Here's Looking At You

Jun Won is where HLAY was born. I tell this story a lot, but let’s tell it again: . Five years ago, I invited @jonathanwhitener to lunch: Meet me at Jun Won in KTOWN, then located on Eighth St, you’ll like the fish! . I knew of a space in KTOWN I wanted to tell JW about. I waited until the food was between us: dozens of beautiful little banchan vessels, a whole fried mackerel, and Jun Won’s signature steamed mahogany-sauced black cod. JW LOVED the sauce, a sign of approva...l that meant a great deal. I brought up the corner of 6th + Oxford It would be Whiz, a beauty salon and an old Psychic Reader all combined the reaction on both of our Earth-sign parts was casual. Anti-climactic even. . Y’all know the rest. . Jun Won was like our office. . It was where we met @g_sny, who was the first to break the news about HLAY in LA Weekly calling it a Mexican-Japanese Restaurant Coming Soon (sorry, Garrett, I had to!) . We later asked Jeff, the owner, if he wouldn’t think it was too weird if we had photographs taken of us eating at Jun Won (like the one above) as memory keepsakes. TYSM : @jemerling. This would be the day that Jeff would tell us that he was moving to a new location: close to HLAY! . At the new location, we would dine with potential investors. Eat before a show at the Wiltern. Run into Fred + Sherry there, too. Jeff and I would commiserate a little about the work. Chef would take then-sous @jobaeee for a meal, and Joanne would have a special conversation with Jeff’s mama. After that, the new spin on the HLAY Hamachi Collar would be born, a la Jun Won’s black cod by JoJo + JW. . Jun Won, the best restaurant in KTOWN, will, for sure, live in our HLAY hearts forever. Kamsahamnida @ Here's Looking At You See more

The time we had a cocktail called Challenge Accepted #womensupportingwomen sumthin’ about yuzu doughnuts models: @karlabeyonce @kelly_cole // @diplomaticorum + @selvareyrum cacao cocktail by @allanvkatz @danirose9 Summer ‘16 #HLAYforever

Today, HLAY turns 4. If you work on your birthday, you typically receive a funny balloon from me. The first year, HLAY got a blue shark (and a shark dish!). The second year, a 2 (and two crazy-ass nights of greatest hits) and last year, three chili peppers + a @tacosdrama stand. . With the help of ALL of you this past week, we celebrated its life thus far. Thank you for all of your to-go cocktail orders: As @dannygotdonuts put it, it felt like NYE for 5 straight days, lol.... To our cooks + dishwashers, who pivoted each day to execute to-go food whether it was tacos, churros, a million components in tiny plastic ramekins for the tartare, a bunch of waffle orders and a waffle iron fit for just two . Several of you showed up multiple times during the send-off. Sometimes, twice in one day! All of your messages on social have truly gutted us, but when a guest would say to me at the door I hope you find a way to reopen, I wondered, a few times aloud, maybe we can if we all would just wear a mask. . We cried a whole bunch yesterday. Caught @thessa.diadem just standing in the kitchen, eating mangoes, all alone. The had been the set decor for DJ Marc Mango, aka @createmarc, aka our GM. There was even an #HLAYforever slideshow. The perk of a mask is that it can hide most of an ugly cry. . Big thanks to @thaimamba who sold wine, liquor + swag under a tent outdoors yesterday. It was like he was tableside but different. Bell was selling wine even an hour after we had closed. . For the guests who bought provisions, we cannot wait to see what you do with them! A fave part of the early pandemic was seeing what HLAY dishes you were recreating at home. I believe I saw some A+ shishito tacos just now. . Swipe for one of @jonathanwhitener’s opening dishes: the artful kingfish. I’m sharing this as a reminder of what my Chef can do, what he was BORN to do (as @patric_kuh would say), and why it is so unfortunate that his passion career has been put to a halt at this time. Let’s manifest better times coming soon. Until then, take good care of yourself, save your other favorite restaurants, and we’ll lock eyes again soon. Thank you for giving us #HLAYforever @ Here's Looking At You See more

