Kitchen United Mix Bringing New Food Options To Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on July 20, 2022 by toddrickallen

A reader (Thanks Tom!) noticed new options coming to Downtown Santa Monica’s outpost of the rapidly expanding ghost kitchen enterprise Kitchen United Mix at 1315 Third St Promenade. This location (formerly The Gallery Food Hall) has had a troubled past, and has seen many eateries come and go. According to a banner on the front, we can soon expect take-away food from popular chains than previously were not easily accessed by the beach community: Chili’s To-Go, Maggiano’s, and It’s Just Wings. Chili’s To-Go‘s website says that they will open on August 9th.

Fat Sal’s Opening In Venice Beach Soon…

Posted on July 15, 2022 by toddrickallen

Since like many locals in Summer I avoid Venice Beach, I appreciate a reader (Thanks Billy!) taking the time to let us all know that a sandwich shop that inspires cult-like devotion is opening a location there. Fat Sal’s Deli is replacing burger joint Simmzy’s at 37 Washington Blvd, near the corner of Pacific Ave. Fat Sal’s has 6 other locations (including Saudi Arabia) and appears close to opening this location, which means that beachgoers will soon be lined up for deep-fried mozzarella sticks on top of mouth-watering sandwiches.

Chin Chin Bids Ciao To Beverly Hills

Posted on July 14, 2022 by toddrickallen

I’m a little late in reporting this, but I’ve been hearing from shocked readers that Chin Chin has closed its doors at 206 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. I’m not entirely sure what happened, but the Asian-ish eatery has been a staple of the Beverly Hills dining scene for 25 years. One reader (Thanks Steve!) claimed it was due to leasing issues, and noted that the nearby branch in Brentwood is getting a much-needed scrub-up so don’t count Chin Chin out yet. It appears that the space is already leased, and as always, I’ll keep an eye out to see what may develop.

Update: While I have not confirmed this, a reader (Thanks Robin!) reports that this will be a branch of San Diego’s own Parakeet Cafe.

The Original Thai Dishes Gets A New Home In Santa Monica

Posted on July 12, 2022 by toddrickallen

Ever since Argentinian steak house Malbec vacated the cavernous space at 2628 Wilshire, I’ve been keeping my eye on the location to see what would develop. Leased notices went up a while ago, but I could detect no movement… until now. An ABC application recently appeared on the front, spilling the beans that The Original Thai Dishes is setting up housekeeping (as opposed to the unrelated Thai Dishes on Broadway). According to a spokesperson, this not a second location for the classic Thai eatery, but rather a move from their current space at 19th and Wilshire.

Panini Kabob Grill Coming To MDR

Posted on July 10, 2022 by toddrickallen

Don’t ever count out plucky Panini Kabob Grill. While the chain has lost some prominent locations during The Pandemic (Santa Monica, Beverly Hills), they continue to open new ones. A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Jennifer!) spotted a nonresponsibility notice on the door of the empty storefront at 13455 Maxella #250, on the second floor of the Villa Marina Marketplace in Marina del Rey. The notice lets us know that there’s a new Panini Kabob Grill on the way. PKG prides itself on fresh Mediterranean fare produced daily in their “scratch kitchen”. You can peruse their menu here.

Cluck & Blaze Landing In Hawthorne

Posted on July 8, 2022 by toddrickallen

There’s a banner hanging on the front of the space at 4850 Rosecrans Blvd. (corner of Inglewood Ave.) in Hawthorne, formerly home to a branch of Waba Grill. The banner informs us that Cluck & Blaze is moving in. C&B has two other locations (Long Beach, Glendale) and will soon be bringing “authentic Nashville-style hot chicken” to the good people toiling away in the nearby aerospace industries.

Supita Bringing Tarts To Sawtelle Japantown Soon…

Posted on July 6, 2022 by toddrickallen

Poke & Co went belly-up a while ago, leaving a gaping hole at 2010 Sawtelle Blvd. That’s about to change. There’s a hiring notice on the front door that lists the new tenant as Supita. Their logo describes them as “tart specialists”. Other than that, I can’t seem to locate much on the new treat shop.

Update: I heard from the good people at Supita who asked me to pass along a link to their website. We wish them the best of luck.

Tulsi Bringing Plant-based “Modern Indian” To Westwood Village

Posted on July 2, 2022 by toddrickallen

A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Kiko!) noticed window paper up on the former home of Veggie Grill at 10916 Lindbrook in Westwood Village. The paper promises us a branch of “modern fast-casual Indian eatery” Tulsi. Tulsi has two other locations in LA (with the ambitious goal to eventually bring “Indian food into every neighborhood”) and offers a menu of plant-based faves including dosa, samosas, kathi rolls, dabeli, and even a few tacos.

Hermanito Coming To Santa Monica…

Posted on June 27, 2022 by toddrickallen

Some excellent sleuthing on the part of one of my readers (Thanks Helen!) uncovered the mystery of what has leased the former Swingers space at 802 Broadway (corner of Lincoln) in Santa Monica. She was able to discover a municipal application that reveals the name of the new business. Apparently, it is none other than a Sawtelle’s white-hot Mexican destination Hermanito. And this guy’s company is doing the design and consulting. Interesting…

Sweet Lily Bakery Expanding To Culver City

Posted on June 24, 2022 by toddrickallen

A reader (Thanks Andrew!) wrote to tell me that he had spotted window signs up in the space that formerly housed Yalla Mediterranean at 9516 Culver Blvd. The signs let us know that Sweet Lily Bakery is settling in. Sweet Lily currently has a location on Cahuenga, and is the dream of two people from France, Marine and Thibaut, the latter of whom won “Best chocolate eclair of Paris”. Expect a solid menu of French favorites including pastries, cakes, sandwiches, tartines, and quiche.

