Tag Archives: Sawtelle

Bacio di Latte Blessing Beverly Hills Soon…

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It appears that Italian gelato is continuing its inexorable conquest of The Westside. Here is the location of the new Beverly Hills branch of Italian-born brand Bacio di Latte, at 425 N Canon Dr. Bacio di Latte is currently in a major expansion with locations either currently open or upcoming in Century City, Brentwood, Larchmont Village, Sawtelle, Calabasas, Studio City, Santa Monica, and Topanga. Because why should anyone have to drive more than a few blocks for luscious, creamy, artisanal gelato?

Tres Dos Tres Coming To Sawtelle Japantown

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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.

Slizeria Pizza Coming To Sawtelle Japantown

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It looks like a new pie option is coming to the space at 11301 W Olympic #117 in Sawtelle Japantown. A snazzy new sign and build-out are announcing the arrival of Slizeria. Slizeria appears to be a new restaurant promising pizza by the slice or pie with “fresh ingredients & unique flavors”.

(Thanks Vanessa!)

Bangkok BBQ Bowl Opens In Sawtelle

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There a new banner hanging on one of the spaces in the strip mall on the corner of Sawtelle and Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA (11281 Santa Monica Blvd.).  Bangkok BBQ Bowl is now in soft opening and offers a menu of “authentic Thai BBQ” with such things as beef khao soi, krapow chicken rice bowl, and “sexy wings” (their signature wings glazed with a house-made sauce).  As an opening promotion, you can get a free Thai tea when you order a rice bowl.  Check out their full menu here.

Ramen Chikumo Bringing “The Best” Ramen To Sawtelle Japantown

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The shopping center on the corner of Olympic and Sawtelle has been undergoing renovations for a while now.  This opened up the opportunity for new businesses to move in.  One of these, Ramen Chikumo, is building out the space at 11301 W Olympic #118.  According to the website, Ramen Chikumo was founded in Tokyo a little over a year ago and has two locations in Taipei.   Their mission is to “bring happiness and excitement to our customers” with the “best ramen there is”.

Tsukiji Gindaco Sakaba Coming To Sawtelle Japantown

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There’s window paper up on the old Sunmerry Bakery spot at 2129 Sawtelle Blvd. in Sawtelle Japantown.  It appears to show that a new Izakaya-style restaurant, Tsukiji Gindaco Sakaba, is taking up residence.  Also known simply as Gindaco, they have locations in Japan and Gardena and offer what they describe as “Nippon fast food”, perhaps in the form of takoyaki, or fried balls of dough containing octopus.

Nong Lá Replacing Wise Sons In Culver City

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On a tip from a reader, I went by the tricky space that has hosted many restaurants, most recently Wise Sons, at 9552 Washington Blvd.  There’s a banner on the front informing us that Vietnamese cafe Nong Lá is setting up housekeeping.  Well known for their “Phở, Bún, and Bánh Mì“, Nong Lá has two other locations in LA and is planning on a Winter 2024 opening at this location.  

(Thanks Andrew!)

Bonsai Coffee Bar Replacing Honeyboba In West LA

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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)

Primo’s Donuts Departs Westwood

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This story saddens me…  When local institution Stan’s Donuts closed their longtime home at 10948 Weyburn in Westwood during COVID in 2020, locals were literally devastated.  Then came a plucky new contender to fill the historic shoes, Primo’s Donuts.  I can personally vouch for how hard this business worked to remain relevant to the community.  They frequently sent me information on special promotions and deals they were offering.  So it is with a heavy heart that I let you know that, after a little over two years, Primo’s Donuts has closed down this location (Their Sawtelle and Topanga Social locations remain open).  Read more about their reasons for the closure here…

Chicken Bun Bun Now Serving Specialty Sandwiches In Sawtelle Japantown

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A new chicken sandwich option recently opened at 2222 Sawtelle Blvd. in Sawtelle Japantown.  Chicken Bun Bun has made a name for itself serving proprietary chicken sandwiches, but they also offer wraps, wings, and tenders.  With branches in Alhambra and Newport Beach, this is the tertiary location for the mini chain.

Dunkin’ Donuts Opening In Sawtelle

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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.

Sweetcane Juice Coming To Sawtelle Japantown

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Sawtelle Japantown is white-hot for opening new eateries right now.  Add yet another to the list…  There’s a sign in the window of 11301 W Olympic Blvd Suite 105 (previously home to a branch of Coco Fresh Tea & Juice and other shops) announcing a new beverage spot, Sweetcane Juice.  On offer will be sugarcane juice, which their website says provides “electrolytes, vitamin, minerals, and powerful phytonutrients that hydrates more effectively than water alone”.  Look for a menu of sugarcane juice paired with other juices and toppings.

Ohana’s Kitchen Coming To Sawtelle Japantown

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Yet more news coming from Sawtelle Japantown.  There’s a small notice in the papered-over window of 11301 W Olympic Blvd unit 122 (previously home to La Crepe) announcing the impending arrival of Ohana’s Kitchen by Aloha Fridays.  I don’t have much information on this business, so if you have more, let me know…

Odd One Out Bringing Craft Milk Tea To Sawtelle Japantown Soon

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There’s window paper up on the space at 11301 W Olympic Blvd UNIT 124 announcing a new milk tea joint.  But not just any one:  This one appears to be the winner of the Taiwan Milk Tea Festival in 2022.  Odd One Out Craft Milk Tea hails from Taipei and according to their website, they are opening a shop in Downtown Santa Monica as well.  I think they’re close to opening at this location, but while you’re waiting, get a peek at their menu here.

Percolate Disappears From LA

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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.

Ivory’s Bake Shop Coming To West LA

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Talented confectionary specialist Ivory Ventura bakes spectacular custom cakes for special occasions.  Her Yelp page is full of rave reviews from satisfied fans.  Now she is getting a brick-and-mortar to display her craft.  There’s a large banner of the front of a space in the new development on the corner of Olympic and Butler in the Sawtelle neighborhood of West LA announcing the arrival of Ivory’s Bake Shop.  We wish her the best of luck…

Dong Ting Noodle Coming To Sawtelle Japantown

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The new development at 1947 Sawtelle has be seeing a lot of activity.  10 Speed Coffee recently opened in Suite B, and quickly became a hit.  And I only told you last week about a branch of CURRY HOUSE CoCoICHIBANYA sliding into Suite D.  Now there’s new signage and a lot of construction in Suite C foretelling the arrival of Dong Ting Noodle.  Other than the name, I don’t have a lot of information about this business, so if you know more, let me know…

CURRY HOUSE CoCoICHIBANYA Coming To Sawtelle Japantown

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Curry specialists CURRY HOUSE CoCoICHIBANYA opened their first shop in Japan in 1978. They have since spread to over 1,400 locations around the world, including a handful in SoCal.  They’re about to add one more to that collection.  There is a notice in the window of 1947 Sawtelle Blvd Unit D announcing that CURRY HOUSE CoCoICHIBANYA is settling in and will soon be dishing their proprietary curries, salads, and omelets.

Sushi Enya Taking Over Kiriko Sushi Space In Sawtelle Japantown

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People were traumatized by the loss of Kiriko Sushi after 23 years.  Now we know what is taking over the address at 11301 W Olympic Blvd #102 in Sawtelle Japantown.  Signs have recently gone up proclaiming the new tenant as Sushi Enya.  Sushi Enya has four other locations throughout SoCal.

(Thanks Tony!)