Chainsaw LA
Chainsaw LA is a Los Angeles culinary business led by chef Karla Subero Pittol that sells artisanal icebox pies and frozen desserts through pop-up dinners, private events, and direct sales at The Garage venue in Echo Park, serving LA food enthusiasts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Chainsaw LA does
Chainsaw LA is a culinary business founded in 2019 in Los Angeles by Venezuelan-born, LA-raised chef Karla Subero Pittol. The company began as an underground dinner series hosted from the chef's garage in Echo Park and evolved during the 2020 pandemic into a pastry-focused operation featuring artisanal icebox pies and frozen desserts. The business operates a pop-up and private dining venue called The Garage, hosting RSVP-only dinners, private events, and showcasing up-and-coming chefs alongside its own menu. No proprietary technology platform exists; the operation is built on culinary craft, with ticketing handled through the HotPlate platform and a Squarespace-based website for marketing, event listings, and newsletter signups.
The product portfolio comprises 12 catalogued SKUs across two categories: six icebox pie varieties (e.g., Pie de Marquesa, Double Crust Peach + Nectarine + Strawberry, Passionfruit Lime, Coconut Cream, Banana Cream) and six frozen desserts (sherbets, sorbets, and ice creams such as Fernet Mint Chip and Vanilla 'Mallow Fluff). The flavor profile blends Venezuelan heritage with LA farmers market ingredients, with signature items such as a KCRW blue-ribbon-winning pie crust. The company has been featured in Eater, The Infatuation, Los Angeles Magazine, Thrillist, and Los Angeles Times, and was named one of The Infatuation's Best Pop-Ups of 2020.
Revenue is generated through three streams: ticketed pop-up dinner events (transaction-based, sold via HotPlate), private event hosting (booked via website inquiry, every weekend), and direct pastry and frozen dessert sales. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the consumer target is LA food enthusiasts, dessert lovers, and private event hosts. Headcount is 1–10 employees and the founder retains full ownership. In August 2025, the company launched a crowdfunding campaign on Honeycomb Credit targeting $100,000 to fund the transition from garage-based underground dining to a permanent retail location.
Chainsaw LA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chainsaw LA
- Legal name
- Chainsaw LA
- Website
- https://chainsawla.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Chainsaw LA is a Los Angeles culinary business led by chef Karla Subero Pittol that sells artisanal icebox pies and frozen desserts through pop-up dinners, private events, and direct sales at The Garage venue in Echo Park, serving LA food enthusiasts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chainsaw LA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Artisanal Pastry & Dessert Dining
- NAICS
- Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing (3118), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520), Mobile Food Services (722330)
- SIC
- Bakery Products (2050), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pop-Up Food Vendors (Temporary Stands/Markets) (THAFAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Mobile / On-Site Catering (Food Trucks for Events, Pop-Ups) (THAFAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Chainsaw LA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Chainsaw LA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pop-up Event Tickets: Ticketed RSVP-only pop-up dinners hosted at The Garage venue in Echo Park, with ticket sales managed through HotPlate platform
- Private Event Hosting: Private dinners hosted for clients every weekend at The Garage, booked through event inquiry submissions on the website
- Pastry and Frozen Dessert Sales: Direct sales of specialty pastries, icebox pies, ice creams, and sherbets featuring unique flavor combinations like Valrhona chocolate, passionfruit lime, and Fernet mint chip
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual pastry and frozen dessert items |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Chainsaw LA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chainsaw LA is a culinary and pastry operation that produces artisanal icebox pies (including Venezuelan-inspired Marquesa and seasonal fruit varieties), frozen desserts (sorbets, sherbets, and ice creams), and small plates. It distributes these products through RSVP-only pop-up dinners and private event hosting at its Echo Park venue called The Garage, with operations transitioning from underground garage dining to a permanent location.
