The mission of the California Restaurant Association is to be the definitive voice of the California foodservice industry and to protect and promote its success. CRA serves as the indispensable resource for California restaurateurs.

The California Restaurant Association was founded one night in 1906, when 15 local restaurateurs and hotel operators gathered for a banquet at Levy's Café. Al Levy had more in mind than feeding his guests; he intended to convince them to organize for their own common welfare. One 14-course meal later, the Los Angeles Restaurant and Hotelmen's Association was born.

Today, the California Restaurant Association, the oldest restaurant trade association in the United States and the evolutionary product of Levy's idea and initiative, boasts 3,500 members who represent 14,000 foodservice businesses statewide.