Yamashiro restaurant reopens with new operators
The Yamashiro restaurant in the Hollywood Hills was set to reopen Wednesday evening under new operators after shutting down for two days.
The prominent tourist destination, located in a replica of a Japanese palace, will now be run by a group that includes Los Angeles nightlife and hospitality company BNG, Sugar Factory restaurants and TCL Chinese Theatres, a spokeswoman said.
The new operators plan to launch a sushi bar and a new lounge at the restaurant, which will still be called Yamashiro. Melissa Edwards, the group’s spokeswoman, said the restaurant will continue to serve Asian fusion cuisine, though the menu will be “refreshed.”
Edwards said the kitchen will be run by executive chef Christophe Bonnergrace, formerly of Buddha Bar & Little Buddha in Las Vegas.
See the most-read stories this hour »
Hours will be extended. The restaurant will be open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, and reservations can be made for as late at midnight on weekends. Edwards said the menu prices would remain the same for now.
The future of Yamashiro came into question this year when Chinese developer JE Group purchased Yamashiro’s landmark building and swiftly moved to evict the Asian fusion restaurant that Thomas Y. Glover opened in the 1960s.
The Glover family had owned the Yamashiro building and the surrounding 7 acres before selling to JE Group for nearly $40 million. Glover, who opposed the sale, held on to the liquor license and the Yamashiro name.
JE and Glover came to an agreement last month, and his last day operating the restaurant was Sunday.
Edwards said the new operators are looking to bring back a farmers market to the property and said all weddings booked for the site will go on as planned.
Yamashiro will also host after-parties for premieres at Hollywood Boulevard’s TCL Chinese Theatres, which was formerly known as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre before a 2013 naming rights deal with Chinese TV maker TCL.
Follow me @khouriandrew on Twitter.
MORE FROM BUSINESS
How Chinese is Shanghai Disney?
Tesla opening gallery within the Nordstrom store at the Grove
O.C. Ponzi schemer sentenced to 10 years for bilking hundreds of investors
Inside the business of entertainment
The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
