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”.
The unassuming space at 10912 Le Conte Ave in Westwood Village has seen a number of food and drink vendors come and go. The most recent (I believe) was Ichi Tea & Sushi, and before that, Coco Fresh. Now a new contender is giving the tricky space a go. We Roll Nori has set up housekeeping at this address and is delivering a menu that focuses on onigiri, misubi, and hand rolls.
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!)
Sad news for Westwood Village… Los Angeles’ last outpost of vegan eatery Native Foods is closing today (June 23). A somber note on the front expresses gratitude and announces the permanent departure from their long-held address at 1114 Gayley Ave. There is a glimmer of hope though: The note also says that they are searching for a new Westwood location. We wish them the best of luck. Until then, if you’re missing their signature plant-based sandwiches, you can still find locations in San Diego, Orange County, and Palm Springs.
(Thank you Leslie!)
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 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…
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 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.
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.
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!)
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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…
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…
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…
Toddrickallen 