Chinois on Main, the renowned restaurant that introduced Asian fusion or Pacific Rim cuisine, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Located in Santa Monica, California, the restaurant has become an entertainment industry hotspot since its opening at the former site of a New Wave punk club. Over the years, Chinois has attracted a star-studded clientele, including Tom Selleck, Mike Ovitz, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Frank Gehry.
Chinois gained attention even before its official opening in 1983 when the chef, Wolfgang Puck, was seen buying ducks from Chinatown wholesalers and using a compressor to separate the skin from the meat. Puck’s take on Peking duck at his other restaurant, Spago, received high praise from celebrities like Larry Hagman, who soon became a regular at Chinois.
The menu at Chinois combines Chinese and French influences in a unique and unconventional way. Puck’s innovative approach includes dishes like stir-fried lamb in radicchio leaves instead of the traditional chicken in lettuce cups, and mandarin orange crème brûlée served in sake cups for dessert. While some experiments have failed, Chinois has maintained its reputation as one of America’s most exciting restaurants.
Bella Lantsman, the longstanding general manager of Chinois, has played a crucial role in maintaining the restaurant’s continuity and creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests. Barbara Lazaroff, Puck’s former wife and co-owner of Chinois, is responsible for the restaurant’s distinctive design, which deviates from traditional Chinese aesthetics.
Chinois has witnessed the transformation of Santa Monica’s Main Street over the years, from bustling to less popular and back to busy again. It has also seen the rise and fall of imitators like New York’s China Grill and Beverly Hills’ Noa Noa. Despite the success of Spago and Puck’s steakhouse CUT, Chinois remains a unique establishment.
While Chinois has not been replicated, the couple’s son, Byron Lazaroff-Puck, has opened a new fine-dining restaurant called Merois, which draws inspiration from Chinois with its blend of Asian flavors, French techniques, and California ingredients.
As Chinois celebrates its 40th anniversary, its enduring success can be attributed to the original ideas of its founders and the dedication of its staff.