While I would love to leave a great review for a place that is so highly regarded, it lacks empathy, transparency, and something left to be desired. We have an annual Labor Day girls trip of foodies and this spot came recommended by a friend. One of the girls has a gluten allergy so we checked yelp which customer reviews mentioned how great they were with accommodating allergies and also checked the website that doesn't mention no substitutions only the 18% automatic gratuity. Fast forward to the day of, we were looking for the current menu and came across a google review that mentions no gluten allergy modifications. Just to check we called the restaurant. They confirmed no vegan/vegetarian/gluten substitutes and absolutely no cancellations as it was in the fine print on resy. We didn't want to pay $900 for cancelling so we showed up figuring they would at least work with our friend that couldn't eat any item on the menu. Not only did the GM not allow our friend to substitute the meal in any way (we asked if she could at least do $125 wine pairing & they pocket the remaining $100) or offer any solution other than reiterating it was in the fine print. Unfortunately our friend had to leave to go get a meal next door but don't worry, they also charged us the 18% gratuity on her meal. I always honor the way a chef wants to run the kitchen but be very open and honest about it. Don't hide it in the fine print to scam customers for money, a Michelin restaurant should be better than resorting to that. read more

Food, service, and ambiance / vibes are all great. A big improvement over the west la location. I feel the restaurant is definitely deserving of its Michelin star but isn't quite ready for a second one. I feel like they've found the right a balance between price and portions (I remember the last time I went in the old west la location I wanted more food after dining here). We had the full tasting menu with the wagyu supplement. Glad we did the supplement because it was well executed but we would have probably been content without it. Service was great with new cutlery and plating for each dish. I thought the cutlery chosen for the dessert was a bit bizarre for a michellin started restaurant. They gave us soup spoons rather than small, dessert spoons. I lean a little more on the carnivore side so I was surprised that none of the meat forward dishes were favorites. We had roast duck breast (dry aged in house), wagyu steak with oxtail ragout and onion, and pork jowl fried rice. All of these dishes were well done and well executed but none of them had a wow factor. My favorites were the amuse bouche (in particular the geoduck and yellowtail). I also really enjoyed the sea urchin donut with jamon, the abalone egg custard. Best dish was the caviar with Dungeness crab salad. This dish was served at the same as Japanese milk bread and butter. While technically separate dishes they went really well together. The desserts were really nice but nothing blew my mind. I preferred the old boba dessert in the west la menu (or maybe it's just out of season?). The after dinner snacks (egg custard and black sesame macaroon) were superb. Cocktail menu was quite nice. Note, the bill will come with an 18% service charge so any additional tip you leave would likely be well received but not required. We ubered there but I think the restaurant validates. One note on flavor profile--I felt like the restaurant has noticeably shifted away from its Taiwanese influences towards more Japanese flavors. The only dish I felt had a Taiwanese flavor profile was the thorny head with basil which reminded me a bit of three cup chicken. All in all a great LA restaurant that's only getting better with time. I look forward to coming back and to them one day getting a second star. read more

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Ambiance- that perfect minimalist combo of concrete, wood, and steal and somehow feels warm and inviting. Not pretentious or cold at all. The service was perfection. Everyone involved took pride in what they do and pride in the place. Every detail was attended to. The food was outstanding! We did the two add ons to the tasting menu. Loved all the seafood courses the best. I think next time I would opt for just the first seafood one as the wagyu came after the lamb so it was really heavy and both were rich with Chinese five spice flavor that kind of over powered each other. Often times these menus falter at dessert but the desserts were perfect. read more

to be fair, the food and service were exceptional. but i spent $350 on the bar tasting menu, a supplemental course, three drinks and i left feeling...pretty darn hungry still. which i find very disappointing for such a hefty price tag. again, the food is excellent but kato feels more like an art installation than a restaurant. read more

One Michelin star gunning for a second. Visited back in January and I'd be remiss if I didn't leave a review. Great place for a special occasion. This place was outstanding from start to finish. The courses were inventive, light, and tasty. We felt really well looked after by the service staff as if we were the only ones there. The Taiwanese beer selection was awesome. Will be back! read more

"Kato's Jon Yao Stumbled Into the Restaurant Biz Out of Sheer Obligation" (Michelin guide,2021) .. would be an accurate representation of KATO. Not sure who runs the place the chef or the owners, but kato is a fail to the word Michelin as it leaves service behind and stands tall towards 0 tolerance cancelations regardless of 0 transparency for the chefs inability to adapt his menu to real world food allergies. KATOS website doesn't fail to mention their 18% gratuity but it does fail to mention their no tolerance to food allergies, as GM Nikki Reginaldo, made clear is only available when you make the reservation "in fine print". So, heaven forbid you're an invited patron and the reservation holder did not read the fine print. You are stuck with the $250 price tag for a dinner you cannot eat. For all those query minds, No the chef cannot leave the sorbet alone, it must, MUST, come atop the chef inspired shortbread. That will be $295 + 18% gratuity for a meal you didn't eat or enjoy on our restaurant. Yours truly, KATO. Note * if you make the Resy through google, which we did. The disclaimer about allergies is not mentioned, only mentioned directly through Resy read more

