The Robata

Santa Monica’s LDH Kitchen The Robata Does a Wild Japanese Light Show | Eater LA

"Opened in the former Cadet space along Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica, this dramatic new Japanese restaurant marks the first U.S. dining venture for LDH, the massive Asian conglomerate whose LDH Kitchen umbrella brings together multiple brands. The project centers on robatayaki-format cooking—quickly grilled dishes over hot charcoal served directly to diners—and the menu mixes seared meats and sides with items like fried chicken katsu cutlets, sushi rolls, and a full cocktail program with a focus on sake. The interior is notable for an over-the-top lighting rig more akin to stage or nightclub production, producing sweeps and swirls of color and shifting landscape imagery that create a trippy, high-energy atmosphere. After limited friends-and-family service, it is now open nightly from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m." - Farley Elliott