What Is Silverlake Ramen Doing Taking Over a Space at the Third Street Promenade?

The team behind Silverlake Ramen is set on continuing their expansion streak, this time popping up at Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade of all places.

Silverlake Ramen is, of course, the mega-popular noodle shop in a strip mall just off Sunset Boulevard. The place has proven so enduringly busy that ownership behind the name has begin branching out in a variety of ways, including a new to-go operation in a different strip mall further up Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park. The group also owns Ramen of York in Highland Park.

Now they’re apparently coming for Santa Monica. Permit site Buildzoom shows off some remodeling efforts at 1319 3rd St. Promenade — the site of now-shuttered Bravo Cucina — being done under the Silverlake Ramen name. The paperwork calls for “tenant improvement” at the 1,350 square foot space, with exterior upgrades and signage to come later. No word on whether or not that means an official Silverlake Ramen is coming or something else by the ownership group, but regardless it’s all good news for Santa Monica locals and anyone passing through the promenade.

It also begs the question: Is Los Angeles witnessing the rebirth of the Third Street Promenade in real time? The once-beloved strip has been derided by locals over the years as a crowded place for tourists only, while restaurant owners continued to complain about the high rent. But more recently a slew of changes have come to the pedestrian thoroughfare, from the remodeling of a dingy food court to the big 2016 restaurant opening known as 1212. Even fine dining chef Dave Beran has his restaurant Dialogue there, albeit off the main drag in a private dining space.

That being said, others have struggled; late last year Loteria Grill closed on the promenade, and nearby ventures like Santa Monica Place have witnessed their own issues over the years. Eater reached out to the Silverlake Ramen team to get confirmation on what’s to come, but so far haven’t heard back.

• Busy Silverlake Ramen Tries to Ease Its Long Lines With Nearby Takeaway Spot [ELA]