Kato. Finally, a long overdue visit. After years of talking about dining here, we decided it was time, and booked a reservation for our 1 year wedding anniversary. I can go on and on about their michelin stars, their story, the precise timings, etc., etc., but that's been extensively covered. Instead, I'll talk about the journey the food took me on. I grew up in a mixed culture family, where we spoke Mandarin and ate Vietnamese food, and shared experiences with Hainanese, Vietnamese, Cantonese speaking uncles, aunts, and cousins. My Taiwanese half, from my mother, was a missing puzzle piece growing up, as her whole family was still in Taiwan. Anyways, this is all to say that I've been searching to fill that gap from my upbringing, in any way that I can. Each dish told a story, and man, it's an experience I don't know if I'll ever be able to put into words. Again, most of everything has been extensively covered, so I'll talk about the dish that set everything off for me. The suanchai yu, otherwise known as sour vegetable fish. This almost brought me to tears, as it reminded me of quiet nights at home with my mom and our trips to Taiwan to see my Ah Ma and extended family. Jon's a culinary magician; I simply can not come up with any other way to describe the food and experience. Service and timing were impeccable. One thing that we appreciated was that everyone was very approachable and friendly. It was refreshing, to say the least, compared to other Michelin starred establishments that we've been to. The little gifts at the end of the meal (not sure if every table gets one) were a great personal touch. I told my wife halfway through our meal, that I'm bringing my mom here, and I intend to make good on that. See you soon Kato! (Hi Jon, hi Anna!) Yelp Adventures - 8 of ?? read more

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Celebrated my birthday here this year and it was very very fun! As a Taiwanese American, the tasting menu was so unique and I loved how it was deeply rooted in Taiwanese family-dishes. The whole tasting menu was really fun, I only wish there were most savory dishes rather than so many desserts, but it was still very yummy and pleasant. There were a few items that I found to be not particularly to my taste - either too salty or sour, but that's alright. The dong gua cha cocktail did not taste like wintermelon tea in my opinion. Service was very fast, and friendly. Super attentive, although, they forgot to bring my napkin back after taking it away when I left to use the restroom. read more

Kato - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My wife and I visited Kato for our anniversary. I have very mixed emotions about our experience. On one hand, it's difficult for any meal that costs $1,720 to live up to that price point. That said, the service was exceptional -- truly some of the most attentive and thoughtful dining service I've ever experienced. The restaurant itself was a bit tricky to find as it is unmarked. We walked around a bit before stumbling upon the entrance door. The ambiance is minimalistic and clean, yet upscale and classy. The food was very mixed -- some bites (like the Uni with caviar and the Taiwanese donut) were the best I've ever had. Others (like the duck liver or quail) were almost inedible. Overall, the highs were very high and the lows were very low. My wife got a wine pairing and I got the non-alcoholic pairing, both of which to the same theme as the food. Some drinks were great, while others were pretty horrible. Overall, we enjoyed our time at Kato but would not return. read more

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We did the tasting menu and did add the extra items, and we had a wine pairing as well. I'm always curious to see how wine pairs with Asian or Asian influenced flavors. The food was excellent, and I think you can definitely taste the Taiwanese influence in there. There were many flavors that tasted familiar, though certainly presented differently. The decor was modern, open, airy, and had some lovely art elements. I was the most impressed with the service - the staff was happy to chat about their story and the thoughtfulness that went into the food and beverages, and one realized I needed to charge my phone and brought me a charger. Thanks for a memorable birthday celebration. read more

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A bit challenging to find but a fantastic meal! One of the best I have had. The tasting menu was excellent. Although at a two-Michelin Star price, it was worth it. Every course was outstanding, but my favorite was the rockfish in sweet and hot soup. The wine pairings were perfectly chosen. Perfect service. I highly recommend Kato! read more