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I first discovered Kato a little over a year ago on when I saw a YouTube video on them. I was very impressed to see they offer a modern take on Taiwanese food, chef John Yao is only 28 and they have a Michelin star. I knew that this would have to be one of the first places I check out when things started opening up again. After making a reservation a month in advance I was so stoked to finally to experience it. Kato is located in a small unassuming strip mall that you wouldn't think would house a restaurant of this caliber. The only option is to get their 7 course tasting menu with the option of adding a caviar course for an additional cost. I wanted to get it but my friend is not a caviar fan and it's either we both get it or none of us do. Everything that was served was extremely tasty, thoughtfully prepared and creative. I really loved the 3 cup abalone, 3 cup chicken is one of my favorite Taiwanese dishes and to see those flavors applied to a luxury ingredient like this. The texture on the abalone is the best I've had anywhere including from some high end sushi spots I've been to. The oxtail rice was also spectacular. My favorites though were two of the amuse bouche that kicked off the meal: Bluefin Tuna, Nori and the Sea Bream, Cilantro. Both offered some incredibly intense flavors and textures. The customer service was great and they have a very friendly staff. It's also byob so I brought some craft beer and mead to enjoy with this decadent meal. I hope to come back once they switch up their tasting menu. read more

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We came to Kato in February, near the beginning of LA opening up dining in restaurants again. When we visited, we could only eat outdoors on their makeshift patio and so have not experienced dining inside their restaurant yet. This place is pretty well known in the area so it also took us a while to get reservations. Keep this in mind if you'd like to visit too. Here's my experience: Food: 4/5. We had the tasting menu, which included 13 courses. Needless to say, I was super full by the end of the meal. The menu was inspired by traditional Cantonese seafood banquets you'd have in the 626 (the chef and staff were mostly from the 626), and I could taste the inspiration. I would say the flavors are authentic and true to their muse. However, I thought some of the dishes were a hit or miss as the overall flow was unbalanced. Some of the earlier dishes were too heavy and made it difficult for my stomach to want to continue the meal. Where it gets me is the value. I do not think the price we paid was worth the meal I received. Although overall it was tasty, the price makes it difficult for me to want to spend and come again when I can find similar flavors in the 626. The plating was beautiful throughout the meal - I just didn't feel like most of the dishes were any more unique or had a cool spin to it that I was expecting a restaurant like this would do. I am hopeful that their next menu incorporates more unique elements. This is definitely a VERY special occasion spot. Service: 5/5. Impeccable service as what you'd expect from an elevated restaurant. No faults here. I would look at some of their future menus to see whether I'd like to come back again. It'd have to be different in order for me to want to spend another $200-$300/person again. read more

Kato - Menu from 2/23/21 - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One of the most over priced menu in the city. 275 plus 45 add on for 9 course. Second Main course was braised pork rice which the two of us had to share. Got sick right after I got home and had to use the bathroom a few times. Service was slow, had to wait 10-15 mins in between courses. Felt hungry still after all courses finished. Concept is great; the use of traditional Chinese/Taiwanese ingredients is fun. But the overall quality of the dishes is pretty average. read more

Kato - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Kato is a love letter to Taiwan. So many dishes and flavors that remind you what you may have eaten as a kid, cooked by family or loved ones. Everything is so thoughtfully crafted, meticulously detailed. I've been here twice and both times, I've been blown away by how good the food is. Yes, pricey. But this is one of those places to celebrate a special occasion. Next time I might try the bar because their milk bread is not on this season's menu. read more

By far, one of the best meals we've had in Los Angeles!! The food, the drinks, the service - everything hit perfectly. Often times, with multi course tasting menus, there are a handful of excellent dishes, and a handful of forgettable dishes - not so at Kato! Each dish was special, memorable, and delicious - from the very first course. Also - don't miss the cocktails (especially the milk punch and the lemon drop). We would also recommend doing one of the pairings (they allow sharing!). Couldn't recommend this place enough!!! read more

Very delicious food that tries to align with Asian flavors with a beautiful presentation. I also got the non alcoholic drink pairing and it was SO worth it. I think they are one of only a few, or maybe the only, place in LA that has a nonalcoholic drink pairing. This place is great for a romantic date or just a treat-yourself type of meal. read more

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This restaurant is gorgeous and so spacious, very clean. I loved the food, thank you for having me. Good quality beef and very kind employees. read more

Amazing experience. Great food with beautiful artistic dishes. modern decor. The service was perfect. and you could feel that everyone care that you'll be happy. absolutely recommended read more

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Amazing ambiance and great food to go with it (along with the BOYB). I had a great experience at Kato - the service was impeccable and the (server's) playlist was soo good. They were also able to accommodate for my allergies, so that I could still enjoy the main part of the dish just with a small twist to it. They have a set menu with about 9 or so courses (including dessert). Overall the dishes were clean and had really good flavors. The flavors were diverse too - some seemed more Japanese and I also enjoyed getting to try some Taiwanese style dishes. Our group would've like to see more of the dishes have a Taiwanese influence though. The dinner itself was great, but the elderflower yogurt dessert blew my mind. I would probably go back just to have this dessert. I hope they keep this on the menu for a while! read more

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Surprisingly good value for a Michelin Starred restaurant. Hidden in a little strip mall on a busy intersection of Los Angeles, this little gem is extraordinarily easy to miss - I wasn't sure we were in the right place when we parked. Proof that just because a place has a Michelin Star that it has to be extravagant. Service was prompt and friendly. Pacing was just right and all of our courses were consistently delicious. Being Taiwanese myself, I particularly enjoyed that while the courses were reminiscent of traditional Taiwanese dishes but elevated. I also enjoyed the menu that they presented us at the end of our meal, which explained the idea behind each dish, though I wish I had this at the beginning so I knew what to expect. Overall I would definitely go back and see what they have cooked up next. read more

