Woman’s Legs Burst Into Flames During Luxury LA Dinner as Lawsuit Reveals Horrifying Details of Restaurant Accident

A dinner with friends at an upscale Los Angeles restaurant allegedly turned into a terrifying ordeal when a chef’s cooking oil caught fire, leaving a woman with severe burns to both legs.

Angela Ciccone was dining at Maison Kasai, a high-end hibachi restaurant in downtown Los Angeles, on September 5 when the incident occurred, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The restaurant features open-flame grills where chefs prepare food directly in front of diners, often incorporating dramatic flames into their performances.

According to the complaint, a chef was holding a container of cooking oil while preparing food at Ciccone’s table when the oil suddenly caught fire.

The flames reportedly engulfed the chef’s arm and neck. As he reacted, burning oil spilled onto the floor, where it allegedly ignited near Ciccone.

When she looked down, she realized that both the floor and her legs were on fire.

In a desperate attempt to extinguish the flames, Ciccone stood up, moved away from the grill and repeatedly patted her legs. A friend who was dining with her rushed to help.

The lawsuit describes the incident as a sudden blaze caused by the combination of spilled cooking oil and the restaurant’s open flames.

But the complaint makes another troubling allegation about the moments immediately afterward.

Ciccone claims restaurant employees helped move the injured chef into another room but failed to come to her assistance. Her friends allegedly helped her get away from the burning area before calling 911.

Emergency responders arrived and transported her to hospital, where doctors diagnosed second-degree burns to both lower extremities.

She received intravenous fluids, pain medication and burn dressings before being transferred the following morning to the specialized burn center at Torrance Memorial Medical Center.

According to the lawsuit, Ciccone remained at the facility until September 17 and underwent surgical debridement to remove damaged tissue, followed by skin grafting.

Her recovery was reportedly extremely painful. The complaint describes how repeated dressing changes caused intense discomfort as the bandages pulled against newly healing skin.

The injuries have also allegedly left lasting consequences. Ciccone claims that exposure to direct sunlight continues to cause sensitivity and pain, while the scarring is expected to be permanent.

Photographs submitted with the lawsuit reportedly show extensive burns across her legs.

Ciccone is seeking compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, disfigurement, physical impairment and the loss of enjoyment of everyday activities. The amount of damages requested has not been specified.

The lawsuit names Lightstone Parent LLC, identified in the complaint as the restaurant’s owner, as a defendant.

Maison Kasai is located on the eighth floor of the Moxy Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, within the Level 8 dining and entertainment complex.

The complaint alleges that the restaurant failed to handle cooking oil safely, prevent the fire from spreading and provide appropriate assistance after the incident.

The restaurant and its ownership company were contacted for comment, but no response was included in the reports reviewed.

The allegations have not been tested in court, and no judicial finding of negligence has been made.

What was supposed to be an evening of fine dining and entertainment has now become the subject of a serious legal dispute, with Ciccone seeking accountability for injuries she says will affect her for the rest of her life.

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