🍸 WARRIOR LOUNGE, LA
8909 SUNSET BLVD
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA
Gone West hospitality group opened their second venue, Warrior, in Los Angeles this November. With over 25 years of diverse culinary experience, Executive Chef Hung Huynh will helm the kitchen along with Chef de Cuisine Daniel Mallett, at the Asian-inspired lounge and rooftop. Designer interiors and a bespoke cocktail program from Sweet & Chilli are among the features that will make Warrior one of the most anticipated openings on the iconic Sunset Boulevard in years. New York-based artist and photoblogger Bronques of Lastnightsparty.com fame have announced that he will have his first-ever residency at the new LA hotspot and Supermarket Creative will be curating nights at the venue.
While the term warrior is easily interpreted with a masculine tone, the venue’s unique symbol is that of a female fighter. Warrior subverts cultural norms and gives lounge goers a strong female lead as their host. It will further subvert LA standards by being the only lounge-type venue with a curated crowd that isn’t a members-only club. Current trends in Los Angeles have made it so that revelers need to either pick a noisy nightclub or belong to a members-only venue to enjoy a night out. Warrior bucks that trend with loungelike atmospheres in both the Choo Choo Club downstairs and its sexy rooftop.
Upon entering Warrior, guests will be treated to a beautifully hand-painted wall that echoes the restaurant’s theme. The art depicts strong females in various shades of combat and beauty. Guests will enter a long, dark red glowing hallway amongst hand-drawn wallpaper leading you into the Choo Choo Club, secured behind 200-year-old doors imported from China. Supermarket Creative is the firm behind the room’s design and curated crowd. The vintage-modern teal themed room gives a subtle nod to the Orient Express’ bar car.
The room’s ambiance is further complemented by a green glowing marble bar and brass sconces. These Characteristics provide the perfect backdrop for the reinvented classic mixology offerings from Sweet & Chilli. The small and intimate lounge is the perfect setting to transport you to the Orient through its textured and maximalist decor that bridges the sophistication of days gone by with a causal approach. Furnishings and décor accessories are an eclectic mix of velvet furniture, gold tones, and colorful exotic landscape illustrations that compliments the dark distressed wooden chairs and unique accessories. To coincide with the diverse and culturally rich style of the space, the Choo Choo club’s programming will be a mix of sounds and genres ranging from modern disco nights to live jazz where east meets west.
The rooftop bar gives off a sexy red glow that will lead into a garden-like setting outside. Christian Lacroix fabric will accent the furniture while romantic florals adorn above. The outside bar will glow purple accompanying the deep emerald marble top while the working red brick fireplace warms up the surrounding area.
The venue boasts a globally inspired Asian-fusion menu that will be available at both the Choo Choo Club and the rooftop lounge. Catering to the diverse palates of Angelenos, Chef Hung Huynh’s crowd-pleasing menu will comprise of charred edamame, delicious wagyu beef potstickers complete with a caramelized onion sauce, fresh seabass lettuce wraps, bbq pork ribs glazed in a palette-pleasing honey hoisin sauce and their signature drunken warrior noodles. The menu will also bring a variety of delectable vegan options such as crispy cauliflower with spicy aioli, vegan jade garlic noodles, and tempura fried avocado to dip into a roasted jalapeno sauce. The menu will be complemented with a thoughtfully curated list of handcrafted cocktails, as well as a wide range of beer and wine.
ABOUT CHEF HUNG:
Hung Huynh, winner of Bravo’s Top Chef, will helm Warrior’s kitchen as Executive Chef. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Hung went on to work with iconic chefs like Christian Delourvier, Thomas Keller, and Guy Savoy at renowned kitchens such as Lespinasse, Per Se, and Guy Savoy. In 2011, as Executive Chef, Hung helped launch Catch— a globally inspired seafood restaurant. Hung has been featured in top publications around the country, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Food & Wine, People, New York Magazine, New York Post, and New York Daily News. He has also appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, NBC New York Live, Food Network’s Chopped, and Robert Earl’s Be My Guest.
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Website: https://warriorlosangeles.com
Instagram: @warriorlosangeles
Facebook: /warriorlosangeles