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Huge congratulations to Kato on earning their second Michelin star, as it is thoroughly well-deserved. From their commitment to sourcing exceptional California ingredients and supporting in-state food suppliers to their world-class hospitality, every detail made for an unforgettable evening celebrating my wife's birthday. We had an 8:00 PM reservation on Friday, but showed up early at 7:30 PM. They were able to seat us promptly, which we thoroughly appreciated. We were placed in the back room away from the main dining area, giving our meal a delightfully comfortable, intimate feel. The entire prix fixe menu was phenomenal, but adding the caviar-topped Hokkaido uni is non-negotiable. We started with drinks, including a dry martini that was crisp and executed perfectly, and selected a 1998 bottle of Napa Syrah that drank beautifully throughout the night. The duck main dish was extraordinary and was cooked even better than the duck we tried in Shanghai earlier this year in April, though that is certainly no knock against the food in China because Kato's execution was simply that remarkable. The team treated my wife to a slice of sesame cake to celebrate her special day, and the Peruvian coffee at the end was a complete sleeper hit. On our server's recommendation, I drank it black, and it was astonishingly good, making it one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had at a restaurant. Our main server was jovial, friendly, and instantly made us feel comfortable. The service throughout was highly attentive without ever feeling stiff or overbearing. The entire experience took almost three hours, but we took our time and did not rush. It was an exceptional dining experience from start to finish, and we will definitely be back. read more

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Came here for a birthday dinner and had a wonderful time. Upscale Taiwanese food? Don't mind if I do! It's tucked away from the busier crowd being at the Row DTLA / Smorgasborg area. I actually really like this because they have a parking structure that is affordable + you can shop around depending on your reservation time. You won't see a large sign out front and may pass it when walking around (I know I did the first time) but be sure you bookmark it! We came during Sunday dinner service and were seated immediately. The staff here is well put together and in sync from the moment you walk in, go to the bathroom, and up to when you leave. Each time you leave they don't just fix your napkin but they replace it. Decor is minimal but I liked the ambiance. The bathroom is a little darker than expected though. haha As for the food, we did the tasting menu and I really enjoyed the variety of proteins with the fish, duck, quail, and more. The first entrees were really refreshing and I enjoy that the menu changes seasonally so they really cater to using the freshest and in season ingredients. Loved the fois gras/milk roll and the desserts the most but I thought the tasting menu was creative with presentation and how you are supposed to eat it. They even have some additions you can order with your meal ahead of time so they can plan in between the standard items. We didn't try them this time around but I am curious to come back during another season to see the menu they present. Waiters were always quick to refill glasses, offer wine recommendations, and clean up. We didn't try the cocktails this time around but they looked really interesting and even have a pairing you can order with your tasting. It was a nice touch to know the art is an homage to art from his family and it was a nice surprise to get some tea to go as a gift. read more

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Delicious food and exceptional service. This should be a 5 star meal, but I think it's a bit overpriced. At $325 for the pre fixe, you might expect some premium protein and maybe some caviar. While the sea trout and quail were expertly prepared, these still don't really justify the price. We added a lobster and a caviar course, which brought the price close to $400 per person before drinks. Yikes! read more

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We celebrated my husband's birthday with their ten-course (two add-ons) pre-fixe menu, and it was an excellent experience! We've been to plenty of Michelin-rated restaurants, and Kato was the first one to live up to this award. The fresh vegetables in the Liangcai were one of my favorites. It was my first time trying a century egg done with a quail egg, and I now understand why they are a delicacy. The yolk was creamy, and the whites had a good gelatinous chew. Regardless of the green-blueish hue, the funkiness was subtle. The porridge in the Xifan was tasty! The sea urchin in the Youtiao was creamy and was the perfect savory donut! I would order a dozen if I could. Their beverages were also delicious! I had a couple of glasses of their Matcha Citron mocktail - so refreshing! I also had a cup of their pour-over coffee during the dessert portion. The hospitality was top-notch, no notes! They played a lot of Nujabes, which made the ambiance relaxing. Our dinner was pricey but worth it because we had an incredible experience and superb food! read more

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* Food: We did the bar tasting menu and everything on the menu was a 10/10. You can tell everything is intentional and crafted to perfection * Service: Amazing service. I was a bit cold and they could tell and gave me a blanket for dinner. Constant utensil change and napkin replacements. in Atmosphere: It looks cozy and inviting. It's not your typical fine dining restaurant. I love the open kitchen Drinks: Ordered a pomegranate shaved ice drink. It was a bit bitter but amazing overall read more

Came here for my birthday dinner with my husband and it was a perfect change from sushi omakase. Greeted by staff, seated by the window, and ambiance was not too quiet but not too loud either. You will never hear the anyone in the kitchen yelling (the Bear reference ) Each plate was carefully crafted and explosion of flavors that we grew up with, but elevated x10000. We didn't get any add-ons to our tasting menu so I'm sure we missed out on it, but we were so full at the end already. I definitely would recommend this place to everyone and come back again! read more

