New Chinese and Mexican restaurants, culinary history, dining events and news
By Richard Foss
A La Carte column for November 5, 2026
Waterfront Dining: Some restaurants in the South Bay now charge for water, but the ones on the Redondo Boardwalk have recently had it available whether customers wanted it or not. The internet was flooded with pictures of a high tide event last week that covered the walk path with two inches of seawater, and many people wondered how the eateries and shops were affected. I visited two days after the high tide and all were open, though some had to close for a day to dry out and clean the floors. Traffic was brisk on Friday night despite the cool evening as customers walked past stacks of sandbags that were ready to be deployed the next time the water rises. The business owners showed admirable resilience in staying open, and some acknowledged that this gave them practice for the still higher tides that are forecast over Thanksgiving weekend. If you enjoy the eateries and brewery outlets in this area, please go support them – they’re working overtime to keep your business…
Paddle House owner Patrick Webb helps sandbag businesses along International Boardwalk in King Harbor on Tuesday when a 6.8 foot high tide came over the protective seawall. Photos by Kevin Cody
Openings: There has been a Canaan Chinese restaurant in Lomita for years, a tiny outpost of a chain whose first outlets were in West Covina and the city of Artesia. Their newest restaurant is on the edge of the Peninsula Center in Rolling Hills Estates, and it’s likely to be a destination for those who enjoy Taiwanese food. The large space is stylish and includes a well-stocked bar that serves creative cocktails. They had some problems with being overwhelmed by the demand when they first opened, but when I visited the service was generally good and our food arrived quickly. They’re serving a limited menu at first, but there are enough items to offer plenty of variety (3B Peninsula Center, RHE)…
The interior of the new Canaan Chinese restaurant in Rolling Hills Estates is sleek and modern, with a prominent and well-stocked bar.
The Felafel Queen in El Segundo has been replaced by Cocina Victorias, which offers Mexican classics including birria and quesatacos. I haven’t had a chance to try the food yet, will report back later… I saw several online posts about a new bakery called “Crumbs and Caps” that was opening in Redondo, but some of the information was contradictory. Most said they were open only on Wednesday, but one this Monday announced that they had bread and pastries available immediately. I went to the address in a residential neighborhood and found that they were sort of open – there was a shelf of neatly wrapped breads and pastries that were on a self-serve basis because the owner was out. The sourdough loaves looked beautiful, and I’ll get one next time I’m in the neighborhood – I didn’t this time because I had bought a loaf the day before and we don’t eat it that fast. Their posted hours are Wednesday only from 10 AM to 3 PM – check their Instagram feed to see when else they are there. (702 El Redondo Ave, RB)…
Closings: And they outnumber openings this month. The Big Mike’s sandwich shops in both El Segundo and Redondo closed in mid-October. The El Segundo location had been a local landmark for twenty years, the Redondo location had been around since 2012. No word of why, or what will come to either location next… October seems to have been a bad month for handheld food in the area, because the Burger Lounge in Manhattan Beach also called it a day. And finally, the Redondo Beach Grill, the former Ragin Cajun, closed at the end of the month. If you’re seeking excellent Louisiana specialties in a pleasant atmosphere, I recommend Darrow’s New Orleans Grill in Carson – it’s a bit of a drive, but the food and hospitality are excellent…
Event Alerts, And There Are A Lot Of Them: November is usually relatively light season for events, but there are plenty to choose from this year. If you’re reading this column on the day it comes out, November 5th, you have two choices – the “Wine & Wagyu” sampling at Bar Fogo or the luau at Tiki Kai. The former is a tasting of various cuts of beef and bar snacks like empanadas along with three pours of red wines, at the modest price of $49 inclusive – pretty reasonable for those who enjoy a light dinner. Reservations are at Open Table… The Tiki Kai event is grand celebration of their first anniversary in business, with a whole roast pig and dinner specials along with their regular menu. Polynesian performers will be there too, including something called a fire knife show – check Open Table to see whether they have openings… On October 10th the Bluewater Grill’s monthly Tuesday Tasting offers chowder, lobster pot pie, and two glasses of wine for $55 inclusive – a banquet for shellfish lovers. Reserve on the tab at bluewatergrill.com… On November 11th the California Surf Club has an open house with an option that includes food and beverages from several stations around the club so you can sip and sample. Price for the tasting experience is $35, with an additional $20 for beverages, and since they specify over 21 for the beverage package, one assumes they have a kick. There’s a link from their website at casurfclub.com… On the 12th there is a wine dinner at Primo Italia featuring wines from Memento Mori of Napa. That winery’s name translates from Latin to “Remember you will die,” but