A German coffee concept is making its debut in Santa Monica. There’s window paper and a sign on the diminutive space at 2665#B Main St announcing the arrival of Codos Coffee Roastery. Codos began in 2014 in Hamburg and has since spread across Germany. Their focus is on “exceptional coffee” served in a “warm and welcoming space where every guest feels at home”. Willkommen!
Everyone’s favorite breakfast staple, the humble bagel, appears to be having a resurgence after a dark period of carb avoidance. There are lines out the door at the hip outpost of New York’s H&H Bagels, also Layla Bagels, Pop’s Bagels, Sam’s Bagels, and others. Now a new contender is throwing its hat into the ring. A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Blair!) noticed window decals up on the space that used to be the home of Yu Cake, at 11725 Barrington Ct in Brentwood, announcing the arrival of a branch of Hank’s Bagels. Hank’s Bagels has locations in Burbank and Sherman Oaks and offers a menu of a variety of handmade bagels, spreads, and sandwiches that you can read more about here.
From my Inbox:
I have it on good authority that popular chicken finger restaurant Raising Cane’s is coming to Westwood Village. What you are looking at in the photo is the build-out for the beloved poultry purveyor at 10948 Weyburn in Westwood Village. Louisiana-based Raising Cane’s is (thankfully) expanding in California, with yet another location planned for nearby Third Street Promenade.
Congratulations Santa Monica, cartoon-themed pizza is heading your way! People are writing to tell me about the plywood on the space at 1444 3rd Street Promenade announcing the arrival of the first official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizzeria. This location was once home to Johnnie’s New York Pizzeria, which closed nearly 10 years ago. And what can we expect? This announcement promises a “classic New York-style cheesy slice… worthy of the sewer squad”. Hmmm…
While I’ve known this for months, I’ve held off on telling you as I didn’t have concrete proof. But now, so many people have written to tell me, I’m just passing it on as fact. If you’re tired of waiting in the perpetual line at Montana Avenue’s branch of crazy-popular La La Land Kind Cafe, a second nearby location may bring some relief. It appears that La La Land is moving into the old Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 11698 San Vicente Blvd in Brentwood. La La Land has six other locations across LA, with more in Texas, and offers “valuable support and opportunities for fostering youth and individuals in need“, as well as an excellent French Toast Latte.
I recently noticed a new sign up on the shuttered Jonah’s Kitchen + Bar space at 2518 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica. According to their Instagram page, the new business, Big Sur Grill, is a rebranding of Jonah’s. While I don’t have much more information, it appears Big Sur Grill will be a “brand new fresh dining concept” with a focus on “live fire cuisine by Chef Philip Wojtowicz“.
I recently noticed window paper on a ground floor space facing La Cienega in Beverly Center. It appears that Little Sister is moving in. With three extant locations and more on the way, Little Sister offers a unique take on cuisine resulting from “rich collisions of food and culture that was borne out of the European colonization of Southeast Asia”. They are aiming to open this year. In the meantime, check out their menu here.
This is surprising news… Readers are writing to tell me that classic white tablecloth destination restaurant Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse has closed up shop in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. The signs have been pulled down and the space has been boarded over. This leaves a cavernous hole in the fine dining scene at the tony mall. I’ll keep watching to see what may develop.
Something new is coming to the glacial redevelopment of The Now shopping center (formerly Granville Plaza) at 11819 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles. There’s window paper up on space #103 announcing the arrival of Lotus Indian Cafe. Lotus‘ menu offers an interesting fusion of Indian and Chinese, Mexican, Italian, and American food. Look for such things as butter chicken pizza, chicken tikka quesadilla, and gobi Manchurian. Lotus doesn’t have a big footprint yet, but you can explore more about them here.
A bit of digging by a dedicated reader (Thanks!) appears to confirm that a major Taiwanese brand is moving into the former electronic device shop at 1009 S Broxton Ave. in Westwood Village. Milksha started in Tainan, Taiwan in 2004 and has since spread to over 500 stores worldwide. It looks like this is their first US location. Milksha is passionate about bubble tea made with the highest quality ingredients and techniques.