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We had a lovely dinner at Kato but found the actual dining experience to fall a bit below the mark. Food was generally good and there were some great elements such as the quail and the trout, which were cooked just perfectly. However, the rest of the dishes were not very memorable. We both enjoyed the vintage wine pairing and I discovered a champagne that I really enjoyed through the program. The staff are nice but service itself is not very polished and a little choppy despite being so well-staffed. read more

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I've heard so much about Kato over the last few years as some of my friends' favorite restaurant here. I finally go to try for Valentine's Day and came away happy. Reservation: For Valentine's Day, I did opt to reserve this as soon as possible when reservations opened up via OpenTable. There was an option to 'enable notifications for openings' which was also useful. Food: Overall, this was a really good tasting menu that went into Chef Yao's childhood and learnings growing up in the SGV. I thought it was classy with nice twists. Also appreciated the restaurant accommodating my current dietary restrictions well (can't eat mostly raw food) with good replacements where possible or warning of where we can't switch out items. There were two supplementary items and in order to get them, the whole table does need to partake as a heads-up. Also a special shout-out to the newly appointed dessert chef, Erica Chan. Her desserts were creative, playful, and surprising. Here are a few of our highlights: *Sablefish/Jiucengta Chao Geli: Was excellent - mixed with basil, rice wine, soy paste, and geoduck. Loved the textures, the presentation, and the flavor. The seafood here is strong and loved how the waiters always mentioned where the items are from. *Suanchu Yu: Another fantastic fish dish. This one funny enough had some of the best snap peas that apparently came into season early due to the weather. Really felt almost designed to spotlight the snap peas which was surprising! *Zaocan: A surprising add for Valentine's Day and a play on breakfast. Loved the soup in particular made out of soy milk and filled with seafood. It almost was a bit much at first but by the last sip, was perfect. Loved how the sticky bread also came into play in two dishes. *Fan Lizhi: Our favorite dessert of the night. So, so surprising and learned what Cherimoya was. It came off as a simple sorbet but in actuality was layered with cherimoya slices, mandarin oranges at the bottom, and buffeted by flavored soda. It was such a fascinating dish all around and wanted so much more afterwards. *Zhou: Another fantastic dessert made out of parsnip. I remembered having another parsnip dessert elsewhere but found this one to just be delightful all-around. A crepe made with parsnip cream, a parsnip crisp on top (I believe?), and parsnip ice cream. It almost bordered on being too sweet but think it was so well balanced by the last bite. Also, we appreciated the special dragonfruit cake we received to celebrate our engagement and hand-written card. We even got two gifts leaving the restaurant - a canned special espresso drink and another iteration of the cake. Service: Service was fantastic. Everyone was super friendly, laid back, and easy to chat with. We had offers to take our jackets for storage. Our waiter Fernando was super knowledgable and easy to chat with. And the other staff that came by were all friendly and kind. Interior: Super minimalist and clean. Almost the whole restaurant has some sort of vantage point into the open kitchen. We noted it was surprisingly pretty quiet. The acoustics of the Parking: Parking is super easy in the ROW DTLA parking lot. Super spacious and not hard to find parking. Make sure to bring your parking ticket with you to get validated as you'll most likely go over the 2 free hours of parking. Our total bill with two mocktails came out to be about $1K for two people as a heads-up to those looking into the restaurant. Thank you to everyone at Kato for making it a memorable V-Day! read more

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The service and ambiance were amazing but the food is a little lacking in comparison (still good food though)! My friend and I chose the bar tasting menu with the mocktail flight to pair with the food and our favorite was probably the first course which is basically sashimi but called liangmian, cold noodle. Everything else after that was good (especially the soup) but didn't carry the wow factor. Yes it was fresh and well presented but it just felt performative more than anything because I'm used to these foods as a Chinese person. On that note, we also thought the desserts were a little too sweet for us. I think those who are not exposed to Asian cuisine everyday would definitely be able to appreciate it more than me. The mocktails paired well with each dish for the most part but everything was just acidic leaning. So think sour, tart, muted flavors. I do wonder how the alcoholic drinks would pair with each dish. What will please every customer is their service. Very attentive and friendly. You can tell the restaurant is detailed, providing wet wipes for each course that requires your hands. My phone was dying so I asked if they had a charger and they brought me a portable charger (I was pleasantly surprised)! I think the vibes are great, especially for couples! read more

