This is one of those stories that mystifies me. For some reason, a whole lot of you have been tracking this story since I first told you about it back in July of last year. To all those people needing answers, this news is for you: La Ong has opened their doors this week at 9632 S Santa Monica Blvd. Expect a solid Thai menu with such favorites as papaya salad, crab fried rice, and green curry all served in a sleek modern and airy space.
Normally sleepy Camden Dr., in The Golden Triangle, has recently become a hive of restaurant activity. Work is progressing on Beverly Bar. The earstwhile H.O.M.E. space appears to be leased. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on at the fossilized Brighton Coffee Shop (the windows are papered over). And now a new ABC application has appeared on the front of 420 N. Camden naming the business as Gion Beverly Hills. And what is that? I’ll leave the description to them… This from their Yelp page:
“Named after the famous geisha district, Gion in Kyoto, Japan. Gion Beverly Hills is the first and only traditional Japanese tea house that features actual geisha from Japan. We offer the rare opportunity to view a live geisha performance and have interactions with the artists. Along with the geisha show we also serve a delicious tasting menu inspired by Kyoto’s four seasons accompanied by a tea ceremony featuring wagashi (traditional tea ceremony dessert) that will serve as your dessert course.”
There is window paper up on the storefront at 9667 1/2 Wilshire Blvd. announcing a new coffee shop. This location has sat idle ever since a bao shop closed there in 2018. Tryst Caffe promises us a coffee bar, but after that there doesn’t appear to be a lot of information out there yet.
I heard from the good people over at Santa Monica’s brand new Nostalgia Bar & Lounge who asked me to pass on this information: Nostalgia Bar & Lounge, which is described as a “New American eatery and watering hole”, will host its public Grand Opening this Thursday, April 7th at 8pm (reservations are required). Nostalgia is the first brick and mortar concept from The Herbal Chef™ founder Chris Sayegh, who has experience in Melisse and Providence. Expect a nostalgic Americana menu with such things as Kobe toast, oysters two ways, and lobster rolls. Drinks are made using “naturally derived cannabis terpenes” and take their cues from “Otter Pops, PB&J’s, and Yoo-Hoos”. Throughout the month of April, show proof of Santa Monica residency and receive a complimentary push-pop with purchase. Nostalgic Bar & Lounge is located at 1326 Pico Blvd (formerly The Speakeasy). We wish them the best of luck.
Ever since I first told you about the Pandemic disappearance of popular watering hole Bru Haus, at 11831 Wilshire in Brentwood, people have been clamoring for news on its replacement. Construction has been ongoing for a number of months now, but little information was available. Recently a reader (Thanks John!) let me know there is now a name attached to the new project. A small paper on the front tells us that something called Morabeza is moving in. A cursory search reveals that “morabeza” might be a reference to a word for hospitality in the Cape Verde Islands (I do not have confirmation on this). I guess we’ll have to wait and see exactly what’s coming. In the mean time, you can track their progress on their FB page here, which incidentally lists the new business as a restaurant.
It appears that a new boba joint is landing in Sawtelle Japantown. There’s window paper up on a storefront at 1642 Sawtelle that used to be the home of a hookah lounge. Tea Mug Boba is promising tea, coffee, and smoothies that are made fresh daily.
I’ve been carefully tracking the developments at the former location of Sushi Sho at 1303 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Last week I pointed out a nonresponsibility notice that named Best Bite LLC as the new tenant. Window paper just went up announcing the name of the new establishment as Savida Raw Seafood Bar. I can’t find much information on this business, but I think the name lets us know what to expect…
Update: Savida’s website is up and running. Check out more and get a look at the menu here.
Ever since I told you about the startling disappearance of Santa Monica’s branch of Asian-ish chain P.F. Chang’s, people have been demanding answers about what may replace it. The commodious space on the corner of Wilshire and 4th was leased a few months ago, and construction on the interior had begun, but there was no indication of what the new restaurant would be. Just this week and small sandwich board has appeared that lets us know that the new establishment is going to be Lotus Dim Sum Dumpling House.
Many of you are following this story carefully so I’ll pass info on as it becomes available… Here’s the latest on the replacement for NOMA’s beloved Japanese take-away joint Sushi Sho: As I told you, construction is fast and furious ever since the sushi restaurant moved out of 1303 Montana Ave. A sharp eyed reader (Thanks Kurt!) spotted the nonresponsibility notice taped to the front that lists the lessee of the property as Best Bite LLC. I can’t seem to confirm much more than this right now. Keep watching this space…
I heard from a reader (Thanks Debbie!) that Santa Monica’s perennially popular under-the-radar neighborhood breakfast joint Bread & Porridge had abandoned their longtime location at 2315 Wilshire. I had been watching the space, which has been idle for a few weeks, to see what was going on. Last month a notice in the window explained that they were taking a temporary “break from operations”. Since then, a for lease notice has appeared in the window so I assume there is no hope for reopening at this location. They will be sorely missed by their legions of fans who have made this humble restaurant an A.M. fave since 1994.
I heard from a reader (Thanks Andrew!) about a new establishment taking over the old Bondi Harvest space in Culver City at 8820 Washington. In case you haven’t tried recently to navigate your way through the fresh hell that is Downtown Culver City, well… it is an unmitigated traffic disaster and you’ll be stuck there a very long time. Anyway, I did eventually make it to the location to see what was going on. Window paper up on the space announces the impending arrival of Fiish Los Angeles. I can’t seem to find much info on this business so if you know more send me a message. Just know I won’t be driving there anytime soon…
Modest Sushi Sho has been quietly dishing fish to the good people of NoMa from its humble storefront at 1303 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica for a very long time. Sadly, almost overnight it has completely pulled up stakes. But something appears to be quickly moving in. As soon as I find out what that is I’ll let you know…
As a Westsider, a couple of times a year I get in the car and drive up the 405 to Van Nuys for a pilgrimage to the 99 Ranch Market (also known as Tawa Supermarket). They carry a comprehensive selection of Asian groceries, and are most likely to stock hard-to-source ingredients like stinky tofu or broad bean paste. I’ll return home with piles of Makrut lime leaves, rau ram, fried tofu, a plant for the garden, and just possibly durian. (Although I do thoroughly recommend a local gem: Ma’am’s International Foods in Santa Monica whose much smaller, concise selection is accompanied by the BEST service anywhere.) Well that trip up the 405 may no longer be necessary. It appears we are about to be blessed with our own Westside branch of the chain. There are tiny window notices up at the former site of the Ross Dress for Less at 1364 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood announcing an upcoming location. Read more about the company and its vision here. Very exciting news…
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…
Toddrickallen 