* 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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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

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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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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Quite easily the most overrated restaurant in all of SoCal. 2 good dishes. 1 great dish. 5-6 mediocre to bad dishes. To top it all off it is also the most overpriced Michelin meal of my life. $650 for one with only one supplement ($45 for a shitty uni donut with a microscopic caviar topping that is not even a full bite of food) and the non alcoholic pairing. I've never even had a 3 star meal that cost this much to my recollection. How this place keeps getting all the accolade it has gotten boggles the mind. read more

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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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

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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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 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

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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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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"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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What an incredible meal from start to finish! Thank you Kato for some of the most delicious dishes we've had at any fine dining establishment in recent memory. So much thought and intention behind every dish, with lovely nods to chef Yao's local upbringing in the San Gabriel Valley. The duck dish and parsnip dessert were total standouts - uniquely delicious and deeply memorable. Our party of 3 dined here on a Thursday evening at 5:30pm, and the only slight critique would be that the music/atmosphere could be improved upon. But that is mostly due to it being a quieter night with less diners than I assume (hope?) is the norm. Los Angeles needs this restaurant! Hoping people continue showing up from near and far to support this place. We for one will absolutely be back! read more

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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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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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While there are many words to describe Kato, I think the one that fully captures it is excellent. My time here was excellent. While it is price (to be expected) the quality and unique menu thoroughly justifies it. We did go with the additional uni donut which melts in your mouth and the spiny lobster which ended up being one of my favorites. I will say one small criticism on the donut, it is very hard to taste the uni but it was still absolutely delicious. They do have an extensive wine list, but I had an excellent mocktail! The service was superb our teas and waters were always filled. The restaurant itself is quiet and a very large space. There is a parking structure next door which is very convenient. read more

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The story of how this restaurant came about is really lovely. The founders started with a vision for Asian food with modern twist based on the Asian food they grew up with in the SGV valley. The menu then evolved over time into this. Food- overall decent but really not worth its price. I love Asian food and have had plenty of types of food but unfortunately the price does not live up to the food. Got the $325 tasting menu with the $150 non alcoholic flight pairing. The dishes that I really appreciated because of their flavor profile/authenticity/quality were the soup, the fish, and the pork. I wished the soup came in a normal Asian bowl and not a tea cup! Quality of fish was solid- very simple ingredient (but definitely not the typical Suad CAI Yu you get which typically has more flavor and more sour cabbage). The hong Shao rou pork is a classic dish and it's objectively really well done here with great tender meat. The lobster was as expected. The appetizer salad like flowery plate really did not stand out. I appreciate the option of non alcoholic flight pairing but some of them seem like a try too hard. Desserts that stood out was the one with the ice cream :) Service - really depends on your server, some server will give you a good explanation of the dishes and chat with you; some not as good as that Ambiance - interior design as shown in the video Parking - validated for 2hours only, you still end up having to pay about 10 dollars. read more

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I absolutely love this place! I first tried it in 2022 and have been dining there whenever I can since. The owners and Chef are brilliant and kind. The space is welcoming, laid back and they are always playing good music. The food is incredible (obviously) If you're able to have the full tasting menu, do it. You won't regret it. If you're short on time they have an abbreviated base menu and a la carte options at the bar! Also, Albert is great, he recommends great drinks and introduced me to génépi & now I'm hooked Here a video of one of my experiences there: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8BDhhQa/ read more

Man what a great experience. One of the best dinners we've had in a long time. Everything we ate was really really good and the service was excellent. All the servers were very authentic, enthusiastic and friendly. read more

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We made reservations only to hang out at the bar for 1 hour (cocktails and bar snacks a la carte). I didn't know what to expect, but I loved the space. It was full of neutrals, and it was peaceful inside almost like a spa. We sat at the bar where 2 bartenders tended bar to us and the rest of the diners who were having the pre fixe tasting menus at their tables. We ordered the highball, tuxedo, milk punch, and 2 more along with the youtiao snack. It was $45/bite so we partook in it since it was my bday and needed a snack before going off to dinner at another restaurant nearby. The youtiao was a nice modern spin on the good old Chinese donut. It was topped with jamon, and caviar..... while the inside was filled with sea urchin and a brown butter mix. It was a full decadent, savory bite. We both enjoyed it and my bestie ordered a 2nd one. LOL. Overall, I was impressed by the experience that I had. Yes. It's not cheap and we easily spent $350 on drinks and snacks at the bar, but the overall experience was what mattered to me. read more

