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.
It looks like bicycle-themed java joint 10 Speed Coffee is expanding. There is a new sign up on the space at 1947 S Sawtelle Blvd B confirming the news. 10 Speed has locations in Santa Monica and Calabasas, and appears close to opening this location.
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!)
I noticed brightly colored window paper and an ABC application at 1836 Sawtelle Blvd. It appears that hand-crafted California-brewed alcoholic beverage company Sawtelle Sake is opening a storefront at the location. The license is a “02-Winegrower” type which means they produce their own wines but doesn’t give a clue about what may be on offer here. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Poke & Co went belly-up a while ago, leaving a gaping hole at 2010 Sawtelle Blvd. That’s about to change. There’s a hiring notice on the front door that lists the new tenant as Supita. Their logo describes them as “tart specialists”. Other than that, I can’t seem to locate much on the new treat shop.
Update: I heard from the good people at Supita who asked me to pass along a link to their website. We wish them the best of luck.
A new dessert place is expanding into The Westside. MeloMelo has a new location in Westchester at 8336 Lincoln, and is soft-opening a location in Sawtelle Japantown this Friday at 2002 Sawtelle Blvd. MeloMelo currently has a smattering of LA locations and offers a creative menu of proprietary coconut jelly mixed with fruit, dairy, and other ingredients, all served in environmental glass jars. Personally, I’m excited to try the durian coconut.
It appears that a new boba joint is landing in Sawtelle Japantown. There’s window paper up on a storefront at 1642 Sawtelle that used to be the home of a hookah lounge. Tea Mug Boba is promising tea, coffee, and smoothies that are made fresh daily.
There’s window paper up on the space at 1640 Sawtelle Blvd., at the North end of Sawtelle Japantown, announcing the arrival of Tuk Tuk Thai. Known for their excellent Pad Thai, I got a chance to speak with a rep from Tuk Tuk who informed me that this is a relocation from their current space at 8875 W Pico, and not a second location. According to them, this will be Sawtelle Japantown’s first Thai street food restaurant. They are shooting for a December 1st opening at this address. Until then, check out their menu here.
There’s a cheery new specialty drinks shop that slipped into a quieter section of Sawtelle Japantown. The Bay Area’s Teaspoon is now in soft opening at 1947 Sawtelle Blvd. Unit E and pouring drinks that “blend together fresh flavors with traditional boba tea culture”. Their Grand Opening will be on August 7th at 12pm, when the first 100 customers will get a free drink in a Teaspoon bamboo bottle.
It look like Sawtelle Japantown is getting a new specialty cafe soon… There’s window paper and a new sign up on the space that used to be the home of gallery Eleven Arts announcing the impending arrival of Sunmerry Bakery Cafe to 2129 Sawtelle. Sunmerry already has a number of locations in SoCal. It was founded in 1986 in Taiwan and specializes in Japanese baking techniques for its many varied cakes, cream puffs, and “boba egg tarts”, as well as offering a selection of boba, taro, and tea drinks.
It was only a couple of weeks ago that I told you about the heartbreaking closure of the beloved Sawtelle Japantown institution Hurry Curry of Tokyo. Wasting no time whatsoever, it appears a new eatery is moving into their old space at 2131 Sawtelle Blvd. There’s a banner that recently went up announcing the impending arrival of bb.q Chicken, a Korean chain with locations across the US and known for frying in olive oil.
I’ve been hearing from devastated readers mourning the loss of a favorite Westside eatery. After 33 years, Hurry Curry of Tokyo has cleared out of their location at 2131 Sawtelle Blvd. at the end of February. Hurry Curry of Tokyo was an institution and was instrumental in the transformation of Sawtelle Japantown into the dining powerhouse it currently is. According to the gracious notice on their website, they lost their lease. All may not be lost however, they are hinting at a relocation, and they still have locations in Seattle.
Flashy signage and window coverings are up on the old Lemonade space at 2047 Sawtelle announcing that a new noodle joint is moving into the neighborhood. Kaz The Soba Place appears to be well underway and close to opening. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of information out there on this business, so I don’t know what will be on the menu besides buckwheat noodles. If you have more information, let me know…
I heard from a deeply saddened reader (Sorry RK…) that innovative java shop Balconi Coffee Company had permanently closed its doors at 11301 W Olympic Blvd. #124. Sure enough, the space is gutted and there’s a gracious note affixed to the front (that you can also read here) explaining their reasoning. Apparently, Balconi was a pioneer in the use of the siphon method for making coffee. All is not lost though, the note promises that they are looking for a “safe time and location to reopen” and in the mean time they will be doing pop-ups and event collaborations. We wish them the best of luck…
With so much bad news lately, it’s refreshing to see plucky new restaurants chancing the uncertain times. With locations up and down California, Taiwan fruit tea experts Yi Fang have recently opened at 2010 Sawtelle in Sawtelle Japantown. Expect a bewildering array of choices that includes besides fruit tea, tea latte, milk tea, “salty cream”, Yakult tea, and other traditional drinks. We wish them the best of luck.
Kitchen Story burst onto the scene back in 2015, when it began serving its signature Korean food from its location at 2129 Sawtelle Blvd. A reader recently pointed out to me that they are now permanently closed, so I went by to check it out. A gracious note on the front door announces the closure and thanks its customers for the support. The closure actually happened in January and preceded the current state of affairs.
It was only back in June of 2018 that I told you about the arrival of Menya Musashi to 2012 Sawtelle Blvd. But as we know, ramen competition in Sawtelle Japantown is fierce. Sadly, they have given up the ghost. A gracious note on the front confirms that they have permanently closed, and thanks patrons for the support.
I’ve been hearing from panicked readers that their fave nostalgic Sawtelle Japantown institution Curry House Japanese Curry & Spaghetti had closed down so I went by to have a look. Sure enough, the restaurant at 2130 S Sawtelle, suite 200 has closed after over 30 years. But that’s not all: According to this article, ALL Curry House locations in California abruptly closed their doors on Monday. Employees apparently had no idea and showed up for work only to find they had no jobs. This is tragic news for its many fans, many of whom are telling me they celebrated milestones and had first dates at the local fixture.
With so many restaurant closures across town, it’s encouraging to see an area retain its vibrancy… Dan Modern Chinese is continuing its push into the Westside. In addition to the upcoming Manhattan Village location, window paper is up on the space at 2051 Sawtelle, squarely in the middle of Sawtelle Japantown, announcing the imminent arrival of their signature dumplings and noodles.
Toddrickallen 