The Upper Crust Pizzeria Coming To Brentwood

Posted on June 23, 2022 by toddrickallen

People were devastated when favorite neighborhood French charmer Belle Vie fell victim to the Pandemic. According to new signs, the space will soon be a branch of up-and-coming pie joint The Upper Crust Pizzeria. You may recall that before Belle Vie, this space was the home for 40 years of Divita’s Pizzeria, so I guess this is a bit of a full circle. The Upper Crust has locations in Massachusetts and California and offers a menu of “sort of famous” pizza, wings, lasagna, and calzone.

American Deli Comes To Hawthorne

Posted on June 21, 2022 by toddrickallen

Good news aerospace people, a new dining option is landing at 13257 Hawthorne Blvd. in Hawthorne. A branch of American Deli has settled in to the location. American Deli boasts almost 200 locations, mostly in the American South, but also a couple here as well. Their menu focuses on classic American food such as wings, reubens, burgers, and subs. Expect an opening in a few days, according to a spokesperson.

GGET Opens On Montana Ave On…

Posted on June 18, 2022 by toddrickallen

It was a long road to get here, but the end is in sight… Originally, back in May of 2020 I reported that the space at 930 Montana Ave. was going to be home to a branch of Bluestone Lane. Well, a lot happened between then and now. Bluestone Lane dropped the space, and a year later window paper went up for Go Get Em Tiger. It’s taken over a year, but GGET will officially throw open their doors to the Good People of Santa Monica on Monday, June 20th, according to a spokesperson. Eater is reporting a brand spanking new prototype all-day menu at this location, which you can see here.

Brighton Coffee Shop Coming Back To Beverly Hills…

Posted on June 17, 2022 by toddrickallen

A while ago, I wondered at the papered-over windows of frozen-in-amber java joint Brighton Coffee Shop, that has stood on the corner of Brighton and Camden for over 90 years. Thankfully, I had a chance to talk with spokesperson who assured me that they will reopen the beloved coffee spot. It’s simply getting a modern upgrade with a fresh new look: Think French woven cafe chairs and bright cheery colors. The menu, I’m told, will stay pretty much the same. It looks like they’re close to reopening…

Ample Hills Creamery Coming To Beverly Hills?

Posted on June 15, 2022 by toddrickallen

Beverly Hills lost its branch of international gelato brand Amorino during the Pandemic. Now it looks like another icy treat company is moving to the space at 9605 Santa Monica Blvd. The address was recently rented, but no signs have appeared. There is, however, a small legal notice taped to the front door. It lists the new tenant at Ample Hills Sub LLC, the company behind Ample Hills Creamery. Ample Hills make their ice cream from scratch in their Brooklyn “plant” where they actually pasteurize their own dairy and bake their own mix-ins. They have locations in New York, New Jersey, and in Long Beach CA.

Note: I do not yet have confirmation on this story.

Kalaveras Bringing “Buenas Vibras” To Santa Monica

Posted on June 12, 2022 by toddrickallen

Ever since the Belcampo closed down at 1026 Wilshire due to a spot of trouble, I’ve been keeping my eye on the commodious space to see what would move in. The mystery is now over. Signs went up this week announcing a branch of Kalaveras. Kalaveras offers an immersive El Dia de Los Muertos celebratory fast/casual concept with “Latin American culinary classics” and a focus on mixology. They have locations across LA County, with a serious expansion in the works including Long Beach, Silver Lake, Newport Beach, and others.

Shaka Shack Skedaddles Out Of Santa Monica

Posted on June 9, 2022 by toddrickallen

Thanks to all the shocked readers who took the time to tell me that under-the-radar neighborhood fave burger joint Shaka Shack has abruptly quit its location at 1701 Ocean Park Blvd. The place is completely gutted, their website no longer functions, and the signs have been pulled down. Their Yelp page is promising a reopening on July 1, but that seems unlikely at this location. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep my eye on this corner strip mall space to see what may develop…

Shake Shack Comes To Beverly Hills

Posted on June 8, 2022 by toddrickallen

For a while now, I’ve been watching the former home of Panini Kabob Grill at 9601 N Santa Monica Blvd. Construction has been fierce since the Mediterranean eatery closed its doors during the Pandemic, but there was no signage to indicate what was replacing it. Recently a now hiring banner went up on the front that lets us know that this will be a branch of the ever-popular chain Shake Shack, which as you know, began life around 22 years ago as a pet project of legendary New York restaurateur Danny Meyer and has ever since embarked on an inexorable march toward world domination fueled mostly by the cultish devotion of fans.

Kismet Rotisserie Coming To Culver City

Posted on June 5, 2022 by toddrickallen

It appears that Hollywood poultry purveyor Kismet Rotisserie is expanding to Culver City. A reader (Thanks Joyce!) noticed the window paper up on a space just to the right of the incoming Konbi at the One Culver complex in the 10000 block of Washington Blvd. Expect a “globally-inspired” menu of chicken, sandwiches, and salads. (The LA Times just gave them a glowing recommendation for picnic food at The Hollywood Bowl…)

Kai Ramen Coming To Westchester

Posted on June 3, 2022 by toddrickallen

Kai Ramen continues its expansion. There’s a banner up on the space at 8334 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester announcing a new branch. Kai Ramen has locations across LA and offers a menu of “gourmet Japanese ramen” with pork, chicken, or vegan broth, as well as appetizers, sushi, and rice bowls.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest