Gran Blanco space
Photo by Simran Malik, courtesy of Gran Blanco

The RundownLos Angeles

Gran Blanco 2.0 Flips the Script on Izakaya Vibes in Venice

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The revamped Gran Blanco in Venice is an undeniably good time. With black snakeskin menus (we’re obsessed), yin-yang cocktail coasters, cheeseburger egg rolls, and lychee martinis, it’s easy to escape both the drudgery of everyday life and the confines of the current decade upon arrival. It’s clear that co-owners Sam Trude (the business guy) and Sam Cooper (the food, music, and design guy) just want to have fun, and their energy is infectious.

The two Aussies opened Gran Blanco in 2019, a few years after opening neighborhood mainstay Great White across the road. Earlier this year, they decided the space was ready for a refresh, and let their affinity for Japanese food and izakaya culture inspire the new look and feel. 

Cooper describes the Venice hangout as “a more rebellious version” of Great White. “It’s got the same hospitality philosophy but it’s more fun and more elevated — it’s how we like to go out on the weekend,” he says. If you enjoy vibing to funk and disco while sipping martinis, snacking on toro and caviar, and standing next to people with radiant skin, then we think you’ll like the new Gran Blanco, too. Here’s everything you need to know:

Gran Blanco space
Photo by Simran Malik, courtesy of Gran Blanco
Gran Blanco space
Photo by Simran Malik, courtesy of Gran Blanco

1. The Japan-meets-Tulum aesthetic is so L.A. 

Cooper is very aware that the restaurant has a Spanish name (“gran blanco” = “great white”), Australian owners, and a Japanese-influenced menu. But isn’t that L.A. in a nutshell? The space is warm, cozy, and chic, with enormous rattan pendant lights, plush earth-toned seating, tiny table lamps, and a disco ball hanging from vaulted ceilings. The typically packed bar area is separated from the dining room with a banquette, so you can start your evening with a less-chaotic-but-still-fun dinner, then move to the bar for a higher-energy night that can involve tequila espresso martinis, if you dare.

Gran Blanco burger
The burger is indeed tremendous. Photo by Simran Malik, courtesy of Gran Blanco
Gran Blanco burger
The burger is indeed tremendous. Photo by Simran Malik, courtesy of Gran Blanco

2. The new menu is all killer, no filler.

The revamped menu features approachable Japanese-influenced small plates, along with a few heartier mains, to go with your sake, wine, and cocktails. There’s toro tossed in spicy miso mustard, piled high onto rice paper crisps. An unexpected Caesar features roasted Japanese cabbage, a super-savory and herb-packed green goddess dressing, and a heap of shaved parm.

As for entrées, there’s a satisfying chicken katsu curry, which would be a delightful dish to order by yourself with a glass of red wine on a weeknight. For something heartier, go with the Australian Wagyu in peppercorn sauce, or if you’re after something more delicate, try the poached halibut in a light, fragrant broth. And the fan-favorite Tremendous Cheeseburger, a holdover from Gran Blanco 1.0, remains on the menu as well. 

Gran Blanco chicken katsu
Don’t miss the chicken katsu, either. Photo by Jakob Layman, courtesy of Gran Blanco
Gran Blanco chicken katsu
Don’t miss the chicken katsu, either. Photo by Jakob Layman, courtesy of Gran Blanco

3. Music lovers, this cocktail lounge was made for you.

The soundtrack and sound system are key elements of Gran Blanco’s allure, and will impress even the most serious audiophiles. Music director Max Van Ville, along with rotating DJs, play rare vinyl records on the restaurant’s custom-built Ojas speakers (the same brand Mark Ronson has in his home). “Music is the main reason we started Gran Blanco,” explains Cooper. As the night takes shape, so does the soundtrack.”

Gran Blanco martini
Martinis of every flavor… Photos by Jakob Layman, courtesy of Gran Blanco
Gran Blanco espresso martini

4. Love martinis? You’ve got options.

Beverage consultant Andy Miller completely revamped the cocktail list as well. Whether you’re in the mood for a lychee martini à la Nobu, an espresso martini with Reposado tequila, or a Grey Goose dirty martini  with Castelvetrano olives smoked in a pizza oven, you’re at the right spot. If it’s not a martini night, go for the Ritual Negroni, made with Madre mezcal instead of gin, and garnished with a smoked, dehydrated pineapple chip. No matter what you’re sipping, it’s easy to turn dinner into a ripper of a good time at Gran Blanco 2.0.

 

Erin Mosbaugh is a food and travel writer from West L.A. who has worked in kitchens in New York and L.A. and co-created the James Beard Award-winning food site First We Feast. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok; follow Resy, too.