Hayato
Japanese restaurant · Downtown Los Angeles
1320 E 7th St #126, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Highlights
Omakase fine dining; raw & cooked Japanese food
Omakase fine dining; raw & cooked Japanese food
"Two stars. Hayato hit the Los Angeles dining scene hard in 2018, earning boundless praise from critics and diners alike for its small, tucked-away space and traditional Japanese fare. Brandon Go’s multi-course kaiseki remains one of the top experiences in the city, according to Michelin." - Eater Staff
"With only one seating per night, this is the kind of destination where a handful of lucky diners are privy to an exemplary culinary spectacle. Many of the courses begin with ingredients that are attractively arranged, then finished before your eyes, and presented by Chef Brandon Hayato Go with detailed explanations. To kick off the kaiseki, the chef serves a small bite, or sakizuke, like chilled, charred eggplant with ginger and dashi. From there, it's a seasonal celebration artistically arranged on vintage Japanese pottery and porcelain collected by the chef. Local corn and sea scallops is transformed into kakiage; bonito is lightly smoked over rice bran straw; and miso-glazed black cod is folded into a luscious rice pot to conclude the meal." - Michelin Inspector
"Verdict: While we’ve never had a bad meal at Hayato, the overall experience at this high-end kaiseki counter is serious and a little stiff. There’s no music and only scattered conversation from the chefs. If your focus is solely on elegantly prepared Japanese food, consider it a destination, but there are also other options for exciting omakase meals in town. Reservations are released on the first of the month at 10am and vanish instantly (there are only 7 seats per night). Hayato tends to prioritize bookings for regulars, but if you're persistent in joining the waitlist, it'll eventually pay off." - brant cox, sylvio martins
"A Downtown Arts District kaiseki-style restaurant where chef Brandon Go prepares a California-influenced kaiseki; the restaurant has received two Michelin stars." - Matthew Kang
"I love restaurants that feel authentic to their origin and Hayato employs a bunch of different Japanese artisans to make it a really authentic experience." - Edward Barsamian
