DINE BEAT : RESTAURANT NOTES PUTTING ZEN INTO YOUR DIET.

Byline: - Larry Lipson, Daily News Restaurant Critic

The very popular Zen Grill, 8432 W. Third St., Los Angeles, plans to open a second location with the same name in Sherman Oaks in early June.

The Valley version, at 14543 Ventura Blvd., replaces the shuttered Coogee Bay Cafe.

According to Zen's chef and co-owner Ryuichi ``Luigi'' Hamada, the new spot will feature the same Cal-Asian menu as the Third Street cafe.

Thai, Indian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese cuisines are represented in the fare, priced inexpensively at under $10 for everything except a 12-ounce sizzling rib-eye steak in a garlic-soy sauce with XO green beans for $12 and an XO shrimp dish at $10.50.

The under-$10 entrees include a lamb loin dish ($9.25), grilled salmon on edamame (soybeans) and cannelini beans ($9), teriyaki Chilean sea bass ($9.95) and a spicy garlic and basil-seasoned calamari and shrimp plate ($8.25).

Look for numerous noodle and rice recipes priced from $5.25 to $6.50, soups and starters from $2 to $6.75 and desserts from $3.50 to $4.50.

Information: [phone].

Cigars and much more

Cigar events at restaurants are still very much in evidence.

Fontana di Trevi in Woodland Hills recently held one on its patio. And there's a biggie, Le Cigar Noir, due at 6:30 p.m. April 28 at the Twin Palms, 101 W. Green St., Pasadena.

Sponsored by Smoke magazine, this cigar bash features Twin Palms chef Tony Zidar's sweet shrimp, spiced lamb and chocolate bombe dishes, the latter with a Hine Rare & Delicate cognac sauce.

Puffathon attendees will receive 20 premium cigars and can enjoy appetizers, a chocolate fantasy dessert, samplings of California wines, craft beers, cognacs and a large number of single malt scotches.

There'll be prizes of cigars, humidors, a trip to Jamaica and live jazz entertainment.

Tickets: $135. Call [phone], or [phone].

If Chicago's your town . . .

Expatriate Chicagoans around these parts will undoubtedly relish the opening of both a Chicago-style pizza and beer joint in Woodland Hills and a Chicago-style hot doggery in Canyon Country.

BJ's Pizza, Grill & Brewery, the latest outlet of a chain that operates 10 BJ's restaurants in Southern California, just made its debut at 6424 Canoga Ave. Information: [phone].

And QT's Chicago Dogs with locations in Reseda and Northridge going strong, has unveiled its third fast-food cafe at 27540 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country. It sells Vienna's Chicago dogs, Italian roast beef, gyros and pastrami sandwiches.

Information: [phone].

Napkin notes

Seventeen different Greek wines will be tasted and evaluated tonight at a five-course wine dinner at The Greek Bistro, 17337 Ventura Blvd., Encino. Cost is $55. Call [phone] or [phone]. ... So what would you expect to be the signature dish at a pizza and sandwich cafe called Surf & Turf at 22122 Sherman Way, Canoga Park? Steak and lobster pizza, of course. Call 'em at [phone]. ... Secretaries Week, April 19-23, brings forth an offer of complimentary dessert with every lunch entree at the Steak Joynt, 4354 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Details: [phone]. And Griff's, the Beverly Hilton hotel's poolside buffet restaurant, presents a glass of champagne and a special dessert on the house to secretaries partaking of the lunch buffet ($21) on Secretaries Day, April 21, also a chance to win a Bloomingdale's gift basket worth $250. Details: [phone].