Tag Archives: Santa Monica

The Brothers Sushi Replacing Sushi Kiyono In Beverly Hills

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In a town packed with powerhouse restaurants, quiet little Sushi Kiyono has been happily serving devoted locals for 27 years at 255 S Beverly Blvd. Sadly, that is about to come to an end. A gracious note on the front door cites retirement and says that the final day of service will be this Saturday November 22. The note also welcomes their replacement: The Brothers Sushi. An ABC application on the front confirms it. With locations in Woodland Hills, Santa Monica, and Culver City, The Brothers Sushi is the much lauded and wildly popular “high-end” sushi spot that offers seasonal “Omakase Chefs courses or Ala Carte options”.

Suá Replacing Wexler’s In Downtown Santa Monica

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It appears that after 10 years, smoked fish experts Wexler’s Deli have closed up shop at 616 Santa Monica Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. This is not the end: A gracious note on the front door explains that they are pivoting to a wholesale business and you will soon be able to find their proprietary lox at hotels and restaurants. In other exciting news, the note also explains that “Sichuan Superette” Suá, will be taking over the space. If you haven’t had a chance to visit their charming Larchmont location, you can expect delightful hand-stirred matcha and coffee drinks, organic Sichuan grab-and-go, Asian snacks, and carefully curated pantry and home goods.

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

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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!

 

Three Flavors Bringing Asian Flavors To Venice

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A small banner has appeared in the window of the space at 235 Main St. in Venice, previously home to The Anchor Venice. A new eatery named Three Flavors appears to be moving in. I don’t have much information on this establishment, other than the banner promises an interesting combination of “Thai, Sushi, Phở”.

Raising Cane’s Coming To Inglewood

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Chicken finger experts Raising Cane’s is continuing its expansion across LA. The Louisiana-based poultry purveyor with noontime lines out the door has signage up on plywood on the corner of Century Blvd. and Doty, right next to SoFi in Inglewood. Look for upcoming branches in Westwood and Santa Monica as well.

Vons Grand Opening October 17 In Santa Monica

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This is a public service announcement: The brand-new and much-needed Vons, that is in the new luxury development on the corner of Broadway and Lincoln in Santa Monica, will officially open on October 17th. Ribbon cutting is at 7:15am and doors will open at 8am. We’re promised “Giveaways + Fun activities”, and the first 250 people will receive a “Game Card for a chance to win“. You’re welcome.

Is Santa Monica Getting A Sister Restaurant to Woodland Hills’ Casaléna?

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Santa Monica’s dining scene is white-hot right now. Yet more evidence: There’s renewed activity at 2820 Main St., a chunk of prime real estate that used to home to Santa Monica’s beloved gem World Cafe that closed about a decade and a half ago (after World Cafe, it was home to Areal for a period). The location has sat derelict ever since, but recently a new ABC application has appeared on the front. While no business name is listed, a close inspection of the application reveals some familiar names: Chloe, Brandon, and Tyler Makhani, the family team behind Woodland Hills’ Mediterranean charmer Casaléna. This property sounds familiar to Casaléna‘s concept of different dining rooms and a big outdoor space. I’ll keep my eyes on the project to see what may develop, but this is definitely exciting news.

La Monique Bringing French Charm To Santa Monica

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Santa Monica is getting a gorgeous new dining room… La Monique will open on November 11 and is destined to become a sensation. La Monique has moved into the old Tower 8 restaurant space in the deliciously private and fashionable Hotel Oceana, at 849 Ocean Ave. You may recall Tower 8 opened with a Josiah Citrin menu but eventually closed to the public over a decade ago. The layout has been completely redesigned with a new entrance and the bar moved to the opposite wall. Expect a cozy, chic, elegantly designed space, with a clubby feel and attention to details. The self-described French brasserie (with Italian influence) offers a menu of classics like Le Plateau Royale, steak frites, Dover sole, grilled branzino, escargot poppers, and pastas, as well as Petrossian caviar service and specialty cocktails. I suggest you grab a reservation while you can….

Noma Sushi Gets A New Home In Santa Monica

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We’ve long known that local institution Noma Sushi would be forced to close due to a proposed redevelopment of the property at 2031 Wilshire. Readers have been repeatedly asking me what would happen to the beloved neighborhood fave. Now we have answers: Signs are up indicating that Noma is moving across the street, to 2020 Wilshire (most recently occupied by Senator Jones), in a property owned by the same landlord as the current location. You’re welcome…

Codos Bringing Exceptional Coffee From Germany To Santa Monica

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A German coffee concept is making its debut in Santa Monica. There’s window paper and a sign on the diminutive space at 2665#B Main St announcing the arrival of Codos Coffee Roastery. Codos began in 2014 in Hamburg and has since spread across Germany. Their focus is on “exceptional coffee” served in a “warm and welcoming space where every guest feels at home”. Willkommen!

