There’s window paper up on one of the storefronts in the everchanging landscape of the Waterside Marina del Rey shopping center announcing the arrival of Paradise Bowls. Paradise Bowls is a local company with locations Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and another expected outpost in Westlake Village. Their website promises a “delicious and wholesome escape” with a menu focused on acai and pitaya bowls and smoothies. Looks like they’re aiming for a summer opening.
Santa Monica is about to get its second branch of international acai experts Oakberry (the first location is on the corner of Berkeley and Wilshire). There’s window paper across two storefronts at 705 and 707 Montana Ave announcing the news. 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.
The former bank building at 3032 Wilshire, on the corner of Berkeley and Wilshire in Santa Monica, continues its transformation into a food destination. There are the delightful Portuguese egg tarts from Paderia at the back of the building, and in the front, you can get your acai at Oakberry. Soon you can add one more choice. Signs recently went up on Suite B4, on the Berkeley side of the building, announcing a new “curry & sando” spot: Katsu Bar. Katsu Bar has a smattering of locations throughout SoCal and offers a menu of appetizers, salads, chicken or pork katsu sandwiches and sandos, and curry bowls.
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.
The açaí craze continues its inexorable march across the Westside… I recently noticed that something new had crept into the microscopic spot that used to house long-time resident Mrs. Field’s Cookies at 11740 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. Now, instead of sugary treats, you can (rather ironically) stock up on superfoods. With one location in Pacific Palisades, Açaí Nation had quietly slipped into the space and offers a menu of bowls and smoothies that you can read more about here.
I recently noticed that a new restaurant is going into the freshly renovated space that used to house a discount store at 11030 Washington Blvd. (corner of Tilden) in Culver City. While the sign doesn’t mention a name, looks like they’ll be offering “delicious acai bowls”. There’s no indication of when the new superfood restaurant will open, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
Toddrickallen 