STK Coming To Westwood Village (Maybe?)

Posted on March 10, 2023 by toddrickallen

The Westwood Village restaurant scene took a serious hit when once-popular Napa Valley Grille closed a few years back. The cavernous space at 1100 Glendon Ave. has sat empty ever since, but that’s (possibly) about to change. Thank you to all the readers who wrote to tell me about a new “general eating place” ABC application on the front door that says STK is taking over the address. You may recall that STK Steakhouse moved into The W Hotel, just up the street in 2015. I’ve contacted both The W and STK and neither claimed to know anything about this application. On the contrary, I was assured by both that they knew of no plans to move STK out of The W Hotel. Therefore, at the time of this writing, I don’t have any information on whether this is a move, a duplicate, a subsidiary company, or something else entirely. Let me know if you have any info, otherwise, I guess we’ll have to wait and see…

Dunkin’ Donuts Opens Today In Westwood Village

Posted on January 12, 2023 by toddrickallen

Every once in a while, I’m surprised by the number of people tracking a seemingly innocuous story. This is one of those times. So, for all you have been wondering when the Dunkin’ Donuts would be opening in Westwood, this is for you: Dunkin’ Donuts officially throws open its doors today at 9am at 1001 Gayley in Westwood Village. (Thursday 01/12/2023) You’re Welcome.

Everytable Bringing Socially Consious Eats To Westwood Villlage

Posted on October 12, 2022 by toddrickallen

Everytable is continuing its second-wave expansion… Everytable is the nobly inspired concept chain aiming to bring fresh, nutritious, made-from-scratch meals to a fast-food world at price points based on what a community could afford. There’s now a banner up on the space at 10912 Lindbrook, formerly home to a juice bar, announcing its impending arrival.

Egg Tuck Coming To Westwood Village

Posted on October 9, 2022 by toddrickallen

Back in February I reported that something called Alligot Sandwich was taking over the old Kaido space at 1049 Gayley in Westwood. That sign is still in the window, but a new banner now hangs over the storefront letting us all know that self-described “Egg Sandwich & Coffee Concept” Egg Tuck is moving in. Egg Tuck has two other LA locations and specializes in Korean “tucked in” style breakfast sandwiches served on brioche that look nothing short of amazing. Check them out for yourself here.

Fresh Corn Grill To Leave Santa Monica

Posted on September 23, 2022 by toddrickallen

On a tip from a reader, I went by to check out what was going on at Santa Monica’s branch of healthy California-cuisine minichain Fresh Corn Grill. It was over two years ago when I first told you about their arrival to the space at 720 Wilshire, formerly home to a branch of Baja Fresh. Sadly, this location is ceasing operations after today (Friday 09//23). It was explained to me that the company is being restructured by the owners. The other two locations (Westwood, West Hollywood) are to remain open.

(Thanks Jonny!)

Dunkin’ Donuts Comes To Westwood Village

Posted on July 22, 2022 by toddrickallen

The troubled corner space at 1001 Gayley in Westwood Village was most recently and briefly the home to juice shop Qwench, and before that it was a branch of Coffee Bean. Now a reader (Thanks Kiko!) wrote to tell me that a new coffee joint is taking over to location. It appears that national chain Dunkin’ Donuts will soon be dishing breakfast pastries and sugary coffee drinks to the good people of Westwood.

Tulsi Bringing Plant-based “Modern Indian” To Westwood Village

Posted on July 2, 2022 by toddrickallen

A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Kiko!) noticed window paper up on the former home of Veggie Grill at 10916 Lindbrook in Westwood Village. The paper promises us a branch of “modern fast-casual Indian eatery” Tulsi. Tulsi has two other locations in LA (with the ambitious goal to eventually bring “Indian food into every neighborhood”) and offers a menu of plant-based faves including dosa, samosas, kathi rolls, dabeli, and even a few tacos.

The French Way Replacing Fundamental In Westwood

Posted on May 25, 2022 by toddrickallen

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…

Posted on March 16, 2022 by toddrickallen

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

Posted on March 13, 2022 by toddrickallen

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”.

Uranus 27 Fresh Boba Tea Now Open In Westwood

Posted on March 5, 2022 by toddrickallen

The space at 10912 Le Conte Ave. in Westwood Village has had a number of tea shops as residents over the years. A plucky new contender is giving the location a go. Uranus 27 Fresh Boba Tea recently opened and is now dishing their proprietary traditional tea, milk tea, smoothies, and slushes. Uranus has other locations in Upland and Glendora as well.

Wildbird Landing In Westwood Village

Posted on February 18, 2022 by toddrickallen

It appears a new purveyor of poultry is coming at 10917 Lindbrook Dr. in Westwood Village, previously home to Think Halal Grill. Window paper is up on the space announcing that a second branch of Hollywood’s Wildbird is settling in. Wildbird prides itself on offering chicken that is “antibiotic free, hunanely raised, [and] free-range… from local farmers we trust like Jidori”. The birds are marinated overnight in a “citrus-herb blend of spices”, then seared, and finally slow-roasted and served with a variety of sides and salsas.

