Wishing all readers a joyous holiday filled with delicious food, family, and dear friends. I’m very grateful to all my dedicated readers for giving me the inspiration and support to keep exploring the excitement of the LA food scene. Happy Thanksgiving from Toddrickallen!
I’m hearing from surprised readers who have noticed the permanently drawn curtains and lack of activity at Downtown Santa Monica’s neighborhood watering hole and eatery The Independence. The Independence has anchored the corner of 2nd and Broadway since 2014, when it replaced Buddha’s Belly. Sadly, for all intents and purposes, it appears that it has quietly disappeared. I’ll keep my eye on the space at 205 Broadway to see what may develop…
It was only back in September when I told you that Big Fish Little Fish had gone belly up in the Food Court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. Wasting no time whatsoever, it appears that a new poke spot is taking over the location. The plywood around the space lets us know that Poukei will soon be bringing us poke bowls & poke burritos.
This was surprising to me… It appears that Downtown Santa Monica’s perennial popular burger joint Stout Burgers & Beer has disappeared from its location at 111 Santa Monica Blvd. I’m not exactly sure when it closed, but the windows are papered over, perhaps indicating a new inhabitant is in the works. I’ll keep watching…
Update: A reader let me know that the space is being taken over by next door’s Bar Monette and will feature “French small plates and burgers”. (Thanks Sean!)
There’s a new banner hanging over 331 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. The space has long sat empty since Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails closed up shop during The Pandemic. The name on the banner is Maru Sushi and underneath that, it promises “ramen / ezakaya“. I’m unable to find any more information about the new eatery as there are a number or restaurants that use the word “Maru” in their name, so if you know more, reach out to me…
I happened to notice a new ABC application on the front of the cavernous space most recently occupied by Herringbone at 1755 Ocean Ave Ste 103 in Santa Monica. Fitoor is the name listed, and while not much comes up in a general search, two names on the application give us a clue as to what’s coming. Those names are Anupama and Vikram Bhambri, who are none other than the co-founders of San Francisco’s splashy and much-lauded “Indian-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar” ROOH. Apparently, they are in the middle of a recently announced expansion in the Bay Area. They are expanding using different restaurant names but there is a Fitoor Indian Grill & Lounge coming to San Jose that EaterSF describes as an “opulent restaurant with live music and DJs”. This is indeed exciting news for Santa Monica…
Something new is coming to the space that was once occupied by Freebirds World Burrito (remember them?) at 1509 Hawthorne Blvd. #101 in Redondo Beach. Window paper is up announcing a branch of Chronic Tacos Mexican Grill. Chronic Tacos began in California in 2002 and operates a number of locations in California as well as a smattering of locations across various states, Canada, and Japan. Look for a solid menu of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and bowls. The website says they’re opening a location in Westchester as well.
(Thank LL!)
A new chicken sandwich option recently opened at 2222 Sawtelle Blvd. in Sawtelle Japantown. Chicken Bun Bun has made a name for itself serving proprietary chicken sandwiches, but they also offer wraps, wings, and tenders. With branches in Alhambra and Newport Beach, this is the tertiary location for the mini chain.
People are often divided on the subject of Dunkin’ Donuts: It has legions of superfans, and its fair share of detractors as well. Regardless of which side you fall on, it’s hard not to admit that DD is super convenient, fast, and reliable. Now, the good people of the Sawtelle neighborhood will soon be getting a chance to sample the East Coast chain’s famous java and pastries themselves. There’s a new Dunkin’ Donuts landing on the corner of Butler and Olympic, at 11419A Olympic Blvd., right next to the upcoming Ivory’s Bake Shop that I told you about back in June.
Ever since dusty British-themed watering hole Cock N’ Bull closed at 2947 Lincoln Blvd., I’ve been peppered with questions about what would take over the address located in the quickly gentrifying section of Santa Monica. Recently construction has been fast and furious at the site, which stands only a block away from a much-anticipated branch of Tartine. One of my readers, (Thanks Jeff!) employed some excellent sleuthing skills to uncover the new tenant. Apparently, Tacos Por Favor will be soon fill the space. While I don’t have confirmation, there is a “surrendered” ABC application listing the Tacos Por Favor at this address. Tacos Por Favor currently operates three locations on The Westside and offers a menu of tacos, burritos, tortas, tostadas, and combos.
