FattyMart — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I've lived a five minute walk down the street from FattyMart on Venice and Centinela for over two years now, but have lived in Mar Vista predating it's inception, in which I've been a patron the entire time.

I'll start by saying that every recent iteration, before it's current form, has tried to self-impressedly re-imagine the geographical space next to which humans live into something more than it needs or warrants to be. The best form, unfortunately was established just before C19 hit which doomed its fate.

That's when FattyMart stepped in. It went through several rapid re-tinkerings: from a place that sells well-priced favorites including oven-baked pizza and solid sandwiches, to a decidedly hipster-Taiwanese focused (and merch-branded) food mart; with various interesting offerings coming and rapidly disappearing to certain extents.

The current version of FattyMart is a slightly more sober and stable imagining, (though again, unfortunately jettisoning some of its better previous offerings), yet still clings to its very long standing and peculiarly self-important social media fascination.

I took my kids for a conveniently walking distant meal there today, knowing the price would vastly outweigh the flavor and authenticity of any cuisine it attempted on its menu (confirming the price premium is largely based on, say, not wanting to drive to Ktown for a decent bulgogi bowl), but still being newly disappointed that the spinach this time (in the bancheon) in the bowl was FULL of grit from not being duly rinsed. My disappointment was only assuaged by the solid Suntory draft beer I had while my kids meandered through their sub-par meals. Tragically, this seems to be a broader trend in Mar Vista and more generally in LA. I hope this trend turns...

I really like Accomplice and Little Fatty (same owner, around corner from FattyMart) and wanted to like FattyMart, but ... alas. While the counter staffer offered a couple of food suggestions and was friendly, our bowls (nearly $20 apiece for a bit of meat, veg and rice), when they arrived, were lukewarm and not particularly flavorful. I asked a staffer if they could warm up my bowl and she pointed me to an old, janky, not terribly clean microwave on a counter where I could warm it myself. Weird. But that wasn't the real problem. About 10 mins into our meal, we noticed that staff was going around to tables and telling customers the store was closing and they'd have to leave. I'm sorry ... whut? One staffer was wiping down surfaces with disinfectant and stacking chairs in the dining area, while we, and others, were finishing their meals. About 20 mins into our meal, with half finished bowls and half-consumed beers, a staffer came and told us WE needed to leave because they were closing, and offered us takeout cups to take our beer. I explained that wouldn't help because I couldn't drink my beer on the street or in my car. He shrugged. Again ... whut?? It was incredibly uncomfortable, unprofessional and downright ... bizarre. Not an enjoyable meal, so many choices in the area - we'll choose...

Arrived on Thursday night at just before 7:30 PM. Asked some questions about the menu and ordered the BBQ pork bowl and Beef Bulgogi bowl. Both we served to us parts of meat were warm other parts less than room temperature. Rice at or near room temperature. Luck would have it they have a microwave for customer use. Honestly the bowls were just ok at best.

A person sat down next to us after ordering and their food came out and they were told the restaurant was about to close and they would need to leave. We found this odd given it wasn't even 8pm which we later learned is when they close. One by one tables were being told that they needed to leave. Then came out turn, young man who took our order came and said we needed to leave even though we were still eating and had beers half full. He told us he would give us paper cups for our beers. I'm very sure this restaurant doesn't have a license to sell draft beer to go as that doesn't exist in Los Angeles. We finished our beers in less than 5 minutes from when told to leave and during that time staff stacked all the tables and chairs around us.

Very odd experience to say the least. We really wanted this to be good, but it wasn't. We eat out in the area often and will choose...