A reader (Thanks Jeremy!) noticed a banner hanging over the front of the space that used to be home to D’Amore’s Pizza at 1136 Westwood Blvd. The banner announces a collab between Kung Fu Tea and TKK Fried Chicken. Kung Fu Tea originated in Queens NY and is the self-proclaimed largest bubble tea brand in America. TKK Fried Chicken began life in Taipei in 1974 and promises to have us say, “Cluck yeah”.
The A-frame of Santa Monica’s fossilized outpost of tube steak chain Wienerschnitzel has been a fixture along Pico Blvd. for as long as anyone can remember. But alas, no longer. A reader (Thanks John!) wrote to tell me of its closure at 3010 Pico. Sure enough, all signs have been pulled down, the place is gutted, and a hastily-written note proclaims it permanently closed. Wienerschnitzel was founded in Wilmington CA in 1961 and was a marvel of midcentury fast food chains. Truly the end of an era.
It appears a new burger joint is close to opening in Santa Monica. Almost overnight, signs went up at 2307 Main St. announcing that a branch of Urban Skillet is moving in. Urban Skillet hails from Minnesota with a location in The Valley as well, and is known for their Halal burgers, as well as chicken burgers, wings, fries, and hand-blended shakes. They will be throwing open their doors on Friday, March 11th at 12pm. For their Grand Opening, they are offering a free burger when you buy a burger with this coupon.
It appears that there’s a new build-out underway at 6261 W 87th St. in Westchester (just to the east of Sepulveda). An ABC application pasted on the front lists the new business as Tomat Kitchen. I searched high and low and can’t uncover much information about the new eatery (except an undeveloped website), so if you know more pass it along…
The space at 10912 Le Conte Ave. in Westwood Village has had a number of tea shops as residents over the years. A plucky new contender is giving the location a go. Uranus 27 Fresh Boba Tea recently opened and is now dishing their proprietary traditional tea, milk tea, smoothies, and slushes. Uranus has other locations in Upland and Glendora as well.
You might not have noticed, but a new fish and poultry purveyor is coming in for a landing at 8622 S Sepulveda in Westchester. That’s because the banner is hanging on the backside of the building and not streetside. Regardless, it appears that Orange County’s Kickin’ Fish & Chicken is moving into the location most recently occupied by a spa. Kickin’ has an outpost in Westminster and offers a menu of seafood and “naturally raised, free-range and organic chicken” that is either grilled, fried, or rotisserie.
In what has become an yearly tradition, the good people at Burbank’s Risky Business (previously known as The Other Door) have reached out to me to pass on information about this year’s 12th Annual Mardi Gras Crawfish Broil. Celebrate the easing of Pandemic restrictions New Orleans Style with “hundreds of pounds of the critters live from Louisiana” served with “frosty Abita on tap, authentic Sazeracs, Hurricanes, and other New Orleans cocktails”. They will also have King Cake. The event takes place from 10pm to 2am on Tuesday, March 1st at 10437 Burbank Blvd. in North Hollywood. While there are no advance ticket sales, they do expect to sell out so arrive early…
I’m hearing from shocked readers that everyone’s favorite neighborhood take-away spot Yalla Mediterranean had completely disappeared from its location at 9516 Culver Blvd. The space is completely gutted and the signs have been taken down, leaving no trace whatsoever. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep an eye on the location to see what develops. (If you can’t live without Yalla‘s salmon salad, they still have a location in Burbank.)
Vietnamese noodle shop Blossom appears to be broadening their horizons. On a tip (Thanks CG!) I went by the space that used to be home to Uplifter’s Kitchen at 2819 Ocean Park Blvd. New signs and an ABC application in the window are announcing a new project from Blossom, which incidentally sits right next door at 2821 Ocean Park. I’m told by a spokesperson that the new project, Blossom and Friends, will be a departure from Vietnamese. While the menu is still in development, it appears Italian will be on offer. I’m also told that they are looking to open by the end of March. We wish them the best of luck…
Beverly Hills lost both of their branches of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the mass extinction event the chain experienced during the Pandemic closures. Their location at 445 N Beverly Dr. has sat empty ever since, but that’s about to change. A notice of intent for an open air dining permit posted on the front door spills the beans that an outpost of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is on the way. Founded by Jeni Britton Bauer and headquartered in Columbus Ohio, Jeni’s boasts a frozen treat with “a uniquely smooth texture and buttercream body, with bright flavor and clean finish” for which people go crazy, including President Joe Biden.
