Not just another Asian fusion restaurant in Hermosa
When I heard a new Asian fusion restaurant was coming to Hermosa Beach, I was a little disappointed. The Beach Cities have lots of fusion places, and if another came with the standard mingling of Japanese, Chinese, and Thai flavors, it might be enjoyable, but wouldn’t bring anything unique to the neighborhood. I was more interested when I read the bios of the chefs, who had previously consulted with the Simms group, and been part of the creative team at The Arthur J. That restaurant set a standard for creativity within the format of a steakhouse, so perhaps this new thing called Ryla could actually be worthwhile. Having dined there twice and had meals that were some of the best and most thought provoking in recent memory, I can confirm that yes, it is more than worthwhile. The husband and wife team of Ray Hayashi and Cynthia Hetlinger hit the ground running with an ambitious menu that includes Japanese and Taiwanese influences but is unorthodox and eclectic. The former Laurel Tavern has been transformed into a sleek, elegant space that resembles a modern Japanese Izakaya. After sundown the interior is dark, intimate, and rather loud. The bar area is high energy, the low tables on…
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