Signs are now up on the space at 10965 Weyburn in Westwood Village announcing the arrival of Xibei Eatery. While I don’t have confirmation, I believe it’s the same company as Xibei Dumplings in Silverlake. If that’s the case, I think we can expect shaomai, or steamed dumplings from “Inner Mongolia, China”. There are help wanted notices in the window and it looks like they’re close to opening.
It was just a few days ago when I told you about Porta Via‘s return to Beverly Hills after a devastating fire. I’ve since heard from the good people at Porta Via and I’m passing the information on, along with some renderings of what the new location will look like:
“Porta Via Beverly Hills, a longtime neighborhood staple, has announced it will relocate and reopen at 184 N. Cañon Drive in summer 2026, following a fire that destroyed its original location on Christmas morning 2025.
Founded in 1994 as a humble breakfast and lunch café at 424 N. Cañon Drive, Porta Via (@portaviaca) expanded over 31 years into a 4,000-square-foot restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, a full bar, and private event space. The new location, three blocks south, marks the restaurant’s next chapter.
The 5,300-square-foot space—previously home to Nusr-Et—will feature a patio and seating for 165 guests in a contemporary bistro setting that reinterprets the Porta Via brand while honoring its history.
“We’ve made so many memories at Porta Via Beverly Hills, and we’re incredibly grateful to have become a lasting part of the community,” said owner Peter Garland. “This summer, we begin a new chapter in a new home and look forward to making new memories there with the support of our longtime guests.”
Garland cited the evolving energy of the southern end of N. Cañon Drive as a key factor in the decision to relocate.
“With the park and newly opened cul-de-sac nearby, Spago next door, the Maybourne Hotel across the street, and restaurants like Dante, Novikov, and Mastro’s all within close reach, the center of gravity has shifted in this direction,” he said.
Since the fire, Garland has prioritized supporting Porta Via’s longtime staff, retaining key team members by placing them at the Palm Desert and Calabasas locations, as well as at the seasonal Porta Via pop-up at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden during the BNP Paribas Open.
“It’s been incredibly important to keep our team together,” he said. “They’ve helped make us what we are.”
It was a shock when the Starbucks on the corner of Olympic and Sawtelle, in the One Westside “aquarium” shopping center, abruptly closed. It always seemed so busy. Now the location is about to get a fresh new tenant. Window paper has recently gone up announcing the arrival of Rok Matcha. Rok has a location in K-Town and promises, “Premium matcha moments, bold specialty coffee, and thick, dessert-style drinks made to impress”.
In other icy treat news… Congratulations good people of Santa Monica, a second Bacio di Latte is on the way! It appears that Italian gelato is continuing its inexorable conquest of The Westside. Here is the location of the upcoming second Santa Monica branch of Italian-born brand Bacio di Latte, at 1510 Montana Ave, right next to another Italian brand, Sogno Toscano. Because why should anyone have to drive more than a few blocks for luscious, creamy, artisanal gelato?
A delightful new icy treat shop is setting up housekeeping at 11301 W Olympic Blvd in Sawtelle Japantown. The Korean Ice Co. is planning on throwing open their doors this Saturday, April 18 at 12pm. On offer is bingsu, or Korean shaved ice in flavors such as mango, red bean, ube, and matcha. We wish them the best of luck.
Porta Via, at 424 N Canon in Beverly Hills, was a beloved and polished neighborhood spot, well-known for power lunches and catering to well-heeled regulars. Then tragedy struck. A fire closed Porta Via Beverly Hills at the end of last year. But don’t count them out yet. Porta Via Beverly Hills is moving to a new space that used to house Nusr-Et, just down the street at 184 N Canon Dr. There’s an application on the front of the space confirming the happy news. They are promising an opening soon. The “contemporary California Bistro & Bar” is still operating two other locations (their Pacific Palisades location remains temporarily closed). (Thanks Les!)
The new location…
Their old location...
Santa Monica’s fave plant-based Thai restaurant appears to be opening a new location. There’s (faint) lettering on the front of a former massage space at 3020 Wilshire Blvd. announcing the arrival of Thai Vegan. A more recent sign lists the business as Thai Vegi. I believe that Thai Vegi is related to Thai Vegan, which has a longstanding location on Main St., and previously operated an outpost on Santa Monica Blvd. I don’t know exactly what will be in store, but I would imagine the menu will be similar to the Main St. location.
The capricious food/beverage world of Santa Monica’s Third St. Promenade is a nearly constant environment of change. The City’s renewed push to improve conditions for businesses will hopefully bring a fresh crop of arrivals. But there are already new businesses moving in. There are the heavy hitters like Raising Cane’s, and there are also some new enterprises willing to chance Downtown SM. One of these is a new java joint, Dragon Alley Coffee Shop, that is currently setting up housekeeping at 312 Santa Monica Blvd. The still-developing website reveals that Dragon Alley is the dream project of Sage and Richard Chand, whose inspiring story you can read about here. We wish them the best of luck.
It was with great excitement that I told you about the arrival of Pret A Manger (also known as Pret) to Los Angeles. If you are unfamiliar with the brand, Pret A Manger (which means ready to eat in French) is a popular grab-and-go super fresh prepared sandwich chain that began in 1986 in London and has since spread to many locations across the globe (including New York and Chicago). In 2024, they opened a branch at 901 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood Village, then another location in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, with hints of more on the way. Sadly, I’m hearing from multiple people that both locations are now closed. There is still one outpost at Tom Bradley in LAX. Does this spell the end of an LA expansion?
Taro root treat experts Holey Grail Donuts vanished a few weeks ago from their location at 2441 Main St. in Santa Monica. Wasting no time, a new tenant is moving in according to a small notice on the door. La Diperie began in 2014 in Montreal, and has since spread to multiple locations across Canada. With locations in Florida, it looks like this is their first West Coast opening. The concept appears to be that you choose between ice cream, cakes, donuts, or cookies which are then dipped into various dips such as chocolate, and topped with a choice of over 20 toppings.
Plywood is up on a complete build-out of a new sushi restaurant in The Runway in Playa Vista. Seabutter has four other locations (Beverly Hils, Glendale, Laguna Beach, and Westlake Village) and promises “fresh fish, an innovative menu, and a warm and inviting atmosphere”. I’m not sure when they will start dishing fish at this location, but until then, check out their menu here.
Toddrickallen 