Raising Cane’s Coming To Westwood, Santa Monica

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I have it on good authority that popular chicken finger restaurant Raising Cane’s is coming to Westwood Village. What you are looking at in the photo is the build-out for the beloved poultry purveyor at 10948 Weyburn in Westwood Village. Louisiana-based Raising Cane’s is (thankfully) expanding in California, with yet another location planned for nearby Third Street Promenade.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizzeria Coming To Santa Monica

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Congratulations Santa Monica, cartoon-themed pizza is heading your way! People are writing to tell me about the plywood on the space at 1444 3rd Street Promenade announcing the arrival of the first official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizzeria. This location was once home to Johnnie’s New York Pizzeria, which closed nearly 10 years ago. And what can we expect? This announcement promises a “classic New York-style cheesy slice… worthy of the sewer squad”. Hmmm…

La La Land Kind Cafe Coming To Brentwood

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While I’ve known this for months, I’ve held off on telling you as I didn’t have concrete proof. But now, so many people have written to tell me, I’m just passing it on as fact. If you’re tired of waiting in the perpetual line at Montana Avenue’s branch of crazy-popular La La Land Kind Cafe, a second nearby location may bring some relief. It appears that La La Land is moving into the old Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 11698 San Vicente Blvd in Brentwood. La La Land has six other locations across LA, with more in Texas, and offers “valuable support and opportunities for fostering youth and individuals in need“, as well as an excellent French Toast Latte.

Jonah’s Rebrands As Big Sur Grill In Santa Monica

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I recently noticed a new sign up on the shuttered Jonah’s Kitchen + Bar space at 2518 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica. According to their Instagram page, the new business, Big Sur Grill, is a rebranding of Jonah’s. While I don’t have much more information, it appears Big Sur Grill will be a “brand new fresh dining concept” with a focus on “live fire cuisine by Chef Philip Wojtowicz“.

Diner Antonette Opens For Weekend Brunch

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This is a public service announcement: Finding a great weekend brunch spot in LA is essential, and also not easy. Freshly opened new neighborhood fave Diner Antonette, at 1215 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica, will open with their inaugural brunch this Saturday and Sunday on their new back patio. You’re welcome.

Bread Head Expanding To Westwood Village

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Congratulations you lucky people of Westwood, epic sandwiches are on the way! With a nearby Montana Ave location that has constant lines, sandwich sensation Bread Head is opening a new location at 1136 Westwood Blvd in Westwood Village. Bread Head is the pet project of Alex Williams and Jordan Snyder, two chefs with Trois Mec pedigrees. They specialize in carefully crafted sandwiches on proprietary focaccia. They also have a new-ish Manhattan Beach location as well.

New York Bagel Deli & Bakery Gets A Makeover In Santa Monica

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This landed in my inbox:

“Hidden gem New York Bagel Deli implements an international bakery and interior makeover by husband-and-wife team, Lenny Rosenberg and Adaeze Nwanonyiri in Santa Monica. The store’s name has been ever so slightly changed to New York Bagel Deli & Bakery. The international and multicultural bakery includes chocolate dipped Danish Almond Horns, Italian Rainbow Cookies, French toast bagels and a gluten free Sprinkle Butter cookies. All bakery items are made in house daily. NYBD & Bakery also features the couples international baking book, “It’s a Sweet World, International Recipes Around The Globe“. For more information, visit their website: http://www.nybdbakery.com“

New York Bagel Deli & Bakery is located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica. They are open from 5am to 3pm Monday through Thursday, and until 4pm Friday and Saturday. We wish them the best of luck.

ROLLD Sushi Bringing “Aussie-Inspired” Sushi To Montana Ave.

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There hasn’t been a proper fast sushi concept on Santa Monica’s tony Montana Ave for a while now (I’m not counting the markets). But that’s about to change. Paper is up on the space at 1307 Montana announcing the arrival of ROLLD Sushi. Promising an Australian minimalist approach to hand rolls, ROLLD will offer a convenient and solid menu of rolls such as salmon, prawn, veggie, and chicken katsu. They are aiming to open soon.

HomeState Texas Kitchen Coming To Santa Monica

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Local “Texas Kitchen” chain HomeState is expanding to Santa Monica. There’s a banner up on the old Fresh Corn Grill space at 720 Wilshire Blvd. #101 announcing the news. HomeState has eight other locations around SoCal and is known for tacos, migas, queso, Frito pie, house-made flour tortillas, and margaritas.

Update: A recent sign is announcing that Home State will open on November 25.