In a noteworthy development, California restaurateur Hoyul Steven Choi is set to unveil the newest addition to his brunch empire, Sweet Maple – Santa Monica, located at 1705 Ocean Avenue Suite #110, Santa Monica, California.
The official opening is scheduled for this Friday, December 8, 2023. Nestled just a few blocks from the Santa Monica State Beach and Santa Monica Pier, Sweet Maple — Santa Monica will introduce an iconic San Francisco brunch experience to the food scene in Southern California. This expansive 4,000+ square feet establishment, situated at the corner of Olympic and Ocean, will showcase contemporary California cuisine infused with the rich flavors of the Korean kitchen.
Hoyul Steven Choi has become a prominent figure in the California culinary landscape, with successful restaurants spanning across San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Mountain View, San Francisco International Airport, and now Los Angeles. Renowned for his focus on breakfast, brunch, and dinner menus inspired by classic American dishes with a touch of Asian culinary influences, Choi stands as an entrepreneur committed to delivering delectable fare and exceptional dining experiences to communities across California.
Los Angeles can anticipate an exciting addition to its brunch options as Sweet Maple’s fourth California location takes root in Santa Monica, offering a delectable menu within a modern-designed restaurant setting. Boasting both indoor and outdoor seating for 170 people, the establishment promises innovative twists on well-loved favorites.
Sweet Maple — Santa Monica’s menu will feature enticing brunch choices, including Millionaire’s Bacon®, Soufflegg Skillets, Farm Fresh Egg Plates, Scrambles & Omelets, Benedicts, and standout lunch items such as the Crab Sandwich (Garlic Dungeness Crab) and Jam Juicy Lucy Burger. The diverse offerings extend to Kitchen Specials like the Sizzling Stonepot, Tornado Galbi Omurice, Maple Plates, Salads, Sides, Equator Specialty Coffee, Mimosas & Spicy Friends (Award-Winning Bloody Mary’s), Morning Cocktails (With Soju), Tea Forte Collection, Sparkling/White Wine, Red Wine, Sake, Craft Beer, and a Kid’s Menu.
Homemade desserts, influenced by Korean, Japanese, and Thai flavors, will be crafted by the beloved SF Bay Area U :Dessert Story. The dessert selection includes pastries, side dishes, Barista’s Favorites (Truffle Dirty Coffee, Ube Latte, Sesame Einspanner, etc.), and more.
Sweet Maple’s entry into Los Angeles is marked by its friendly motto: Happy Morning, Everyday, Everywhere.
A resident of the Bay Area for over 35 years, Hoyul Steven Choi originally immigrated from Busan, South Korea, to San Francisco in 1984. Armed with a BA in Molecular & Cell Biology and Physics from UC Berkeley, Choi initially delved into biotech cancer research and treatment at Stanford University. In 2002, Choi and his wife Jiyeon Choi, a graphic design graduate from Seoul, South Korea, launched their first breakfast-focused restaurant, Taylor Street Coffee Shop, in Union Square. Following the revitalization of Taylor Street Coffee Shop, they took over Fred’s Coffee Shop in Sausalito in 2006. The Sweet Maple journey began in 2010 at Sutter and Steiner Streets in Lower Pacific Heights.
The Choi’s culinary ventures continued to flourish with the introduction of two new restaurants in 2013, namely Kitchen Story in the Castro District and the American-Thai establishment Blackwood in the Marina District. 2014 saw the opening of the North Bay brunch haven, Kitchen Sunnyside, in Mill Valley. The Choi’s first Korean restaurant, Berkeley Social Club, opened its doors in 2016, followed by the launch of Surisan, a modern Korean/American cuisine-focused restaurant in Fisherman’s Wharf. In 2018-2019, the Choi’s expanded their footprint with two locations of U :Dessert Story (Castro District, Marina District), and Sweet Maple — SFO opened its doors in 2019. The expansion continued in 2019/2020 with the opening of Kitchen Story — Rockridge and U :Dessert Story — Berkeley. From 2021 to 2024, Sweet Maple further expanded to Palo Alto, Cupertino, Santa Monica, and Walnut Creek, while U :Dessert Story joined forces with Kitchen Story in Mountain View in autumn 2022.
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