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This will be a long one. Let's start with I was recommended this place by one of the cooks. I was told this will be a great mind blowing experience and the food is delicious. The service was so great that is the best part of this whole experience. They are so present and clean up the table every-time there's a small crumb on the table. They also switched out my kitchen towel and provided us wet towels to wipe our hands. I'm a huge water drinker and they did not miss a single time to refill. Cup was never empty and that is just perfect. So the meal is about $300 for 9 course. You can get cheaper if you sit in the bar. They will ask you for your card info so you can't cancel. If you do plan on canceling you will be charged for the entire meal even if you don't eat. Or you can have "credits" for a later on meal. So this is how I feel about the food. Our server begins with telling us that the food will have familiar flavors as it is a Taiwanese fusion restaurant. Familiar is an understatement the favors were exactly like something I can easily replicate at home. The only different is that they are making the food fresh and making even the spices in kitchen. Great on them for that. There was a lack of creativity with flavors. As a Michelin star restaurant I expect a wow. Great you guys know how to plate food and make it pretty why is the flavor not a factor. I'm only paying for the ingredients being the highest quality. The entrees were good besides the pig ear salad. I love pig ear it was the salad which was distasteful. It was bitter. There are 9 courses. And it took then about 30 minutes between each course. We got there exactly when they opened there was no one there and it still took so long. We didn't finish until 3 hours later where I told them we actually had to leave so they sped up the last 2 deserts. The lamb was so bad. Lamb is such a delicate meat to use. They smothered it with this strong sauce that did not allow the lamb to shine. The lamb was so tender and nice and I couldn't enjoy it at all. There were many dishes I could not finish due to the dissatisfaction of everything. The soup was good. The bread was really good. The deserts were extremely uncreative. First they gave us a desert that literally French it was not Taiwanese. It was good but what? Then they gave us 3 plates: a black sesame tart I love black sesame, the tart was so awful. It was very dry and somehow bitter. Then they had a egg custard bread. I was so excited I love sweet egg custard bread it's not original I've had simple deserts. First bite you take the immense about of salt burned my tongue. I couldn't swallow it. Then after a few chews it tastes a lot better but why is every bite so salty at first. It is most likely the bread. Then they have the swirl cake. 85 degree bakery does a better job. It was exactly grocery story cake. Dry, boring, no fusion. read more

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I can see why this place has a Michelin star. The one downside is portion size; they are pretty teeny and at a hefty price point given the amount of food you get. But as long as you go in well aware of how much you'll be paying relative to portions, it's a lovely experience. The entrees range from super creative inventions to elevated staples, and everything is delicious. We had: Tapioca, brown butter, sea urchin: definitely a high point. Ratio of tapioca to urchin just a smidge high but that's a very minor quibble (also I just love Uni!) Onion, chicken liver: easily the most creative and fun entree of the night Aji yu sheng: an absolutely delicious bite of aji, but i do wish there were more aji 3 cup abalone: the 3 cup chicken flavor I know and love but with abalone instead! A tad spicy for me personally Dungeness crab soup: comforting and yummy. Nothing too revolutionary but satisfying Milk bread, cultured butter: I will admit I wasn't too enthralled by the bread (butter was pretty good), but I happily devoured it all given the otherwise small portions of the other courses (and the fact we had brought a bottle of wine and desperately needed something to soak up the alcohol) Fish fragrant rock cod: loved the flavors they used for this! Chinese style steamed fish: the classic Chinese fish dish (or bite) we all know but garnished creatively with a layer of ginger inside A5 mapo tofu: similar to 3 cup abalone and steamed fish, they took a classic and elevated it Yogurt, jasmine, pomelo: loved this refreshing and crisp dessert, one of my faves Boniato yam tapioca, fresh cheese, sable: I preferred the previous dessert but I admired the creativity of this. A fitting way to end the meal It's BYOB (without corkage!) since they don't have a liquor license, but given the overall small portions I'd refrain from bringing anything potent unless you have a few people to share among yourselves. If you enjoy Taiwanese/Chinese cuisine and want to see it at an elevated level, would recommend this place. read more

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I really enjoyed every dish. The tasting menu is $85 and offers 11 dishes. It was a a take on a Japanese/taiwanese hybrid influence. I felt like their main focus was on seafood, mainly fish. The dish I really liked the most was the bolo bao, foie and the tapioca uni. The frozen yogurt for dessert was very refreshing to finish off the meal. Only complaint is that there was no alcohol. They have a bunch of different teas and lemonade. We ended up ordering the strawberry lemonade and original lemonade that's made with yuzu. I really enjoyed the yuzu lemonade. read more

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At first glance, you will be surprised that the random door is the doorway to such a great spot for a delicious meal. Seriously, you won't see any signage up top and all you have is a sticker on the door with the words Kato. Inside, you are greeted by simplistic furniture similar to what you'd expect from a modern Japanese home. The place about 10 small tables of 2-4 so it's best to make a reservation if you can. The menu is a tasting menu that I presume changes with the seasons and what produce they have. For $85, you are treated to a 10 course meal + an extra dessert dish. The dishes are all wonderful and range from light to heavy. The highlights of the meal included the Tapioca Fritter with Uni (Loved the texture difference and the briny uni), the Steamed Egg, the Abalone Porridge (the huge chunks of abalone...), the Pineapple Bun with Foie Gras (Foie... Nuff saif, and the Mandarin dessert. Pretty much you will love everything they serve. The service itself is very great with the accommodating servers and their attentiveness. For the price, it is a great place to have a nice meal for something special! Worth numerous visits if your wallet allows. read more

