It appears Westwood is getting a new Persian restaurant. There’s window paper up at 1777 Westwood Blvd., once home to much beloved Indonesian institution Ramayani, announcing the arrival of Kabob Village. Kabob Village has a couple of locations across LA and offers an extensive and solid menu of classics like shish kabob, koobideh, falafel, and tahdig.
I’m hearing from shocked readers that popular local party spot BJ”s Restaurant & Brewhouse has served their last pizza after a 28-year run at 938 Broxton Ave. in Westwood Village. A gracious notice in the window announces the sad news and directs fans to their other locations in Culver City, Glendale, and Burbank. BJ’s closure leaves one sole business left on the west side of this once busy block, Falafel, Inc.
A happy new food choice is coming to Santa Monica soon… There’s window paper up on the space at most recently occupied by Luna Grill at 3001 Ste 103 Wilshire Blvd. announcing the impending arrival of Jin Cook. Promising “Authentic Korean Soul Food”, Jin Cook has locations in Glendale and Santa Clarita and offers an exciting menu of soups, “hot stone” dishes, pancakes, and katsu.
Update: Jin Cook is now open.
A reader wrote to tell me that a new bolthole is dishing raw fish in Westwood Village. PokiTomik is now open at 1135 Westwood Blvd. and offers a menu of bowls, burritos, and tacos. PokiTomik began in Glendale in 2017 and has spread to 15 locations across SoCal. They have made it their mission to “blow up the community with the freshest and most wholesome ingredients to make the most explosive poke”.
North Swathmore Ave. in Pacific Palisades continues its move toward becoming a destination-worthy restaurant row. More evidence: Roca Pizza is settling into the tony street at 1061 N Swathmore. Roca Pizza is the latest project from California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) Co-founder Rick Rosenfield and his wife Esther and will feature pies with long-refrigerated dough baked in imported Italian ovens. They currently have a location in Glendale, and they are planning on a Marina Del Rey location as well at 4700 Admiralty (in Waterside Marina Del Rey). This location is shooting for an early 2023 opening.
Toddrickallen 