alcohol, general liability usually doesn’t cover those claims. The coverage is added separately, and the carrier asks what share of your sales is alcohol.

Is workers comp required if I have one employee?

Yes. The Department of Industrial Relations says a business with one or more employees must satisfy the workers’ compensation law.

We place insurance. We’re not your attorney. Reviewed September 2026. Ready Lane Insurance Services Inc · CA DOI License #6003650 · 985 Broadway Ste J, Chula Vista, CA 91911 · (619) 489-3751 · Mon–Fri 9–6, Sat 9–3. Coverage is described in general terms; the policy language controls.