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First off, I REALLY wanted to love this place, I did. The restaurant was simple but so clean. It had a nice vibe and the customer service and staff were all extra friendly. However, being true to myself, I believe Kato is a solid 3 star restaurant for me only because I don't see myself coming back for a long time. 4 star places to me are places I'd want to go back to in the near future. Maybe I just went on an off-night for my taste buds. Everyone's preferences are different so you might LOVE Kato and honestly I hope you do. Now off to the food: 1. Bottarga, duck: My friend and I were not the biggest fans of this dish. The fishy taste was indeed extremely strong, simply too strong for our liking. 2. Albacore, nori: We were huge fans of this dish. Although it looks seemingly simple, it was really delicious :) I've never had albacore in the form of typical tuna before. Great flavor. 3. Tapioca, uni: Personally I'm not the biggest fan of uni due to some unpleasant food poisoning memories with it. However, I tried it anyways haha. My friend and I believed the cheese just didn't blend in well with the dish. We could've done without it. 4. Bolo bao, foie: I don't know if they added the foie gras in the bao to make it more luxury, but it just wasn't working well with the pineapple for us. We could've done with just the pineapple or just the foie gras, but both together was a miss for us. The bread though was freaken delicious! 5. Fluke, tomato: This was amazing. It was so refreshing and light. The cilantro was just perfect in the dish. Very creative and unlike anything else we've had. 6. Corn potage: Good, but a little too sweet for us. The egg yolk inside helped balance out the dish a bit though so it was good. 7. Mouthwatering albacore: For us, this dish wasn't very mouthwatering. We felt the sauce was a bit too overpowering, salty. Maybe with less, the fish would have been the highlight? 8. Turbot, soy: This was one of the top dishes for us. The sauce was so light and worked perfectly with the fish. Great combo and very delicious. 9. Quail, beet: Gotta start off my saying that I hate beets. Lol with that said, I'm extremely grateful that the beet was on the side of the dish and option for use as a sauce. The quail was cooked freaken perfectly worked well with the rice. Great dish! 10. Yogurt, grape: I'm not the biggest fan of yogurt, but if normal yogurt tasted like this one, I'd be a fan for sure! This was a perfect ending to our meal. The frozen grapes and grape flavor was heavenly. I wanted to lick this bowl clean, that's how good it was. I celebrated my birthday here. Everyone at the restaurant was so happy and friendly!! Would love to come back one day to try a different menu, just not anytime soon. read more

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I had been wanting to try Kato for quite some time so was very grateful my gf took me here for a late birthday dinner. It was a bit hard to find as it is tucked inside a plaza. There is a parking structure, so make sure to validate at the front when you get to Kato. We were lucky to grab an early reservation, but it got pretty busy throughout the night. The inside is very calming, modern and nicely spread out. It does not feel bougie nor crowded, but rather inviting and cozy. The menu has one set pre fixe and an endless list of wine, hard liquor and non alcoholic beverages. _Toro Bluefin w/caramelized onion. The amuse bouche was already a great start. A tiny little tart with fresh bluefin with hints of sweetness from the onion and a nice crunch texture from the base. _Seared Japanese Sea Bream w/black vinegar. This was such a clean and refreshing bite. Simple yet memorable. I loved the crunchy texture that seemed like some cabbage. The black vinegar was slightly acidic and sweet that paired so well with the delicate sea bream. _Sea Urchin Donut w/Iberico ham, brown butter. Recommended to eat in one bite as the inside filling will ooze out. I mean the title says it all. The donut was a tad warm and soft. The iberico ham was the perfect saltiness that paired so well with the earthy flavor from the uni and brown butter. A bit sweet and salty. Very creative and the perfect one bite wonder. _Kaluga Caviar w/geoduck, koji, squashini, served with milk bread, garlic. This was one of my favorite dishes and I still think about it. The caviar was the perfect amount of saltiness that balanced this whole dish. A bit of a bite from the geoduck and simply paired with the squash. A great balanced dish, full of flavor. The milk bread was very fluffy and a tad buttery. I would save this just to use it as a sponge to soak all the sauces. _The Garden. A snapshot of Aaron's farm. Taiwanese sesame. A very simple salad with different elements to the eye. Different layers of crunch and flavor. With everything else having so much strong flavors, this was more of a palette cleaner. _Egg Custard w/kelp vinegar, Chinese chives. At first I did not taste the egg custard, until you actually scoop down to the bottom. A rich, earthy and umami flavor. _Grilled Kurodai w/soured napa, Chinese mustard, celtuce. The sea bream was nicely cooked with the perfect crispiness from the skin. A very light dish, with crunchy components from the napa and cetuce plant. _Miyazaki A5 Striploin w/beef tendon, maitake, potato. This was my other favorite dish. I don't eat a lot of red meat so even though the meat was very small it was the perfect amount of fattiness, while still leaving you wanting more. Perfectly cooked rare with a char on the top. It paired so well with the mushrooms and potato. The tendon was rich but everything balanced each other and the portion was enough to give you a taste but not feel too heavy or overwhelming. _Citrus Bingsoo w/vanilla anglaise, citrus, meyer lemon syrup. Just like a bingsoo (shaved ice) it was very refreshing to have right after the meat dish. Nothing out of the ordinary but liked the subtle tart and sweetness. _Jujube w/scorched rice cream, muscovado tuille, castella cake. This was very unique and creative. I love jujube tea so having the subtle aftertaste of the jujube was a nice surprise. I loved the scorched rice crisp which was a bit on the sweeter side, but it paired well with the cake itself, since it was more on the plain side. We paired our meal with a non alcohol flight, which was really nice. Some were hits and a few misses. Some were bubbly, which reminded of a cider. Overall great experience! The food was creative, innovative and phenomenal. Service was great and so thankful I got to share this experience with great company :) read more

