It was only a couple of weeks ago that I told you about the heartbreaking closure of the beloved Sawtelle Japantown institution Hurry Curry of Tokyo. Wasting no time whatsoever, it appears a new eatery is moving into their old space at 2131 Sawtelle Blvd. There’s a banner that recently went up announcing the impending arrival of bb.q Chicken, a Korean chain with locations across the US and known for frying in olive oil.
The neon cow has been spotted in Century City. It’s covering the second floor space in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, next to HaiDiLao Hotpot, and is assuring us that pudding experts Pudu Pudu are moving in. It looks like they’re planning on a Summer opening. No idea what Pudu Pudu is? Read my post about their location in Venice for more information.
I’m quietly optimistic about Downtown Santa Monica. During the Pandemic, many of the big chain stores and restaurants disappeared overnight. But there has been a recent uptick in activity, at least as far as restaurants are concerned. Many new projects are in the works: Trejo’s Tacos, Nick the Greek, Ugo Cafe, SMiZE Cream, Jinky’s Coffee, Winston are all moving in. And you can add one more name to that list: Practically overnight, a new charming coffee joint set up shop in the former location of Cafe Crepe at 1460 Third St. Promenade. Cult promises “food.coffee.cocktails” and is on a “mission is to pay homage to the city of Los Angeles, its chefs, dishes, drinks and trends”. Check out their menu here. We wish them the best of luck.
Don’t underestimate Ugo Café! When I told you about the closure of their Santa Monica Place location (which is now in the process of turning into Tyra Banks’ SMiZE Cream), I thought that was the end of their footprint in Santa Monica. But the plucky Italian coffee and food purveyor hasn’t given up just yet… A banner has recently gone up at 1400 Third St. Promenade (formerly home to Caffe Bella) announcing their impending triumphant return.
I’ve been telling you how hard the COVID closures have been on bars. It looks like we have another casualty in Brentwood. While their other branches have opened outdoors, the location of wildly popular watering hole and hook-up joint Cabo Cantina at 11829 Wilshire didn’t have a lot of options. They have been shuttered for the duration, but I had no confirmation of a permanent closure. Now, sadly, a for lease sign has gone up on the front giving proof that they have indeed given up the ghost.
It appears that Santa Monica’s tony Montana Ave. is turning into something of a dining destination… Thanks to a sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Kurt!), I went by 714 Montana Ave., formerly home to Osteria Bigoli which called it quits in Spring of last year. While there’s no signage yet, a small we’re hiring notice spills the beans that the new eatery will be Breakfast by Salt’s Cure. Someone inside did indeed confirm the news. I’m told it will open “very soon”. Until then, check out the menu of the West Hollywood branch, and get very excited…
It appears that cafe/pub St. Marc has departed its location on the first floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. I’m not sure what happened as there’s no message on their website, but all the signage has been pulled down. Seizing the opportunity, long-time Century City Italian restaurant Toscanova is appropriating their outdoor dining space.
It looks like a sunny new coffee joint is ready to charm Venice from their location at 50 Brooks Ave. (corner of Pacific). While they’ve been working on it for a while, there’s now a neighborly hand-written note on the front door of Little Lunch Coffee + Snacks saying that they will be opening, well… now. Apparently they are waiting on their permits. We wish them the best of luck.
From out of nowhere, a new noodle joint has magically appeared on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Kai Ramen opened last week to a good reception at 729 Montana. 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.
I’ve been hearing from devastated readers mourning the loss of a favorite Westside eatery. After 33 years, Hurry Curry of Tokyo has cleared out of their location at 2131 Sawtelle Blvd. at the end of February. Hurry Curry of Tokyo was an institution and was instrumental in the transformation of Sawtelle Japantown into the dining powerhouse it currently is. According to the gracious notice on their website, they lost their lease. All may not be lost however, they are hinting at a relocation, and they still have locations in Seattle.
I’ve been carefully followiing the massive overhaul of the Manhattan Village Shopping Center, on the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda. They’ve been adding outdoor walkways and a massive increase of retail and restaurant space. While much of it is still under construction, the new restaurants are staking their claims. Sunlife Organics is bringing their message, “to love, heal, and inspire”, and their proprietary juices, shakes, bowls, and coffee to this spot in the old section of the mall, facing the new development.
