Koo Koo Roo

Abricott: Now Open in Pasadena

For all of you who think of Pasadena as a food desert of sorts, your barren culinary landscape just improved. John and Jo Wee, the couple who own and operate Daisy Mint, just opened a second restaurant, on Lake Avenue. Abricott opened its doors last Monday, Jan. 23, in the location previously occupi ... More >>

Real Mex Files For Bankruptcy

Courtesy of El Torito.​If you've ever wondered why the food at El Torito, Chevy's and Acapulco tastes remarkably similar, it's because they all have the same corporate parent, Real Mex Restaurants, Inc.. The company, which owes $49 million to its employees and food suppliers but only has $1 mi ... More >>

Marie Callender's Files Bankruptcy, Closes Stores End of the Line for Mediocre Restaurant Chains?

C. Soudry​ Last year Koo Koo Roo closed several of its California locations and filed bankruptcy, chalking it up to a bad economy. This year Islands restaurants are showing signs of decline, closing their Beverly Hills and Laguna Hills locations. In more recent restaurant chain news, Marie Cal ... More >>

Q & A With Jason Travi, Part 2: Flipflops at Spago, Food Trucks Why Every Chef Should Gas Up With Fryer Oil

A. ScattergoodJason Travi at Firefly​ When we left off talking to Jason Travi, the chef was discussing the relative merits of being a third generation chef, why he didn't start cooking until the comparatively ancient age of 15, and how his father didn't want him working in the family business. ... More >>

Restaurant Roll Call for 2010

Tannazie via FlickrTakosher tacos​With the new year approaching, we reflect on all things 2010: upscale Mexican restaurant Red O opened with a tweet war; the short-lived Test Kitchen experiment opened with big name chefs; the nation's first kosher food truck, Takosher, rolled out; and jeggings ... More >>

Sushi Lunch Fight: Truck Vs. Japanese Market

Really good sushi is expensive. And while we'd all love to eat at Urasawa during our lunch break, it's not exactly feasible (and not just because it costs a few hundred dollars -- they're also closed for lunch). So people can't always consume the freshest kohada flown in from Japan, but they do keep ... More >>

A Roundup of October Restaurant Openings and Closures

Celia SoudryRemains of Gardens on Glendon​ During this time of year, it's only natural for the dead to come alive, in some way or another. Deceased restaurants Kula Sushi Bistro (on Santa Monica Boulevard and Beverly Glen) and Gardens on Glendon (on Glendon in Westwood) are being taken over b ... More >>

August Roundup of Restaurant Openings and Closures

As heavily blogged about spots boasting big name chefs (Test Kitchen) emerge on the scene, along with new restaurants atop luxury shopping centers (Santa Monica Place, we're also tracking the lesser-known eateries occupying and departing strip malls around town. While some spaces remain vacant, suc ... More >>

May Roundup of Restaurant Openings and Closures

While vegan/raw food restaurants are popping up around LA, a large casual dining chain files bankruptcy--closing 10 of its local restaurants. And as downtown gained a new, glitzy eatery, First & Hope--and Rick Bayless' highly-anticipated Red O opened last night in West Hollywood--41-year-old Anna's ... More >>

Ask Mr. Gold

Masquerades: WeHo Family Values

Body and Soul: White Noise Afternoon

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