the winery’s founders motto is “Remember to live”, which is sound advice if I have ever heard it. They specialize in fine Cabernets, and Primo will make five courses of Italian food to help your palate remember the finer things in life. The price is $210.63 inclusive, and the Open Table link is at eatprimo.com/events… The action on the 13th moves to Fleming’s on Rosecrans, which will offer a five-course meal with premium Sonoma wines including Silver Oak for $159.00 inclusive. There’s a reservation tab at flemingssteakhouse.com but it’s finicky – if it doesn’t work, call at 310-643-6911… A very unusual collaboration is happening at the Slice & Pint in Redondo on November 14th – they’ll be making a pizza with toppings selected by Chef Tyler Gugliotta at Baran’s 2239. If a contemporary high-style restaurant collaborating with a pizza place sounds odd, keep in mind that Chef Gugliotta enjoys playing with ideas about everyday dining and makes stunning breakfast burritos on weekends. I’ve had some other interesting pizzas at Slice & Pint before, including a fantastic carnitas pizza with guajillo chile sauce, so they’re open to experimentation… Those who enjoy tequila-based cocktails will want to be at Porterhouse in El Segundo on the 18th for their five-course dinner paired with Mi Campo agave spirits. Four courses with mixed drinks will set you back only $123 inclusive – menu and reservation link are on their website at porterhousela.com… And Fritto Misto in Hermosa is staying on brand at their wine dinner on November 19th – the first course will be fritto misto, the fried seafood with vegetables. Four more courses will follow and will be paired with wines by Seagrape of Los Olivos, with commentary by that vineyard’s winemaker Karen Steinwachs and host Peter Kerr of Gourmet Wine Getaways. These events are always enjoyable, and the price is $99 plus tax & tip, 127.47 total – reserve by phone only at 310-318-6098… And if you like pastry as architecture, you must stop by Terranea after November 28th, when their life-size gingerbread hut will be on display. The seven by seven foot structure uses more than a thousand pounds of gingerbread and smells wonderful – you may never have considered biting into a wall before, but may be tempted. The hut is a functional bar serving seasonal drinks and hot cocoa, and you can sip while admiring the more conventionally sized beach-themed Christmas village and model railroading display nearby. There will be a tree lighting ceremony with live entertainment from 4:30 to 7:30 PM, cost of $32 for adults, $15 for children 5-12 – tickets at terranea.com. It’s free to stop by and admire the hut later, and it will be up through Christmas week…
Culinary Christmas Traditions: Those who have been reading my columns know that I’m a culinary historian who occasionally presents programs on various topics, and one is coming up in our area. The program is called “Dickens, Queen Victoria, and Christmas in 19th Century California”, and I’ll be explaining how Spanish and American traditions were changed by a German prince and a British author. It’s on December 12th at the Redondo Main Library on PCH at 2:00 PM, and it’s free – I hope to meet many of you there…
Odds And Ends: Some locals have been making the drive to San Pedro to dine in the historic atmosphere of at The Majestic, which has been serving a short menu of modern Italian food. They’re temporarily closed and will reopen with a new concept as a steakhouse, and with a full bar. No exact date yet, but they hope to be serving before the end of November… Some restaurants are giving diners a good reason to schedule a meal out on Monday. Paul Martin’s offers six choices of main course with soup or salad plus a bottle of wine or two cocktails for $59 plus tax and tip, a remarkable deal. The HT Grill offers a three-course set menu for $34, with three glasses of wine for an additional $10, and it brought in a fairly full house when we visited. It’s a great idea, and helps boost demand on otherwise light evenings… And finally, social media has been buzzing with posts about the unhinged reaction of a local restaurateur to anyone who gives his establishment anything less than a five star review on social media. Dude, insulting your clientele because they gave you four stars is not a good business plan – they won’t be back to discuss the nuances between a very good and a sublime experience. Calm down before you start typing and you might be mistaken for a reasonable human being. Sadly, grade inflation is a growing tendency in our society, and not just in schools. If I give a Lyft driver four stars because they did a fine job of getting me from one place to another, that’s still better than the three stars that signify an average ride. They didn’t do anything wrong, but they also didn’t carry my bag all the way to my bedroom, fluff my pillows, and give CPR to one of my guests on the way back to the car. It’s reasonable to rate an establishment for what they actually are and do, and respect other people’s honest evaluations…
And In Closing: If you know a restaurant opening I might’ve missed, a culinary event that should be covered, or just about anything related to food that I should know about, please send the information my way. I’m at richard@richardfoss.com. And as long as you’re on the internet, check out past restaurant reviews on our website at https://easyreadernews.com/restaurants/. ER
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