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Kato

Los Angeles

Refreshingly original Taiwanese American fare with elevated drinks offering

Let's talk food: Chef and co-owner Jon Yao and his kitchen team turn out some of the finest and most individual plates in North America, combining elements of Yao's Taiwanese heritage with his upbringing in Southern California's San Gabriel Valley. The 10-course tasting menu features new interpretation of seemingly familiar dishes such as beef noodle soup or basil and clams stir-fry made with sablefish, imaginatively presented and backed by precise culinary technique.

Beverage bonanza: While Yao's food may be the star of the show, the drinks programme – overseen by sommelier, operations director and co-owner Ryan Bailey – competes for top billing, while complementing the kitchen at every turn. Bailey, formerly of The Nomad in NYC and LA, successfully imparts his passion for wine, even collaborating with winemaker Mike Lucia of Cole Ranch in his native Sonoma to create an exclusive Kato savagnin bottling. Furthermore, there are superb cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages courtesy of bar director Austin Hennelly and his bar crew. Nothing at Kato is an afterthought, with each element explored and executed with intention, intensity and skill.

The space: Since 2022, Kato has been located in the redeveloped LA Terminal Mart, a historic hub for produce sales and distribution in the region. The airy minimalist interior includes a bar space, open kitchen, main dining area and private room, punctuated with striking art pieces, many of which handed down to Yao by his grandfather. The restaurant's sophistication belies Kato's original location in a strip mall in West LA, where Yao's family originally ran a takeaway lunchbox business, which in 2016 evolved into an early iteration of the now multi-award-winning restaurant.

Speaking of awards... Kato was named the Resy One To Watch as part of The World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2024, propelling it firmly into the international spotlight. More recently Yao was named Best Chef: California at the James Beard Awards 2025. While Kato's impact and reputation grows ever wider, the restaurant remains proudly synonymous its city and culture.

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