Hannah An is striking out on her own after helping her mother, Crustacean matriach Helene An, build a mini restaurant empire. The younger An's first production is The District by Hannah An, opening February 7 in the former Duplex space on West Third. The towering two story eatery near the corner of Robertson opens a few blocks down from A.O.C., and next to Lady M, marking this part of 3rd Street as the new restaurant hot spot in West Hollywood.
Right from the start, the place has an elegant, opulent ambiance with stately lighting, plush white leather seating, and smooth weathered wooden tones. It's a nice departure from farmhouse chic, but also not quite into the realms of being over the top. Think colonial-era Vietnam with a heavy dose of rustic California. Kenneth Ussenko of KU Productions designed the space, in collaboration with Hannah An herself.
Signature dishes include bun bo hue, that humble spicy lemongrass-laden beef noodle soup; District Spice lobster, which is wok-roasted and served with handmade noodles; French onion bone marrow; and turmeric crusted Chilean sea bass.
Cocktails are no slouch here either, with a District Mule boasting gin, hibiscus agave, and ginger beer, or the Face Down in Saigon, shaking up mezcal, lime, and cinnamon agave.
Opening hours run 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on the weekends. Lunch and brunch service will commence shortly after opening.