I've been wanting to try Kato ever since it received the highly coveted #1 ranking on the LA Times best restaurants list, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it offer meals for pick-up via Tock. For $60pp, you get all of the following: + Smashed (pickled?) cucumbers + Enoki dan dan + Braised pork over rice + Garlic cabbage with dried shrimp and Nueske's bacon + Fish fragrant eggplant (their words, not mine) + American wagyu short rib (3 cup style) + Steamed fish with ginger and scallion + Buttermilk pudding My favorite was the wagyu (3.5 slices, beautifully marbled and perfectly cooked) followed by the braised pork, but it was a really well-rounded meal overall. I thought the enoki dan dan would consist of mushrooms and noodles, but it was enoki mushrooms in a heavy sauce. The eggplant had a nice kick to it, and the buttermilk pudding was a sweet, light way to end the meal. Pick-up was super easy. When I arrived, Chef Jon Yao and his staff were bringing the packaged meals to the front of the restaurant. They took my name and vehicle description, then walked over and put it in my trunk a few minutes later. I highly recommend Kato at home and look forward to dining in the restaurant someday. read more

Let's start off with the fact that I don't mind paying more for good food. You get what you pay for. Overall, I'd say Kato is good, everything is very well executed, the plating is impeccable, service is fantastic...even the bathrooms are nice. The food is pretty good, flavors on point (mostly) and you can tell the entire team puts in a lot of time and effort to making this a Michelin experience. That is impressive because having a restaurant run at this level is not easy. I think for me the bottom line is, I'm not willing to pay $300 for this type of food. That's not to sound harsh or rude. It's just not "worth" the price. I'll be honest, maybe being Chinese having grown up in the LA area spoils this experience a little for me. A lot of what is on the menu, I can get for a tiny fraction of the price in the surrounding LA area (looking at you, SGV). What's more, the portions are kind of comical, it really is kind of funny (genuinely, and not in an angry way). I hate the idea that Chinese/ Taiwanese food can't be expensive. But as a paying customer, who is Taiwanese, it just feels so different and out of the ordinary to pay so much for this type of food. Especially when it's available, to me at least, at a much much lower price. Maybe we need to get acclimated to the idea that Chinese food can be fancy. I'm actually hoping the larger population adopts the idea that Chinese food can be expensive. How can this restaurant improve, in my humble opinion that no one asked for? The answer isn't easy, because after all, this is a business and they need to make money. The thing I would change if i were tasked with how to make this a better, more worth it experience, is to elevate some of the dishes with slightly higher-end proteins. Maybe slightly larger portions if food cost permits (I know food cost and labor is extremely high these days). No one complains about paying $300 for Japanese omakase: but you get a large variety of pricey fish and seafood as your meal. In the end, this is a tough review for me to write. I'm torn because I'm a consumer but also have pride about Chinese/ Taiwanese cuisine. But my true opinion is, this meal wasn't worth $300 and I would not come back again. Two options here to make it a more acceptable experience: elevate the ingredients just a tad, or lower the price. I understand Kato is now a Michelin star restaurant, but I can't eat stars so I'd rather not pay for it. I'm not an expert but I think in this economic climate, Kato needs to pivot fairly quickly. read more

Wow, what an experience. I treated my parents to a meal here, and it was their first time with omakase (where the chef decides the menu). I was hoping that Kato would be a wonderful experience because as soon as I told my dad that it would be an hour drive for our 6:45 pm reservation, he sighed. "I haven't driven this far for food ever in my 60 years of existence." Kato is located in a tiny strip mall with a tiny parking lot. Don't worry: there's lots of street parking around the strip mall. Compared to its nearby restaurants, Kato is unpresuming: there is no lit-up sign announcing the restaurant, and it is hidden behind a thick pole. It's a cozy restaurant, with candles on each table and no overhead lighting. Restaurant goers are dressed nice but not formal. We didn't bring our own alcohol because I don't care what my mom says, she cannot handle herself. But yes, it's bring your own bottle (BYOB) and no corkage fee. There are two options for the meal: do you want a 9-course or a 12-course experience? The entire table has to choose the same option. We went with the 9 courses. (If I had my choice, I would have chosen 12.) When my dad saw the first three dishes come out, he was concerned whether he would actually be full at the end of the meal. He asked my mom, "Did you bring bread? In case I have to eat on our drive home." I won't get into all the dishes because it is omakase and the menu changes whenever Chef Jon Yao wants to change it. Some comments: * Tuna toast was a delicious spin on shrimp toast. * Seafood is so fresh. If you cannot eat shellfish (like my dad), the alternative is veggies. * The spoons, bowls, and plates that they use are so beautiful and enhance the dishes. My mom said multiple times that it's like eating art. * Although many of the dishes could have been eaten in one bite (and my dad did do that quite often), there are at least 2 dishes that take longer to eat. * I appreciated that the dishes did not come out one right after the other, and also that we did not spend too much time waiting for food. Timing well done. * My parents and I all fell in love with the sweet potato + cheese foam/cream + brown sugar dessert. My dad calls the sweet potato balls "big boba". My dad did not eat the bread on the drive home. He was satisfied. read more