They’re on a roll… It was only last month that Zinqué opened a location in Century City. And now, as Lincoln Blvd. in Venice continues its gentrification, it looks like the increasingly buzzy street is getting its own branch of the cheery French charmer. Plywood is covering the front of the space at at 1440 Lincoln, informing us that a new Zinqué is coming soon.
It appears that The Grove is about to get a new Mexican restaurant. You may recall that Cronut king Dominique Ansel’s bakery and upstairs restaurant, 189 at The Grove, quit the location due to problems related to COVID. Now plywood is covering the former bakery space in The Grove announcing a new tenant, Alma Cocina De Mexico. We wish them the best of luck.
It’s good to see so many new restaurants in the works… There’s a new sign up at 8570 W 3rd St. in LA/West Hollywood, previously home to Nonna’s Empanadas, announcing a new pie joint. Proper Pizza & Pasta operates one other location outside of Downtown LA and promises a “great New York style pizza”, as well as pasta, salads, wings, strombolis, and calzones.
Erratum: I stand corrected: A sharp reader quickly let me know that this location is squarely in Beverly Grove, City of Los Angeles.
Santa Monica has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic: 40% of businesses in The Third St. Promenade are now permanently closed. And Montana Ave. and Main St. aren’t faring much better. With such a bleak outlook, I’m glad that I was able to post some good news this week. This is the third post in a row about new eateries moving into Downtown Santa Monica, surely an indication of hope… A new sign is proudly declaring that the space that used to be home for Le Pain Quotidien, at 316 Santa Monica Blvd., will be the future location for a branch of wildly popular and beloved Trejo’s Tacos. This is indeed exciting news for the area.
It looks like popular breakfast/lunch spot Jinky’s Cafe is expanding into the world of coffee and grab-and-go. You may recall that The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on the corner of Second St. and Santa Monica Blvd. disappeared in last year’s mass extinction event that saw so many closures for the beloved SoCal chain. Now there’s a banner on the location, at 200 Santa Monica Blvd., announcing a new java joint: Jinky’s Coffee. We are promised a chai and coffee bar, bakery, sandwiches, wraps, and “empanads and samosas”.
At least one restaurant has been expanding during COVID… After opening a new location in Westwood in November, Nick The Greek Souvlaki & Gyro House is moving into the location at 219 Arizona (Third St. Promenade) in Santa Monica, most recently oppcupied by Creams & Dreams. Nick The Greek has a number of locations in Northern California, and is slowly moving into SoCal. They offer a menu of souvlaki and gyro, as well as falafel, burgers, salads, and soup.
It looks like LA/West Hollywood is getting a new Mexican joint. A banner on the front of 8722 W 3rd St. (previously home to The District by Hannah An) and some brightly painted fiberglass cows are announcing the impending arrival of Mama Por Dios. MPD operates one other location in Rancho Cucamonga and promises us “Mexican gourmet” served with a side of live Mariachi music or DJs.
It looks like Beverly Hills is about to get a fresh new noodle shop. A sign is up on the space at 255 S Beverly Dr., formerly home to The Coral Tree Cafe, announcing that Strings Ramen is moving in. While I don’t have confirmation, I believe this is the same Strings Ramen that has been voted Chicago’s best ramen and is famous for their “Monster Hell Ramen Challenge“, or a challenge to empty their level 5 hell ramen bowl in 20 minutes to recieve a $50 gift certificate and a t-shirt. There’s an ABC application on the front as well, so beer and wine will be on offer. Check out this concept video to get a glimpse of what’s coming…
After having sat vacant for ages, the space at 1705 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica, previously inhabited by H B Daisy and a dubious branch of Joan’s on Third before that, is about to get a new tenant. Window dressing has gone up on the commodious corner shop informing us that this will soon be the home of a branch of popular pastry perfectionist Winston Pies. This will be their third location, we wish them the best of luck.
Toddrickallen 