ixlb DimSum Eats — a Hollywood-based restaurant helmed by Gloria Shi — is opening its second location at 1151 Westwood Boulevard, the former home of an Ike’s Love and Sandwiches branch, according to Toddrickallen.com.
Shi tells What Now Los Angeles there’s no tentative opening date yet as she’s currently “going through the gauntlet of final inspections.”
Launched in 2016, ixlb – “xlb” standing for “xiao long bao,” an iconic style of Chinese soup dumpling – is an ode to her family’s long lineage of authentic food work. In the weeks leading up to the maiden operation’s opening, Shi’s father, Tony Ying, told LA Weekly that three generations of his family have operated Chinese restaurants dating back to 1942 in New York City. Subsequently, Shi often found herself playing hostess and taking phone orders, even as a child.
Ixlb DimSum Eats offers a simple yet authentic menu comprised of dishes like shrimp & chive dumplings, shrimp wontons with chili oil, cha siu bao (barbecue-pork-filled baozi), baked sausage buns, curry chicken puffs, sesame balls, steamed egg custard buns, and so many more flavor-packed pocket-like culinary creations.
The Hollywood corner location sits in the nightly glow of the KTLA 5 tower and is minimalistic in its aesthetic, displaying a clean yet cozy dining and kitchen area. As for its exterior, simple seafoam white walls play canvas to a massive, wide-eyed dumpling mascot beckoning hungry customers inside.
The new incoming outpost will also reside in a busy corner space, slightly mimicking the maiden operation.