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Kato Homestyle Quarantine Takeout Review: We were able to score a reservation through Tock on the last week that they were offering this specific menu! Pickup was quick, easy, and contactless. They had a bag with my name and reservation time pre-written on the bag already for me to grab! Anyways, here is the breakdown of our items and the cost of it: Price: $60 per person, but there was a 20% service charge + 10.25% sales tax, so it came out to $78.15/person. Menu: + Smashed Cucumbers, Celery & Lovage Salad: Pretty standard. Like any vegetable starter you'd find at a Chinese restaurant. Nothing special. + Enoki Dan Dan w/ Kato Chili Oil: This was probably my favorite dish of the takeout. It was topped with some black sesame-like sauce with chili oil, which was a combination that blew my mind. It gave the savory enoki a nutty, earthy flavor. I never thought enoki mushrooms would be a satisfying noodle alternative, but it was delicious! + Lu Rou Fan (Braised pork over rice): A very traditional Taiwanese rice bowl that did not fail to disappoint. I just wish there were more of it. The sauce and the garlic chips were the perfect addition to such a comfort dish. + Garlic cabbage with dried shrimp and Nueske's bacon: This wasn't anything too special. Like something ordinary you'd get from a Chinese restaurant again. + Fish Fragrant Eggplant: If you're an eggplant lover, this is your dish! I couldn't get enough of it! The sauce was soooo fragrant (I mean, it IS in the name), and I savored every bite of this! + American wagyu short rib (3 cup style): Despite the wagyu being lukewarm by the time we ate it, it was still extremely delicious! The fattiness of the steak and the sauce could make a grown man cry. + Steamed fish with ginger and scallion: Reminded me my childhood! The bottom of the fish was extremely tender. Also like an entree from a Chinese restaurant. + Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookie: I wish we were able to get the buttermilk pudding like some other yelpers did. This dessert felt like an after thought. It had zero Taiwanese influence in its flavor, and was too buttery for my taste. I was pretty dang gassy after. While I enjoyed my meal, I felt that the dishes and portion sizes did not amount to the money we paid for our meal. Maybe Kato is just not meant for takeout, so I will have to reconsider the Michelin experience and dine-in when we can go back to restaurants. A lot of the food tasted like something we could get at an ordinary Chinese restaurant. The dish that was most unique was the dan dan enoki, but that was just one dish out of the many that we got to try. read more

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Pricing: Total cost $78.15/person. Cheaper than dining in. Fyi, the 20% service charge cannot be removed from the online interface. Sales tax was 10.25% !?! Packaging: easy to pick up and labeled with my name. Thank goodness they included utensils. Parking: ample free parking in the lot and on the street. Smashed cucumber, celery and lovage salad: it tastes like some of the small cold dishes available at Chinese restaurants. Enoki dan dan: the noodles have been replaced by enoki noodles. I appreciate how much healthier this is. No need to eat processed carbs. Lu rou fan - braised pork rice: I'm glad that they practiced good portion control with this item. I could have eaten an entire bowl. Fish fragrant eggplant: yes this tastes good. Watch out for the spicy chilis. Garlic cabbage, dried shrimp and Nueske's bacon: the bacon flavor was strong American waygu short rib, 3 cup style: Yep tastes like 3 cup chicken but with beef. Too fatty for my taste. Steamed fish, ginger, scallion: tastes authentic, straight from a Chinese restaurant. Crispy chocolate chip cookie: doesn't taste Chinese read more

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We bought into the hype once we read the LA Times article on a Taiwanese Japanese Michelin star restaurant here in LA. I wanted to love a restaurant that was trying to elevate Taiwanese food (being from the motherland) and put it on the map but I don't get how this place got such good reviews. Maybe the menu/food use to be better but for the 9 course meal we got today was way off the mark. The overall food was just ok, but for the price ($118/person) I'd say save your money & skip. The best dishes of the night were the 3 desserts (elderflower granitas with yogurt, cheese foam with tapioca, and a jasmine ice cream sandwich) hands down. Everything else was either bland, over seasoned, or underwhelming. read more

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kato in dtla pricing: $275 for tasting menu, $350 after tax/tip kato offers a contemporary take on taiwanese food and offers a japanese/western fusion. i have been wanting to try this place for a while because i love taiwanese food #1 and i equally love asian fusion food ^-^ in order of my favorites, we got: chǎolóngxiā - lobster on fried milk bread with shrimp paste (i really enjoyed the sweet and savory combo of milk bread) bāozǐfàn - my mom's favorite dish, there was puffed rice inside which made the texture really good & rice was well seasoned yúdùgēng - steamed custard w/ fish maw + caviar, i really enjoyed this!! it was like a seafood chawanmushi xiándòujiāng - silken tofu with uni, definitely reminded me of a bite of 鹹豆漿 zīrányáng - cumin lamb w/ 5 space, was a little too rare and cumin-y but meat was super high quality boba - i really enjoyed this!! it was salty, cheesy, creamy and had sweet potato glutinous balls :D perfectly captures taiwanese desserts liángcài - included a salad with pig ear & jelly fish, really yummy just felt like i could make it myself diānxīn - roll cake, apple tart, cream puff, i don't normally like baked goods haha but it was still yummy gālǐ - wonton in curry sauce, wasn't taiwanese at all to me, felt out of place overall, i thought it was good but not worth the money! i loved the ambiance inside the restaurant!! my mom and i thought a few of the dishes were too salty but i'm glad i got to try it! would recommend trying once if u have the money but i wouldn't return. read more

