Red Medicine Opening in Beverly Hills: Where Punk Meets Vietnamese

By Celia Soudry Fri., Jun. 18 2010 at 3:00 PM

Adam Fleischman (Umami Burger) and pastry chef Jordan Kahn (XIV, The French Laundry, Per Se) have taken over former Japanese restaurant space, Hokusai, to open a Vietnamese restaurant, Red Medicine (named after a 90's punk album by Fugazi), which is slated to open July 15th. And the name reflects the restaurant's attitude and style, which Fleischman describes as super personal. But unlike many of its predecessors, Red Medicine will not be serving Pho, because the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup is not a dish you can really share--well not in any sort of methodical way.

Instead, family-style plates range from $10-$20 dollars, and you can expect to find dishes such as hand-made rice paper rolled over shrimp, pork rinds, black garlic and thai basil; crispy spring rolls with smoked bacon, kabocha squash, sweet soy and Szechuan pepper; and green papaya with crispy taro, rau ram, fried tofu and peanuts. Head barman for Michael Mina's 17 restaurants, Noah Ellis, is in charge of the bar, where you can order cocktails "based on European and American classics." Fleischman compares the soon-to-come 100-seat restaurant to The Slanted Door in San Francisco, and adds, "there is nothing like it in L.A."

Red Medicine: 8400 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills; (323) 651-5500.