Longtime Argentine Favorite Lala’s Grill Opens in DTLA This Spring

There’s an Argentine restaurant switcheroo happening this week, with Lala’s Grill taking over the space that formerly housed the Downtown LA’s 1810 Restaurant. Eater confirmed Lala’s will open in spring 2018.

Argentine-born Horacio Weschler Ferrari and Mario Balul are Lala’s owners, and opened the Hollywood Lala’s in 1996, with a second location in Studio City’s in 2001. Lala’s persisted at a time when their main corporate competitor, Gaucho Grill, dominated large spaces throughout Southern California in the 1990s. The same menu will appear at their third location when renovations are complete.

If Lala’s entry into the 1810 space seems like a déjà vu, that’s because 1810 took over the Pasadena Gaucho Grill in 2009, then them spawned a DTLA location in 2014. The Pasadena location for 1810 remains open.

It’s easy to visualize a new Lala’s at the old 1810. The bright dining room is characteristic of Lala’s at both Melrose and Ventura Boulevard locations, and will keep the South American vibe alive with their Brazilian neighbor, the Wood Spoon.

Lala’s Argentine Grill. 105 W. 9th Street. Los Angeles, CA.

• 1810 Argentinean, Serving Downtown Steaks And Milanesa [ELA]