Avish Naran Redefines LA’s Dining Scene -

Avish Naran Redefines LA’s Dining Scene. Avish Naran is the visionary behind Pijja Palace—a beloved, two-year-old sports bar in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighbourhood. He is particularly reshaping the dining scene with his inventive fusion of Indian flavours in a familiar sports bar setting. Essentially, at Pijja Palace, patrons are greeted with the expected rows of TVs streaming every game, yet the menu defies mere expectations. More so, with items like lentil-battered onion rings, wings slathered in bold Kashmiri red chilli and even a chicken tikka pizza. The name “Pijja” itself holds personal significance, a playful homage to how Naran’s grandparents would pronounce “pizza.”

Avish Naran Redefines LA’s Dining Scene- A Fusion of Culture and Comfort

Moreover, Naran’s inspiration for Pijja Palace comes from his childhood memories, where watching sports was a family tradition. He fondly recalls the gatherings at his uncle’s home, where loved ones would watch games while cooking on a traditional tandoor. Even so, this fusion of sports and rich flavours became part of his identity, and his experiences growing up in Los Angeles. Particularly, a vibrant city with two baseball, two basketball, and two football teams—helped shape his vision. For Naran, Pijja Palace isn’t just a sports bar; it’s a reflection of his upbringing, merging two aspects of his life that bring people together.

Before opening Pijja Palace, Naran honed his culinary expertise at Napa Valley Cooking School and worked in distinguished restaurants. The highly regarded Indian Accent in New York City included. Also, with these experiences, he brings a depth of culinary knowledge to his menu. For instance, carefully crafted dishes that offer an elevated yet playful twist on classic sports bar fare. As a result, every item reflects his dedication to quality, flavour, and honouring his heritage.

Bringing Filipino Flavors to Silver Lake

Furthermore, the success of Pijja Palace has sparked interest from fans and food critics alike, who suggest it could easily expand. Even more, to other Los Angeles neighbourhoods and even New York City, where Indian cuisine has seen a surge in popularity. Yet, despite these expansion opportunities, Naran has his sights set on creating fresh, new experiences. He further believes in bringing innovative ideas to life, rather than replicating what he’s already done.

In the space adjacent to Pijja Palace, Naran is bringing another unique dining concept to Silver Lake, this time focused on Filipino cuisine. He’s teaming up with chefs Andrew Marco and Ralph Hsiao, a café and sandwich shop based in Koreatown, to open an 80-seat Filipino restaurant. The team is eager to introduce diners to less explored areas of Filipino cuisine, with multiple kinds of the traditional noodle dish, pancit. Nonetheless, this project promises to broaden the culinary offerings in Los Angeles, adding depth and diversity to the dining scene.

Avish Naran Redefines LA’s Dining Scene- Innovating Indian-Inspired Cocktail

In addition to his ventures in food, Naran is also turning his attention to an entirely new aspect of the dining experience: the bar. Most especially, Inspired by India’s rich drinking culture, he envisions a bar concept that redefines what Indian-inspired cocktails can be. He wants to introduce flavours that showcase India’s diverse range of spices and ingredients. These are namely, tamarind, clove, and coconut, bringing them into the realm of bitters and vermouth. “I want to create Indian bitters,” he says, envisioning traditional cocktail components that can highlight the flavours he grew up with. By doing so, Naran hopes to reimagine the beverage industry with a distinctive Indian twist. Primarily, creating an experience that’s both familiar and entirely new for his patrons.

Through each project, Avish Naran demonstrates his commitment to pushing culinary boundaries and celebrating his heritage. With a strong sense of purpose and creativity, Naran is steadily reshaping Los Angeles’ culinary landscape, one bold venture at a time. Avish Naran Redefines LA’s Dining Scene.