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Outstanding Service, Beautiful Space, but the Food Didn't Quite Justify the Price We booked a birthday dinner for two at Kato and were excited to experience one of Los Angeles' most celebrated Michelin-starred restaurants. As fans of Asian-inspired cuisine, we were looking forward to creative flavor combinations and a memorable tasting menu. The evening started with a small scheduling mishap on my part--I had booked from a different time zone and accidentally mixed up our reservation time. Thankfully, the maître d' was incredibly gracious and accommodated a change, which we greatly appreciated given we were driving from Orange County and battling Saturday evening traffic into Downtown LA. Kato's location in the ROW DTLA complex is impressive, and the restaurant itself is stunning. The industrial design is warm and inviting, with personal touches from the chef and a full view of the kitchen that adds to the Michelin-star experience. The cocktail program was excellent--creative, balanced, and delicious. As for the tasting menu, the meal leaned more seafood-forward than I expected. Everything was technically well executed and beautifully presented, but surprisingly few dishes left a lasting impression. The menu felt cohesive, though many courses blended together by the end of the evening. The standout moments were: * The squab was outstanding. Meaty, well roasted. * The duck course, served with foie gras, truffle, and warm seeded bread. Spreading the foie gras onto the bread and pairing it with a bite of duck was absolutely heavenly. * The desserts, especially the Suannai, a tart Meyer lemon meringue creation accented with mint and osmanthus. As someone who loves bright, acidic desserts, this was easily my favorite dish of the night. * The service, which was impeccable throughout. The staff were friendly, attentive, and professional, keeping the meal moving at a comfortable pace while always seeming to appear exactly when we needed water, another drink, or assistance. We also opted for the Jinsha lobster supplement at an additional $55 per person. Unfortunately, this was the biggest disappointment of the evening. The portion was surprisingly small, and I struggled to detect the salted egg flavor that was supposed to define the dish. By the time drinks, taxes, and service charges were added, dinner approached $550+ per person. While that's not unusual for a Michelin-starred tasting menu in Los Angeles, I left feeling that the overall experience didn't quite justify the cost. I'm glad I finally had the opportunity to try Kato. The service, atmosphere, and a handful of dishes were excellent. However, considering the price point and the fact that most of the menu didn't leave a strong impression, it's probably not a restaurant I would return to. For those seeking polished service and a refined dining experience, it's worth trying once--but it didn't become a personal favorite. read more

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My previous review was glowing because I'm such a big fan of this restaurant. Not a place I would be able to frequent for the full tasting menu, but when I partook in said tasting menu, it was special. My most recent visit didn't change my opinion on the food and ambiance - they're both S tier in my book. However, I just want to reiterate how great the service is/ was. I came in here right around opening to grab a couple of drinks before having dinner in another restaurant located at 'The Row'. I didn't want to take up the bar seat for too long (because they do a tasting menu there as well and I believe you can order some items a la cart) But the bartender and the host couldn't have been more hospitable. As a matter of fact, when it came time for me to head over to my dinner reservation, the hostess walked me over there with an umbrella because it was raining outside. How cool is that? (my memory for names is the worst, so I forgot the name of the bartender, but I think the hostess that walked me over is Lily(?)) During my visit, I had the bourbon 'Milk Punch' - I was a huge fan from the time I ordered it during my last visit where I had dinner here. I also ordered 'Jungle Bird' - their take on kind of a fun tiki beverage. Both cocktails were really delicious and well crafted with balance. Hoping to come back soon to have more drinks and order some bites at the bar. I think you still need to make a reservation for the bar area, but if you get in right at opening, they are more than happy to accept / accommodate walk ins. read more

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For an 8 course fancy pre fixe you actually get full! In general the individual dishes are larger in portion size so a hungry male will be full by dinners's end. Lots of flavors in all the dishes as consistent with taiwanese inspired cooking. My favorite was the uni caviar donut (an additional $45 dish you can order on top of the pre fixe) and the trout soup dish. You are served 3 desserts and my favorite was the plum cherry ice. Highly recommendes and delicious. The entire experience will take 2.5 to 3 hours but enjoyable every second! read more