It’s always sad when Beverly Hills loses one of its historic dining institutions…. I’m hearing from shocked readers that celebrity hangout and industry powerhouse Palm Restaurant has closed its legendary doors at 267 N Canon Dr Suite A7. I went by to gaze upon its faded glory, and sure enough, all signs have been pulled down from the iconic steakhouse. I’ll keep my eyes on the location to see what may develop, but in the meantime, read about their storied history and get very, very nostalgic…
(Thanks Jonny!)
There’s strange window paper up on the space most recently occupied by Belgian confectionary experts KC Chocolatier. 1431 B 2nd St. is covered over with photos of various bowls, tropical images, and bold letters promising “Juice, Smoothie, Bowls”. Santa Monica Daily Press clears up the mystery by naming the new business as Little Hawaii Juice Bar. Get the skinny in their article here.
There’s a new ABC application on the front of the space at 145 S Barrington Ave. in Brentwood Village. The name of the new eatery is Nuvola, but that doesn’t bring up much on a search. The license details reveal two names, Luca Crestanelli and Roberto Facciolla, both of whom are associated with local Italian powerhouse Toscana Restaurant Group. I don’t know what is exactly in store (the window display seems to imply more of a deli), but definitely exciting news for the tony, exclusive neighborhood.
The space at 2507 Main St. in Santa Monica has been a bit of a mystery for the last few years. Once the home of Novel Cafe, the space has been gutted with intermittent construction. Readers assured me it was either going to be a restaurant, or bar, or something, but I could never verify anything… until now. A sign recently went up over the door announcing the arrival of Rabano Handcrafted Food & Drinks. Rabano has a location in Hermosa Beach and has a “fresh and healthy” menu of salads, bowls, and sandwiches that utilizes local ingredients and focuses on the environment.
It was only a little over a month ago when I told you about the arrival of popular cookie purveyor Lei’d Cookies to 8588 Washington Blvd. in Culver City. Wasting no time whatsoever, they are opening this Saturday, Oct.7th. Doors open at 3pm and there will be gifts for the first 50 people. We wish them the best of luck…
I’ve been reporting on the closure of many local The Coffee Bean & Tea Leafs in recent years. All the closures seemed to be a pattern and I was afraid that that didn’t bode well for the java franchise. But lo and behold, a brand new CBTL is moving into the old deli space in the medical building at 2021 Santa Monica Blvd (corner of 20th St.). Could this begin a refresh for the storied SoCal coffee chain?
Congratulations Good People of Marina del Rey, mall-quality Asian food is heading your way! There’s a banner hanging on the commodious space on the corner of Lincoln and Washington announcing the arrival of food court fixture Panda Express. Right now the space is gutted so you may have to wait a bit for your orange chicken…
There’s a new restaurant coming to the diminutive space at 625D Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, formerly home to a Subway. The window paper names the new eatery as Galvin Bakery & Cafe. There’s not much info out there on Galvin, but it appears coffee, alfajores, sandwiches, and salads will be on offer.
I first told you about Roca Pizza‘s arrival to 1061 N Swathmore in Pacific Palisades back in April of 2022. It took them a while to open, which they did about six months ago. Sadly, they have already given up the ghost at this location. They had planned on another location in Waterside Marina del Rey, but I haven’t heard if that will still happen or not. Roca Pizza was a project from California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) Co-founder Rick Rosenfield and his wife Esther that featured pies with long-refrigerated dough baked in imported Italian ovens.
(Thanks Ron!)
It caused quite a stir when I reported that New York’s noodle expert Dun Huang was moving into the former El Pollo Loco space at 1081 Gayley in Westwood Village. For whatever reason, that never happened. Now the address appears to be getting a new tenant. Signs are already up announcing the arrival of House of Mandi. House of Mandi has a location in Anaheim and specializes in Yemeni food which you can read more about here.
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