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.
It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about the intention of Korean food chain Bibibop to take over erstwhile locations of Southeast Asian eatery ShopHouse. The Santa Monica branch of Bibibop Asian Grill, at 1401 Third St. Promenade, is now officially up and running. The concept is similar to ShopHouse‘s, where you build your bowl out of rice, noodles, or greens and then add a choice of protein, sauce, and various hot and cold toppings.
Ahhh poke, will we never tire of you? Just when you think that there couldn’t possibly be room for one more raw fish shop, one pops up. It looks like the hungry students at UCLA have yet another choice when it comes to the Hawaiian specialty. The Poke is now in grand opening at their 935 Broxton Ave. location in Westwood. In addition to poke, they also feature “hot plates”, bowls, fried rice, and tempura on their menu that you can read more about here.
I’ve been watching the build-out on the corner space of 10959 Kinross Ave. in Westwood since May of last year, when I learned that something called D1 Café was moving in. After an extensive remodel of the location, they are now up and running. Look for a menu of kabobs, pizzas, and salads.
“Modern Organic Mexican” restaurant Tocaya Organica continues its inexorable march toward world domination. The latest evidence? The rapidly expanding chain has landed a spot at 1140 Gayley Ave. in Westwood.
Late last year, Eater gave us information about Artisanal Brewers Collective’s take over the iconic Yamato space at 1099 Westwood Blvd. It appears that plans are going forward, as late last week, an ABC license application was pasted to the front confirming just that. And the name of the new craft beer establishment? It is listed on the application as Broxton.
Following up on a tip from a reader (Thanks Jeremy!), I went to check out what was going on in the old Open Oven Pizza location at 1131 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood. I declared Open Oven closed last year, but was later told that the owners were working on a new concept. That appears to have changed, as ‘now hiring’ signs are up on the front declaring that the sunny purveyors of milk tea/boba/juice/snacks Lollicup Fresh are intending on making themselves right at home in the space.
I recently came across ‘now hiring’ notices posted on the papered-over windows of the erstwhile ShopHouse locations at 1401 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica and at 1059 Broxton Ave. in Westwood. The notices announce that both locations will be brand spanking new branches of Korean food chain Bibibop Asian Grill, headquartered in Columbus Ohio. According to LABJ, they intend on taking over all the old ShopHouse locations, including The Point in El Segundo, and West Hollywood’s branch as well.
Ever since short-lived Aestus vacated their space at 507 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica, I’ve been carefully watching to see what would move in. Well, now we know… The windows were recently papered over informing us that the good people of Santa Monica will soon be able to partake of “modern organic Mexican” at an upcoming branch of Tocaya Organica. With branches in West Hollywood, Venice, and Miami, it looks like in they will also be expanding to Westwood and Hollywood as well, according to their website.
Years ago, if you went to a movie in Westwood (yes, people used to do that), chances are you stopped by Jerry’s Deli beforehand. Unfortunately, Jerry’s went extinct in Westwood three years ago and the iconic, cavernous space at 10925 Weyburn Ave. has sat empty ever since. I’ve been watching to see who would finally take down the decrepid for lease sign and breathe new life into an old classic. Well, signs did come down recently, and sadly, according to the notice of public hearing posted on the front, the old Jerry’s will be a future “financial service center”.
Selling pizza to hungry students in Westwood is like shooting fish in a barrel, but competition is stiff. Back in 2014, the build-you-own concept Open Oven Pizza opened its doors to the hungry masses at 1131 Westwood Blvd. While there is no clear indication of closure, it has sat idle for a while and Yelp is declaring it closed, so I’m calling it closed as well.
Toddrickallen 