In a town packed with powerhouse restaurants, quiet little Sushi Kiyono has been happily serving devoted locals for 27 years at 255 S Beverly Blvd. Sadly, that is about to come to an end. A gracious note on the front door cites retirement and says that the final day of service will be this Saturday November 22. The note also welcomes their replacement: The Brothers Sushi. An ABC application on the front confirms it. With locations in Woodland Hills, Santa Monica, and Culver City, The Brothers Sushiis the much lauded and wildly popular “high-end” sushi spot that offers seasonal “Omakase Chefs courses or Ala Carte options”.
With so much to see and do, lately we’re all spending more time in Inglewood. A new “elevated dining” restaurant is looking to build on the experience. Lounge 1888 is moving into the space at 3930 W Century Blvd. Building C, Space 5-101 at the Intuit Dome. Expect “modern American culinary dining, craft cocktails, and premium wines with a fully immersive game-day and event atmosphere.” Looks like they’re aiming for a January 2026 opening.
The triumphant return of the carbohydrate continues with its inexorable victory march across The Westside… There’s window paper up on the space at 11710 San Vicente Blvd in Brentwood declaring the impending arrival of PopUp Bagels. (Not to be confused with Pop’s Bagels just up the street.) They began as a backyard pickup window and have since spread to locations up and down the East Coast. PopUp Bagels has a simple goal: To offer “best, freshest bagels. No frills, plainly perfect: crispy crust and soft crumb center, just the right size and with a perfect proportion of seeds.” This new location, and another in La Jolla, appear to be the first on our side of the Country.
There’s plywood and a poster up on the front of 923 Broxton Ave, formerly home to Habibi Cafe. The poster is promising a new pie joint, Chill Since ’93 Pizza. Chill Since ’93 has a location in The Grove, as well as Lugano and London. They promise super crispy pizza, and sandwiches made with the bread of the moment, “crisp, house-made focaccia bread”.
It appears that after 10 years, smoked fish experts Wexler’s Deli have closed up shop at 616 Santa Monica Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. This is not the end: A gracious note on the front door explains that they are pivoting to a wholesale business and you will soon be able to find their proprietary lox at hotels and restaurants. In other exciting news, the note also explains that “Sichuan Superette”Suá, will be taking over the space. If you haven’t had a chance to visit their charming Larchmont location, you can expect delightful hand-stirred matcha and coffee drinks, organic Sichuan grab-and-go, Asian snacks, and carefully curated pantry and home goods.
As you know if you follow this site, I do occasionally get out of the Westside. One of my favorite places to go is beautiful Montecito, which is about to get an exciting new restaurant. Helmed by Chilean Chef Diego Moya, who cut his teeth in such places as Nahm in Bangkok and L’Arpège in Paris, Little Mountain is set to open on November 6 at 516 San Ysidro Rd, in the old Piattispace. Expect “deeply seasonal, vegetable-forward” menu that celebrates “Central Coast’s agricultural bounty” in a warm and convivial setting. Well worth a day trip…
Friday, Nov. 7th-Sunday, Nov. 9th / Barker Hanger Santa Monica
VIP 6:30pm, GA 7:30pm / $175-$389
“TheLos Angeles Wine & Food Festival hosted by Tastemade is a vibrant celebration of the city’s dynamic culinary scene, rich multicultural flavors, and boundless creativity taking place on November 7-9, 2025, at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Over three days, guests will savor dishes from exciting local and internationally acclaimed chefs, sip beverage selections from top regional and international producers, and experience the cultural mosaic that makes this city a global food capital. From innovative tasting experiences to immersive pop-ups and artistic food installations, the festival is a feast for the senses—where food, culture, and art merge in the most delicious and Angelyne way.”
* FRIENDS OF SPIN * USE CODE “LAWine20” FOR 25% OFF TICKETS!
A small banner has appeared in the window of the space at 235 Main St. in Venice, previously home to The Anchor Venice. A new eatery named Three Flavors appears to be moving in. I don’t have much information on this establishment, other than the banner promises an interesting combination of “Thai, Sushi, Phở”.