Oh, you guys. The outpouring of words, emotions and #HLAYnostalgia my heart has sunk into the pit of my stomach. This is all so nuts. Please, can we at least drink? Like, an excellent cocktail? Today is the last Tiki Thursday. I will be wearing a hand-me-down tiki shirt that was once owned by @jonathanwhitener’s pet pig. . No words to sufficiently amplify how hard the HLAY bar squad works. It all began with @allanvkatz + @danirose9. They’re the reason why we have a story fo...r each cocktail and a theme each season. I mean for the love, they brought us @1harrychin. Not only could the bar hunnies stir and shake and get weird back behind that bamboo bar (bamboo we hand-lugged back from the plywood store in Culver City), they would notice preferences, tendencies and do detective work to sniff out full names out of walk-ins/regulars because it meant a lot to me to remember each guest (we are such creeps). . This is a group shot of the summer 2017 cocktails. Look at ‘em! All sweaty. In the back row, the Tropical Medicine, making a comeback from 2016 and also available tonight (think: tiki Penicillin). The (swipe) infamous Mai Tai that used to feature a now-extinct rum and would run a guest $26 the economics of which was written about in the LA Business Journal, lol. We now make it with rum that we age in Koreatown with these sticks (incredible Harry genius) it’s supposed to take you back to the 1940s when the Mai Tai was born. It’s on sale right now for $18! As one recent convert told me, It’s the only cocktail you need. . We know it’s a shame that you can’t sit at the bar with them right now. They have the loveliest personalities. And dimples. Note: @alldaybabyla’s @jfiguer1 is guest-bartending with @dannygotdonuts tomorrow! . HLAY tiki girl on black hoodie sweatshirts still for sale (S, M, L, XL) #HLAYforever @ Here's Looking At You

We are serving CRISPY SUCKLING PIG TOMORROW! You can pre-order your pig part now (link in bio). The website page NOTE FROM LIEN (and words below) will further explain why we’re serving suckling pig tomorrow, why we’re serving @tacosdrama tonight, and what’s to come Fri/Sat/Sun and the uncertain future of HLAY. We love you. . To the best guests in the world: . We are closing Here's Looking At You. For now. On paper, this is temporary. But, of course, you don't need us to t...ell you that life is super-duper uncertain right now. . We reopened for takeout + delivery on 5/28 (THANK YOU, PPP LOAN). But I am so sorry to say that it just didn't work. Business has been very slow. It's eerily quiet in KTOWN. The burgers + frog's legs went unordered most nights. We were immensely grateful for the opportunity to give "HLAY to-go" a fighting shot (given the disturbing spread of COVID-19, the thought of reopening our dining room only exacerbated my anxiety), to work with our magical staff again, and now NOW! have the next 5 days together to toast our funny little restaurant in the event we cannot make good on the hashtag: #HLAYforever. July 12 will be our last service. We want to make it special. Because: Here's looking at YOU. This is a toast to you. And 7/13 would've been our fourth birthday. . If you can, please join us for any or ALL of the following as we honor our superhero staff, present + past, and our story. All of it is for pre-order (some links coming soon). You can walk-up for cocktails any night. This is HLAY after all. . WED 7/8 5-8p @tacosdrama Chef @jamesamartinez_’s campechano taco is better than the ones I've had in Mexico. PRE-ORDER taco platters or meat by the # by 1PM today . THU 7/9 5-8p TET-A-TET X TIKI THURSDAY Veal tonnato rolls + five suckling pigs! . FRI 7/10 5-8p #HLAYFOREVER CLASSICS Beef Tartare, Shishito Peppers, Tomato + Frog's Legs. Plus, Chef @thessa.diadem’s cult-fave Hazelnut Meringue Cake. And select take-home provisions like tonnato sauce, onikasu, more. . SAT 7/11 + SUN 7/12 11a-3p BRUNCH, BABY! Chef Thessa's Jerusalem Bagel, Zucchini Bread, plus, the Okonomiyaki and the Coconut Waffle until we faint. Potential sidewalk sale. See more

