Kato

Stepping into Kato’s Arts District location feels like entering a different world altogether. The sleek, modern space features soaring ceilings, curved wooden furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the concrete dining room with natural light. Since relocating from its humble West LA strip mall origins in 2022, this Taiwanese fine-dining destination has transformed into something far more ambitious—a full-fledged culinary experience complete with a $225 tasting menu featuring wagyu, caviar, and creative cocktails.

The kitchen shines brightest at the bookends of the meal. Early courses deliver delicate bites of sweet shrimp and hibiscus macarons with chicken liver that feel perfectly balanced, while dessert brings the house favorite: a silky brown butter tapioca ball crowned with cheese foam and shortbread shavings. The twelve-course journey also features gems like egg custard nestled in briny kelp vinegar and gently-cooked golden eye snapper swimming in Chinese mustard-scented broth. For those not ready to commit to the full experience, the eight-seat bar offers a condensed menu with standouts like Dungeness crab fried rice and uni-stuffed puff pastry.

The service here strikes that perfect balance between polished and genuine—warm enough to make you forget you’re dining in what amounts to a shopping center. Drink options range from creative cocktails like a brown butter milk punch with five spice and pineapple to thoughtful non-alcoholic pairings for those skipping the wine. Every detail feels intentional, from the herbaceous hand soaps in the bathroom to the carefully curated soundtrack.

Kato represents something special in LA’s dining landscape: a restaurant daring to elevate Taiwanese cuisine to the highest levels of fine dining. While the ambitious pivot from casual to formal hasn’t been entirely seamless, each visit reveals more of what made the original location so beloved. This is a spot for those seeking something singular—a place where familiar flavors meet refined technique, perfect for celebrating milestones or impressing anyone who thinks they’ve seen everything LA has to offer.