Chicken finger experts Raising Cane’s is continuing its expansion across LA. The Louisiana-based poultry purveyor with noontime lines out the door has signage up on plywood on the corner of Century Blvd. and Doty, right next to SoFiin Inglewood. Look for upcoming branches in Westwood and Santa Monica as well.
With deep sympathy for the Family. Support local restaurants and restaurateurs!
From my inbox:
“We are heartbroken to share the sudden and tragic loss of Michelangelo Pinto – a beloved husband, father, and friend – who passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, October 11th. His passing has left an unimaginable void in the life of our family. This devastating loss has shaken our world to its core.
Michelangelo owned a restaurant,Locanda Positano, in which he proudly served the Marina Del Rey and surrounding community for over 15 years with passion and commitment.
Michelangelo was a kind, devoted, and loving man whose presence lit up every room. He was the rock of our family – a steady, caring soul who worked hard to provide, protect, and love deeply. His absence is not only emotionally overwhelming, but it has also brought on an urgent financial burden.
In the midst of our grief, my mother Patrizia, my little brother Luca, and I are now facing the cost of funeral arrangements, memorial services, the restaurant, and a wave of unexpected expenses that come with such a sudden tragedy. We wish to take Michelangelo’s ashes back to Italy so we can reunite and lay him to rest with his parents.
Money raised from the GoFundMe will go to memorial services, unexpected bills we now face, helping us tie loose ends with the restaurant, and helping us get him home.
Please consider helping my family in our time of greatest need. If you are unable to donate, sharing this GoFundMe can still make a world of difference.
Thank you for your kindness, compassion, and support.”
This is a public service announcement: The brand-new and much-needed Vons, that is in the new luxury development on the corner of Broadway and Lincoln in Santa Monica, will officially open on October 17th. Ribbon cutting is at 7:15am and doors will open at 8am. We’re promised “Giveaways + Fun activities”, and the first 250 people will receive a “Game Card for a chance to win“. You’re welcome.
Santa Monica’s dining scene is white-hot right now. Yet more evidence: There’s renewed activity at 2820 Main St., a chunk of prime real estate that used to home to Santa Monica’s beloved gem World Cafe that closed about a decade and a half ago (after World Cafe, it was home to Areal for a period). The location has sat derelict ever since, but recently a new ABC application has appeared on the front. While no business name is listed, a close inspection of the application reveals some familiar names: Chloe, Brandon, and Tyler Makhani, the family team behind Woodland Hills’ Mediterranean charmer Casaléna. This property sounds familiar to Casaléna‘s concept of different dining rooms and a big outdoor space. I’ll keep my eyes on the project to see what may develop, but this is definitely exciting news.
Santa Monica is getting a gorgeous new dining room… La Monique will open on November 11 and is destined to become a sensation. La Monique has moved into the old Tower 8 restaurant space in the deliciously private and fashionable Hotel Oceana, at 849 Ocean Ave. You may recall Tower 8 opened with a Josiah Citrin menu but eventually closed to the public over a decade ago. The layout has been completely redesigned with a new entrance and the bar moved to the opposite wall. Expect a cozy, chic, elegantly designed space, with a clubby feel and attention to details. The self-described French brasserie (with Italian influence) offers a menu of classics like Le Plateau Royale, steak frites, Dover sole, grilled branzino, escargot poppers, and pastas, as well as Petrossian caviar service and specialty cocktails. I suggest you grab a reservation while you can….
We’ve long known that local institution Noma Sushi would be forced to close due to a proposed redevelopment of the property at 2031 Wilshire. Readers have been repeatedly asking me what would happen to the beloved neighborhood fave. Now we have answers: Signs are up indicating that Noma is moving across the street, to 2020 Wilshire (most recently occupied by Senator Jones), in a property owned by the same landlord as the current location. You’re welcome…
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.
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 Landhas 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.
Toddrickallen 