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Kato is a Michelin-starred restaurant specializing in the fusion of fine Chinese and neo-American cuisines, served in an omakase-style. The restaurant offers precise execution and creative interpretations of many Taiwanese dishes, using high-quality ingredients. It is recognized as one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles, receiving accolades from various culinary publications. It is ranked 26th among the US's best restaurants by the World's 50 Best Restaurants.  The restaurant requires you to reserve a table in advance. Reservations are highly competitive and challenging to get. Someone in our party booked a month in advance, a few minutes after the reservations were released at 12 noon. I am not 100% sure about reservations, so please check their website for reservation information.  The restaurant lives up to its hype. We had the 12-course dinner with drink pairings. All dishes tasted great. My top 3 favorites are the braised beef, fish maw soup with egg custard, and quail breast. They are truly the result of precise and perfect execution. The braised beef is made with carefully selected wagyu, resulting in one of the most tender beef dishes I've ever had. The dish has a slight hint of the classic Chinese 5-spice blend, balanced with the right amount of umami. The egg custard was perfectly steamed, topped with a semi-gelatinous soup made with premium fish maw, delicately balanced in flavor. The highlight of the quail dish is the breast meat. According to the waitstaff, the beef was aged for 5 days to achieve the desired tenderness and flavor. And when I bit into the meat, it indeed tasted elevated, with a balanced umami, smokiness, juiciness, and tenderness. I am glad that we ordered the optional drink pairing program. These are specific drinks, infused teas, juices, and mocktails that are meant to complement the dishes. There were some misses, but overall, I am still glad we had the drinks, as I like their commitment and creativity in coming out with new concoctions. Finally, the desserts didn't disappoint. We aren't talking about just one dessert you get at the end of a meal, but five items, ranging from bite-sized to small-dish desserts. I especially like how they use Western baking and confectionery techniques to make classic Taiwanese desserts, or how they use Chinese ingredients to create classic American desserts. Overall, Kato lives up to its hype. Like all Omakase restaurants, it is more about the experience, and Kato provided a great culinary experience for our dining party. read more

Kato - The menu of our meal - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This was an amazing experience, totally worth it. I visited a few days ago with my wife and mom in order to celebrate their birthdays. Every part of the experience was great, from the service to the food to the ambiance. This was my first fine dining experience, and I'm blown away by the care that was put into each dish. It was hard to choose a favorite at the end of the night because everything tasted great and the presentation was amazing. We were seated and over the course of 3 hours multiple dishes were presented to us. By the last savory course we were all pretty full. The dishes were really creative Honestly I'd love a chance to visit again the future. read more

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Kato is a shop located near the entrance of LA Smorgusborg, where you can park in a nice parking garage right outside of it. You might not see the name of the restaurant but instead their signature fish lit by a spotlight above the door. The restaurant itself is nice, low light ambience with abstract paintings on the walls. You can see the chefs hard at work working like a well oiled machine which I think is always fun. We ordered the tasting menu and it was quite a wonderful experience for our aunt's birthday, the food was definitely an elevated version of our comfort food but I think if you're accustomed to Taiwanese or Chinese food, it may feel too familiar and maybe not feel entirely worth what we paid, however, I think if you're coming in with an unfamiliar palette, this place will knock your socks off! Presentation of the food items was beautiful, I think the cold starter with sashimi and garden grown veggies was one of the most beautiful dish I've seen in a while. The geoduck was missing from one of our member's plates but they replaced it quickly. Everything on that plate was really tasty, great start! The rest of the dishes were delicious, I think they were all very moist and flavorful, I especially enjoyed the cod (moist with a crispy top and delicious mushrooms underneath), fish soup (that vinegar was an awesome addition to the flavor) and the ice cream with the crispy net on top (pictured). The birthday woman enjoyed the milk bread and butter (not pictured). A lovingly familiar experience but an overall great experience, thank you to everyone at Kato for great service and highlighting some favorites in Asian cuisine! read more

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Been wanting try Kato for a while. I finally came here for my birthday to have dinner with my wife. I must say this place lived up to the hype. We had the pre fixe menu. The food was delicious and very flavorful. The presentation for each dish were like impressive works of art. Some stand out dishes were the donuts with caviar and ham, the miso fish, and the lobster. The staff were very friendly, knowledgeable and welcoming. The vibe in the restaurant was relaxing, i timate and minimalist. The music playing at the time seemed like a Nujabes playlist, which was perfect for me. This place definitely lives up to the Michelin star it received. Just be ready to pay a pretty penny! read more