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An incredible dining experience. Our family, knowing how much we love the LA dining scene, sent us here as a kind Christmas gift. The restaurant itself has an unassuming exterior and a similarly humble interior. It's BYOB with no corkage fee (!) so we sat down to enjoy our bottle of wine while we decided between the normal set menu or the extended one. We ultimately decided on the normal one, which is a decision that fills me with regret to this day. But also I guess now we get to go back a second time to try the extended menu. I loved all the dishes at Kato, and the order in which they were served blended together very well. The dishes heavily feature seafood, and they're all crafted with a skilled delicacy. My favorites were the uni toast and the sablefish fried rice. I'm still in awe of the use of shiso leaf in fried rice, and it's something I'm going to start doing myself! The meal leaves you very satisfied and just at the edge of full, the mark of a well planned menu. We will definitely be back to try the extended version! read more

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Absolutely incredible. I can't wait to come back! Kato is an unassuming restaurant tucked away in a strip mall that will exceed all expectations. A combination of Taiwainese and Japanese inspired cuisine, Kato is a tasting menu restaurant. The quality was amazing and I loved the mix between courses. We had 11 courses for $85.00 which is more than reasonable when it comes to an experience like this. Additionally, we tried the milk tea which was so creamy and delicious. Stand outs for the meals was definitely the baked bao stuffed with foie gras and pineapple, the fritter with fresh uni on top, "ramen" inspired enoki, as well as the trout dish. Everything was beautifully presented and flavorful - some dishes being more traditional while others definitely more creative. I really enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant, simple and small. It is a smaller restaurant but was not overly crowded, though we did come on a Wednesday so I suggest a reservation regardless. The service was friendly and informative for all of the dishes. I just cannot wait to come back again and I also am looking forward to finding out how frequently they change up their menu! A very memorable meal. read more

Kato is located in RowDTLA in the building next to the big tree in the center. Dining room option is only the set menu but you can order a la carte if you sit at the bar. They have a smaller menu and only 5-6 seats there. We were seated in the back dining room which was connected to the main dining space with the open kitchen. They have a very expansive alcohol/drinks menu which was unexpected. I was excited to try this place since it was nice to see Taiwanese cuisine in an elevated setting. For the set menu, they start you off with a shima aji sashimi, sweet shrimp sushi, and A5 wagyu tartare. The combination was fresh and interesting. The next course was a crab koji, korean spinach and caviar mixture that they serve with their milk bread. The caviar dish was rich and creamy which paired well with their milk bread. Next came an egg custard topped with chopped abalone and english peas in a homey broth. It was followed by a brown butter pastry with sea urchin filling topped with iberico ham. It was definitely an interesting combination of flavors. Next was a golden eye snapper which was paired with a bone broth and a bowl of rice topped with kelp salt. This was probably the least impressive dish as I thought it could have been more flavorful and not sure if the rice was completely necessary. It was then followed by the scallop and finally the duck. Overall, we thought the dishes were on the saltier side. The meal ended with a strawberry bingsoo with a few pieces of mochi and a jujube dessert. They also send you home with an egg tart to enjoy the next day. Parking: 2 hours free parking with validation in the parking structure. Meal overall took around 2-3 hours. read more

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This restaurant is located in a small strip mall. The restaurant appears to look like a hole-in-a-wall restaurant until you step inside. I was graciously seated by the hostess, to our table. (Kato has received one Michelin star) Our 9-course tasting extravaganza began. Now, keep in mind that 3 of these courses were dessert. Course one: 3 appetizers - Uni Tapioca,( Uni atop crispy tapioca) Oyster, tomato and Tuna Toast. Course two: Sea Bream, Meyer lemon Course three: Spiny lobster, sesame Course four: Chawanmushi, crab Course five: Turbot, Soy (Fish with broth over the fish) Course six: Yogurt, Elderflower (Tangy, sweet with yogurt and granitas) Course seven: Sabiefish, rice Course eight: Sweet potato, cheese Course nine: Jasmine, koji (Jasmine ice cream sandwich my favorite) Side Note: BYOB + NO Corkage Fee! read more

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Excellent dining experience. My wife and I have never tried a course menu before and we were both excited to try out Kato. Got a reservation a month ago and we were both excited for this place. We were reluctant to think we would not be full by the end because of how we saw the plates and portion. We even said lets get some tacos after but boy were we wrong. The whole dining experience lasted 1.5 hours. Each dish that came our way was incredibly tasty from the uni toast to the tapioca balls at the end. Each course took you to different experiences. Every time a new plate comes by, my wife and I took every bite and savored it. Hard to choose a favorite but my wife chose the uni toast and mine was the geoduck with caviar ($50 extra but very worth it!!!). Only thing I did not care for was the wagyu, it was delicious alongside the sticky rice but it was too chewy for my liking. The whole place gives a rustic but elegant feel to it. Sure its in a shopping plaza and sitted next to a mexican restaurant but the overall ambiance and look of the place presents what Kato is, don't judge a book by its cover but by its food LOL read more

