Howdy Kabrins started La Salsa in 1979 as a single location at the infamous corner of Pico and Sepulveda boulevards in West Los Angeles. By 1986, there were six locations, all within Los Angeles County alone! Howdy’s formula of fresh, flavorful, and healthy food forged the path for fresh Mexican restaurants that came after it such as Baja Fresh, Rubio’s, Chipotle, Qdoba, and more. Howdy revolutionized Mexican food and changed its perception from bland and greasy to what it truly is: flavorful, fresh, and healthy. After selling La Salsa in 1992, Howdy opened up Howdy’s Taqueria in Malibu in 1995 and gained a loyal following from Malibu locals, Pepperdine Students, and a variety of commuters and day laborers.
In 2019, Howdy paired with local attorney and entrepreneur, Ian Roven. Together, they modernized the predominantly latin menu with Japanese fusion while bringing back iconic items and favorite flavors in what is now known as Howdy Malibu. In 2023, they reversed the formula, creating a predominantly Japanese sushi bar with latin fusion: Malibu Sushi! Now, they embarked on sharing their vision with the (818) in Agoura Hills, California!