Tenkaichi Yakiton Yakitori is very popular with the Japanese community and it is fully booked especially on weekends.
This is a new development and the list of restaurants and shops will as they open. At this time below is a selection of restaurants/shops currently open or almost open:
Restaurant featuring Doroyaki & Okonomiyaki
I have included this restaurant although it is not technically located in Nihonmachi, as it is across the road
By Sandy Driscoll
Chef Don Dickman prepares for the fourth course (Fresh Pasta on the trays, ready to cook) All images on this post ©2010 restaurantdiningcritiques.com & Sandy Driscoll
Barbrix Wine Bar and Restaurant
2442 Hyperion Avenue @ Tracy
Los Angeles, CA 90027 (Silver Lake area)
Website: http://www.barbrix.com/Home.html
Phone: 323-662-2442
Open: Sunday – Thursday 6pm – 11pm
Friday – Saturday 6pm – 12am
Credit Cards: Yes
Valet Parking: Available
Prices: Reasonable
Opening in May 2009, Barbrix was an instant hit with the hip, trendy, bohemian Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. Just a few months later, they were named one of LA’s Top 10 New Restaurants by Los Angeles Magazine.
Located across from Baller Hardware in a tastefully renovated former 1940’s residence, there is an outdoor patio area, a 360 degree wine bar, and a 40 seat dining room with counter seats available (my personal favorite!) at the open kitchen. Chef Don Dickman has created a Mediterranean-influenced menu, studded with straightforward flavors that reflect the wide ranging bounty of fabulous fruits and vegetables always available from the many farmers markets in the area.
Most of the menu items (first courses, cheeses, charcuterie, vegetables & grains, fish & meat) are small plates, perfect for sharing. Prices are reasonable. Nothing is over $17 and most are $5-10.
Want a glass or two of interesting wine? Most are under $10.
I was very excited to attend their first Wine Dinner, featuring the wines of Navarro Vineyards. http://www.navarrowine.com/main.php Winemaker, informative and congenial Jim Klein, was on hand to introduce and chat about his wines, which were beautifully paired with each course. Appetizers, four generous courses, dessert and six wines were offered for a total of $75, inclusive of tax and gratuity. Portions were very generous (some at my table took home leftovers) and the restaurant was full of very happy and convivial diners.
The evening epitomized fine and fun dining. I sure hope they make this a regular tradition!
Rice Cakes with Spicy Hamachi Tartar – Crostini with Crescenza & Crispy Sweetbreads
’08 Estate Gewurztraminer – Mendocino
Piquillo Pepper Stuffed with Bacalao – Stinging Nettle Pesto
’07 Chardonnay – Mendocino
Duck Confit Risotto with Alba Mushrooms & Fig Vin Cotto
’06 Pinot Noir – “Methode L’Ancienne” – Anderson Valley
Moroccan Spiced Lamb ‘Osso Buco’, Beldi Olive BBQ Sauce & Minted Fava Beans
’07 Zinfandel – “Old Vine Cuvee” – Anderson Valley
Pot Roasted Prime Beef Short Ribs, Black Pepper Noodles & Horseradish Gremolata
’06 Syrah – Mendocino
Pear Tarte Tatin, Whipped Mascarpone & Pine Cone Essence
’06 Riesling Late-Harvest “Cluster Select”
The development company is called Kananan Co., hence the name K-Village, which falsely leads people to believe it may have something to do with Koreans, while in fact, it is owned by the Athakravi family. Although, as long-time developers of large scale buildings, they are entering the mall business using a concept widely proliferated in the U.S., mainly in the western states, where malls have plenty of space to spread out into wide-open barren lands. These first malls are typically two-story buildings surrounded by seemingly endless car parks. While this development is on a much smaller scale, it basically follows the same model as the first shopping center of this concept built in the world, Eastland, it was constructed in the 1950’s in West Covina, outside of Los Angeles. K-Village adjoins the French Supermarket Chain Carrefour on Sukhumvit Soi 26 & Rama IV of which the Athakravi’s also own the land it is built on. In the interest of diversification, behind the main complex that centers around the Gourmet Market and the K-Village Square is the Nihonmachi (Japanese Village). It is smaller than K-Village but duplicates the same format as does another complex, possibly unrelated, across the street where Torajiro Restaurant is located on the second floor. Below are a collection of some of the more interesting restaurants and shops in K-Village, they will be expanded as new restaurants/shops open. The destruction of Central World in the recent protestations, may steer more traffic to these fledgling malls; only time will tell.
The Gourmet Market is the only anchor at K-Village Mall
Hangari Galbi
Wine Connection Wine Shop, Deli & Bistro . . . more information here
