Clean Juice Coming To West Edge, In West LA

Posted on May 8, 2024 by toddrickallen

It looks like a new healthy option is heading to the new West Edge development, on the corner of Bundy and Olympic, at 12121 W Olympic Blvd. There’s window paper on one of the spaces in the retail section of the massive complex, near the flashy new Gelson’s, announcing the arrival of Clean Juice. Clean Juice has locations throughout the US, but the closest current one to LA is in Agoura Hills. They offer a menu of juices and food that is “delicious, organic, fresh, and clean”. Check out their selection of juices, smoothies, salads, bowls, and sandwiches here.

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.

Bonsai Coffee Bar Replacing Honeyboba In West LA

Posted on January 25, 2024 by toddrickallen

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)

Dunkin’ Donuts Opening In Sawtelle

Posted on October 25, 2023 by toddrickallen

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.

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.

Ivory’s Bake Shop Coming To West LA

Posted on June 20, 2023 by toddrickallen

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…

The Boil Daddy Coming Soon To West LA

Posted on March 27, 2023 by toddrickallen

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!)

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!)

Tuk Tuk Thai Opening Sawtelle Blvd’s First Thai Street Food Restaurant

Posted on November 5, 2021 by toddrickallen

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.

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 Expanding Across SoCal

Posted on September 22, 2021 by toddrickallen

Don’t count out plucky Everytable… The nobly inspired concept chain aimed to bring fresh, nutritious, made-from-scratch meals to a fast food world at price points based on what a community could afford. Then they ran into a spot of trouble a while ago and closed various outlets. But hope springs eternal. There’s window paper covering the prominent space at 11049 Santa Monica Blvd Suite A in West LA (former site of a CBTL) announcing that they are opening a new branch at this location… and just about everywhere else as well. Check out this impressive list of upcoming Everytables, including Long Beach, Van Nuys, and Torrance. This branch is planning on a November 5th opening.

Lady & Larder Coming To Santa Monica

Posted on January 31, 2021 by toddrickallen

It looks like West LA’s adorable purveyor of all things cheese, Lady & Larder, is coming to Santa Monica. A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Robert!) spotted the ABC application on the space next to Milo SRO at 828 Pico Blvd. #2, clearly indicating that the Simms Sisters are intent on bringing gorgeous cheese boards to the good people of Santa Monica. At the time of this writing I couldn’t confirm if this will be a second location or if they’re moving operations, but as soon as I find out I’ll let you know.

Prime Pizza Coming To West LA

Posted on January 23, 2021 by toddrickallen

It looks like West LA is getting yet one more pizza joint to grace its strip malls… A reader (Thanks Jennifer!) let me know that there’s a banner up on the space at 12219 Santa Monica Blvd., previously home to Pizza Hut, announcing that Prime Pizza is moving in. Prime Pizza has three other locations across LA and promises “authentic NY style Pizza”.

Piara Pizza Bringing New Pies To West LA

Posted on January 13, 2021 by toddrickallen

I recently noticed a large banner on a space in the strip mall on the corner of Sawtelle and Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA (11281 Santa Monica Blvd.). The banner is promising a new pie joint, Piara Pizza Fresh and Ready. Piara Pizza is an expanding, mostly West Coast chain, with two other locations in LA, and a whole lot more planned. No word on an opening date, but they look close.

Federal Coffee Opens In West LA

Posted on January 3, 2021 by toddrickallen

An adorable new coffeeshop opens in West LA on Monday Jan 4th at 7am (according to their FB page). Federal Coffee will inhabit the charming retro-look bolthole and walk-up window at 11600 W Pico. Look for menu of all things java: espresso, latte, cold brew, and drip, as well as hot chocolate, matcha, and tea. And check out their Instagrammable “mug shot” wall. Check out their new website here. We wish them the best of luck.

Westside Tavern Closes Today, The Westside Weeps…

Posted on October 31, 2020 by toddrickallen

A sad day for movie goers on the Westside… Popular local institution Westside Tavern, at 10850 W Pico Blvd., has decided to pull the plug. Today (10/31/2020) is their last day of service. For over 10 years, their no-reservation policy ensured stampedes of people running from the theater above to be the first in line for their inventive, playful food and stiff cocktails. “Continuing challenges from the pandemic” are to blame. They will be missed. Read their gracious goodbye letter here.

Umi By Hamasaku Closed In El Segundo

Posted on October 21, 2020 by toddrickallen

And while we’re on the subject of The Point... It appears that Umi by Hamasaku has given up the ghost at thier location at 8050 S Sepulveda in El Segundo. Umi caused quite a stir when it expanded to this neck of the woods from West LA, bringing Hamasaku chef Yoya Takahashi’s signature sushi and izakaya dishes.

Bluestone Lane Paving The Way In Brentwood

Posted on July 17, 2019 by toddrickallen

If you’ve noticed all the construction on the building at 11601 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, on the corner of Wilshire, you may be wondering what’s coming… Window paper recently went up letting us all know that the prominent location will soon be the home of Brentwood’s first branch of rapidly-expanding Australian coffee chain Bluestone Lane. Where to find parking on the busy corner is anyone’s guess…

Westside Pavillion Boasts A Gelato Vending Machine…

Posted on January 1, 2017 by toddrickallen

Look what I came across on a recent visit to The Landmark Theaters… You can now get your frozen treat fix at this handy gelato machine located on the ground floor. Flavors include tiramisu, banana cheesecake, and peanut butter cup, and will set you back $3.75.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

Tag Archives: West LA