H&H Bagels, a legendary New York bagel shop that’s made appearances in shows like Seinfeld and Sex and the City, continues its expansion into California with a new location along Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park opening on Thursday, April 2. This will be the second H&H Bagels location in Los Angeles; the bagel shop previously opened a Santa Monica location in February 2025.
H&H’s Echo Park outpost will serve a similar menu to the New York locations with loose bagels, including plain, sesame, everything, egg, and jalapeño cheddar, alongside sandwiches like bacon, egg, and cheese or smoked salmon. Also find a Southwest turkey sandwich with bacon and avocado, plus the Gardener with vegetable cream cheese, avocado, tomato, and cucumber.
Helmer Toro and Hector Hernandez opened the first H&H Bagels in 1972 on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Over the years, it became a kettle-boiled New York icon, in part due to its star-making cameos in films and television shows. In 2010, Toro was indicted for tax fraud, grand larceny, falsifying records, and violating labor law; he was sentenced to 50 weekends in jail and fined $500,000. In 2014, Jay Rushin bought the company’s name and assets, along with a location on the Upper East Side. Under Rushin the company has continued to expand in New York and across the country, but still uses its original recipe. Both Los Angeles shops are operated by local owner Phil Gross.
Sean Brock’s West Hollywood restaurant, Darling, will kick off a weekly Sunday brunch service on April 5. The menu, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., features dishes such as Southern fried chicken with hot sauce and a breakfast plate with scrambled eggs, smoked bacon, sourdough toast, and Anson Mills grits. Sip on new brunch cocktails from bar director Jason Lee like the Sungold with rum, mirin, dashi, and smoked sungold tomatoes or the Strawberry with gin, berries, and granola orgeat. Book a table on Resy.
Closing weekend at Cole’s
A new destination for pollo a la brasa in Santa Monica
Ponto, a new Peruvian restaurant, just opened in Santa Monica along Ocean Park Boulevard. The menu revolves around pollo a la brasa, available as a half chicken, whole chicken, or a kid’s plate. Round out meals with french fries, arroz chaufa (rotisserie chicken stir-fried rice), and a seasonal salad with lettuces, cucumber, and tomato.