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The moment we entered, a heavy shiitake aroma overwhelmed the space, immediately hitting the senses. The interior feels conflicted. The dining room is shrouded in excessive darkness, while the open kitchen glows in warm wood tones, creating a contrast so stark it reads less as intentional design and more as over-styling. The imbalance is most evident at the bar, where dim lighting compresses the space into something crowded and almost claustrophobic. Even while daylight lingers outside, diners struggle to read the menu without additional light -- an atmosphere that prioritizes mood over comfort. The restroom mirrored the restaurant's contradictions: a spacious accessible area led to a single compact toilet hidden behind a heavy folding door. Wet seats, no disposable paper covers, and citrus hand towels did little to improve the experience. Arrival set an unexpectedly impersonal tone. The host delivered a rehearsed, extended greeting before locating our reservation, leaving no room for engagement. Staff uniforms -- beige utility jackets paired with stark black trousers -- were visually jarring, reinforcing an unpolished impression. Xavier offered a gracious introduction and provided a chair for my bag, a fleeting moment of reassurance, yet my partner's coat was taken while mine remained on the chair, later moved to the bag stand, highlighting inconsistency. Bartender and waitstaff moved sluggishly with lukewarm expressions. Dish explanations were barely audible, rushed, and robotic -- like mosquitoes buzzing past. Repeating them offered no improvement; information was conveyed, but hospitality was absent. Table etiquette revealed further flaws. Plates and glassware were repeatedly placed too close to my torso, below proper knife alignment, and near the table edge. Adjustments made in front of staff were ignored. When my napkin fell, it sat on the floor for several minutes while staff chatted nearby, forcing me to awkwardly reach and bend at an uncomfortable angle to retrieve it, yet no one offered assistance. The staff can't seem to pour sauce properly. For one dish, they drizzled it left to right, then right to left, four times in a row. When reaching the bottom of the sauce jar, they shook it out in a way that was oddly... memorable. Service pacing was frustratingly slow: nearly 12 minutes passed between the first and second courses, followed by 15-20 minutes between subsequent dishes. An eight-course menu stretched beyond two hours, not due to culinary exploration, but from inefficiency -- a rare and tedious approach for a Michelin-level tasting. Add-on items like lobster and donuts were initially presented as "to share," a curious, perhaps Asian-style touch,but staff clarified at ordering that each had to be ordered separately. The bill arrived before dessert, misleadingly presented as complimentary. Menu and beverage presentation compounded the confusion. The menu, written entirely in pinyin with no key terms highlighted, left diners guessing and disengaged. The wine list is enormous, touted for awards, yet guidance on standout selections or exclusive collaborations was absent. $18 mocktails were unremarkable, and repeated emphasis on awards felt hollow without meaningful context. The food was overwhelmingly salty, and the menu unbalanced. Three fish appetizers in a row -- hamachi that was fishy and overly salty but still edible, smoked trout with an overpowering aroma and oddly melt-in-the-mouth texture, and starchy peas with a grassy, earthy scent in overly salted broth -- quickly became monotonous. The black cod was overcooked by 8-10 seconds, and its sauce was oddly textured and overly salty. The small quail was raw except for the edible skin; when we inquired, the waiter insisted it must be served this way. I am not a fan of poultry sashimi, though the quail leg, by contrast, was flavorful and properly warmed. The beef, billed as Snake River Wagyu, was underwhelming -- something easily sourced from a local Asian market. Desserts were overly sweetened and awkwardly plated, making them difficult to separate and eat. Portions left on our plates were cleared without comment. Ironically, the highlight of the night was a simple brioche topped with seaweed and sesame -- understated yet far more enjoyable than the ostentatious dishes preceding it. The restaurant presents itself as modern Californian through a Taiwanese lens, yet the flavors tell another story. Taiwanese cuisine traditionally values balance and gentle sweetness; even with SoCal influences, one would not expect salinity to dominate at this level. Overall, despite high prices, awards, and an 18% service charge, the experience falls short: uninspired food an inattentive service. It's almost funny -- the staff seem checked out during the meal, only to switch into flawless smiles the moment the bill arrives. Makes you wonder what Benjamin could achieve if that energy showed up a bit earlier. read more

Kato - Thought the experience would be exceptional; gestures were sweet, but food, service, and value didn't justify the hype or the drive - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Food is simply outstanding; not a single dish was below very good and each are unique and diverse in taste, texture and experience. Two particular offerings were simply divine:the Suancai Yu and the Hongshao Rou. Neither was authentic of course but they were certainly elevated offerings and what was refreshing in a fine dining setting is that both have a little spicy kick to them, which is an element usually missing in this setting to my disappointment but not at KATO. The crispness on the fish skin paired with the amazingly soft and perfectly cooked fish and the peppery soup was out of this world and so was the softly melting flavorful beef; yup beef not pork, yet it work like gangbuster - the additions of tiny tendons by Chef Yao to this dish is divinely inspired. Service is rather mixed unfortunately. While pacing was great, actual wait staff experience varied greatly from one staff to the next. One staff would be experienced, friendly and confident while the next feels like he's on his first week at the job and struggling to describe the dishes with volume going up and down on purpose. Ambiance was good with the only detractors are passerby looking into the windows from outside; had this location not be on the ground floor, the floor-to-ceiling glass windows would work much better. I do have to stay that I am not a fan of the wait staff grayish "jacket" - the cut is simply poor and the color looks dingy instead of the muted and "easier to hide booboo than whites" it wanted to be. It reminded me of factory uniform in Asian country for "not so clean" manufacturing area. Overall, the food is truly outstanding and simply makes up for all the other not so perfect issues. Definitely a two Michelin star food level with so very close to three stars experience actually (the Youtiao and both desserts could use tweaking). The service is really what drop this restaurant from a two to only a one star in my opinion - nothing that a rigorous training wouldn't fix. read more

Kato - Tasting Menu Nov '25 - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Most of the dishes are extremely salty to a point that we had to chug multiple cups of water during the meal. We raised the problem of saltiness in the abalone dish and the lobster dish being hard to chew to the waiter, but they did nothing but acknowledge it. Definitely not worth the $325 price point. read more

Kato - The rice under the abalone is so salty. - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California