"A Japanese tapas restaurant in the Bloc lost all of its Father’s Day weekend business when an unexpected curfew prevented its usual 5 p.m. opening; owner Akarad “AK” Tachavatcharapa said the immediate area remained peaceful and questioned whether the week-long curfew was necessary. He described chaotic, late-afternoon day-to-day updates that forced the team to stay on standby and evoked the uncertainty of early COVID-19 restrictions." - Rebecca Roland
"A sleek, modern yakitori spot in the heart of Downtown, this subterranean restaurant at the mega retail Bloc Project serves well-grilled skewers with some more modern touches. Menu highlights include the chicken meatball, eggplant, shishito peppers, and chicken hearts. The lamb lollipop, juicy and served with bright, crunchy house pickles, is another must-order. Those looking to add a striking photo to their Instagram should get the squid ink karaage, looking like little stones of charcoal but juicy on the inside from a two-day brine. It’s served with a black ranch sauce that completes the goth approach to fried chicken. With a wide set of cocktails, beer, and wine, Hatch makes for a terrific pre- or post-movie meal for those heading to the Alamo Drafthouse upstairs." - Matthew Kang
"From noon until 5 p.m., Hatch in Downtown has DineLA lunch available for $35 with multiple dishes including squid ink karaage, seaweed salad, and a chicken meatball skewer." - Mona Holmes
"DTLA’s favorite for yakitori and other Japanese dishes brings a pan-Asian approach to the Joshua Tree collaboration. The Son of a Peach takes Westward Whiskey and adds white peaches and Thai basil-infused honey to add sweetness and spice simultaneously. The smoking basil leaf garnish adds not only a fun visual effect but also an herbal aroma, which plays nicely with the grilled meat marinades and flavors." - Vox Creative
"This modern yakitori spot in DTLA's The Bloc has a broad menu of skewers and Japanese small plates plus a full cocktail list, making it a good option for meeting someone downtown for drinks and a few bites. They also offer a solid Happy Hour on weekdays with discounted drinks and food, or if you're looking for a more substantial meal, a prix-fixe menu that starts at $55 and includes the restaurant's most popular dishes." - Garrett Snyder