DINING BEAT : BBQ SHACK EXPANDING.

Byline: Larry Lipson

Tennessee-style, drive-through barbecued food as practiced at the BBQ Shack, 7615 Reseda Blvd. in Reseda, soon may be appearing elsewhere, too.

Howard Fuchs, who owns the restaurant featuring shredded barbecued meat sandwiches, ribs and chicken, has announced that he's negotiating to open a second BBQ Shack in nearby Granada Hills as a joint venture on the site of M.J.'s Hot Dogs at 10329 Balboa Blvd.

``There's a very good possibility we'll do it,'' said M.J.'s owner Steve Barron, who said his distinctive Sabrett broth-boiled hot dogs probably would continue to be sold there, too.

Meanwhile, for barbecue information, call the present Shack at [phone].

Hopping to Hop Li

My most memorable dish of scallops in black bean sauce was enjoyed several years ago at Hop Li, 526 Alpine St., downtown Los Angeles. Also, I remember some superb oysters there.

Now Hop Li has taken over the former Lotus West at 10974 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles, with expectations of opening its second location soon.

For information, call downtown at [phone]. The new restaurant's number is [phone].

Appetite for Super Bowl

If you eat a dinner at any Ruth's Chris Steak House (there's one in Beverly Hills) and charge it on your Visa card, you'll be automatically entered into a Super Bowl sweepstakes. The winner wins a four-night stay in New Orleans that includes game tickets, air travel, spending money and dinner at Ruth's Chris with owner Ruth Fertel.

Napkin notes

The shuttered Solley's-now-Jerry's Famous Deli, opened earlier this week with a ``bagel war'' offering of 18 cents per bagel with cream cheese ($2.18 per baker's dozen). ... One of the dishes on the special Piedmont, Italy, menu (through Sunday) at Il Fornaio (Pasadena and Beverly Hills) is the interesting filetti di persico del Lago Maggiore (fresh perch sauteed with olive oil, champagne vinegar, white grape juice, garlic and thyme). It's a specialty of the Hotel Moderno on Lake Maggiore where one of the Il Fornaio chefs apprenticed and learned how to cook it. Pasadena reservations: [phone]. Beverly Hills: [phone].