Pret A Manger Finally Landing In LA

While there is already a (sort of) branch of British powerhouse sandwich chain Pret a Manger at Tom Bradley in LAX, Los Angeles is about to get its very own stand-alone location.  Also simply known as Pret, there is new window paper up at 901 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood Village announcing the happy news.  If you are unfamiliar with the brand, Pret a Manger (which means ready to eat in French) is a popular grab-and-go prepared sandwich chain that began life in 1983 in London and has since spread to many countries and locations across the globe (including New York and Chicago), and soon here as well.  While I don’t know what the menu will be like here in LA, I can tell you that when I’m in London, which is usually about once a year, I never miss the opportunity to grab one of their delectable super fresh sandwiches.  I usually stuff a few in my suitcase as well.  This is certainly exciting news….

Update: This is apparently a developing story, and readers are writing to let me know a branch is heading for the old Breadblok space in Studio City, as well as possibly at least one more somewhere else…  

Honey Krush Replaces Kung Fu Tea In Westwood Village

That didn’t take long…  It was only last month when I told you about the disappearance of Kung Fu Tea and TKK Fried Chicken from the diminutive space at 1136 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood Village.  Wasting no time, a new purveyor of organic drinks, Honey Krush, has quickly set up housekeeping.  If they’re not already open by the time you read this, they will be shortly…

PokiTomik Blows Up Westwood With “Explosive Poke”

A reader wrote to tell me that a new bolthole is dishing raw fish in Westwood Village. PokiTomik is now open at 1135 Westwood Blvd. and offers a menu of bowls, burritos, and tacos.  PokiTomik began in Glendale in 2017 and has spread to 15 locations across SoCal.  They have made it their mission to “blow up the community with the freshest and most wholesome ingredients to make the most explosive poke”.

Kung Fu Tea, TKK Fried Chicken Quit Westwood

This has been a full circle for one of my my readers…  Back in March of 2022, JP wrote to tell me about an exciting new project coming to 1136 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood Village.  What was exciting was that the self-described “largest bubble tea brand in America”, Kung Fu Tea, was opening a storefront in collaboration with Taiwanese brand TKK Fried Chicken at this address.  Sadly, JP recently wrote to me again to let me know that the experiment appears to have folded and the space is now empty once again.

(Thanks JP!)

IXLB Dimsum Eats Coming To Westwood Village

One a tip from a reader, I went by 1151 Westwood Blvd, previously home to a branch of Ike’s Love and Sandwiches, to see what was going on.  A banner on the front lets us know that IXLB Dimsum Eats is taking up housekeeping at this address.   IXLB has a location in Hollywood, and offers a solid menu of dumplings, rice, and noodles.

(Thanks Gary!)

The French Way Replacing Fundamental In Westwood

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.

99 Ranch Market About To Bless The Westside…

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…

Kung Fu Tea, TKK Fried Chicken Bringing NY/Taiwan Flavors To Westwood Village

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”.

Bluestone Lane Bringing Flat Whites To Westwood

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)…

Ramayani Gone From Westwood

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.

Alfred Coffee Coming To Westwood Village

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.

Westwood Rebounding…

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.

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Starbucks Replacing Iconic Coffee Bean In Westwood

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.

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Necco Uprooted In Westwood

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.

Headline’s Diner Replacing Lollicup In Westwood

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.

Tanino Finished In Westwood…

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…

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Brewin’ Coffee Coming Soon To Westwood

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…

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