Umami Burger Coming To Brentwood As Well…

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The C3 Restaurant Platform is having a moment…  It was only last week when I told you about the arrival of Umami Burger to Venice.  Now it seems Brentwood is getting lucky as well.  Umami Burger is currently moving into the old Le Pain Quotidien space at 13050 San Vicente Blvd Ste 114 (corner of 26th), consequently the same shopping center that is the home to the new swanky bento box restaurant Imari.  A company spokesperson contacted me to let me know that this location, as well as the new Venice location, will also host a ghost kitchen for Sam’s Crispy Chicken, Krispy Rice, Kumi.  

Cacio E Pizza Landing On The Runway, Playa Vista

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Il looks like things are taking off for The Runway in Playa Vista.  After a strong opening a few years back, the retail/restaurant heart of the development began to sputter.  Restaurant closures left many spaces unoccupied.  The recent opening of Free Market Playa Vista, the mini-mall filled with hip design shops and restaurants, has really brought a resurgence to the now pedestrian only complex.  New restaurants appear to have taken notice and are moving in.  And pizza is coming back as well…  Window covering on the space that used to be the home of 800 Degrees Pizza, at 12751 W Millennium Dr. Ste B135, is announcing the upcoming arrival of Cacio E Pizza.

La Ong Bringing Thai To Beverly Hills Soon

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I recently noticed paper covering the windows at 9632 S Santa Monica Blvd.  You may recall that this space was most recently inhabited by a branch of Danish lifestyle brand Joe & The Juice.  It looks like Joe has moved on and something called La Ong is moving in.  I don’t have any information on La Ong, except that “Thai cuisine” will be on offer.

Umami Burger Coming To Venice

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The space at 235 Main St. in Venice has sat vacant ever since Komodo moved out.  But that’s about to change…  Window paper is covering the location announcing a new branch of Umami Burger.  Umami caused quite a stir when it burst onto the scene at its flagship LA spot in 2009 and has since spread to San Francisco, Chicago, New York, The Bahamas, and Japan.  And they are offering “free burger days” when they eventually open, so you may want to keep a look out. 

Domenico’s Coming To Beverly Hills

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There’s a new ABC application recently posted to the front of the space at 9705/9709 S Santa Monica Blvd (formerly Il Forno Caldo).  It names the upcoming restaurant as Demonico’s.   I don’t have much information on the upcoming eatery.   There is already a Domenico’s that offers Italian products at local farmers’ markets, but I don’t have any confirmation that the two are connected.   If you know more, let me know…

Yang’s Braised Chicken Rice Coming To Sherman Oaks

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I do occasionally get out of The Westside…  I recently noticed that the Westfield Fashion Square at 14006 Riverside Dr. in Sherman Oaks, will soon get to sample Yang’s Braised Chicken Rice.  Yang’s began in 2011 in Ji Nan, Shandong Province of China, and has since spread to over 6,000 locations in Asia, Australia, and now North America.  New branches are also in the works for Fairfax, Valencia, and Arcadia as well.  It looks like they’re shooting for a Summer opening.

Sunmerry Bakery Cafe Coming To Sawtelle Japantown

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It look like Sawtelle Japantown is getting a new specialty cafe soon…  There’s window paper and a new sign up on the space that used to be the home of gallery Eleven Arts announcing the impending arrival of Sunmerry Bakery Cafe to 2129 Sawtelle.  Sunmerry already has a number of locations in SoCal.  It was founded in 1986 in Taiwan and specializes in Japanese baking techniques for its many varied cakes, cream puffs, and “boba egg tarts”, as well as offering a selection of boba, taro, and tea drinks.

Mama Hong’s Vietnamese Kitchen Moving Locations On The Westside

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Long-standing Westside staple Mama Hong’s Vietnamese Kitchen is moving locations.  A complany rep gave me the skinny on the new signage up at 12201 Santa Monica Blvd. in LA.  This address used to be home to burger joint Quicksand which fell victim to the Pandemic.  Mama Hong’s will be closing their Brentwood location in the under-renovation shopping complex at 11819 Wilshire Blvd. in about a week, and opening in the new space “soon”.  They also have locations in Burbank and Orange as well.

