LA Wine & Food Festival Nov. 7 – Nov. 9 In Santa Monica

Posted on October 30, 2025 by toddrickallen

From my Inbox:

LA Wine & Food Fest

Friday, Nov. 7th-Sunday, Nov. 9th / Barker Hanger Santa Monica

VIP 6:30pm, GA 7:30pm / $175-$389

“The Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival hosted by Tastemade is a vibrant celebration of the city’s dynamic culinary scene, rich multicultural flavors, and boundless creativity taking place on November 7-9, 2025, at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Over three days, guests will savor dishes from exciting local and internationally acclaimed chefs, sip beverage selections from top regional and international producers, and experience the cultural mosaic that makes this city a global food capital. From innovative tasting experiences to immersive pop-ups and artistic food installations, the festival is a feast for the senses—where food, culture, and art merge in the most delicious and Angelyne way.”

* FRIENDS OF SPIN * USE CODE “LAWine20” FOR 25% OFF TICKETS!

Wildbird Landing In Culver City

Posted on August 12, 2025 by toddrickallen

There’s window paper up on the space at 10601 Washington Blvd #103 (corner of Overland) announcing the impending arrival of Wildbird. Wildbird specializes in locally sourced free-range chicken that has been “raised right“. They then marinate it for 24 hours, slow cook it, and carve it to order. They have five other locations around LA.

Tres Dos Tres Coming To Sawtelle Japantown

Posted on May 26, 2025 by toddrickallen

Right next door to upcoming Slizeria, a new fast casual Mexican restaurant is moving into the space at 11301 W Olympic #116. Window paper is up and work is fast and furious on the new Tres Dos Tres. 323 will be featuring a build-you-own fast casual Mexican concept that you can read more about at What Now Los Angeles.

GGiata Landing In Brentwood Soon…

Posted on May 6, 2025 by toddrickallen

Yet more Brentwood news… I heard from a sharp-eyed anonymous reader that a new sandwich spot will be taking over the old New York Bagel spot at 11640 San Vicente Blvd, in the Town & Country shopping center. While there’s no signage up yet, the website confirms that GGiata is moving in. With five other locations around LA, GGiata bills itself as an “East Coast-style Italian deli”. Check out their menu of sandwiches, salads, breakfasts, and seasonal items here.

Doner Corner Coming To Brentwood

Posted on November 22, 2024 by toddrickallen

The space at 11916 Wilshire in Brentwood has gone through a number of incarnations over the last few years. Most recently it was The Upper Crust Pizza. Before that it was a French restaurant, and before that another pizzeria. But now a new name has gone up on the iconic sign: Doner Corner is moving in and refurbishing the space. Promising “the true essence of Turkish cuisine”, you can expect a menu of doner, falafel, kibbeh, hummus, and more.

Black Sugar Boba Coming To West LA

Posted on August 23, 2024 by toddrickallen

It appears there’s a new sweet treat shop landing at 11918 Wilshire Blvd in LA. A banner us up announcing the arrival of Black Sugar Boba. It looks like they were aiming for an earlier opening, but their website still promises this location. Look for a menu of high-quality milk tea, matcha, cereal milks, smoothies, slushes, and fruit tea.

Kakkoi Sushi/Niku Nashi Vegan Sushi Now Open In The Colony

Posted on April 23, 2024 by toddrickallen

A fresh new dining option opened last Friday (April 19th) in community “smart kitchen” The Colony at 11419 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA. Plant-based sushi specialists Niku Nashi Vegan Sushi has partnered with Kakkoi Sushi to create an exciting menu that combine’s Kakkoi‘s “Russian-Spanish-European fusion” with Niku Nashi‘s innovative vegan sushi. Hours are 11am to 9pm and you can dine in on their patio or opt for take-away or delivery. We wish them the best of luck.

Percolate Disappears From LA

Posted on July 24, 2023 by toddrickallen

I heard from a disheartened reader (Thanks Sam!) that beloved coffee, tea, and boba purveyor Percolate had closed up shop from its ghost kitchen location at 11419 Santa Monica in the Sawtelle neighborhood of West LA. But apparently that’s not all. They appear to have closed all their LA locations as well. I’ll keep watching to see what may develop.

Wingstop Coming To Rancho Park

Posted on February 1, 2023 by toddrickallen

A new fast-food option is landing in Rancho Park in West LA. There’s a banner up on the space at 11201 National Blvd. announcing that a branch of poultry purveyor Wingstop in taking over the space. The strip mall where the address is located, at the corner of National and Sepulveda, has long been the home of another fan favorite Hamburger Habbit.

Kye’s Quits Montana Ave, Opening In Colony And Venice’s New Colony

Posted on December 12, 2022 by toddrickallen

Kye’s opened at 1518 Montana Ave. in November of 2014 and has maintained a solid fanbase ever since. Their signature “KyeRito” (essentially a wrap that they describe as a “handheld bowl or salad”) was popular among the carb-conscious crowds of NoMa. So I was quite surprised when readers began messaging me to let me know that Kye’s has closed at this location. But don’t panic, they are moving the operation to West LA’s “smart kitchen” Colony at 11419 Santa Monica Blvd. Their website also says that they will be opening in a new Colony at 411 Lincoln in Venice as well.

