LAReview
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Colibrí
This spot is Permanently Closed.
Included In
Colibrí does not hide the fact that it’s a pop-up. This Hollywood Peruvian spot put the word right in its domain name, and the waitstaff will quickly tell you the place is a year-long residency to test out the chef’s dishes for a separate restaurant in the future. This could be an interesting proposition to some, while others—particularly those burned out by all those tacky Star Wars/Stranger Things-themed “Hollywood pop-ups” of years past—might be tempted to just wait for the fully realized restaurant. And to those people, we say that would be a mistake.
Because while this version of Colibrí might be a trial run of sorts, right now there’s enough good food, strong cocktails, and cozy neighborhood energy going on to warrant a visit.
Colibrí took over the Los Balcones Del Peru space on Vine, an old Peruvian standby with an absolutely prime central location. It’s directly across the street from the Netflix campus, walking distance to every major theater and music venue, and a block from the Cineramadome (OK, yes, it’s still closed, but we’re putting out good energy!). All of that means Colibrí is naturally set up to be a casual pre-event dinner spot, and that’s exactly how you should use it.
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Around 6pm most nights, the warm, rustic dining room fills up with coworkers drinking pisco sours and passion fruit caipirinhas, midweek dates sharing hearty corn and potato-filled ceviches, and groups of friends eating lomo saltado and beer braised short rib before a show at Palladium. Yes, there are a few eye-rolling design touches here (alas, more neon signs and hanging vines), but overall, this place has charm. Plus, in a part of town where restaurants tend to be either extremely high-end or order-at-the-counter chains, Colibrí strikes a much-needed middle ground.
At some of his past restaurants, Ricardo Zarate—the chef at Colibrí—has focused on Nikkei-style dishes and modern twists to Peruvian cooking, but here, it’s all about traditional classics. The menu at Colibrí is mostly made up of dishes that taste as if they came out of someone’s home kitchen. Think beef tamales, tallerines rojos, a ragu-based pasta topped with crispy chicken thigh and cheese sauce, and briny squid ink rice stacked with shrimp, scallop, and crispy calamari that was the highlight of our night. We understand the urge to wait for the main event, but although Colibrí might technically be a pop-up, it’s clear the show’s already in full swing.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Arroz Con Mariscos
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Ceviche Classico
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Cesar's Verde
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Tallarines Rojo
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Charred Snap Peas
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Beef Tamal
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Fried Churro Balls