A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Sam!) wrote to tell me about the recent disappearance of Iron Teapot Dim Sum & Bar from its location at 10306 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles (Palms). Wasting no time whatsoever, a new eatery is settling into the address. Fire My Pasta will bring “Italian Inspired Cuisine & Bar”, with pasta and pizza on the menu.
Short-lived Honeyboba abandoned the space at 11573 W. Santa Monica Blvd. (corner of Federal) in West LA (officially Sawtelle) quite some time ago. Now a plucky new contender is going to give the tricky corner a chance. Signs are already up announcing the arrival of Bonsai Coffee Bar. Not much info yet on this establishment, so if you know more, pass it along…
Update: A rep for Bonsai reached out to me with more information. ” [Bonsai is] owned by two first-generation Asian Americans, and it’s a spacious, minimalist cafe serving Andytown Coffee (from the owner’s old neighborhood in SF) and Ippodo matcha (the legendary tea house in Kyoto). They have some really cool specialty lattes that might not be familiar to a lot of LA coffee drinkers–like a mango espresso latte and a matcha/espresso combo latte. There’s a range of seating inside from the hightop bar (tons of outlets, great wifi) and cozier nooks for coming in with friends or meeting for work.” They are currently in soft opening. (02/07/2024)
If you’ve been paying attention, you know that the stretch of Overland that runs through Palms is getting a major transformation. New, tall multi-use buildings are under construction all along the boulevard. One of these projects, Venue at 3688 Overland, is getting a new neighborhood shop, Millbrook Market. 
People are often divided on the subject of Dunkin’ Donuts: It has legions of superfans, and its fair share of detractors as well. Regardless of which side you fall on, it’s hard not to admit that DD is super convenient, fast, and reliable. Now, the good people of the Sawtelle neighborhood will soon be getting a chance to sample the East Coast chain’s famous java and pastries themselves. There’s a new Dunkin’ Donuts landing on the corner of Butler and Olympic, at 11419A Olympic Blvd., right next to the upcoming Ivory’s Bake Shop that I told you about back in June.
Sadly, it appears The Overland Cafe, at 3601 Overland Ave. has finally given up the ghost. The cozy Palms neighborhood fave had been on the go for 50 years and fought hard to keep their doors open, including a rebrand as Overland Tap + Kitchen. There is a notice of closure and a brief message of thanks on their website. I’ll keep my eye on the commodious space to see what may develop.
(Thanks Michael!)
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.
A reader wrote to tell me that the branch of Corner Bakery at 10759 W Pico Blvd (corner of Malcolm) in West Los Angeles has given up the ghost. I’m not sure what the reasons are, but the space is completely gutted. I’ll keep my eye on the address to see what may develop. (Thanks Stepen!)
On a tip from a reader, I went by the old Deja Brew/Billboard Bar + Taproom space at 10928 W Pico Blvd. to see what was going on. Sure enough, new signage alerts us to the news that The Boil Daddy is moving in. The Boil Daddy is a rapidly expanding chain with locations in California and Texas that offers a menu focused on Cajun seafood. (Thanks Blake!)
In a recent post about Mid-City, I opined about the plethora of empty storefronts along Wilshire Blvd. One plucky contender appears to be bucking the trend and is moving into a space along the storied stretch of boulevard. There’s a banner up at 6254 Wilshire (formerly home to Pita Kitchen) announcing the impending arrival of Laki Ramen.
A concerned reader (Thanks Lisa!) took the time to let me know about some recent blows to the Mid-City food scene. Korean eatery Genki Grill is now closed at 6355 Wilshire. A little farther East, gastropub Spare Tire Kitchen & Tavern has completely disappeared from its erstwhile location at 5370 Wilshire. I’m not sure what this portends, but there do seem to be an awful lot of empty storefronts along Wilshire Blvd.
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.
The news was first reported on this two years ago. And then nothing happened. But just this week, an ABC application has appeared on the front of the space at 202 Main St. in Venice confirming that Melrose’s Standing’s Butchery IS moving into the address after all. This means Standing’s selection of ethically sourced local meats, with burgers and beer and wine, but you can read the full skinny on what this will mean for the Seaside Neighborhood on Eater’s original story here.
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!)
It appears that folks in the new Google building on Pico will have a sweet choice for lunch. Jennifer Pinnifer Bakes is moving from their old location on National to 10839 W Pico Blvd, directly across from the complex. Jennifer Pennifer Bakes, known for their handcrafted gourmet cheesecakes, also boasts a menu organic sandwiches, salads and other treats. It looks like they’re planning on opening in the new location on 11/22, or at least that’s what the chalkboard in the window says. (Thanks Brad!)
It looks like a new java joint is heading to the Del Rey neighborhood of LA. Signs are already up in the new multi-use complex at 11612 Culver Blvd. announcing a branch of Commissary. Commissary has been on the go for 10 years and has a smattering of locations across LA serving fair-trade, single origin coffee as well as teas, pastries, and selected food.
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.
I must confess, I never entirely understood the concept of Pudu Pudu, the pudding specialists brought to you by German megabrand Dr. Oetker. Apparently, I wasn’t alone. After opening only in February of this year, they have thrown in the towel at their second-floor location inside the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. And that’s not all. They have closed all of their LA locations, as indicated by this sad good-bye notice on their website.
A sign has gone up at 11688 Gateway Blvd. (corner of Barrington) announcing that a new Thai eatery is coming to the Sawtelle neighborhood. La La Rice appears close to opening. I can’t seem to find out a lot about the new restaurant except that they have applied for a beer and wine license, so I guess we’ll have to wait on details.
Update: I’ve since heard from the good people over at La La Rice who asked me to pass along this link to their website.
(And yes, it officially is in “Sawtelle”, I carefully checked.)
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.
A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Kiko!) noticed window paper up on the former home of Veggie Grill at 10916 Lindbrook in Westwood Village. The paper promises us a branch of “modern fast-casual Indian eatery” Tulsi. Tulsi has two other locations in LA (with the ambitious goal to eventually bring “Indian food into every neighborhood”) and offers a menu of plant-based faves including dosa, samosas, kathi rolls, dabeli, and even a few tacos.
Toddrickallen 