Erratum: A reader informed me that this is not their first US location. They have two other locations, in Milpitas and in Seattle.
A new Korean grab & go concept has appeared out of nowhere in Westwood Village. Minari Express recently threw open their doors at 10912 Lindbrook Dr. Minari offers a wide range of prepared and prepackaged Korean staples (think Everytable) as well as snacks, banchan, drinks, and sweets. We wish them the best of luck.
Everyone’s favorite purveyor of gourmet gift baskets is coming to the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. There are small letters scralled on window paper promising that Harry & David will soon be taking up residency in a second floor space. Don’t know Harry & David? Where did you think those Holdiay pears came from?
Looks like something exciting is coming to The Golden Triangle. There’s new window paper up on the space at 9605 S. Santa Monica Blvd, most recently home to a branch of international gelato chain Amorino. With locations in Monrovia and Anaheim, and a Michelin nod, Luscious Dumplings will soon be bringing their celebrated dumplings, soup noodles, and snacks to the tony street.
This is a public service announcement: Finding a great weekend brunch spot in LA is essential, and also not easy. Freshly opened new neighborhood fave Diner Antonette, at 1215 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica, will open with their inaugural brunch this Saturday and Sunday on their new back patio. You’re welcome.
Congratulations you lucky people of Westwood, epic sandwiches are on the way! With a nearby Montana Ave location that has constant lines, sandwich sensation Bread Head is opening a new location at 1136 Westwood Blvd in Westwood Village. Bread Head is the pet project of Alex Williams and Jordan Snyder, two chefs with Trois Mec pedigrees. They specialize in carefully crafted sandwiches on proprietary focaccia. They also have a new-ish Manhattan Beach location as well.
There’s window paper up on the space at 10601 Washington Blvd #103 (corner of Overland) announcing the impending arrival of Wildbird. Wildbird specializes in locally sourced free-range chicken that has been “raised right“. They then marinate it for 24 hours, slow cook it, and carve it to order. They have five other locations around LA.
This from my Inbox:
“On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:00am, Levain Bakery will celebrate its Beverly Hills grand opening – and third opening in the Los Angeles area – with a team ribbon cutting. The first 100 people in line will receive a custom Levain Bakery Beverly Hills tote bag filled with fun bakery swag celebrating the Beverly Hills community.
To further celebrate the opening of their Beverly Hills bakery, Levain will offer a brand new limited edition cookie flavor available exclusively at the new Beverly Hills bakery – Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Chip. This cookie, available for just one month, is a new twist on a classic, and a tribute to Levain’s original Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip cookie. All proceeds from Levain Bakery’s Beverly Hills opening day will support Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles, whose mission is to combat hunger by providing meals, love, unity and community. To that end, OBKLA mobilizes volunteers in Los Angeles to cook and package meals for those facing food insecurity.”
Levain Bakery is located at 130 S Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, and is open from 7:00am to 10:00pm daily (on opening day, we will open at 8am).
A sharp-eyed reader spotted new signage up at 10878 Kinross Ave in Westwood Village. Expanding ice cream brand Van Leeuwen appears to be settling into the historical building. Van Leeuwen, which started out in 2008 in New York as a food truck, will soon be bringing their signature artisan ice creams, vegan ice creams, sundaes, vegan chocolate chip cookies, and shakes to the neighborhood.
This landed in my inbox:
“Hidden gem New York Bagel Deli implements an international bakery and interior makeover by husband-and-wife team, Lenny Rosenberg and Adaeze Nwanonyiri in Santa Monica. The store’s name has been ever so slightly changed to New York Bagel Deli & Bakery. The international and multicultural bakery includes chocolate dipped Danish Almond Horns, Italian Rainbow Cookies, French toast bagels and a gluten free Sprinkle Butter cookies. All bakery items are made in house daily. NYBD & Bakery also features the couples international baking book, “It’s a Sweet World, International Recipes Around The Globe“. For more information, visit their website: http://www.nybdbakery.com“
New York Bagel Deli & Bakery is located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica. They are open from 5am to 3pm Monday through Thursday, and until 4pm Friday and Saturday. We wish them the best of luck.
Toddrickallen 