Pono Burger WeHo Nears Completion, But Venice Will Get There First

Santa Monica stalwart Pono Burger is set to debut in West Hollywood soon enough, though construction is still very much underway. The popular Broadway option from chef Makani Gerardi is expanding into a former Tower Video right in the heart of the Sunset Strip, around the corner from the Viper Room.

As you can see, the bones of the place are coming together quite nicely. Unlike the quonset hut original to the west, this Pono Burger will be a fully realized option for drinking and dining alike, with lots of room for outdoor seating.

In fact, almost all of the seats will be on the extended patio that pushes out towards the street from the long, curved bar. There will be some heaters, fans, and a touch of greenery to keep the place spruced up (plus an awesome fireplace that’s still in the works), but otherwise you’ll be out under the stars along Sunset Boulevard during your meal.

The long, winding bar sits just inside a wrap of glass and gives way behind it to some open bottle shelving and the kitchen beyond. There will be stools running the length of the stacked wood bar top, with some ADA-friendly seating at one end. The plan is to have a full liquor experience, and to hopefully keep commensurate hours to go along with it.

Interestingly enough, the West Hollywood address won’t actually be the first new Pono Burger to arrive, even though it’s angling for something mid to late summer. Instead, expect the Venice option on Rose Avenue — inside the former Hostaria del Piccolo — to come alive first, as the buildout for that existing restaurant space has been much faster. Pono Burger Venice could come online rather soon, with West Hollywood to follow later this summer.

Pono Burger West Hollywood
8830 W. Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA