I first reported on the new Tocaya Organica moving into the space at 1140 Gayley Ave. back in June of 2017. I’m not sure what happened, but it’s taken a long time to open. Tocaya will begin dishing healthy Mexican to the good people of Westwood this Friday, February 22nd.
Pizza competition is stiff in student overrun Westwood. It’s the ideal grab-and-go for the academic set and bolthole pizza restaurants abound. A large for lease sign on the front lets us know that one casualty is Extreme Pizza at 1067 Glendon Ave. Not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching to see what may move in.
We all know that Westwood has a fickle food scene. So we probably shouldn’t be surprised that mysterious The Poke, opened a little over a year ago at 935 Broxton, has thrown in the towel. And taking its place? A banner announcing Sharetea is hanging on the front. Sharetea is a massive boba tea brand from Taiwan with an astonishing 450 stores in 18 countries.
Considering the amount of time they spent on renovating the space, this is certainly sad news… D1 Café has unceremoniously vacated its location at 10959 Kinross Ave. in Westwood. I took almost a year and a half from the time I first noticed the extensive construction until their opening. The space is now gutted. I’ll keep watching to see what, if anything, moves into the tricky spot.
Update: A reader let me know that a fire took out D1 in August. Perhaps they’ll reopen…
It was a sad day when revolutionary pizza purveyor 800 Degrees closed up shop in its flagship location at 10899 Lindbrook Drive in Westwood. Now, according to window paper, a new “neighborhood pizza eatery” is moving into the spot. According to this article in Daily Bruin, Pizzari will differentiate itself from the myriad of other Westwood pie joints by offering “organic, healthy pizza”.
It looks like the lucky students at UCLA are about to get a new eatery. An ABC application taped to the front of the space that used to be the home of Saks Teriyaki at 1121 S Glendon Ave in Westwood let’s us know that a new restaurant, Violet, is moving in. Not sure of an opening date, or much else for that matter including whether or not it is related to previous restaurants bearing the same name, but I’ll keep watching…
Update: Eater got the skinny of Violet. Read the details here.
Last year, I told you that the name of the new brewpub taking over the cavernous and iconic Yamato space, at 1099 Westwood Blvd., was going to be Broxton. Since then, a great many of you have been checking for updates and asking me for an opening date. And now we have one: A notice taped to the front door lets us know that Broxton is shooting for a grand opening on October 7th. Check out Eater’s recent article for peek inside. You’re welcome.
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…
Could this indicate a slowdown in the build-your-own pizza trend? On a tip from a reader (Thanks Joey!), I went to check out what was going on at Pieology Pizzeria at 920 Broxton Ave.in Westwood Village. As it turns out, it has closed down. A note taped to the front door confirms it. I’m a bit surprised by this. Even in pizza saturated Westwood, it’s hard to comprehend why ever-popular Pieology, of all places, would pull up stakes. I’ll keep watching to see what may develop…
It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about the sudden demise of Boba Loca in boba-laden Westwood. Wasting no time whatsoever, a new contender has arrived to the humble space at 10946 Weyburn Ave. It’s Bobatime is now up and slinging neon multicolored teas to the thirsty students of UCLA.
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…
Boba places are numerous in Westwood and competition must be fierce. One casualty appears to be Boba Loca at 10946 Weyburn Ave. I’ll keep watching to see what may move in…
On a tip from a reader (Thanks Steve), I went by to check out what was going on at Westwood’s branch of sandwich chain Panera Bread. A large space available sign on the front confirms that they have indeed vacated the location at 1145 Westwood Blvd. Not sure what happened, although I can’t help but wonder if stiff competition from their ever popular neighbor Ike’s had something to do with it. I’ll keep watching to see what may develop…
Well that didn’t take long… It was only about two weeks ago when I deciphered that fishy eatery Big Catch had quit the space at 12009 Wilshire Blvd. in Brentwood. Wasting no time, dumpling specialist Northern Café has settled right in and is now open for business. Billing itself as “authentic Chinese Cuisine”, this is another branch of the original Westwood location that Eater once called a “standout”.
I recently noticed that the retail space at 1009 Broxton Ave., that formerly housed women’s clothing boutique Kinsley, is being outfitted to accommodate a new restaurant. An ABC application posted in the window doesn’t indicate a business name, but the applicant is listed as Dunedin Company LLC. A quick search online reveals that Dunedin is the parent company of Westwood’s longtime submarine shop Sepi’s. Since there is no business name offered, this new eatery may be a divergence from suds and subs, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see…
Famished students at UCLA now have a new dining option… Billing itself as Japanese izakaya, Kopan Ramen recently opened its doors at 1091 Broxton Ave. in Westwood. With a smattering of locations across the Southland, Kopan offers a menu of customizable ramen, bowls, and bibimbob.
I noticed a while ago that Taiwanese shaved ice shop Frostalicious had quietly disappeared from its space at 10967 Weyburn Ave. in Westwood. Wasting no time, a new treat shop has moved in. Sip Matcha, Boba & Tea recently opened and is dispensing Technicolor drinks, such as the Magic Matcha pictured below, to the good people of Westwood.
Ever since I first told you about a new restaurant moving into the old Panini Kabob Grill space at 10861 Lindbrook Dr. in Westwood, I’ve been fielding questions about an opening date. Well, Grilliant is now open for business. Look for a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern menu of kabob, salads, smoothies, and flat bread wraps.
A while ago, I noticed that Panini Cafe (now Panini Kabob Grill) had vacated their space at 10861 Lindbrook Dr. in Westwood. Now it appears that a new restaurant will be moving in. With locations in Culver City and Burbank, Grilliant will soon take up residency. Look for a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern menu of kabob, salads, and flat bread wraps. We wish them the best of luck.
Signs recently went up on a space in The Point, on the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda in El Segundo, announcing that a branch of “modern organic Mexican” chain Tocaya Organica is continuing its unrelenting expansion. Not sure of an opening date yet. According to their website, they’re also opening locations soon in Westwood, Century City, Hollywood, San Diego, Scottsdale, and Chicago.
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