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Truly a lovely experience--from the minimalist decor to the artistic dinnerware used throughout the meal. Each dish was thoughtfully presented and paired with a meaningful story. It was a long dinner, but absolutely worth it. ENJOY! PS: There is structured parking at The Row in DT. read more

Kato really feels like a Michelin star restaurant. Every course was beautifully presented and the descriptions from the servers added so much to the experience. The menu blends Taiwanese flavors with modern, elevated touches and the wine pairing was truly impressive. It all came together in such a thoughtful way. It was surreal seeing Jon Yao in real life after watching him on YouTube, and even more special to watch him working his craft in the kitchen. Glad I experienced it, but this is definitely a place I'd save for a special event. read more

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Love visiting Kato, a stylish spot in RowDTLA just to indulge in some fun bites and unusually creative zero-proof mixology from the bar counters. I always fancy a chance to visit Kato whenever I'm in the vicinity. I'd love to see Kato elevate the experience further with a vegetarian tasting menu paired with their highly talked about NA creations, bringing their full dining artistry to plant-based enthusiasts like myself ;) read more

Kato - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is definitely a late review, but the meal was memorable enough that I still think about it months later. I came here for Valentine's Day and overall it was a really special dining experience. From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable. Every staff member we interacted with was friendly, attentive, and genuinely caring. The pacing of the courses felt thoughtful, and the team did a great job explaining each dish. The meal itself was beautifully presented and full of flavor. One of the most memorable bites of the night was the bread with some sort of pâté. It was simple but incredibly satisfying and something I still crave. Another standout was the yellowtail dish, which was fresh, delicate, and really well balanced. That said, a couple of dishes didn't quite land for me. The cod broth soup leaned a bit too salty for my taste. We also added the uni donut and the prawn as supplemental courses, and those ended up being a little underwhelming, especially considering they were additional add-ons. The desserts were excellent and ended the meal on a high note. Overall, Kato delivered a memorable dining experience with thoughtful service, beautiful plating, and several standout dishes! It's the kind of meal that sticks with you long after, especially that bread with pâté and the yellowtail dish. *NOTE: The menu appears to be seasonal and offered as a set course, so dishes may vary depending on when you visit. read more

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Worthy of Michelin star? 100% yes... this place is definitely worth the visit. This is located in a nice area in the row in DTLA. There was also a big parking structure here so there will be no problem finding parking. Kato does do 2 hour validation so that's also a plus. We opted for the tasting menu since it was the cheaper option, but we also ordered the you tiao... which is uni, iberico ham, and caviar one biter. We even did the nonalcoholic tasting with it as well. Everything was super delicious and in season. It looks like a lot of the dishes had corn elements to it, which makes sense since summer is creeping in. This is definitely a Taiwanese restaurant that has been elevated. Our favorite was Jon Yaos take on hot and sour soup. Service was also extremely attentive and nice. We came here to celebrate my birthday and they so wrote a card personally for me. After our meal, they gave us oolong tea to bring back home. This is definitely pricey so this is probably only good for special occasions. We'll probably be back for our anniversary! read more

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I visited for the summer collab with Animae. I expected a collab between Animae and Kato; after reviewing the menu and comparing against Animae's menu, many of the dishes were exactly the same. The 3-stars is for falsely advertising this event as a collab when it was simply a takeover. Animae's food isn't bad. I do want to visit San Diego to try the full restaurant. My issue is with setting expectations. The service left much to be desired if I attended for Kato's real prix fixe meal; it took minutes to be acknowledged by staff upon entrance. The food was fine but not for the $180 with a drink I paid. I would've probably gotten better dishes if I went straight to Animae. For a Michelin-starred restaurant, despite validating maybe 1-2 hours, you'll still pay for parking in the garage. This is ridiculous. I don't think I'll ever go to Kato for the real experience as there are far better Michelin-starred restaurants where your dollars go far. read more

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Wow! What an amazing experience, everyone and everything was perfect and precise. The food options were a burst of joy. read more

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Food was impeccable. My husband and I did the tasting menu, and we added the doughnut (with uni and caviar and ham) as an extra . Every single component on every dish was well thought out and delicious. Presentation was beautiful also. I don't do any dairy besides butter or ghee, and they prepared dishes accordingly for me and to be honest, the dessert that I got was EXACTLY what I would have picked even if I did eat dessert. The service was wonderful, everyone was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about everything on the menu and just generally lovely. Nikki was especially charming! Cannot recommend this place enough. Also that doughnut was possibly the best thing I've eaten in a while. read more

