Mexican Seafood Trends Upward With La Brea Newcomer Pata Salada

Yet another Mexican seafood specialist is landing in Los Angeles soon, and in a familiar space no less. The former long-running Luna Park on La Brea will be reformatted into Pata Salada, with a planned opening for next week.

Owners AJ Gilbert and Martha Madison are behind Pata Salada, and if their names sound familiar it’s likely because they’ve been around that space before: Madison and Gilbert ran Luna Park for years before selling off in 2013. They also owned Henry’s Hat in Studio City, though that space closed in 2012 after Gilbert sold it off.

Now the pair have returned to their old stomping grounds, bringing with them chef Joe Jack, who used to run the San Francisco location of Luna Park, and also owns a seafood restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. The plan is to work a mostly Jalisco-based menu of Mexican seafood and snacks, along with a strong tequila showing from behind the bar.

What’s more, Pata Salada is scheduled to potentially open as soon as next week. Construction has quietly been happening on site for some time, and soon the space will reveal an open kitchen, leather banquettes, a private dining space, and outdoor patio. Look for Pata Salada to keep lunch through dinner hours daily.

In all, the opening of Pata Salada marks a strong resurgence in the Mexican seafood department. While places like Maradentro have been doing quality options for a while now (and endless trucks and smaller spots for many, many years), the rise of higher-end ceviche spots and other coastal fare in the past year has been fun to watch.

Pata Salada
672 S. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA