A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Adrian!) wrote to tell me about something taking over the papered-over former home of wine bar and event specialist Fundamental at 1303 Westwood Blvd. There’s a small, hand-written note on the front door naming the new establishment as The French Way. I can’t seem to find out much information on this new eatery, but the note on the door confirms that it will be a restaurant, and they are shooting for a June 15th opening.
As a Westsider, a couple of times a year I get in the car and drive up the 405 to Van Nuys for a pilgrimage to the 99 Ranch Market (also known as Tawa Supermarket). They carry a comprehensive selection of Asian groceries, and are most likely to stock hard-to-source ingredients like stinky tofu or broad bean paste. I’ll return home with piles of Makrut lime leaves, rau ram, fried tofu, a plant for the garden, and just possibly durian. (Although I do thoroughly recommend a local gem: Ma’am’s International Foods in Santa Monica whose much smaller, concise selection is accompanied by the BEST service anywhere.) Well that trip up the 405 may no longer be necessary. It appears we are about to be blessed with our own Westside branch of the chain. There are tiny window notices up at the former site of the Ross Dress for Less at 1364 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood announcing an upcoming location. Read more about the company and its vision here. Very exciting news…
A reader (Thanks Jeremy!) noticed a banner hanging over the front of the space that used to be home to D’Amore’s Pizza at 1136 Westwood Blvd. The banner announces a collab between Kung Fu Tea and TKK Fried Chicken. Kung Fu Tea originated in Queens NY and is the self-proclaimed largest bubble tea brand in America. TKK Fried Chicken began life in Taipei in 1974 and promises to have us say, “Cluck yeah”.
A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Ely!) let me know that a new coffee shop is landing in Westwood. Window paper is announcing that expanding Australian coffee chain Bluestone Lane is moving into the former home of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 950 Westwood Blvd. (corner of Weyburn). And check out their offer for free coffee everyday during opening week by scanning the code in the window (or in my photo below)…
It looks like Westwood is about to get a branch of a beloved Hollywood institution. Banners are up on the corner location at 1898 Westwood Blvd. announcing an impending arrival of Mashti Malone’s Ice Cream. Mashti Malone’s has long been the temple for devotees of Persian-style ice cream and other treats.
On a tip from a reader (Thanks Ely!) I went by 1777 Westwood Blvd. to see what was going on with beloved Indonesian institution Ramayani. It looks like they won’t be reopening at this location. There’s a for lease sign hanging on the front. Truly a sad day for West LA’s dining scene. Their website does promise a resurrection in the San Fernando Valley “soon”. We wish them luck.
It appears that Westwood Village is about to get a new java joint. While there is no obvious sign, the windows of 1154 Westwood Boulevard (formerly site of Peet’s Coffee) are blackened with the words “But first, coffee”. You might recognize this phrase as the tagline for the sleek third-wave purveyor of caffeinated drinks Alfred Coffee.
More signs of turbulence in Westwood Village… Longtime Westwood fixture D’amore’s Famous Pizza has quit its prominent location at 1136 Westwood Blvd. Not sure what happened, but I’ll keep my eyes on the space to see what may develop.
(Thanks JSPepper!)
With all the recent bad stories about the spate of Westwood’s restaurant closings, it’s good to close the year with some hopeful news. Headlines Diner & Grill is open in its new location at 1131 Westwood Blvd. Right around the corner, Frozen Land is now peddling gelato, ice cream, and frozen yogurt in its new location at 10911 Lindbrook.
A great many of you were shocked to learn that the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf had closed its doors back in August at its iconic stand-alone location at 1500 Westwood Blvd. Die hard CBTL fans have been mourning the loss, but there is more coffee on the way… A banner recently went up announcing Starbucks as the replacement.
I heard from a saddened reader (very sorry JS) that the diminutive Japanese restaurant popular with locals, Necco, has closed up shop over the weekend in Westwood. Necco burst onto the scene in 2014 with a concept of healthy Japanese tapas and a minimalist interior. The website gives no explanation, but confirms the closure. All may not be lost though: The website also promises new projects. We wish them the best of luck.
This doesn’t happen very often… It appears that the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has closed its popular free-standing location at 1500 Westwood Blvd. I’m not sure what happened, but there is construction going on at the location. We’ll have to wait and see…
If you’ve been reading this blog, you’re aware of the recent mass exodus of restaurants from Westwood. But the news isn’t all doom and gloom… One plucky eatery appears to be doing just fine. A banner above the recently deceased Lollicup at 1131 Westwood Blvd. is announcing that longtime Westwood fixture Headline’s Diner is moving into the front and center location.
Well this came as a bit of shock, but longstanding red sauce joint Tanino Ristorante Bar appears to be finished at 1043 Westwood Blvd. Tanino anchored the mercurial Westwood food scene for 20 years, but sadly paper is now covering the windows. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops…
On a tip from a reader, I went to check out what was going on at 1145 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood Village, site of the erstwhile Panera Bread. Window decals and a large banner let us know that something called Brewin’ Coffee is on the way. (Brewin’/Bruin, get it?) I can’t seem to locate too much on Brewin’, so if you have more information, let me know…
It appears that Pasadena’s popular frozen treat shop Bloomfield Creamery is expanding west. A small sign in the window promises their arrival to the former nail salon space at 1427 Westwood Blvd. (Although a large “coming soon” banner was recently removed). Not sure of an opening date, but it looks like we can expect “artisanal ice cream, edible cookie dough, and frozen yogurt” soon…
When it comes to finding noodles in Westwood, you’re spoiled for choice. Add one more to the list. Paper is covering the windows of the space at 1118 Westwood Blvd. indicating that Dan Dumpling & Noodle is intent on delivering comfort food to the good people of Westwood soon…
Thanks to a tip from a reader, I went to check out the construction that was underway at 2011 Westwood Blvd. (corner of La Grange) that was the site of a long-defunct Radio Shack. Turns out, the new restaurant will be the future home of a branch of mega-chain Panda Express. If you’ve only recently just landed from Mars and have no idea what a Panda Express is, you can check out their menu or find one of their other gazillion locations here.
Toddrickallen 