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Good, but not amazing at this price point. Similar to how I feel about Benu. I think it falls into the trap of using too many high quality ingredients and strays a bit from pure Taiwanese cooking. I love caviar and wagyu as much as the next person, but I don't see what distinguishes those dishes here vs every other place that serves those. I wish I had a chance to try this place earlier, before it got a Michelin star and the menu shifted. Best wishes to the chef, and I hope that subsequent iterations will go back closer to its roots rather than trying to be like every other Michelin star It's fine to have shaved ice as a dessert, but it should taste better than the 雪花冰 at 士林夜市。 read more

We went into this restaurant with an open mind and wanted to love it. Overall the ambiance is nice, with the music just noticeable in the background without it overpowering any conversation you might want to have. Service is excellent as well. The drinks were really strong and all quite unique. The tasting menu was good but didn't quite justify the price. We did love how they elevated Taiwanese cuisine and all the ingredients were super fresh and seasoned perfectly. But it left us wanting more, which we couldn't get. So overall, I would say try this restaurant, but consider getting a slice of pizza after because you won't be full. read more

Automatic five stars. Amazing. Kato is inside the ROW DTLA with a parking structure. Reservations here are RARE so make sure you catch whatever is open and try this place outttt. We checked in at the front desk about 10 minutes in advance. They marked us down and seated us right away indoors past the glass doors. I appreciated the peace and quiet. The interior is gorgeous. The settings, the walls, decoration, and art is amazing and aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. The food is impeccable. My favorite was the dish with caviar, it just melted in my mouth. Also the scallop dish was buttery soft. The A5 Wagyu add on was extra but we had to do it!! So worth it. Amazing piece of sweet/sour/umami meat. The wine was a great choice as well. The servers were well versed and very polite, as well as humorous. They knew how to carry on conversation without bombarding us. The dessert shaved ice and the egg tart was a nice cherry on top. Amazing dinner. I wish everyone had a chance to try this place out. Great experience, nicely done Kato. read more

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Food and services were good, but values was not there. For 325 dollars plus 18% service charges. The tasting menu only offer 10 items, that is including 3 of them are deserts read more

Started my LA food tour at Kato, and even after leaving LA, I can say with 100% confidence that Kato was the absolute BEST restaurant I have been to in my life. Everything was literal perfection, from the grand ambiance of the place to the smallest details that are delicately placed in each dish. Kato definitely deserves its Michelin star, and I can see it earning even more in the future. Sorry if this is a long post, but I feel like it deserves every praise I can give it. Walking in, you could immediately tell you were going to be treated well. It felt as if the entire host and wait staff wanted to give you their undivided attention and actually wanted to spark some sort of conversation with you. Shoutout to Emma - she was extremely chill and fun to talk with, and even gave us so many recommendations to her favorite restaurants in the LA area whenever she stopped by our table. Not only was the service impeccable, but the whole environment and mood inside was super relaxed and classy. The furniture and silverware were fancy and contemporary, the lighting was not too bright yet not too dark, the background music gave some chill vibes, and best of all: you could see the legend himself, Jon Yao, prepare every dish through his open kitchen (not gonna lie, I did fanboy just a bit). Now moving onto the food. First off, we got two cocktails (Milk Punch and Bee's Knees) based on the waiter's recommendation, and both were exactly what we had wanted: more sweet and less of an alcoholic taste. Highly recommend the Milk Punch if you're not into alcoholic drinks. It sort of reminded me of Yakult. For the food itself, each dish was seemingly crafted to perfection and nothing less. The attention to detail was remarkable. Every component of the dish, whether if it was the protein or the garnish, was arranged at its ideal position on the dish to create a breathtaking display. It was truly like watching an art gallery, anticipating what the next dish would look like. In the end, there was enough food in the tasting menu that the both of us were well satiated. I won't get into each and every dish, cause this review is already as long as it is. I will go over some of my highlight dishes, however, even though I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them: -Torn Bluefin: Not sure if they were trying to make it look like a Shumai, but it sure looked like an elegant version of one! The bluefin completely melted in my mouth, and the crispy skin component added a nice crunchy texture to it. Loved the little flowers added on top as well. -Sea Urchin Donut: The absolute best thing I have EVER tasted in my life. Words cannot describe the flavor bomb that is in the simple looking dish. The brown butter filling inside...my goodness. The donut itself was perfectly chewy, and the Iberico ham on top perfectly offset the heaviness of the brown butter filling inside. -Astria Kaluga Caviar: Such exquisite presentation. Caviar was rich in flavor and the geoduck paired with the korean spinach complemented the dish well. The milk bread and butter on the side was a great addition as well. Even though it seemed like a lot of food, we both managed to finish it just cause it was that good. -Miyazaki A5 Striploin: One of the best pieces of A5 wagyu I've had. So incredibly fatty and tender, melting in your mouth as expected. My knife just slid right through the meat. Kato truly elevates how traditional Taiwanese dishes can be appreciated further beyond the level of typical fine dining. This was definitely the best food experience I've dined at yet. Next time I'm in LA, you bet I'll be back here to experience it all again. read more

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You wouldn't think to find this place in the plaza it's in because the mister and I sure thought we were lost. The mister loves Japanese food and since I'm Taiwanese, I was dying to try this place, so I treated the mister for his birthday here last November! We have never done a tasting menu, only because I'm a little eater and I was right, I was full halfway through. Good thing the mister had an appetite! The menu changes from time to time, so I can't wait to try it the next time we go. I understand why they got a Michelin star - the music, plates, ambiance, host/waitress, all perfectly in tune. I loved all the desserts we had. So light and refreshing, and just the right amount of sweet! read more