Brothers Jonathan and Jason Baran own the popular Baran’s 2239 restaurant. During the pandemic, they shifted their onsite experience to a 100% to-go experience. They made breakfast burritos made from ingredients like housemade chorizo, and it was a way for the brothers to keep their doors open. They recently opened a Tigre’s Fuego in Redondo…
South Bay
Kurisaki Delivers Premium Quality Sushi to the South Bay
Sushi is trendy in the South Bay. While some of the best quality sushi restaurants reside inland, a few South Bay restaurants warrant the attention of sushi lovers. One, in particular, is Kurisaki, a sushi restaurant located in Redondo Beach. Kurisaki is owned and operated by Chef Haruo Kurisaki, a chef who spent 19 years…
Pandemic Pivot Results in the Proudly Serving Burger Pop Up
Matt McIvor and his wife Jenn Infanto own Localite L.A., a public relations agency. They created a successful agency promoting many LA area restaurants and the pandemic hit. They immediately lost all of their customers and their livelihood. To make ends meet, McIvor pivoted and created a pop up business called Proudly Serving. McIvor tested…
Uncle Darrows Delivers True Cajun Experience
Uncle Darrow’s was around long before the latest group of po-boy shops entered the LA market. Prior to their current location in Carson, they originally opened in Mid-City in 1994 and moved to Marina del Rey in 2001. Their planned expansion to Carson quickened after the Marina Del Rey landlord suddenly raised the rent to…
Smhokin Pot Brings Cajun Cuisine with a Southern Twist
I used to chase food trucks across the city. The craze has mostly worn off and the ones remaining are producing solid cuisine without gimmicks. Many of them aspire to earn enough capital to open a brick-and-mortar. The latest one to do it is Chef C’s Smhokin Pot. Chef Calvin Alexander hails from Shreveport LA….
The Standing Room Opens in Torrance
Often it is best to test the new business concept by partnering with an existing business. Lowell Bakke did just that when he converted the back-end of his family liquor store into a burger restaurant. He named it The Standing Room probably because it lacked chairs and it was exclusively a take-out establishment. Chef Thomas…
Izakaya Hachi Delivers Amazing Japanese Tapas
Prior to the pandemic, Izakaya Hachi was one of the busiest restaurants in the South Bay. Their brick-and-mortar is located on Carson St near many Japanese eateries. Reservations were required and sometimes you had to book a couple of weeks in advance. As an izakaya, they operate similar to a Spanish tapas bar. Izakaya restaurants…
Kirari West – Artisan Gluten-Free Cuisine
With the number of people that are gluten intolerant these days, it is surprising to me to not see that many gluten-free bakeries in LA. One such gluten bakery is Kirari West, an artisan bakery that opened in Redondo Beach five years ago. They are located in the King Harbor shopping center almost underneath the…
Tasting the dineL.A. Menu at Sea Level Restaurant
dineL.A. is a 14-day event sponsored by LA Tourism and takes place twice a year. The event showcases LA as a premier dining destination while highlighting the diversity of culinary experiences L.A. has to offer. Enjoy special lunch and dinner menus at hundreds of LA-area restaurants. After perusing the online menu, I selected Sea Level…
Baran’s 2239 Collaborates with Papadakis Taverna
Baran’s 2239 is a cozy bistro tucked into a strip mall on busy Pacific Coast Highway in Hermosa Beach. They became popular quickly and in 2019 Michelin placed Baran’s 2239 on their Bib Gourmand list for LA. Owners Jonathan and Jason Barans recently collaborated with long-time restaurant owners John and Tom Papadakis of Papadakis Taverna…