GOODBYE BURGER, you were my fifth (or sixth) HLAY love 2NITE is the last night for this juicy beauty (along with its sandwich siblings below) . We will share new food things and such tomorrow . Big BLT nueske's bacon, beefsteak tomato, lettuce, avocado, aioli on texas toast... . Double Cheeseburger two dry-aged beef patties, two slices of American cheese, 1K sauce on a brioche bun . Fried Chicken Sandwich batter-fried chicken breast, kimchi mayo, pickled daikon on a brioche bun . Fried Green Tomato Sandwich fried green tomatoes, spicy feta spread, cabbage slaw with poppy seed on a brioche bun . Order online for takeout + delivery (LINK IN BIO) or call us (213-568-3573) 4-9PM / 7 days a week / please enjoy the patio #HLAYforever See more

Welcome back, little chubby churros! MAÑANA . @tacosdrama is back for #HLAYOaxacanWednesday! Please join us for street tacos, to-go cocktails and cumbia on the boombox large-mood taco platters, taco meats by the pound are available for pre-order (link in bio). . ONE NIGHT ONLY... Wed 7/8 5-8PM . FOOD MENU (walk-up only): . Taco de Birria, braised goat Taco de Barbacoa, beef brisket Campechano, eye-round steak, longaniza, chicharrón, queso oaxaqueño Churros, cinnamon sugar, Mexican hot chocolate dip . COCKTAIL MENU (walk-up only): . Drama’s Michi Clamato, Maggi Seasoning Sauce, Tapatio, Lime, Chamoy, House Tajin, Lime Wedge, Tamarind Candy Stick (add Metiche Mezcal shot on the side $5) . El Mercadito Pura Sangre Blanco Tequila, Gustoso Aguardiente, Watermelon-Tomato Syrup, Pineapple, Lime, Atomized Nance Mezcal (served w/ ice) . Organica Picante Agave de Cortes Mezcal, Metiche Salmiana Mezcal, Plantation Pineapple, Banana Puree, Wheatgrass Syrup, Fresno-infused Sirop de Canne, Lime . Arturo's Case Agave de Cortes Mezcal, Cappelletti, lime, hibiscus tea-pineapple wine syrup . Spicy Strawberry Margarita . Bohemia Pilsner . LARGE-MOOD MENU (pre-order only): all prices include 9.5% tax + fees Taco Platter includes corn tortillas (12), salsa roja (cup), avocado salsa (cup), diced onion, cilantro, lime wedges, and your choice of taco meat: Goat Birria 1# Beef Brisket Barbacoa 1# . Taco Meat by the pound (package-sealed) Goat Birria Beef Brisket Barbacoa . Salsa Roja (cup) . Tacos Drama T-Shirt (M, L, XL) . #HLAYforever @ Here's Looking At You

Last chance for HLAY BUNS TONIGHT + TOMORROW, all come with curly fries top to bottom: . Big BLT nueske's bacon, beefsteak tomato, lettuce, avocado, aioli on texas toast . Double Cheeseburger two dry-aged beef patties, two slices of American cheese, 1K sauce on a brioche bun... . Fried Chicken Sandwich batter-fried chicken breast, kimchi mayo, pickled daikon on a brioche bun . Fried Green Tomato Sandwich fried green tomatoes, spicy feta spread, cabbage slaw with poppy seed on a brioche bun . Order online for takeout + delivery (LINK IN BIO) or call us (213-568-3573) 4-9PM / 7 days a week / please enjoy the patio #HLAYforever See more

TIKI TO-GO EVERYDAY pictured: two of our classics since 2016 #repost @carolineoncrack (swipe for her lovely glassware!) . Tropical Medicine Roasted pineapple-infused Monkey Shoulder Scotch & Rittenhouse Rye, fresh lemon & ginger, roasted pineapple, a splash of Islay . Mai Tai Resurrection House-aged Wray and Nephew Overproof Jamaican Rum, our Orgeat & Curacao, Demerara, Lime... . Order online for takeout + delivery (LINK IN BIO) or call us (213-568-3573) 4-9PM / 7 days a week / please enjoy the patio #HLAYforever @ Here's Looking At You See more

