Kato Restaurant
Taiwanese restaurant · Downtown Los Angeles ·
Taiwanese tasting menu with seafood, Asian-American nostalgia, cocktails
Taiwanese tasting menu with seafood, Asian-American nostalgia, cocktails
"Kato in Los Angeles was described both as a pricey tasting-menu restaurant and as offering food from Taiwan, illustrating the list’s combination of high-end technique and international culinary roots." - Matthew Kang
"A Taiwanese testing menu restaurant in Los Angeles, this spot landed at number 26 on the inaugural North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list and retained its Michelin star at the 2025 ceremony." - Rebecca Roland
"The latest installment of Kato’s Summer Series, a dinner collaboration series bringing chefs from across Los Angeles to the Row DTLA, welcomed Evan Funke. On Sunday night, Funke could be spotted in the corner of the spacious tasting menu restaurant, clad in a denim shirt and apron, rolling out sheets of pasta by hand. Each dish channeled a bit of Funke and Yao: think chile crisp-topped burrata and tomatoes; cacio e pepe tossed with zingy Taiwanese pepper. The xiao long bao tortelloni stood out among the other dishes for its carefully folded edges, holding in a rich broth; its thin and slightly chewy outer layer; and its pouch filled with pork and prawn. There was only one in the dish, but I would have been happy if the entire meal had been just a steamer full of these. It’s nice to see a fine dining restaurant let loose a little at collaborations, with hip-hop blaring over the speakers and menus that read like a chef’s fever dream." - Eater Staff
"Located in downtown LA's Row district, this spot brings the energy of Jon Yao's Michelin-starred kitchen to an intimate dining experience. This tasting menu restaurant gracefully weaves together the flavors and ideas of Taiwan and Los Angeles, drawing heavily on Yao's Asian American nostalgia. The focus is on seafood, with dishes that constantly evolve while maintaining the restaurant's distinctive identity rooted in Taiwanese influences. Though the menu changes regularly, you'll consistently find preparations that showcase Yao's heritage and his interpretation of flavors from his upbringing. In 2019, it earned a Michelin star and established itself as one of LA's must-visit destinations for diners seeking an elevated exploration of Taiwanese American cuisine." - Celeste Moure
"Located in downtown LA's Row district, this spot brings the energy of Jon Yao's Michelin-starred kitchen to an intimate dining experience. This tasting menu restaurant gracefully weaves together the flavors and ideas of Taiwan and Los Angeles, drawing heavily on Yao's Asian American nostalgia. The focus is on seafood, with dishes that constantly evolve while maintaining the restaurant's distinctive identity rooted in Taiwanese influences. Though the menu changes regularly, you'll consistently find preparations that showcase Yao's heritage and his interpretation of flavors from his upbringing. In 2019, Kato earned a Michelin star and established itself as one of LA's must-visit destinations for diners seeking an elevated exploration of Taiwanese American cuisine." - Celeste Moure