Oakberry Bringing Acai To Century City

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A new healthy food choice is coming to the second floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center.  There’s window paper covering the space informing us that Oakberry is on the way.  Oakberry offers acai that is 100% natural with no food coloring, artificial preservatives, or guarana syrup.  They operate a number of locations in Brazil and continue an impressive international expansion.

Kale Me Crazy Adding A Location In WeHo

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It appears that a new healthy eatery is landing on a prominent corner in West Hollywood.  There’s window paper up on the former optometry space at 8801 Santa Monica Blvd. announcing a new branch of Kale Me Crazy.   Kale Me Crazy operates a number of outlets, mostly in The South but also another location in West Hollywood, and describes itself as a “super food cafe” offering “juices, smoothies, salads, and wraps in a sleek, upscale environment”.

Boulon D’Amour Spreads The Love To Century City

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Local java charmer Boulon D’Amour appears to be opening a branch in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center.  There’s window covering on a free-standing kiosk on the first floor announcing the news.  Boulon D’Amour operates a pretty spot on Washington Blvd. and is shooting for a Winter opening at this location.  Expect various coffees, teas, signature drinks, and toasts.

Primo’s Donuts Replacing Stan’s In Westwood

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When I let you know about the closure of iconic Stan’s Donuts at 10948 Weyburn in Westwood, I heard from many devastated locals who grew up eating the well-known sugary treats.  Now it looks as though another old school donut shop is setting up housekeeping at that historic address on the corner.  Window paper is informing us that Primo’s Donuts is taking over.  Primo’s has been an LA institution on Sawtelle for over 60 years.

Jonah’s Kitchen + Bar Will Open On…

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Readers have been asking me about Jonah’s Kitchen + Bar ever since I fist mentioned them back in September of last year.  You may recall that Johah’s  is replacing the short-lived LDH Kitchen The Robata at 2518 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica.  Their website indicates that Jonah’s is still a part of the massive Japanese lifestyle brand LDH, otherwise there is little out there on the new eatery.  The still-developing website gives clues: In a video, a bearded chef is preparing steaks with chimichurri over over a wood fire.  We’ll find out more soon as paper over the front windows is now proudly announcing that the new restaurant will throw open their doors on Thursday June 24th.

Sestina Coming To Century City

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It was back in November of last year when I told you about the disappearance of one of LA’s last branches of Italian mozzarella chain Obica.  If you look carefully at the photo below you can see who’s planning on moving into their old second floor Westfield Century City Shopping Center location.  Plant-based pioneer Matthew Kenney is bringing a outpost of his popular Culver City pasta bar Sestina to the good people of Century City.

Evan Steakhouse And Bar Coming To Brentwood

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It was back in December of last year that I noticed that Maradentro would not be returning to the space at 1168 S Barrington Ave. in Brentwood.  A new eatery appears to be moving into the prominent corner location.  A sign on the corner is letting us know that Evan Steakhouse and Grill is coming soon.  There’s not much out there yet, just a still-developing website.  Let me know if you have any information.

Arth Kitchen + Bar Coming To Culver City

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The space at 9531 Culver Blvd. has seem many restaurants come and go, including Sambar, AR Cucina, and Ford’s Filling Station.  Now another eatery is giving the fickle address a go…  There’s a now hiring banner hanging on the front announcing the impending arrival of Arth Kitchen + Bar.  It looks like “modern Indian” is on the menu, which you can see here.

Bandera Bids Bye-Bye To Brentwood

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So… this may come as a bit of a shock to you so you may want to fix yourself a Manhattan, lower the lights, put on some Bill Evans, and sit down.  One of the questions I most frequently get asked is if Bandera would be reopening.  As you probably know, Bandera has remained shuttered, probably due to the fact that the majority of the space was a bar.  Known for their mood lighting, stiff cocktails, jazz trios, and excellent Dover sole, Brentwood’s beloved branch of The Hillstone Restaurant Group was a popular nightlife spot for many years at 11700 Wilshire Blvd.  I now have it on good authority that Bandera will not be reopening at this location.  Better make that Manhattan a double.

Go Get Em Tiger Pouncing On Montana Ave

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About a year ago, I noticed an ABC application on the construction fencing at 930 Montana Ave.  The application listed the new tenant as Bluestone Lane Coffee.  Well, things seem to have changed.  The application is gone, and window paper is announcing that Bluestone Lane is out and none other than creative coffee purveyors Go Get Em Tiger are moving in.  This will be Santa Monica’s second branch.