Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Photos: California Fresh Vietnamese Eats At Culver City's East Borough
Jason Neroni, the chef who became quite popular with his now-shuttered Friache restaurant, has since made even more of a name for himself with his successful Superba Snack Bar and soon-to-open Superba Food & Bread. He recently opened a California-inspired Vietnamese restaurant, East Borough, also in Culver City, updating classics like bun, bahn mi, daikon rice cakes, and imperial rolls with local produce and top-notch pork and bangin' head-on curry shrimp. Resurrecting the idea, the restaurant's tagline is "Fraiche Vietnamese."
East Borough is a collaboration between Neroni, Paul Hibler (owner and creator of Pitfire Artisan Pizza and Superba Snack Bar), and John Cao and Chef Cloe Tran (founders of the original East Borough concept in Costa Mesa.)
Both the menu and the space seem to be striving for a somewhat California/Vietnamese version of Portland's Pok Pok. There are even cocktails with drinking vinegars, also known as shrubs, made by bartender Jordan Tromblee, who happens to have come to East Borough via Andy Ricker's Pacific Northwest restaurant.
The design at East Borough is more modern eclectic than Ricker's casual street food shack, with light fixtures made of Vietnamese colanders, candy colored Eames-esque barstools, and shelves stocked with Campbell's tomato soup cans and steel Vietnamese lunch pails. The hostess stand is made from a repurposed Vein Dong news racks, and there's a nicely sized patio so that suits from the nearby Sony Studios can soak up some rays.
Support for LAist comes from
The space was packed on a recent Wednesday lunch hour, so it might not be the spot to dip into if you're in a rush. But they're also doing dinner service, and launching their communal happy hour today from 3-6 p.m., so there are plenty of opps to bop in.
Here's a look at what's on offer.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake. -
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
Best of LAist