Alligot Sandwich Coming To Westwood

Posted on February 16, 2022 by toddrickallen

Looks like there’s a new sandwich spot coming to 1049 Gayley in Westwood Village, formerly home to Kaido. Window paper is announcing the arrival of Alligot Sandwich. A cursory search turns up recipes for pommes aligot (French mashed potato with cheese) and alligator sandwiches (apparently a thing in Louisiana), but nothing on Alligot Sandwich. If you have more information, pass it along…

Primo’s Donuts Has Your Rams Donuts…

Posted on January 28, 2022 by toddrickallen

I know people are scrambling to get their hands on Rams-themed treats as the football team charges toward The Super Bowl. Thankfully the good people at Primo’s Donuts wrote to tell me they are offering “blue and gold LA-themed, limited edition donuts shaped like a football” this weekend and next, (Friday through Sunday) until February 13th. Primo’s is at 2918 Sawtelle Blvd, and in Westwood at 10948 Weyburn Avenue. I would advise getting there early…

(Photo: Bel Air Branding)

Dun Huang Done In Westwood?

Posted on November 21, 2021 by toddrickallen

It caused quite a stir when I reported that LA was to get a branch of New York’s Dun Huang at 1081 Gayley in Westwood. Dun Huang specializes in Northwest Chinese food and was known for their impressive noodles. But now there’s a ‘spaces available’ sign hanging on the front and a look through he paper on the front door reveals that interior is gutted and hasn’t been touched in a long time. Does this mean after all that effort, they are done? I’ll keep watching…

Kaido Closes In Westwood

Posted on November 20, 2021 by toddrickallen

Kaido Japanese Cuisine has had a difficult time of it. They were forced to relocate to 1049 Gayley in Westwood when their original location in a strip mall in Santa Monica was cleared to make room for another big development. And now, sadly, it appears they are done at their current location. There’s a large “available” sign on the front announcing the news.

Hibachi Papi Quietly Slips Into Pieology’s Old Location In Westwood

Posted on November 17, 2021 by toddrickallen

Pieology Pizzeria ceased operations at 920 Broxton in Westwood Village back in 2018. The space has sat vacant ever since but that recently changed. Operating as a food truck in DTLA, Hibachi Papi recently opened a brick-and-mortar at this address. Look for a menu of bowls, plates, and fried rice all prepared with their signature “modern, up-scale Hibachi style”.

Kitchen United Mix Adding A Second Location In Santa Monica

Posted on October 30, 2021 by toddrickallen

When NY-style coal-fired pizza joint Grimaldi’s closed in El Segundo, it was reported that they were moving to a Santa Monica takeaway operation in the office complex at 2501 Colorado. What wasn’t reported was that the new location will be inside yet another outpost of rapidly expanding ghost kitchen/food hall Kitchen United Mix, making this Santa Monica’s second branch. Currently at address there is an erstwhile Daily Grill and, more suitably, a cafeteria called Colorado Kitchen. Both Santa Monica locations of Kitchen United were shooting for an October opening, but as it stands, little work has been done at either. Nearby Westwood is also getting a branch as well.

Kitchen United MIX Replacing The Gallery In Santa Monica

Posted on October 8, 2021 by toddrickallen

The Gallery, at 1325 Third St. Promenade, managed to survive the Pandemic lock downs but mysteriously closed a while ago, prompting readers to pepper me with questions about its status. The Gallery had gone through a major redo not that long ago and was home to such eateries as Voltaggio STRFSH, Paperboy Pizza, Dialoque, and others. Then it went dark. But now we know what’s coming… There’s a notice up on the front that names the new eating hall as Kitchen United MIX. And what is that? It appears to be a chain of food halls that describes itself as, “the nation’s first ‘Multi-Restaurant Ordering’ to-go experience” that “allows foodie fans who love variety to order meals from 10+ restaurants, all on the same bill.” Kitchen United MIX has a few locations across the US and are planning on a major expansion. There are upcoming locations on the books for Westwood and Torrance as well. This location is aiming for an October opening.

Primo’s Donuts Opens This Saturday In Westwood

Posted on September 16, 2021 by toddrickallen

It was only back in April of last year when I told you about the devastating closure of local landmark Stan’s Donuts at 10948 Weyburn in Westwood. But all is not lost. Another longstanding legend, Primo’s Donuts, has taken over the space. Primo’s has been an LA institution on Sawtelle for over 60 years. This week the good people of Primo’s reached out to me to let me know that they will be throwing open their doors this Saturday, September 18th, and from 12pm to 1pm they will be handing out free “buttermilk bites”. Look for a menu of “espresso-based beverages and ice-cream donut sandwiches”, as well as well as classic raised donuts, and vegan and gluten-free options in a fresh, fully remodeled space. We wish them the best of luck.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

Tag Archives: Westwood