First time at Kato, but this time for their Sunday Summer Series collab with Evan Funke of Funke and Mother Wolf fame Very interesting to think about the merging of two noodle and pasta traditions: Italian (Funke) and Taiwanese/Chinese (Yao). Each course was excellent and in each dish, you could taste how each style complemented and uplifted the other Service was excellent and helpful. Ambiance was perfect, with a funky and old school playlist I was told was curated by Chef Evan himself I'm booked for a few more of these Sunday Summer Series and if the first is any indication, I'm in for a blessed culinary treat read more

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Kato does not need my review. It stands alone as the most unique Michelin in LA. Who can bring out the Taiwanese ethnicity with beautiful French techniques?? No one in the city can. Not Providence , not Vespertine. Wines need a little help. But service was impeccable. Food delicious and with varied flavors and textures. Beautiful as well. The space needs a warmer touch. It should be a 2 Star, but I will take it. And be back. Price: $1400 with tip. 1 upgraded wine pairing, 1 non-alcohol pairing and 1 upgrade with caviar. It was fabulous. Thank you. Bon appetit. read more

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"Every bite was my favorite bite." That's honestly the thought that ran through my head throughout our entire meal at Kato. My wife and I made a reservation a few weeks in advance and were lucky enough to snag a 5:30 p.m. booking. That turned out to be perfect timing, as the full dinner experience runs close to 3.5 hours, and we left around 9:00 p.m. feeling completely satisfied and amazed. Let's get the numbers out of the way: this meal is a splurge. Between the four of us, our bill came out to around $2,400. At $325 per person for the tasting menu, we also had one person in our group order the alcohol-free pairing ($120), another order the vintage wine flight ($185), along with three cocktails at around $25 each, and supplements for the whole table at $45 per person. Needless to say, Kato is a place for very special occasions. But if you have the privilege to dine here, you will not regret it for a second. Kato is well on its way to a second, if not third, Michelin star, and prices will only go up. Just four days before our visit, Eater released a video on Kato on YouTube. We purposely saved it until after our dinner so we wouldn't spoil anything. Watching it afterwards made the experience even better. It was fascinating to see the precision and labor that go into each dish we had just eaten. Since the menu changes frequently, I won't detail every course: I'd hate for someone to be disappointed if a dish I mention isn't available. Instead, here are a couple of absolute highlights: If you're able and willing, splurge on the youtiao supplement. It's a single bite, and yes, it's $45, but it was hands-down the best bite I've had all year. Unlike the crisp youtiao you might expect, this one had the texture of a light, airy doughnut, topped with vibrant caviar that added the perfect hit of salinity. Another standout was the "liang mian" appetizer -- uni in a tong yuan, served in a thick sesame sauce. The tong yuan wrapper was perfectly chewy, the uni was incredibly fresh, and the sesame sauce added depth and richness. It was complex, comforting, and completely unforgettable. I could honestly write paragraphs about each course -- everything was that good. But I have to give a special shout-out to dessert. At many fine dining restaurants, dessert feels like an afterthought. That's not the case at Kato. The dessert courses were S-tier -- layered, creative, and incredibly well-executed. The strawberry dessert in particular was unforgettable: multiple textures, flavors, and surprises in every spoonful. It's clear the pastry team is extremely talented. Service was flawless. Every dish was described with care and detail, and the Taiwan-inspired cocktail program was both creative and delicious, offering something for every palate. The atmosphere and design of the restaurant all felt completely in line with what you'd expect from a Michelin-starred establishment. I can't emphasize enough how special this meal was. Kato is easily one of the best dining experiences I've ever had, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. read more

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My friends and I came here for their Summer Sunday series because my friends hsd been their regular menu and said their meal here was so good. My friends really enjoyed the meal - I particularly loved their dessert. It is so sad that this dessert is only available for a brief time because the banana shaved ice with tieguanyin flavored condensed milk was divine. I am still thinking about it months later. I hope to try their regular tasting menu someday. read more

