Hidden Koreatown Bar The Venue Adds Culinary Firepower From Nick Erven

Nick Erven (Saint Martha, Erven) dips his toes back into the Koreatown waters, helping out with a full menu relaunch at hip hidden party den The Venue. That means izakaya style with LA flavors, and a whole lot of drinks.

Erven has some loose ties to Koreatown already, having first made a name for himself with Saint Martha, a different kind of hidden strip mall restaurant destination. Unfortunately that venture proved unworkable, and the space itself off Western Avenue has since cascaded into a few different concepts — including a current Indian fusion phase.

Now the non-vegan chef with the formerly meatless Santa Monica restaurant returns to Koreatown, setting up a menu of super snackable stuff served with cocktails and singing in private karaoke lounges. He’s preparing fried tofu nuggets, soft-boiled ramen eggs, and ribeye steaks, while drinks from Devon Espinosa, who set up the original menu. There’s a new happy hour too, running Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and featuring $5 beers or $5 off select cocktails. The full happy hour and dinner menus for The Venue are below.

• Revel in The Venue, Koreatown’s Hippest Hidden Party Palace [ELA]