Poke and juice combine, Korean beef soup in East Hollywood, and Argentinian build-your-own bowls Downtown
Here now, Eater LA compiles some of the more notable openings scattered throughout Los Angeles. Every week we'll be tackling new places to check out in various neighborhoods. Any new spots that we might've missed? Hit the tipline.
September 1, 2016:
Studio City— This week's poke opening is Pokewell, a fast casual shop that combines all the current food trends by offering build-your-own poke and fresh juices. That's because the poke bar is actually located inside a Naturewell, which means you can also get an acai bowl if you're feeling extra 2016. 11925 Ventura Blvd, Los Angeles
East Hollywood— Breaking out of Koreatown proper is Sulga Jinju Gom Tang House, the new location of the original Jinju Gomtang that first opened in Koreatown in 1997. The soup specialist offers everything from ox knee soup to kimchi jiggae to the namesake beef brisket soup. 4451 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles
Glendale— A casual fish house has opened on Brand just a few blocks away from The Americana. Fish Time hawks a seafood-centric menu that features lobster rolls, fish burritos, and, of course, poke. 310 N Brand Blvd, Glendale
Downtown— Here's something new. Breaking from the poke and Asian-inspired bowl mold is Kachi Bowls and Grill, an Argentinian concept that offers signature bowls like the Gaucho with steak, quinoa, arugula, and chimichurri, and a build-your-own bowl option with South American flair. Don't forget to add on an empanada or two to your meal. 231 East 9th St, Los Angeles
Glendale— Glendale has no dearth of fantastic Middle Eastern restaurants, but now it has another one to its name. Central Cuisine has opened on, well, Central Ave, offers everyone's favorite beef, lamb, and chicken kabobs alongside starts like eggplant caviar and aash-e-reshteh, or Persian soup. 1235 S Central Ave, Glendale
August 17, 2016:
Koreatown— With the shutter of Melrose's Pingtung this week, one of LA's most popular non-SGV Chinese restaurants, the opening of Golden Pouch Dim Sum House couldn't have had better timing. A satellite building to a Koreatown strip mall, the counter service window is supplemented by an air conditioned Airstream trailer where diners can enjoy Korean-tinged dim sum like bulgogi xiao long bao and kimchi pork shumai. 3324 W 6th St Ste 1A, Los Angeles
Van Nuys— The former Super Bowls has morphed into Cravings Kitchen, an Asian fusion restaurant with primarily Thai and Chinese influence. Early menu favorites include the T.T.C., or Taiwanese Tender Chicken, which sounds like the restaurant's version of Hainan chicken, and spicy Asian pasta. 15355 Sherman Way, Los Angeles, CA 91406
Venice— Abbott Kinney's dedicated green tea specialist SHUHARI Matcha Cafe finally opened its doors last month. The Japanese-backed retailer offers everything matcha related, from lattes to ice cream with onigiri to snack on alongside it. 1522 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice
Downtown— This week's poke opening is PokeBar located in the former Johnnie's New York Pizzeria. Expect the same customizable build-your-own model. 350 S Grand Ave Ste B2, Los Angeles
Sawtelle— Following the Chipotle model, Kalbis Grill offers custom Korean bowls. Pick a protein like kalbi beef or bulgogi chicken; select a rice, noodle, or salad base; and finish it off with a variety of toppings and sauce. At least it's not poke. 11102 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
August 17, 2016:
Sherman Oaks— Chef Danny Elmaleh has taken over his father's eponymous Simon's Cafe, the beloved Moroccan restaurant near the intersection of the 101 and 405 in Sherman Oaks, and renamed it Mizlala. Danny Elmaleh, whose name may sound familiar as the chef of Cleo in Hollywood, has reconcepted the menu to include a wide variety of small plates, kebabs, and housemade bread that sound like a serious boon for the neighborhood. 4515 Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles
Westwood— The old Asuka next to Crest Theater has relocated on Westwood Boulevard just down from Bristol Farms. Chef Kenkichi Yamamoto shows off his French and Japanese training by offering a $150 kaiseki menu along with a la carte options. 1553 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles
Hollywood— Tinseltown has seriously upped its sushi game recently, what with the addition of the newest branch of Sugarfish and the NYC transplant Sushi of Gari. Well now there's another sushi player in town, Soregashi. Serving washoku, or traditional Japanese cuisine with "as little seasoning as possible," the restaurant offers everything from sushi to small plates to cold soba noodes. There's even lunch specials for the local office worker crowd. 6775 Santa Monica Blvd Unit 3, Los Angeles
Koreatown— Is there a cooler new tea shop in all of LA than Koreatown's Fickle Tea Lounge? Located right next to Ahgassi Gopchang, the cafe with everything from milk teas with boba to sea salt lattes should be a nice way to clean your palate after a heavy Korean barbecue meal. Kudos for the highly Instagrammable murals throughout. 3726 W 6th St, Los Angeles
[Photo: Yelp/Katherine Y.]
Westwood— Another boon for Westwood denizens, Plateia has opened within UCLA's Luskin Conference Center. The menu offers Mediterranean favorites like mezze, charred octopus, and a rotating tagine of the day. 425 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles
August 10, 2016:
El Segundo— This week's new poke shop opening is PokeBar, a rapidly expanding California-based chain that most recently opened its doors in El Segundo with the standard build-your-own situation. New stores also include Torrance, Hermosa Beach, and Downtown. 2161B El Segundo Blvd
Koreatown— Tasty Grill has opened with what sounds like plenty of, well, tasty options to keep everyone satisfied. Here the specialties are plates of mixed vegetables and meats that are grilled on the table, with items like Korean army soup and bossam to boot. 301 S Western Ave Ste 101-102, Los Angeles
Palms— What looks like a solid Indian and Pakistani option has hit Palms in the form of Taj Tandoori. Expect a wide variety of curries, tandoori dishes, and biryanis to satisfy cravings with dine in and delivery options. 10823 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles
Venice— The second location of Berlins has opened in Venice right on the boardwalk. Like the original Beverly Hills location, expect lots of beef and lamb, chicken, or veggie doner that can be had as a sandwich, wrap, rice bowl, or served over fries. 1425 Ocean Front Walk, Venice
Glendale— In serious need of a libation after a day of shopping? A new option has popped up in The Americana at Brand. Ombra, an extension of Trattoria Amici, has opened its lovely patio right near the mall lawn. Come for a much needed glass of wine or cocktail to sip alongside cheese and charcuterie. 783 Americana Way, Glendale
August 3, 2016:
Koreatown— Is there a more aptly named restaurant in all of LA than Koreatown's 2nd Floor Gastropub? The new restaurant on Vermont boasts an eclectic menu that ranges from rotisserie chicken happy hour specials to tacos to Korean army soup. With TVs, 28 beers on tap, and plenty of soju, this could be your next go-to sports bar. 865 S Vermont, Los Angeles
Exposition Park— It wouldn't be a restaurant openings post without the requisite new poke shop. This time it's another location of AhiPoki Bowl, with the first LA outlet opening just a few months back in Hollywood. It's the same build-your-own deal, but located next to USC and across from the museums, it should fare well in the neighborhood. 3782 S Figueroa, Los Angeles
Koreatown— Angelenos have come to love Korean barbecue, but snack foods like gimbab, a sort of Korean sushi, haven't quite made a name for themselves. Enter Saeng Saeng Gimbap & Snacks, a sleek newcomer on Western offering Korean favorites that include the spicy rice cake dish tteok bokki, mandoo, and the cold noodles naeng myun. 901 S Western Ave Ste 101, Los Angeles
LAX— LAX has been on a serious revamp over the past few years, with some improved dining options to satiate hungry travelers. Terminal 6 recently added Earthbar to its roster, with just about every healthy option you could want, from salads to juices to the now requisite acai bowls. A very LA meal before taking off to presumably less healthy destinations. 600 World Way, Los Angeles
Downtown— Taking over the former Anzutei Ramen space is 633, a new Caribbean restaurant located on, well, 633 Spring Street. It should add nice variety for Downtown denizens, who can now get their mac 'n' cheese, and fried chicken and waffle fix at the quaint new eatery. 633 South Spring St, Los Angeles
July 27, 2016:
Koreatown— Poke mania refuses to quit, with a new shop seemingly opening every week. The newest entrant to the raw fish game is Wat The Poke, located in a strip mall in Koreatown. Besides the standard build-your-own model, this one offers a slew of Korean dishes like kimchi fried rice bowls, bulgogi bowls, and wang mandu, or large Korean dumplings. 3033 W 6th St Ste 104, Los Angeles
Silver Lake— The old Koda on Sunset has flipped in Kombu Sushi & Sake. Expect the same great patio, a slew of Japanese-inspired small plates, creative rolls, and wallet-friendly happy hour specials. 3719 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles
Echo Park— Continue down Sunset to get to Echo Park's new Street Level Cafe. There's a little something for everyone with breakfast favorites, sandwiches, salads, and "patortas," the cafe's blend of paninis and tortas. Located just a few steps from the Echoplex, it should be a nice place for a pre-show meal or recovery brunch. 1166 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles
Downtown— Head up a dark staircase on 4th and Broadway to get to Downtown's new upscale lunchtime gem, JP's DTLA. The permanent lunch pop-up is located in the nightclub The Precinct with a pleasant natural light-filled, brick wall-lined space. Here the menu offers everything from Kobe flank steak to Korean street tacos. 357 S Broadway Fl 2nd, Los Angeles
Downtown— Located just one block west of the 110 Downtown is The Starving Actor, a lunch-centric cafe open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 11 am to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Think dishes with Cajun flair like hot wings, shrimp and grits, and BBQ chicken. 1070 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
July 20, 2016:
Mid-City— A new mom-and-pop pizza joint has opened on the outskirts of Koreatown. Slicey's Pizza could be a great new local spot for extra large pizzas that are under ten bucks with the requisite side order of oven-roasted chicken wings. 3627 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles
Sawtelle— Although Sawtelle probably has the densest cluster of boba shops in all of Los Angeles, Honeyboba, a local chain that already had six locations mainly in the South Bay and SGV, has opened its seventh shop in the heart of the action in West LA. Think the classic selection of milk teas, but with extra hip digs and a bumping soundtrack. 11573 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles
Encino— Looks like the Valley has a solid new sushi spot to satisfy cravings for rolls and Japanese small plates. Sushi Ganzo is boasting fresh fish, reasonable prices, and convenient parking. 17237 Ventura Blvd Ste C, Los Angeles
Westchester— Another day, another poke shop opening, this time in Westchester. Alley Poke has opened just blocks away from LAX, which means you can build-your-own poke bowl before taking off to a presumably less poke-dense city. 8800 S Sepulveda Blvd Ste 3, Los Angeles
West LA— West LA has no shortage of amazing Mediterranean restaurants. Newcomer Green Olive is trying to get in the game with its kebabs, fattoush, hummus, and rice that can be enjoyed on its lovely patio. 11086 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles
July 13, 2016:
Koreatown— Los Angeles does not lack for outstanding Thai fare, but newcomer Thai Angel brings a whole new experience to the table. After originally opening on Sunset and Vine back in 1996, the restaurant bounced around the Hollywood area before opening up its newest location in Koreatown. Boasting a full bar, happy hour, Thai bar bites, karaoke, and sports-playing TVs, it sounds like a one-stop shop for a quality night out. 149 N Western Ave, Los Angeles
Pico-Robertson— Finding a hip Kosher restaurant isn't always the easiest of tasks. Luckily Origin Cafe has opened with plenty of Israeli favorites like shakshuka to satisfy morning hunger pains. With a nice coffee program and solid brunch menu, this may just be your new weekend go-to. 8532 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles
Downtown— Are you one of those people who think brunch is the best meal of the week? Thankfully BrunchDTLA has arrived to satisfy egg-and-waffle cravings every day of the week. The aptly named brunch specialist located in, well, DTLA, offers brunch fare from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily including Sundays, which is a rarity in the area. Think mashup items like bibimbap breakfast burritos and Indian-spiced chicken sandwiches. 718 S Los Angeles St Ste A, Los Angeles
Beverly Grove— Love coffee and yoga? Want to enjoy a coffee and yoga class at the same time? Hyperslow, a new yoga studio on Fairfax has opened with a cafe for all your caffeine needs. There's everything from cold brews to chai lattes, with kombucha and raw juices to make you feel extra healthy post workout.
Encino— The fourth location of Kopan Ramen has opened, this time in Encino. Expect standard fare pork ramen with a selection of sushi rolls and poke bowls. 17547 Ventura Blvd Ste 108-109, Los Angeles
July 6, 2016:
Echo Park— Still need more juice? Glowing Juices has finally opened with cold-pressed options, along with a growing vegan market. Pick up everything from vegan jerky to crystals to go with your green smoothie. 1559 Echo Park Ave.
Roaming— There's a new food truck in town with a mashup you probably have never had before. Keep It C'asian, the aptly named truck that blends Cajun and Asian cuisines, has opened serving everything from good ol' red beans and rice to yakamein, a dish composed of noodles, stewed beef, beef broth, and egg. There's also Asian-meets-Cajun egg rolls and potstickers, if you're into that sort of thing. Check Twitter for locations.
Pasadena— Pasadena denizens have a new spot to satisfy that sweet tooth. Moyo, a bakery on Lake Avenue, has opened with sweets that range from triple berry cake to macarons to panna cotta. There's even Bicycle coffee to wash it all down for a one-stop afternoon pick-me-up spot. 1373 N Lake Ave, Pasadena
Koreatown— Another day, another Korean barbecue joint popping up in K-Town. This time it's Janggun BBQ, an a la carte grilled meat mecca that serves all your favorite cuts of beef and pork, along with side dishes like steamed egg and kimchi stew. The move here might be lunch though, where specials like bulgogi and naengmyun ring in under eight bucks. 698 S Vermont Ave Ste 111, Los Angeles
East Hollywood— Everyone loves a good wood-fired pizza and pasta joint, and now Eastsiders have a new one to their name. The Sit-Down offers Italian-American favorites that range from antipasti platters to spaghetti carbonara that can be enjoyed in the restaurant's quaint back patio. 4518 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles
June 30, 2016:
East Hollywood— There's a cool new slice joint nearby Hel-Mel (Heliotrope and Melrose) called Gracie's that sports New York-style thin crust pizzas by the slice that took over neighborhood icon Pizza Paul. Not only do they serve pizza by the slice, they have beer and wine, in case you want to make a date out of it. 4330 Melrose Avenue.
Koreatown— A swanky new coffee bar called Balcony Coffee is now open on the northern edge of Koreatown. With colorful desserts, well-pulled espresso shots, and whimsical neighborhood feel, it's a nice departure from the tacky Koreatown coffee shops in the area. 314 N. Western.
Sun Valley— More casual coffee and bites, this time at Brioche Cafe in northern borough Sun Valley. With fresh juices, coffee, burgers, and sandwiches to please the local crowd, it's nice to have something that isn't a chain restaurant. 8141 Sunland Blvd.
Sherman Oaks— C&M Cafe has opened their second location (their first one in Palms is down for the count, though they're re-opening a few blocks away). The friendly spot serves sandwiches, salads, and juices, perfect for a hungry local crowd. While the fare can be a bit over the top, who can fault the BAM, a cinnamon french toast sandwich with bacon, sausage, cream cheese, egg, and maple syrup? 12924 Riverside Dr. Sherman Oaks
West Hollywood— Tocaya Organica has opened their second LA location in the massive former BLT Steak/Rare by Drai space after debuting their concept in Venice. With a healthy modern Mexican menu of burritos, bowls, salads, and tacos, think of it like a fast-casual Gracias Madre, except not exclusively vegan. 8720 W. Sunset Blvd
June 24, 2016:
Venice— A new poke spot called Wild Poke has opened in Venice right on the Boardwalk. It's also a window shop, just like Boardwalk mainstay Poke-Poke, which was serving the Hawaiian chopped fish years before the trend took off. At Wild Poke, find much of the same new school poke you'd find around town. So far the reviews have been stellar. 1301 Ocean Front Walk
Koreatown— Former late night hotspot Mountain Cafe has turned into a new Korean barbecue specialist Yimat, except that instead of table-top 'cue, it's all prepared in the kitchen and presented ready to eat. Makes sense since the place is pretty tiny. Try that pan-broiled spicy squid for something different. 3064 W. 8th Street
La Canada Flintridge— The ice cream sandwich trend has landed in this sleepy bedroom community north of Glendale. The Baked Bear officially opened offering colorful ice cream sandwiches and cookies. Sandwiches start at $4.50. 965 Foothill Blvd, La Canada
West Hollywood— The fast casual pizza trend will not die. And in comes The Pizza Press, a populist build-a-pizza option that just opened along Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. Nice thing about this spot is that it's open until 1 a.m., all the better to accommodate the nightlife scene nearby. 7100 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood
Pasadena— A colorful new sweets shop called Oh My Pan has opened in Pasadena. Originally from San Gabriel Valley, this toast specialist loads red beans, ice cream, and fruit atop plush toast. But the place also offers plenty of Asian-style pastry and desserts for anyone with a killer sweet tooth. 238 S. Arroyo Parkway Suite 110 Pasadena, CA —Matthew Kang
June 15, 2016:
Westwood— Sugarfish offshoot KazuNori has officially opened the doors of its second location in Westwood. The 18-seat, counter service-only restaurant offers the same sleek look that has come to define the Nozawa family of restaurants and an extraordinary price-to-quality ratio. With the priciest option being a $23, 6 hand roll set menu, it's an indulgence even college students will be able to afford (occasionally).
Koreatown— It seems Angelenos can't get enough Korean barbecue. A new competitor, Ong Ga Nae, has opened up on Vermont right off Olympic. Expect quality a la carte options that shouldn't break the bank.
Hollywood— Koreatown's late BrewWell has reemerged in Hollywood, this time as a tiny coffee window. It's a boon for the myriad office workers on Sunset, as the coffee shop will offer well crafted espressos and afternoon pick-me-ups like elevated pop tarts.
El Segundo— The South Bay has a new retailer that combines all the trends of the past year. We're talking poke and acai bowls, of course. Bowlology will be a one-stop shop for four flavors of poke bowls, a slew of acai options, and cold pressed juices.
Gardena— Timeout Cafe has opened on Western offering South Bay denizens a quaint new sandwich shop with early favorites that include Korean cheesesteak and apple tuna.