Barcito Gobbles Up Dusty Ol' ChocoChicken Space, Plans Argentinian Small Plates Bar

So after quietly falling by the wayside around the end of last year, it looks like ChocoChicken’s Downtown space is once again in the process of being flipped. Formerly Corkbar — before the ill-fated chocolate fried chicken concept — the 12th street location between Hope and Grand is pretty decent real estate given its proximity to Staples Center and newcomers like Ray Garcia’s Broken Spanish. It's no surprise, then, that someone has decided to take up the cause and resurrect the address.

This time, it’s barcito, an Argentine-leaning small plates shop with a focus on drinks that’s currently in escrow to take the place over. The bar/restaurant is the work of one Andrea Borgen, who previously spent time as a manager at The Flintridge Proper, but prior to that was in New York as the GM of Blue Smoke, a Southern American restaurant under the Union Square Hospitality Group umbrella.

So far, ChocoChicken’s Type 47 booze license hasn’t been transferred over to the barcito crew, but tipsters say that the move is in the works. In the meantime, Borgen has been doing occasional (and very quiet) Argentinian pop-up dinners around town, likely hoping to hone in on her concept as the opening date draws near.

When that will be exactly is up for debate, but seeing as ChocoChicken hasn’t been on site for months, a rehab of the space should be able to start up pretty quickly. And, just to be absolutely clear, this is not the eventual second coming of Le Barcito, the Silver Lake gay bar institution that ultimately gave way to The Black Cat, but always sort of promised to come back from the dead.

barcito
403 W. 12th Street
Los Angeles, CA