It appears a new purveyor of poultry is coming at 10917 Lindbrook Dr. in Westwood Village, previously home to Think Halal Grill. Window paper is up on the space announcing that a second branch of Hollywood’s Wildbird is settling in. Wildbird prides itself on offering chicken that is “antibiotic free, hunanely raised, [and] free-range… from local farmers we trust like Jidori”. The birds are marinated overnight in a “citrus-herb blend of spices”, then seared, and finally slow-roasted and served with a variety of sides and salsas.
Looks like there’s a new sandwich spot coming to 1049 Gayley in Westwood Village, formerly home to Kaido. Window paper is announcing the arrival of Alligot Sandwich. A cursory search turns up recipes for pommes aligot (French mashed potato with cheese) and alligator sandwiches (apparently a thing in Louisiana), but nothing on Alligot Sandwich. If you have more information, pass it along…
I must confess that I’m a just a little unclear on the concept here. Apparently pudding is on offer at the newly-opened Pudu Pudu, on the second floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. For some reason, it took almost a year to open, but you can now step inside a “pudding gallery” brought to you by German megabrand Dr. Oetker to sample pudding that is made with “high-quality ingredients, health-boosting superfoods and toppings so incredible they could be works of art.” They also have a branch on Abbot Kinney in Venice.
When I write a story about a coming new restaurant, I can expect a barrage of people asking about an opening date. The thing is, I often don’t know. There can be a number of reasons why some eateries may be delayed for years while others appear overnight. Often city-specific red tape gets in the way (I’m looking at you Santa Monica). At any rate, since I first told you about Angelini Ristorante & Bar expanding to Palisades Village, I’ve been peppered with queries about an opening date, so here you go: Angelini Ristorante & Bar will throw open their doors to the public tomorrow (February 11) at 1038 N Swarthmore in Pacific Palisades. Expect a bright airy space with large doors on all sides that spill out onto the sidewalk and a patio for al fresco enjoyment of Gino Angelini’s much-lauded and beloved fare. You’re welcome.
It was back in June of last year when I noticed that a new healthy “fast food” option was moving into the second floor the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. Oakberry is now officially open. Oakberry prides itself on bowls and smoothies based on acai that is 100% natural with no food coloring, artificial preservatives, or guarana syrup. They hail from Brazil and claim to have “more than 400 units” across the world.
A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks RB!) let me know that there was a pending conditional use notice in the window of the space at 925 Wilshire Blvd Ste C (corner of 10th), former home to Classic Tile. (I’ve long thought this would be a great location for a restaurant) The notice doesn’t give a business name, but lists the proposed project as, “ABC license 47 bar and restaurant for the onsite service and consumption of food and alcohol”. The applicant is named as Bonus Eventus LLC. A little digging reveals that Bonus Eventus is the parent company of JP’s Bar and Grill, everyone’s favorite neighborhood sports bar at Wilshire and 11th that shuttered since the Pandemic closures and remains so to this day. I’ve reached out to the man behind JP’s and I’ll pass on more information as it becomes available.
Congratulations good people of SpaceX, smoothies are heading your way! There’s window paper up in the shopping center on the corner of 120th and Crenshaw (2909 W 120th St) announcing an upcoming branch of Robek’s Juice. Robek’s began right here in SoCal in 1996 and offers a menu of smoothies, toasts, bowls, and juices.
Ghost kitchen chain Kitchen United Mix is exploding across our region bringing a myriad of delivery choices. They describe themselves as, “the nation’s first ‘Multi-Restaurant Ordering’ to-go experience”. Back in October of last year, I told you about a branch moving into the old Gallery space at 1325 Third St. Promenade. That branch recently opened and here are your choices: Camile Thai, Continental Empanadas, Fuku (chicken sando and fingers), and Wow Bao. I’m told more are on the way…
There’s window paper up on the space that used to be home of Ben & Jerry’s, at 2441 Main St. in Santa Monica, announcing a new fried confectionary shop is on the way. Holey Grail Donuts has locations in Hawaii as well as a pop-up in Culver City and specializes in donuts made with “Hawaiian grown taro root [that] has been pounded and fermented to create a dough base” which is then fried in coconut oil and sold individually or in weekly “tasting boxes”. Coffee, matcha, and chai are also on the menu.
I know people are scrambling to get their hands on Rams-themed treats as the football team charges toward The Super Bowl. Thankfully the good people at Primo’s Donuts wrote to tell me they are offering “blue and gold LA-themed, limited edition donuts shaped like a football” this weekend and next, (Friday through Sunday) until February 13th. Primo’s is at 2918 Sawtelle Blvd, and in Westwood at 10948 Weyburn Avenue. I would advise getting there early…
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