Sana’a Cafe Bringing Yemeni Coffee Tradition To Santa Monica

Posted on July 10, 2026 by toddrickallen

Growing java chain Sana’a Cafe appears to be heading to Santa Monica. There’s a banner over the new build-out at 1302 Pico Blvd announcing the arrival. Yemen has a strong tradition of coffee, where it has been cultivated for over 500 years. Sana’a Cafe honors this heritage by “sourcing the finest organic beans from Yemeni highlands”. Sana’a Cafe has 7 other locations across California (and a new location coming to Westwood as well) and offers an extensive menu of Yemeni specialty drinks, espresso drinks, and teas.

(Thanks Rob!)

Citeadrinks Replacing Junbi in Westwood Village

Posted on July 3, 2026 by toddrickallen

It looks like a new smoothie and tea purveyor is moving into the old Junbi location at 10967 Weyburn Ave. in Westwood Village. Specializing in ceremonial grade matcha, tea grown on their own plantation in Taiwan, and avocado and durian smoothies, Citeadrinks currently operates two other LA area locations, in Rowland Heights and San Gabriel. They are planning on an August grand opening.

The Melt Coming Soon To Westwood Village

Posted on May 28, 2026 by toddrickallen

A new burger joint is bringing gooey goodness to Westwood Village soon. There’s window paper up at 913 Westwood Blvd announcing the arrival of The Melt. With locations across California and Arizona, The Melt promises the “World’s Meltiest Burgers”, as well as a menu of other melty treats including grilled cheese, “mac n cheese”, and chicken sandwiches. They are planning on a Fall opening.

(Thanks B!)

Xibei Eatery Coming To Westwood Village

Posted on April 30, 2026 by toddrickallen

Signs are now up on the space at 10965 Weyburn in Westwood Village announcing the arrival of Xibei Eatery. While I don’t have confirmation, I believe it’s the same company as Xibei Dumplings in Silverlake. If that’s the case, I think we can expect shaomai, or steamed dumplings from “Inner Mongolia, China”. There are help wanted notices in the window and it looks like they’re close to opening.

Pret Disappears From Westwood, Century City

Posted on April 7, 2026 by toddrickallen

It was with great excitement that I told you about the arrival of Pret A Manger (also known as Pret) to Los Angeles. If you are unfamiliar with the brand, Pret A Manger (which means ready to eat in French) is a popular grab-and-go super fresh prepared sandwich chain that began in 1986 in London and has since spread to many locations across the globe (including New York and Chicago). In 2024, they opened a branch at 901 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood Village, then another location in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, with hints of more on the way. Sadly, I’m hearing from multiple people that both locations are now closed. There is still one outpost at Tom Bradley in LAX. Does this spell the end of an LA expansion?

NADC Burger Grand Opening Today In Westwood Village

Posted on February 27, 2026 by toddrickallen

Almost overnight, a new burger joint has slipped into the old Prince of Venice spot at 1091 Broxton in Westwood Village. But not just any burger joint. NADC Burger (Not A Damn Chance) is the brainchild of pro skateboarder Neen Williams and hard-working local Michelin-starred chef Phillip Frankland Lee. NADC has locations across the US and has a simple menu of 100% Wagyu burgers and beef tallow fries. Food & Wine magazine last year named their Chicago location one of “Top Burger Spots in the US“.

Sana’a Cafe Bringing Yemeni Coffee To Westwood Village

Posted on January 5, 2026 by toddrickallen

An interesting new concept is taking over the former longtime home of BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse at 938 Broxton Ave. in Westwood Village. Apparently, according to the website, Yemen has a strong tradition of coffee, where it has been cultivated for over 500 years. The new resident, Sana’a Cafe, will honor this heritage by “sourcing the finest organic beans from Yemeni highlands”. Sana’a Cafe has 8 other locations across California and offers an extensive menu of Yemeni specialty drinks, espresso drinks, and teas.

Raising Cane’s New Santa Monica Location…

Posted on December 15, 2025 by toddrickallen

A while back I told you that Raising Cane’s was moving into the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Here is the new location at 1401 Third St. Promenade, on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd, formerly the home of Bibibop. It looks like they are working on a complete build-out. This is part of a major expansion into the California by the beloved Louisiana-based poultry provider known for chicken finger meals and noontime lines out the door.

Chill Since ’93 Coming To Westwood Village

Posted on November 12, 2025 by toddrickallen

There’s plywood and a poster up on the front of 923 Broxton Ave, formerly home to Habibi Cafe. The poster is promising a new pie joint, Chill Since ’93 Pizza. Chill Since ’93 has a location in The Grove, as well as Lugano and London. They promise super crispy pizza, and sandwiches made with the bread of the moment, “crisp, house-made focaccia bread”.

Raising Cane’s Coming To Inglewood

Posted on October 22, 2025 by toddrickallen

Chicken finger experts Raising Cane’s is continuing its expansion across LA. The Louisiana-based poultry purveyor with noontime lines out the door has signage up on plywood on the corner of Century Blvd. and Doty, right next to SoFi in Inglewood. Look for upcoming branches in Westwood and Santa Monica as well.

