Kato, a Los Angeles-based restaurant led by Taiwanese-American chef Jon Yao and sommelier Ryan Bailey, has been honored with the Resy One To Watch Award 2024 by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. This accolade is given to a rising-star restaurant that has significantly impacted the gastronomic scene, showing potential for international acclaim.
Established by Chef Yao in 2016 in a West LA strip mall, Kato initially offered a tasting menu inspired by Yao’s Taiwanese heritage and his mother’s cooking. In early 2022, the restaurant relocated to the ROW DTLA in the Arts District, expanding its operations and enhancing its facilities. This move included promoting Nikki Reginaldo to managing partner and hiring Austin Hennelly as the bar director.
Kato’s current menu, served from a kitchen featuring a custom wood-fired hearth and grill, includes 12 courses that blend traditional Taiwanese flavors with modern culinary techniques. Highlights include caramelized sablefish with abalone and basil, grilled lobster complemented by a sauce made from roasted shells, and a Dungeness crab custard. The dessert offerings, such as boniato yam boba with fresh cheese and roasted Taiwanese pineapple mille feuille, showcase the restaurant’s commitment to innovation and quality.
William Drew, Director of Content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, praised Kato for its unique flavors and hospitality, noting that the award will help bring Yao’s creations to a broader international audience. Yao expressed gratitude for the recognition, crediting his team and supporters for their role in the restaurant’s success.
The announcement of the Resy One To Watch Award precedes The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024 awards ceremony, scheduled for June 5 in Las Vegas, where further accolades in the culinary world will be presented.