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Kato Restaurant Los Angeles Tripadvisor Reviews
Latest Reviews On Tripadvisor
10 Reviews
0 Replys |
Great Food, Totally Meh Vibe
We drove past this the first time, looking for signage that said, "Kato." Don'tโฆlook for the ADDRESS and ye shall find. Once we parked in the metered street, it was just a few steps away.
The food is solid here. Flavourful. Some dishes, even soulful. But I gotta go along with the other reviewers who docked a star for atmosphere/service/casualness for the price point. We had the caviar supplement which means $200/person + 18% service + tax. That's $500 for dinner. Food was delicious...but it kinda made me wish I went to Providence instead.
Taiwanese Tastes Elevated
We have heard nothing but good words about the restaurant from friends who have visited. Scoring a reservation has been tough according to many, when we checked the reservation site, there was one single slot available for 2 and we booked it right away.
Restaurant is located in an unassuming strip mall with only a small sign on the door. Due to COVID restrictions, the indoor seating is sparse and we ended up with a patio seating that has the grand view of the parking lot. No matter, we are here for the food.
The only choice was the tasting menu, on the night we visited, there is a choice of added dish of caviar with additional supplement price, which we opted out. I have had too many tasting menu meals that just ended up with way too many dishes and I am just neutral about caviar.
The wine policy is BYOW, they do not have a wine list. Consult the online menu to bring your choice(s). When in doubt, a sparkling one should work.
Chef is second generation Taiwanese, many of the dishes he create evoke the flavor profiles of famous dishes from the island where I grew up. The presentation gives you no hint of the original dishes, once the food reaches your mouth, the pure deliciousness triggers hidden memories of my past with an imagery or a memory playing inside my head. For anyone who has no experience with foods from this foodies paradise island, this will serve as an introductions to perhaps your future visits.
Of the nightโs menu, the 3 cup abalone, chawamushi and prawn toast transcends the famous street foods the flavors come from in a delicate and complex manner I have never tasted. The two desserts are both refreshing with contrasting textures that play against each other and provided with a wonderful finishing touch. I was glad there were no extra dishes like many chef will do with tasting menu that sometimes are just way too much. Looking forward to my next visit.
Michelin star simplicity
Small, simple and understated restaurant with a gorgeous tasting menu. Each dish is tasty, balanced and beautifully presented. Well worth a visit and you can bring your own alcoholic drinks.
Excellent night out
Well deserved star!
Just getting back from a delicious, creative meal at Kato. Itโs been a while since weโve been to a restaurant where every single dish served made me smile and want another, especially the uni. Chef Jonathanโs menu is full of surprises. The plating is beautifully yet minimalist and then after one taste you realize how complex every dish truly is, a symphony for your taste buds. The abalone rice was sumptuous, heard not many people have found this dish interesting, it was one of our favorites. Thank you to Jonathan Yao and his team, service was also excellent. Weโll be back! You deserve your Michelin Star and more, Thank you!
An amazing tasting menu offering diverse and unique flavors in just the right portion size
I was curious about chef Yao's style of cooking and my curiosity was rewarded with an amazing 11-course meal. The range of flavors and textures were quite impressive and looking at a dish gave me little indication as what to expect on the palate. I like those kind of surprises. The grilled lamb was probably the best lamb I have ever tasted. It melted in my mouth and had a wonderful range of flavors. Some of the main ingredients, like the turbot, didn't stand out very much, but rather serves as a foundation for the other interesting ingredients. The tasting menu now costs 95 dollars and the still isn't a liquor license. But, at least I was aware of that ahead of time and knew how to deal with it. Can't wait to return in a few months.
Be the first to ReplyMinimalist excellence
Kato is a tiny minimalist Japanese/Taiwanese restaurant hidden away in a strip mall in Santa Monica Blvd. In contrast to the usual west side scene, thereโs no signage visible from the street, no valet. No liquor license. But itโs crazy busy anyway. Why? The interior is quiet and soothing, the service is attentive and timely, and the food is highly creative and unusually beautiful. Plus, by comparison with other favorites like Maude and Trois Mec, itโs surprisingly affordable. Last nightโs 11 course menu was $85. Make your reservations early - there are only 9 tables and the word is getting around.
