Pieology Pizzeria ceased operations at 920 Broxton in Westwood Village back in 2018. The space has sat vacant ever since but that recently changed. Operating as a food truck in DTLA, Hibachi Papi recently opened a brick-and-mortar at this address. Look for a menu of bowls, plates, and fried rice all prepared with their signature “modern, up-scale Hibachi style”.
And while we’re on the subject of pizza al taglio (Roman-style pizza baked in large rectangular pans and cut with scissors), a new pizza joint recently opened at 1091 Broxton in Westwood Village, formerly the home of Kopan Ramen which disappeared over the Summer. Prince of Venice Pasta & Pizza is apparently run by an actual Italian prince, Prince Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, and started life as a food truck, making this location their first brick-and-mortar. In addition to pizza al taglio, there is a pasta lab where “guests will be able to watch hand-crafted, authentic Italian pasta being made” and sauced with fresh hand-made sauces. As you can see, the ABC application in the window lets us know that beer and wine are on the way. We wish them the best of luck.
It was a little over two years ago that I told you about the arrival of “Japanese izakaya” restaurant Kopan Ramen to the space at 1091 Broxton in Westwood. Sadly, it appears that they have given up the ghost. All signs are down and plywood still covers the front. I’ll keep watching to see what may develop.
Asian food specialist Northern Café has quietly been leading the recent tenuous revival of Westwood Village. In 2016 they opened a dumpling restaurant on Gayley, followed by a noodle joint on Weyburn earlier this year. Now a banner is up on the space at 1061 Broxton, former location of SpireWorks, announcing their intention to open a Chinese hot pot restaurant. We wish them the best of luck…
Signs of life in Westwood Village… After an alarming number of eateries closed recently, it’s good to see some plucky contenders attempting the risky area. It was originally reported earlier this year that Taiwanese boba brand Sharetea was going into the space previously occupied by The Poke at 935 Broxton. But that didn’t happen for some reason. Now window paper covering the front of the old Nushii location at 1055 Broxton is announcing Sharetea’s intent to move in. And I also previously reported House of Meatball’s closure back in September in order to “freshen up”. Readers have been quick to point out that, despite other Westwood restaurants that have closed for remodeling only to eventually permanently close soon after, House of Meatballs has happily reopened at 1076 Gayley.
If you follow this blog, then you know I’ve been carefully following the volatility of the Westwood Village food scene. You may remember that, with great sadness, I reported back in September about the disappearance of Westwood’s beloved institution Falafel King from its 1010 Broxton Ave. location. Wasting no time, a plucky new contender appears to be giving the space a go. Signs are up announcing that Mr. Rice is settling in. An employee at Mr. Rice in Rowland Heights told me that this is “same company”, but I can’t absolutely confirm it.
Well this was a shocker… After having anchored the Westwood Village food scene since, well… forever, Falafel King has closed up shop at 1010 Broxton Ave. I’m not sure what took out the neighborhood institution, but a gracious handwritten note on the door thanks their loyal supporters for “50 wonderful years” and suggests that they are looking for a new location.
Toddrickallen 