As LA’s nightlife scene evolves, there’s a growing trend towards more relaxed, connection-focused environments. The upcoming MARU-HI Izakaya event, taking place Friday, March 14, in Little Tokyo, offers an opportunity to explore this shift. It will bring the essence of Tokyo’s beloved Izakaya culture to Los Angeles. 

Highlights include a one-night-only Izakaya immersion, which will bring authentic Japanese izakaya culture to LA and feature custom-designed counters to foster connections. The Culinary Adventure will feature eateries like Yakitoriguy, Far Bar, Yama Seafood, and Spoon by H, complemented by MARU-Hi, Suntory’s new sparkling cocktail.

The Isamu Noguchi Plaza will pulse with the energy of Tokyo’s traditional bar scene, featuring custom-designed izakaya counters, where guests can sip, savor, and connect. With limited seating at the counters, the intimate  21+ event runs from 5:30 p.m. to  9:30 p.m. Tickets for sale at $10 are available at bit.ly/maru-hi.

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Izakaya Night (Courtesy Yakitoriguy)

Chef Anthony Wang and his team at the upcoming Chinatown dining destination, firstborn, will be doing some pre-opening warmups in the form of a pop-up to coincide with the L.A. Chinatown Firecracker race on Saturday, March 8, and Sunday, March 9. Working out of the restaurant kitchen, Wang will be serving a takeout-only lunch menu on both days as a small preview of what’s to come. Opening in late March, firstborn’s menu will reflect Wang’s Chinese American upbringing (including travels throughout Beijing, Tianjin, Changchun, and Shanghai) and his culinary training in classical French technique while aiming to expand the boundaries of Chinese American cuisine. 
All dishes are available a la carte; orders can be placed in person and picked up during the hours of the pop-up at  978 N Broadway in Chinatown.  Entrance is located within Mandarin Plaza in front of Steep
Menu:
  • Country Fried Chongqing Chicken, aromatic chilies
    • 2 pieces – $13
    • 4 pieces – $24
    • 8 pieces – $45
  • Shaobing Sandwich – sliced beef shank, pickled mustard greens, cucumber, hot mustard, cheese –  $18
  • Sides
    • Marinated Fennel, cracked cumin, green verjus – $5
    • Tofu Skin, jalapeño scallion relish – $7
    • Roasted Anaheim peppers, Chinese black vinegar, sesame oil – $7
  • Desserts
    • Almond Tofu, osmanthus syrup, citrus – $12
    • Choux au craquelin, cardamom pastry cream, apple, candied ginger – $10

 

The Market Place, part of Irvine Company Retail Properties’ comprehensive shopping, dining, and retail space, will expand its tenant list with two highly anticipated grand openings, MINISO and Palette Dim Sum.

Palette Dim Sum is a modern Chinese-Cantonese restaurant that offers a colorful variety of handcrafted dim sum and authentic wok-fired dishes. It will celebrate its grand opening at the end of March with a launch party including lion dancing, live music, presales, set menus, and a reservation raffle to give away a free set dinner for four.

Followed by the grand opening, Palette Dim Sum will celebrate its launch for the entire first month of its opening,  including party gift bags as a giveaway for the first two weeks of opening with red envelope gift cards and merch as well as additional promotions set to come.

MINISO, a global retailer with fun, affordable, Japanese-design-led products, will welcome guests to their grand opening celebration on Friday, March 14  from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The storefront at The Market Place will be MINISO’s second-largest U.S. location. The grand opening will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. followed by appearances and shows from their official mascots, Pen Pen and Dun Dun. The event will include giveaways, games,  and a fully wrapped and decorated plushie van in the parking lot. 

Celebrate Women in Wine with an evening with Oak Ridge at the Marina del Rey Hotel on Thursday, March 20. Experience the heritage of Oak Ridge Winery, Lodi’s oldest continuously operating winery, at the hotel’s exclusive tasting event.  A general admission ticket includes a Fiore di Maggio Welcome Spritz, followed by a pimento cheese dip starter paired with OZV Rose, shrimp, and creamy grits paired with 3 Girls Sauvignon Blanc and pecan pie served with East Side Crossing Cabernet Sauvignon for dessert. Tickets are available HERE. 

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March Matcha Madness (Courtesy Magnolia Bakery)

 Magnolia Bakery is offering a new limited-time offer of matcha-flavored desserts all March long. They’re taking their fan-favorite cakes, cupcakes, and banana pudding, and incorporating Matcha powder. The bakery is also teaming up with Montauk General Store for a matcha pop-up over the LA Marathon weekend (Saturday, March 15) to celebrate. They’ll be serving up a delicious matcha beverage topped with Magnolia Bakery’s Classic Banana Pudding.

Follow the rainbow straight to Tam O’Shanter for its legendary St. Paddy’s Day Bash on Monday, March 17—a day packed with live music, festive drinks, and nonstop good cheer.

The celebration kicks off at noon across the patio and inside lively tents brimming with delicious food, drinks, and entertainment. General admission to the tent is  $10, but for those looking to elevate their experience, a limited number of VIP tickets are available for $149 per person.

VIP guests (21+ only) will enjoy:

  • Exclusive VIP patio seating away from the crowds
  • Reserved seating inside the music tent
  • Five drink tickets for premium beverages
  • A complimentary snack menu
  • A private VIP bar on the patio
  • Entry into three exclusive raffles, with prizes valued at over $200 each

The bars will be pouring Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey and Guinness, with VIP guests scoring $2 drink specials. When hunger strikes, dive into classic St. Paddy’s Day eats like turkey, corned beef, or brisket sandwiches on a Kaiser roll or rye bread, plus chips, cookies, bottled water, and soda available for purchase.

The Apple Pan is making history starting on  Monday, March 3  by opening its doors on Mondays for the first time since it began serving its legendary burgers and pies in April 1947. As one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in LA, this change marks a new chapter under Shelli and Irving Azoff’s ownership since 2019.

To celebrate, The Apple Pan is launching its own version of March Madness—offering free slices of their famous Apple Pie to the first 50 customers every Monday in March (March  10, 17, 24, and 31). Dine-in only with a food purchase required (promo not available on delivery apps).

What’s Popping Up is a column in the L.A. Weekly that explores everything new in food and drink.

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Feeling the luck of the Irish (Courtesy Tam O’Shanter)