Be the first to ReplyTime Flies
We went for my birthday. It was eleven little courses inspired by Taiwan and Japanese cuisine. The waiter told us it would take about an hour and a half. As each course came, I kept thinking: "I'm eating too fast! It's going to be over much sooner than it should and it's soooo good!" Finally when the final desert course came, and all was done, I looked at my watch. It had been two hours! I never wanted it to end, it ended way too fast. I love this place. No liquor license and I thought I'd care, but I didn't. (You can't bring liquor either because they are too close to a school.)
Be the first to ReplyUhhh......
This was quite an interesting experience. My daughter and I are foodies so we really looked forward to this restaurant after reading mostly positive reviews about the tasty tasting menu. But we were very disappointed. The Chef is clearly creative and knows how to cook food and knows ingredients. He is missing something though. He needs a mentor or someone to help him understand how to put foods together as well as how to serve a tasting menu. It's almost like he knows how to cook and is very creative but he doesn't have good "taste" himself. The food just isn't that good and some of it is downright weird. Of 11 dishes only 4-5 were in the "wow" range. The other 6 ranged from average to blah to gross. Something else which bothered us a lot was the lack of a clear description of each course. In a restaurant like this "foodies" want to discuss the food with the waiter and know what they are eating. The waiters tried but they didn't speak clearly or have good diction. We couldn't understand what they were saying. They also told us we would be given a sheet after the meal with each course listed but the sheet just said fish, chicken, bread, lobster, cake......without details or description of the dishes. The wait staff though was very nice and the service was excellent. Excellent dishes were fried tapioca fritters, raw tuna with radish, Waygu beef, shaved ice with buttermilk pudding and olive oil cake with strawberry. Branzino was bland. Some others were ok and some were downright weird like the bolo bao which was a sweet bun stuffed with pineapple and foie gras. This was overly sweet, too rich and just a bad concoction. The corn potage was ok and was accompanied by a bland stale bun.
I feel like they should be credited for trying but that it's not making it as it is. I hope they can evolve as this is a talented, creative chef who just needs some adjustments.
Amazing tasting menu at bargain pricing
My friends and I spent a wonderful 2.5 hours in this new West LA den of haute and modern Asian cuisine. A highly enthusiastic gang of waitstaff and kitchen folks will deliver a truly memorable experience for $85 each. The place is in a corner of a strip mall and is extremely small. The interior is spartan and clean. White walls and tables and simple wooden chairs.
We had an 11 course meal ranging from Sousa vide egg in corn porridge to a pineapple bun with four gras to lychee ice over pudding to wagyu beef to rice stuffed chicken wings to branzino in soy broth. The menu is Asian/influenced and seafood heavy reflecting the Taiwanese heritage and leanings of the chef.
The menus are simple. You have a choice of the tasting menu but substitutions are allowed to reflect food allergies. There are about 4 beverage choices. Try the Taiwanese Apple drink.
Most impressive to me was the absolute joy that the people who work here display as they prepare and deliver the food. And all the Diners look happy and are busy photographing their food.
Best deal in town
Kato is a fine-dining Asian restaurant in W. LA headed by a brilliant young chef named Jon Yao who brilliant blends Taiwanese, Japanese and California farmer's market ingredients into light yet flavorful combinations. Moreover, the restaurant is affordable with tasting menu options for $55 and $80. The restaurant does not serve alcohol, so have a drink or a joint before rolling in. Kato definitely deserved to be on Jonathan Gold's 101 restaurant list, and he probably will be next year, so go now before getting a table because a nightmare. This place is only getting hotter. Recommendation: The chicken sandwich is awesome, so if available, maybe opt for the $55 tasting and supplement it with the chicken sandwich.
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