"One of Los Angeles’s oldest bars has been reborn thanks to a plucky team whose members first met in Shanghai. The Airliner, from chef Vinh Nguyen and Gary Wang, originally opened in Lincoln Heights almost 100 years ago as a side bar to the long-closed steakhouse next door. After closing in late February 2023 and undergoing an interior refresh before reopening last week, the Airliner looks mostly like its old self — dim dive bar styling with some new circular mirrors that make it resemble the inside of a plane. Inspired by the team’s time collaborating on Shanghai nightlife spots, the new Airliner has a snack-worthy menu with some delightful Asian influences, notably at a price point that’s very attainable in a changing neighborhood. The menu includes Chinese, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes, as well as unique cocktails designed by Avery Millard. Once things downstairs fall into shape, Airliner regulars can look forward to the venue upstairs, which has been a legendary place for live music over the decades. Nguyen and company hope to reimagine that into a Japanese-style hi-fi listening bar, but with space for DJs and bands to play on the stage as well. The Airliner is open daily from 5 p.m. to midnight, with expanded hours in the future, and is located at 2419 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA." - Matthew Kang