(Thanks Casey!)

The Nook Breakfast Spot Expanding To Westchester

Posted on October 23, 2022 by toddrickallen

If you’re travelling South on Lincoln through Westchester, you might have noticed a large banner hanging on the wall of the former location of Chicago For Ribs at 8311 Lincoln Blvd. The banner lets us know that The Nook Breakfast Spot is taking over the space. The Nook Breakfast Spot has one location in Lomita and promises “homemade meals from scratch”. Check out their Lomita location’s menu here.

Ume Tea Coming To Palms

Posted on July 31, 2022 by toddrickallen

A new tea shop is coming to the space at 11138 Palms Blvd (corner of Sepulveda). With a handful of locations in Northern California, Ume Tea is expanding Southward. Expect a menu of milk teas with boba and/or mochi, fruit teas, and snacks.

Empire Hotdog Has A New Home In West LA

Posted on November 3, 2021 by toddrickallen

A delightful new outdoor dining experience has landed on Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA. You could easily miss it if you weren’t looking, but set in the back of an empty lot at 11819 Santa Monica Blvd. is Empire Hotdog. The food truck has build a clever home for itself in a park-like setting complete with tables and chairs and a large LED screen, that at the time I visited, was showing Shakira videos. Grab a burger and a drink and sit under the stars marveling that such a place even exits in busy West LA.

Everytable Coming To Venice Blvd. @ Motor in LA

Posted on September 25, 2021 by toddrickallen

It wasn’t that long ago I thought that Everytable was down for the count. But as it turns out, not a chance! Only this week I told you about the massive and impressive proposed expansion for the socially-conscious chain that intends to make sure that “good food is affordable and accessible to all”. Here’s another branch going into the space at 10419 W. Venice Blvd Suite 101-A (corner of Motor). This location is planning on a November 12th opening.

Primo’s Donuts Opens This Saturday In Westwood

Posted on September 16, 2021 by toddrickallen

It was only back in April of last year when I told you about the devastating closure of local landmark Stan’s Donuts at 10948 Weyburn in Westwood. But all is not lost. Another longstanding legend, Primo’s Donuts, has taken over the space. Primo’s has been an LA institution on Sawtelle for over 60 years. This week the good people of Primo’s reached out to me to let me know that they will be throwing open their doors this Saturday, September 18th, and from 12pm to 1pm they will be handing out free “buttermilk bites”. Look for a menu of “espresso-based beverages and ice-cream donut sandwiches”, as well as well as classic raised donuts, and vegan and gluten-free options in a fresh, fully remodeled space. We wish them the best of luck.

(Photo: Michael Mallory)

Sol-Agave Bringing “Authentic Mexican” To Santa Monica and LA

Posted on September 12, 2021 by toddrickallen

Santa Monica’s branch of Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern disappeared during the pandemic restaurant closures, leaving a gaping hole at 1733 Ocean Ave. But a new contender is stepping forward to give the space a go. There’s a banner off to the side of the patio announcing the impending arrival of Sol-Agave. This will be the fourth location for the Mexican chain that started out as a food truck in in 2014 in San Juan Capistrano. According to their website, it appears that they are also planning on a location at 800 W Olympic #A130, near STAPLES Center. We wish them the best of luck.

Mama Por Dios Bringing “Mexican Gourmet” To LA

Posted on February 14, 2021 by toddrickallen

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.

Menotti’s Coffee Stop Landing On Washington In LA

Posted on April 23, 2019 by toddrickallen

Poplar hip Venice caffeine joint Menotti’s Coffee Stop is continuing to expand. Recently they appeared on Sunset in Hollywood. Now, according to the new signs, it looks like that they are opening another location in an old hardware store at 12450 W Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles (Or is it Culver City? It’s confusingly written both ways on-line.) I’m not sure when the flat whites and cortados will start pouring, but it looks like they’re not too far off…

Menotti's.jpg

EVO Kitchen Now Closed On Sunset

Posted on September 28, 2018 by toddrickallen

A reader (Thanks Shawn L.!) has passed along information that EVO Kitchen has called it quits. Known for their vegan, vegetarian, organic, and gluten-free options, the restaurant has quietly vacated their home of nine years at 7950 Sunset Blvd. (corner of Hayworth) in LA. I’m not sure what happened, but you can read their gracious good-bye note below.

(Photo Courtesy Shawn L.)

Carvery Kitchen Quits Santa Monica, Lands In LA

Posted on April 18, 2018 by toddrickallen

Recently, I discovered that popular sandwich spot Carvery Kitchen had vacated its space at 3101 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica. The space is completely gutted and all signs have been removed. But all is not lost… According to their website, Carvery Kitchen is moving to 8832 Pico Blvd. in LA, previously the home of Mexikosher. I went by to check out their progress. The plucky “Ultimate Deli” had planned on a soft opening April 16th, but they appear to be behind schedule and have a way to go.

The old and the new location…

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

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