"Next door to Pijja Palace in the Sunset Boulevard complex, Schezwan Club is a forthcoming 2,500-square-foot, 80-seat restaurant that will spotlight Indian Chinese cooking with Southeast Asian accents through the uncompromising vision of an Echo Park native. With contractor negotiations wrapped and construction slated to start this summer, it should be serving its first plates of Manchurian chicken in the first half of 2025. The moodier interior, also being designed by Casandra Smith, will lean on darker cherry woods and maybe a neon sign to create a cool, unassuming vibe. Naran has broadened the concept beyond Indo-Chinese roots after months of research trips to Indonesia, Singapore, and India, emphasizing shared ingredients like tamarind and tea culture; the menu is expected to pair Singapore noodles alongside Manchurian chicken, offer a dozen or more sambals, feature Singapore-style chile crab and possible roti canai, and include cocktails both inspired by Ye’s Apothecary and classic regional drinks such as the Singapore Sling and the Pegu Club. Above all, he wants Schezwan Club to have soul and cultural significance beyond flavor—eschewing rules in favor of a personal vision while carrying over the team culture that made Pijja Palace a success." - Cathy Chaplin