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We attended Kato for my husbands 40th birthday and had an incredible experience. Every dish was unique, packed with flavor, and thoughtfully presented. The staff was incredible. Which is a rarity in LA - After living in NYC for many years, we've found the customer service in LA is subpar to New York City hospitality. Kato is very much inline with what we experienced in New York City fine dining. Amazing customer service and attention to detail. My jacket fell off my chair, didn't even realize it, and they hung it up for me. The space is spacious, smart, upscale without feeling stuffy. I enjoyed every minute and bite of this dinner. Be ready to spend money, but it's worth it! Thank you Kato read more

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my husband & I had the opportunity to eat here last week & it was superb! From the food to the service everything was spot on. I especially enjoyed the sable fish & plum granita. All the flavors felt very familiar. Shout out to the service team especially our server Chelsea. The team went above & beyond to make our date night unforgettable. I'm definitely coming back, maybe to try the bar tasting menu! Thanks Kato read more

1 michelin star 2024 2025 James Beard award 50 world best restaurant Chef Jon yao actually was in Chicago receiving the James Beard award when we dine there. Reservation: via opentable. $325pp. Can't cancel 7 days prior. They won't respond via phone call during dining time, but they will respond via msg in opentable. Parking: the Row parking garage across from the restaurant. Validated for 2hr, the rest you pay as you leaving at exit gate. The tasting menu last about 3.5 hour. A lot of gap in between courses. We ordered several drink both alcohol and non-alcoholic alcoholic beverages, beautiful presentation. A lot of drink collection, anything you can possibly think of. Restroom: Men and women restrooms. They have floss, mint, ginger candy on the restroom counters . In between desserts, they gave us a special desserts for our anniversary. At the end, they gave us a tin can of oolong tea. The tin can have chef Jon's grandfather painting. And they are on their Kato Wine bottle and also hanged near the bar. This is our first taiwanese tasting menu. And they do not dissappoint. Amazing. Thank you for creating such a wonderful experience. read more

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The service started out very well, but by the end of the night, we sat waiting for desserts and coffee to come out for a long time. The food was disappointing. We found shells in the fish maw soup and the lobster was raw for our dishes. They made a new one for me which was cooked correctly. For a Michelin star restaurant that specializes in seafood, it is disappointing that the chefs couldn't cook lobster. The other dishes were underwhelming except for the quail which was cooked perfectly. The desserts didn't have enough contrast in texture and some didn't have enough flavor. The cocktails didn't taste good either except for the milk punch. I am surprised that this restaurant has maintained its Michelin star status. Very disappointing for a meal that cost over $500 a person which included the tasting menu add ons and cocktails. read more

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My wife loves food, and one of our personal goals is to visit as many Michelin starred or highly recommended restaurants as we can. Over the past few years, we've been to 30+ tasting menu spots, and this one truly stood out. From the food and service to the wine pairing, this ranks among our very top experiences. Every dish felt well-crafted, with very clear and distinct flavors. Nothing felt repetitive or overlapping, and each wine pairing created a really nice balance with the course. Also, the portion was actually enough. Many times, we've spent $1K+ on a meal and still left feeling hungry, but this one felt very satisfying. We will definitely return for more. read more

An absolute gem in the fabulous Row DTLA! Service, ambience and food was incredibly delicious! Very innovative and well portioned! Their version of an Eastside cocktail was amazing! Had 2! Can't wait to go back! read more

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Service and ambiance was unmatched. The staff really knows how to be attentive. "Unreasonable hospitality" was felt and observed throughout our meal. This menu was a Mother's Day week special menu, a sort of love letter to chef's mom, who was a huge influence to him. I loved the story and the food was well executed, as far as my untrained eye and tastebuds could tell. I appreciate the desire and attempt to elevate Asian home cuisine to fine dining. Here comes the qualitative bit: I feel that the meal overall felt unbalanced. Food coming out in little courses was correct for the format of "tasting menu" but detracted from the overall enjoyment of the food. There was no mixing of flavors and palates throughout that you'd typically get (and expect) from the flavors present at the table. I found myself wanting a big pot of rice at the table. A big shareable serving of fried rice to be the ever present through line to tie all the beautiful dishes together. A meal like the menu presented to us would typically arrive all at once, or have more overlap. The stronger flavors of the latter courses would be balanced by the fresh light flavors of the early ones. I was fatigued by the end of it all. The experience made me wish they had stuck to their regular menu. I wanted to try them at something tested and familiar to them, not a special menu that was not yet proven. I feel like I got a lessor version of KATO while paying for the real deal read more

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