Fast casual is the wave of the future it seems, which puts Silver Lake newcomer Fat Dragon right on trend. The easygoing Chinese-American restaurant features a ton of familiar dishes like mapo tofu and wonton noodle soup, but with a modern aesthetic and great ingredients.
Allen Wong, one of the names from the Sticky Rice group (Side Chick, RBTA), is behind the new Fat Dragon, while partner Ivy Wei runs the day-to-day side. The restaurant officially soft opens today inside the same strip mall that currently holds Trois Familia, with a space that is just about as laid back as their French-Mexican counterparts.
Look for a cement floor, exposed ceiling, and limited seating inside the Farm Design-built space. There’s room for 25 or so, including a standing counter at the front window, but this is a shop that will lean heavily on takeout and delivery. That said, if you want to dine in, there’s lots of fun to be had. Fat Dragon will offer a pretty awesome tea service inside, with traditional loose leaf teas as well as a Hong Kong milk tea option. The full opening menu is below.
With Pine & Crane just down the street, Lao Tao Taiwanese Street Food over at Far East Plaza, and Little Fatty out in Mar Vista, it seems fast casual Asian-American food is on the rise in Los Angeles. And all with good reason, as the solid concept with low overhead and quality ingredients is sure to appeal to Silver Lakers and tourists alike, and with the added bonus of home delivery for folks who just can’t seem to get off the couch.
Hours for Fat Dragon run weeknights 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with an extension to midnight on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday and Sunday, hours start at 11:30 a.m., and the place is closed on Mondays.
Fat Dragon
3500 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA