Kato Restaurant

We had an outstanding dining experience at Kato. The food was superb, the service outstanding, and the ambiance enjoyable and lovely. There are so many great dining choices in LA, and my husband and I could not have been happier to have allotted a dining slot to Kato during our LA vacation. It was a very special meal with our son that we will always remember and cherish. Also, sometimes Michelin-starred restaurants in the US are not quite like their European counterparts in terms of standards, but Kato has certainly earned its star (and then some) in every way. Every member of the service team was excellent and at the top of their game. In particular, we were lucky enough to have Nathan and Fern overseeing our incredible dining and wine experience. But let me circle back to the absolutely delicious food and their outstanding wine list. Kato is a culinarian's delight. Just make a reservation, and you will thank yourself later.

Would just very heavily recommend this place for anyone looking to splurge on a date night in the City of Angels. The atmosphere, the space, and the vibe are very welcoming. Situated in a converted warehouse district type deal. Simplistic but warm with nice music and a super friendly staff. They offer an 8-10 course tasting menu based on ingredients from Southern California and probably 6/8 savory were fish related. Excellent service on par with the Michelin Star. All the little things hit even asking about our drive up from SD cause they knew we lived there somehow. The wine list is unreal. 70 pages kept across 6 cellars within the building or within a half mile of the restaurant. They have the biggest Reisling collection in the US. Wine pairings were masterfully paired with the dishes they came with. Great wines but truly elevated by the food as a combo. Bravo here. Food was excellent and the flavor and taste matched the beautiful presentation. My only qualm is I didn't like the wait staff's outfits. They looking like they were wearing beige lab coats and I thought it was kinda beat tbh. Side note they also do a cheaper and abbreviated tasting menu at their bar! Hard hard recommend. Do yourself a favor and check this place out

The service started out very well, but by the end of the night, we sat waiting for desserts and coffee to come out for a long time. The food was disappointing. We found shells in the fish maw soup and the lobster was raw for our dishes. They made a new one for me which was cooked correctly. For a Michelin star restaurant that specializes in seafood, it is disappointing that the chefs couldn't cook lobster. The other dishes were underwhelming except for the quail which was cooked perfectly. The desserts didn't have enough contrast in texture and some didn't have enough flavor. The cocktails didn't taste good either except for the milk punch. I am surprised that this restaurant has maintained its Michelin star status. Very disappointing for a meal that cost over $500 a person which included the tasting menu add ons and cocktails.

Kato delivered an exceptional dining experience from start to finish. The ambiance was beautiful, warm, inviting, and impeccably clean. Each dish was presented with delicate precision, and the overall presentation truly elevated the experience. The drink pairings complemented the food perfectly, enhancing each course without overpowering the flavors. Service was superb as well; the team not only attended to every detail but also shared thoughtful storytelling about the food and its history, which added so much depth to the meal. Overall, Kato is a standout restaurant that blends atmosphere, flavor, and service seamlessly. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a refined and memorable dining experience.

A dream come true

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food is simply outstanding; not a single dish was below very good and each are unique and diverse in taste, texture and experience. Two particular offerings were simply divine:the Suancai Yu and the Hongshao Rou. Neither was authentic of course but they were certainly elevated offerings and what was refreshing in a fine dining setting is that both have a little spicy kick to them, which is an element usually missing in this setting to my disappointment but not at KATO. The crispness on the fish skin paired with the amazingly soft and perfectly cooked fish and the peppery soup was out of this world and so was the softly melting flavorful beef; yup beef not pork, yet it work like gangbuster - the additions of tiny tendons by Chef Yao to this dish is divinely inspired. Service is rather mixed unfortunately. While pacing was great, actual wait staff experience varied greatly from one staff to the next. One staff would be experienced, friendly and confident while the next feels like he's on his first week at the job and struggling to describe the dishes with volume going up and down on purpose. Ambiance was good with the only detractors are passerby looking into the windows from outside; had this location not be on the ground floor, the floor-to-ceiling glass windows would work much better. I do have to stay that I am not a fan of the wait staff grayish "jacket" - the cut is simply poor and the color looks dingy instead of the muted and "easier to hide booboo than whites" it wanted to be. It reminded me of factory uniform in Asian country for "not so clean" manufacturing area. Overall, the food is truly outstanding and simply makes up for all the other not so perfect issues. Definitely a two Michelin star food level with so very close to three stars experience actually (the Youtiao and both desserts could use tweaking). The service is really what drop this restaurant from a two to only a one star in my opinion - nothing that a rigorous training wouldn't fix.

Kato was an absolutely stunning menu with an exceptional staff. There's a reason it persisted through covid until now.

Food is great but stupidly expensive. One-bite snack for 45 bucks is insane, even in LA. Literally, one plate was suppose to be eaten in a single bite and cost 45. I had 3 of these “bar snacks,” a cocktail, and a glass of wine and spent $230. On what planet is this reasonable? Service was remarkable though.

Kato by Jon Yao draws on his Taiwanese heritage and upbringing in the San Gabriel Valley to present a tasting menu that is both deeply personal and elegantly modern. The cuisine is rooted in Taiwanese flavors, reinterpreted through the lens of California’s seasonal ingredients and subtle technique. Many of the dishes carry a sense of nostalgia, inspired by Yao’s childhood memories, and each course feels delicate, precise, and intentional.

The dining room reflects this balance of refinement and warmth. The modern, industrial-chic space—think wood, concrete, and clean lines—centers around a large open kitchen, where the Kato team works with calm focus and quiet artistry. It’s a space that feels simultaneously intimate and ambitious.

At the front of house, General Manager Nikki Reginaldi is a standout presence, bringing genuine warmth, enthusiasm, and poise to every service. The broader team mirrors her professionalism: attentive, polished, and deeply engaged, clearly underscoring Kato’s pursuit of greater excellence and recognition.

Guests should note that service pacing is intentionally unhurried and services runs approximately 2.5 to 3 hours for the full experience. The tasting menu sits at the upper end of the fine-dining spectrum ($325 per person), and an 18% operating charge is automatically added to each bill.

For those seeking an elegant, meticulously executed dining experience in the ROW DTLA area, Kato stands among the city’s finest. Reservations are essential given its limited seating and consistent demand — but for a meal that thoughtfully bridges cultural roots and contemporary craft, it’s well worth the effort.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Milk Bread Seaweed Butter

I really enjoyed the dining experience at Kato. The ambience was nice and the food was absolutely delicious. As someone who was born and raised in Taiwan, I did not expect the combination of ingredients, yet they are very unique and tasty. Some of the dishes also feel very nostalgic to me, they reminded me of something I once had in home-cooked meals, wedding banquet foods, or casual street eats. They made me miss home. I am really glad to have spend my anniversary here with my husband, who is actually the one that picked Kato for our special night. It's a meal and a core memory we both treasured, and we couldn't stop talking about the dining experience on our way home. Thank you for curating a wonderful menu and a wonderful night for us.

Lovely ambience, creative take on Taiwanese food. Terrific service. A little on the pricey side for the experience but worth it if you like Tasting menus as very original. Bar menu was quite filling, we added an extra dish and probably didn't need to as we left feeling very full. Nice personal touches like knowing our names when we arrived and giving us a lovely note and extra dessert for our anniversary. We enjoyed sitting at the bar as we were able to interact with the three “bartenders/servers“ that were there and it made it more fun.

We had an amazing experience at Kato. Absolutely loved the flavor profiles showcasing Taiwanese cuisine. In particular, the wagyu beef cheek was something very special that we'll reminisce on for a long time. In addition, we thoroughly enjoyed the beverages we indulged in. Easily the best mocktail program that we've ever experienced. Lastly, we're very thankful for the service provided by Fern. Very knowledgeable, personable, and professional. Really contributed to making the evening feel even that much more special. Overall, we left that evening feeling very inspired. Many thanks team Kato!🤘❤️

Amazing food. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Attentive service. 10/10 will definitely return!

very bad experience. This is my first time in A fine dinning restaurant with this much loud noise. Very very bad. Don't recommend ppl go there. And their seafood not fresh, taste so fishy. Told them my opinion, they gave me a very bad taste dessert. Never ever go there again.

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