Raising Cane’s Coming To Westwood, Santa Monica

Posted on September 19, 2025 by toddrickallen

I have it on good authority that popular chicken finger restaurant Raising Cane’s is coming to Westwood Village. What you are looking at in the photo is the build-out for the beloved poultry purveyor at 10948 Weyburn in Westwood Village. Louisiana-based Raising Cane’s is (thankfully) expanding in California, with yet another location planned for nearby Third Street Promenade.

Milksha Bringing Taiwanese Bubble Tea To Westwood Village

Posted on August 30, 2025 by toddrickallen

A bit of digging by a dedicated reader (Thanks!) appears to confirm that a major Taiwanese brand is moving into the former electronic device shop at 1009 S Broxton Ave. in Westwood Village. Milksha started in Tainan, Taiwan in 2004 and has since spread to over 500 stores worldwide. It looks like this is their first US location. Milksha is passionate about bubble tea made with the highest quality ingredients and techniques.

Erratum: A reader informed me that this is not their first US location. They have two other locations, in Milpitas and in Seattle.

Minari Express Bringing Korean Grab & Go To Westwood Village

Posted on August 27, 2025 by toddrickallen

A new Korean grab & go concept has appeared out of nowhere in Westwood Village. Minari Express recently threw open their doors at 10912 Lindbrook Dr. Minari offers a wide range of prepared and prepackaged Korean staples (think Everytable) as well as snacks, banchan, drinks, and sweets. We wish them the best of luck.

Bread Head Expanding To Westwood Village

Posted on August 14, 2025 by toddrickallen

Congratulations you lucky people of Westwood, epic sandwiches are on the way! With a nearby Montana Ave location that has constant lines, sandwich sensation Bread Head is opening a new location at 1136 Westwood Blvd in Westwood Village. Bread Head is the pet project of Alex Williams and Jordan Snyder, two chefs with Trois Mec pedigrees. They specialize in carefully crafted sandwiches on proprietary focaccia. They also have a new-ish Manhattan Beach location as well.

Van Leeuwen Coming To Westwood Village

Posted on August 4, 2025 by toddrickallen

A sharp-eyed reader spotted new signage up at 10878 Kinross Ave in Westwood Village. Expanding ice cream brand Van Leeuwen appears to be settling into the historical building. Van Leeuwen, which started out in 2008 in New York as a food truck, will soon be bringing their signature artisan ice creams, vegan ice creams, sundaes, vegan chocolate chip cookies, and shakes to the neighborhood.

Robeks Juice Coming To Westwood Village

Posted on March 19, 2025 by toddrickallen

A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Barry!) noticed a banner hanging over the front of the space 10912 Le Conte Ave in Westwood Village. This address has been a revolving door for many businesses, most recently We Roll Nori. Now it appears that SoCal’s very own smoothie expert Robeks is going to give the tricky location a try.

Recent Closures In Westwood Village

Posted on September 20, 2024 by toddrickallen

Readers were sending me news of recent closures in Westwood Village, so I went by to have a look. Sure enough, after five and a half years, Tocaya Organica has decamped from their commodious location at 1140 Gayley Ave. Also recently disappeared is Pressed Juicery from their address at 10878 Kinross Ave. I’ll keep my eye on the spaces to see what may develop…

Kabob Village Coming Soon To Westwood

Posted on September 16, 2024 by toddrickallen

It appears Westwood is getting a new Persian restaurant. There’s window paper up at 1777 Westwood Blvd., once home to much beloved Indonesian institution Ramayani, announcing the arrival of Kabob Village. Kabob Village has a couple of locations across LA and offers an extensive and solid menu of classics like shish kabob, koobideh, falafel, and tahdig.

Enzo’s Pizzeria’s New Digs In Westwood Village

Posted on August 16, 2024 by toddrickallen

After 24 years of dishing one of Westwood’s best NY-style pies from their humble location at 10940 Weyburn Ave, Enzo’s Pizzeria is about to get an expansive new home. There are notices up on the commodious space at 1145 Westwood Blvd, previously home to mysterious java joint Brewin’ Coffee, announcing the news. A spokesperson says there’s no official timeline for the move, but until they’re settled into the new digs, you can still pop by their old location and grab a slice of a Westwood Village classic.

BJ’s Bids Bye-Bye To Westwood Village

Posted on July 30, 2024 by toddrickallen

I’m hearing from shocked readers that popular local party spot BJ”s Restaurant & Brewhouse has served their last pizza after a 28-year run at 938 Broxton Ave. in Westwood Village. A gracious notice in the window announces the sad news and directs fans to their other locations in Culver City, Glendale, and Burbank. BJ’s closure leaves one sole business left on the west side of this once busy block, Falafel, Inc.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

Tag Archives: Westwood