Product overview
Chainsaw LA is a culinary/pastry business led by chef Karla Subero Pittol, offering a portfolio of artisanal frozen desserts and pies. The product lineup consists of two main categories: icebox pies (6 varieties including Marquesa, seasonal fruit, and cream pies) and frozen desserts (6 varieties including sorbets, sherbets, and ice creams). The business operates primarily through pop-up events and private dining experiences at its venue called The Garage, where it serves both its signature desserts and grilled small plates alongside bespoke cocktails. The company transitioned from underground garage dining to a permanent operation with funding support for equipment and expansion.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pie de Marquesa Icebox Pie
Companies that use Chainsaw LA
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Chainsaw LA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Chainsaw LA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Chainsaw LA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Milk Bar: Cult pastry and dessert brand with multiple retail locations and packaged goods. Comparable as a dessert-focused brand with strong founder-driven identity and creative, non-traditional flavor profiles across pies and frozen desserts.
- McConnell's Fine Ice Creams: California-based premium ice cream maker with retail distribution. Comparable as a craft ice cream operator in the same West Coast market with similar artisan positioning and ingredient-quality focus.
- Coolhaus: Architecturally-inspired premium ice cream brand known for creative, unconventional flavors. Comparable as a craft ice cream maker with experimental flavor innovation similar to Chainsaw LA's approach.
- Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: Premium ice cream brand with national footprint and DTC distribution. Comparable as a craft ice cream maker emphasizing unique flavors and high-quality ingredients, operating at a much larger scale.
- Salt & Straw: Multi-location craft ice cream brand with national distribution. Comparable as a craft ice cream maker competing in the same premium dessert category, though at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
- Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Scaled craft ice cream brand known for creative, unconventional flavors. Comparable focus on unique, artisanal flavor profiles like Chainsaw LA's Fernet Mint Chip and Pie de Marquesa-inspired offerings.
Direct peers
- The Pie Hole: LA-based pie shop specializing in sweet and savory pies with retail storefronts. Directly comparable as a similar pie-focused concept in the LA market with comparable price points and product mix.
- Pie 'n Burger: Long-standing LA pie shop known for classic American pies and burgers. Comparable as an LA-based pie-focused operator with a cult local following, though operating a more traditional, sit-down format.
- Achatz Handmade Pie Company: Specialty pie company focused on handmade pies including icebox and seasonal fruit varieties. Directly comparable as a pie-focused competitor with similar product categories and premium positioning.
Emerging players
- Sweet Laurel: LA-based bakery specializing in grain-free and paleo cakes. Comparable as an LA-based pastry brand with strong Instagram presence and DTC distribution, competing for similar premium dessert customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Chainsaw LA social profiles
Digital presenceChainsaw LA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chainsaw LA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Chainsaw LA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chainsaw LA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chainsaw LA
What does Chainsaw LA do?
Chainsaw LA is a culinary and pastry operation that produces artisanal icebox pies (including Venezuelan-inspired Marquesa and seasonal fruit varieties), frozen desserts (sorbets, sherbets, and ice creams), and small plates. It distributes these products through RSVP-only pop-up dinners and private event hosting at its Echo Park venue called The Garage, with operations transitioning from underground garage dining to a permanent location.
Is Chainsaw LA a public or private company?
Chainsaw LA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Chainsaw LA founded?
Chainsaw LA was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Chainsaw LA based?
Chainsaw LA is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chainsaw LA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Pop-up Event Tickets are the primary driver. The others are private Event Hosting and pastry and Frozen Dessert Sales.
Who are Chainsaw LA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Milk Bar, McConnell's Fine Ice Creams, Coolhaus, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Salt & Straw and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. Direct peers are The Pie Hole, Pie 'n Burger and Achatz Handmade Pie Company. Sweet Laurel is listed as an emerging player.
Does Chainsaw LA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chainsaw LA.
What industry is Chainsaw LA in?
Chainsaw LA's product category is Artisanal Pastry & Dessert Dining. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAHAE, Pop-Up Food Vendors (Temporary Stands/Markets), with a secondary code of THAFAIAJ, Mobile / On-Site Catering (Food Trucks for Events, Pop-Ups). Its NAICS code is 3118 and its SIC code is 2050.