ANOTHER ONE NIGHT STAND WITH TACOS DRAMA . Our little brother taco stand by Chef James Drama Martinez is back for #HLAYOaxacanWednesday! Please join us for street tacos, to-go cocktails and cumbia on the boombox large-mood taco platters, taco meats by the pound are available for pre-order below. . ONE NIGHT ONLY... Wed 7/8 5-8PM . *Thank you for your taco support on 6/19. With your help, we were able raise $2447 in donation to American Civil Liberties Union. . FOOD MENU (walk-up only): . Taco de Birria, braised goat Taco de Barbacoa, beef brisket Campechano, eye-round steak, longaniza, chicharrón, queso oaxaqueño Churros, cinnamon sugar, Mexican hot chocolate dip . COCKTAIL MENU (walk-up only): . Drama’s Michi Clamato, Maggi Seasoning Sauce, Tapatio, Lime, Chamoy, House Tajin, Lime Wedge, Tamarind Candy Stick (add Metiche Mezcal shot on the side $5) . El Mercadito Pura Sangre Blanco Tequila, Gustoso Aguardiente, Watermelon-Tomato Syrup, Pineapple, Lime, Atomized Nance Mezcal (served w/ ice) . Organica Picante Agave de Cortes Mezcal, Metiche Salmiana Mezcal, Plantation Pineapple, Banana Puree, Wheatgrass Syrup, Fresno-infused Sirop de Canne, Lime . Arturo's Case Agave de Cortes Mezcal, Cappelletti, lime, hibiscus tea-pineapple wine syrup . Strawberry Margarita . Bohemia Pilsner . LARGE-MOOD MENU (pre-order only): all prices include 9.5% tax + fees Taco Platter includes corn tortillas (12), salsa roja (cup), avocado salsa (cup), diced onion, cilantro, lime wedges, and your choice of taco meat: Goat Birria 1# Beef Brisket Barbacoa 1# . Taco Meat by the pound (package-sealed) Goat Birria Beef Brisket Barbacoa . Salsa Roja (cup) . Tacos Drama T-Shirt (M, L, XL) . #HLAYforever

It’s all about that KIMCHI MAYO on the fried chicken sandwich (w/ pickled daikon + jalapeño). And the curly fries on the side. AND the cocktails to-go for now and later. We open at 4! . *We just added good ol’ classic cocktails to stick in the fridge for challenging times + housemade HLAY syrups to the online-ordering platform . Order online for takeout + delivery (LINK IN BIO) or call us (213-568-3573) 4-9PM / 7 days a week / please enjoy the patio #HLAYforever

cotija crema on the side to dip each corn rib into . Order online for takeout + delivery (LINK IN BIO) or call us (213-568-3573) 4-9PM / 7 days a week / please enjoy the patio #HLAYforever

A little bell sound goes off when an online takeout order comes in, and we all literally squeal and RUN over to the ticket machine to see what’s been ordered. For the entire month of June, when a T-shirt or a sweatshirt hoodie was on that order, it was extra special. Between those @toasttab orders, orders off our two homemade websites monitored by @kelly_cole and myself, in-person pickups at both restaurants, all the U.S. shipping I did over at the PostalWorks in Silver Lak...e, we tallied up 100% of the dollar sales accrued, and we donated a total of $2720 to @naacp_ldf today. Turns out, today is the birthday of its incredible founder, Thurgood Marshall. Swipe for four little-known badass facts about Mr. Marshall. His organization carries on with extraordinary aplomb, efforts to end police violence, protect our right to protest, safeguard our right to vote, ensure equal access to education and employment, and fight systemic inequalities that continue to plague so many Americans. . We have endless appreciation for your support. THANK YOU for buying our simple swag, and we hope to find you wearing it out in the wild, across America. We are just restaurants, made up of a bunch of workaholics, managing a lot of uncertainties and harsh truths right now. But we MUST continue to feed the momentum. #HLAYforever @ Here's Looking At You See more