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A well-known Los Angeles taco truck is taking the leap into a permanent storefront, Hollywood’s distinctive Cinerama Dome is on a path to reopening, and local chefs and bars are experimenting with new ingredients and even the ice in your drink. These moves signal shifting patterns in where Angelenos eat and watch movies—and what they can expect when they go out this year and beyond.
El Ruso becomes a Studio City taquería
El Ruso, the taco operation that began as a street cart and later operated a popular truck, will open its first fixed-location restaurant on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City on Wednesday, July 22 at 5 p.m. The new space occupies the site of the former Roadside Taco at 10628 Ventura Boulevard.
The menu centers on tacos and burritos wrapped in **Sonoran-style flour tortillas** made by Julia Silva. Drinks will include margaritas, beer and horchata, and proteins range from asada and al pastor to chile Colorado, rib-eye and shrimp. While the restaurant gets underway, the El Ruso truck will temporarily pause service so the team can concentrate on the new dining room.
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Tijuana-born owner Walter Soto launched El Ruso as a trailer in Boyle Heights in 2016 and later moved to a truck that commonly parked in Silver Lake. Over the years the operation has drawn critical attention—most notably a high-profile newspaper review in 2020 and a television feature—largely for its handmade tortillas and straightforward, traditional flavors.
Why this matters: a permanent address can mean more consistent hours, expanded seating and a different customer experience than a roaming truck; it also reflects a broader pattern of successful street-food vendors establishing brick-and-mortar footprints across the city.
The Cinerama Dome is slated to return
Plans are moving forward to restore the Cinerama Dome, the hemispherical landmark on Hollywood Boulevard, with a targeted reopening in 2028. Reports indicate Sony will oversee the project and convert the neighboring theater into a 14-screen Alamo Drafthouse, a brand Sony now owns.
Preserving and reactivating the Dome has cultural and economic implications: the venue is an architectural icon for moviegoers and a potential draw for visitors to Hollywood, while the Alamo expansion suggests a push toward event-driven cinema experiences rather than traditional multiplex programming.
A fresh dinner program at Mírate
Los Feliz restaurant Mírate has rolled out a redesigned dinner menu from Chef Alan Sanz, who has drawn on culinary traditions from Mexico City and the Yucatán. New dishes include enmoladas featuring duck carnitas with a blackberry mole, kanpachi crudo and a pan de pulque served with caramelized onion–miso butter.
The changes reflect an ongoing emphasis among LA chefs on cross-regional Mexican flavors—combining familiar techniques with unexpected ingredients to broaden what diners associate with contemporary Mexican dining.
Bars chase better cubes
Some Los Angeles bars and restaurants are importing precision-crafted ice from Japan to elevate cocktail presentation and taste. Establishments such as Vandell in Los Feliz serve these large, clear blocks, a move driven by bartenders who say the mineral profile and clarity of ice can alter how spirits express themselves in a glass.
Smaller, purer ice melts more slowly and reduces dilution; for high-end cocktails, that can be a subtle but meaningful difference. Expect the trend to appear at cocktail bars positioning themselves on craft and technique—though it may come with higher costs passed to customers.
- El Ruso Taquería — Studio City; opens July 22, 5 p.m.; first permanent location for a well-known truck; emphasis on Sonoran flour tortillas and expanded beverage offerings.
- Cinerama Dome — Hollywood; targeted reopening 2028; restoration of a landmark and conversion of adjacent screens into a 14-screen Alamo Drafthouse by Sony.
- Mírate — Los Feliz; new dinner menu released; dishes inspired by Mexico City and the Yucatán showcasing contemporary Mexican techniques.
- Bespoke ice — multiple bars (e.g., Vandell); ongoing; imported Japanese ice adopted to improve cocktail clarity and control dilution.
What to watch next: expect more street-food operations to test permanent spaces, further investment in destination movie venues, and incremental service upgrades—like artisanal ice—that aim to refine the out‑of‑home dining and drinking experience in Los Angeles.
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