Former Guerrilla Tacos Chef Wes Avila Prepares New Chinatown Project

Chef Wes Avila is back in action these days, teasing out a new restaurant in Chinatown to be called Angry Egret Dinette. While the name is reminiscent of the many Nashville-style hot chicken places that have popped up in recent years (Angry Chickz, anyone?), the Dinette angle — and this Instagram shot — seem to lean more towards everyday LA comfort fare. Former Guerrilla Tacos owner Avila isn’t saying much about his new project at the moment, except to note its impending arrival at the Mandarin Plaza in Chinatown. The restaurant takes over at the Lately space there, right next to Steep, with lots of al fresco off-street dining space right in front. Based on the speed of the project, it’s likely that something could happen in just a few weeks, and almost certainly before the end of the year.

And in other news:

• Speaking of Chinatown, check out this ongoing series called La Pinata at the Treehouse Rooftop Lounge. The pop-up restaurant and hangout will feature food and drinks from Pez Cantina, plus music, and more, running Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
• A quiet new daytime spot has opened in Highland Park next to Tierra Mia Coffee. The restaurant, called Garibaldy, focuses on sandwiches, coffee, and breakfast, and opened for business last week at 5530 Monte Vista.
• Nashville-style hot chicken poutine anyone? Catch this one-off dish for the next week at the Poutine Brothers truck pickup location.

• There may be a new tenant for the former Preux & Proper space in Downtown, as What Now LA reports that chef Daniel Godinez (formerly of Maestro and of Anepalco in Orange County) is attached to the address.
• Historic Japanese diner Otomisan in Boyle Heights is up for monument status, reports the Eastsider, which would protect the decades-old building from demolition.
• Famed Roman pizza makers Bonci will be popping up for delivery-only at-home pies via Montilla Meals on Friday, October 30. The packages include multiple Roman-style pizzas and more, and need to be ordered in advance.
• Ceviche Project is popping up at the Platform development in Culver City for the next several Sundays in a row. Expect oysters and orange wine and lots of al fresco fun.