Kato - Extended Tasting Menu

PorkyBelly · May 20, 2017, 7:05am

I was always hesitant to try kato because of their tiny portions and for FOLH™ (Fear Of Leaving Hangry.) But now with their newly introduced 9 course tasting menu i figured I’d give them a try. They also stopped serving their supplemental courses (they’re opening a new “fast-casual” place) so your only choices are the 6 or 9 course tasting menus.

Unfortunately the portions are still small and i still left hungry after 9 courses, 3 orders of bread and over $100 after tax and tip. Fortunately the food was tasty and shunji is right down the road.

Highlights were the corn, softshell crab, trout, and duck.

strawberry soda

corn, truffle, yolk
I felt like a giant eating this, this came in a bowl the size of a tea cup. The yolk had that perfect texture between soft Play-Doh and warm fudge. The corn had a nice subtle sweetness, but the single shaving of truffle was just ornamental.

hamachi, cucumber, scallion
Buttery and soft

tuna, beets, plum
A little too sweet with beets, not bad.

burrata, xo, celery

carbs, gluten

[half] softshell crab, basil
Perfectly fried and crispy crab with chunks of sweet meat. If anybody sees the other half of my softshell crab walking around please let me know.

ocean trout, cabbage, eggplant
Pillowly soft sous vide trout, very good.

duck, kelp, mushroom
I’m pretty sure this was sous vide-ed again. The duck could have been warmer and skin crispier but the flavors were “on point.”

crab, conpoy, nori

buttermilk, rose

not toto

Banging continues at Shunji

kusshi oyster, meyer lemon ponzu, fermented chili paste, nasturtium leave, daikon

fried tapioca fritter, brown butter soy, uni

kanpachi, “aguachile”

flavors of taiwanese stir fry - raw spot prawns, raw snap peas, roasted shell vinaigrette

chilled silken tofu, “fish fragrant”/yu xiang sauce, shiso, smoked trout roe

slightly poached in olive oil ocean trout, crispy skin, eggplant, black vinegar, fermented chilis

steam turbot, relish of scallion and ginger, chinese broccoli, kohlrabi, soy and fish bone broth

grilled octopus, shacha (taiwanese bbq sauce), herb salad, shacha fried rice with dried scallop

frozen yogurt, chewy grapes, sorrel and grape ice

sweet potato boba, cheese foam, frozen & shaved brown butter sable cookie

Kato
11925 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(424) 535-3041

Chowseeker1999 · May 20, 2017, 2:20pm

Thanks @PorkyBelly. Nice pics and thoughts. Were most of the dishes in the tea cup size portions like the egg? I get that it’s a tasting menu, but I could see why you left hungry. Especially since the previous highlight you and JL? and others pointed out (a pork belly rice bowl?) is now no longer on the menu.

Bookwich · May 20, 2017, 5:01pm

I would be so sad if that was my plate of soft shell crab. What do you think would happpen of you asked for seconds?

Also, that is like a quarter stalk of celery. Cheap bastards.

bulavinaka · May 20, 2017, 5:42pm

What do you think would happpen of you asked for seconds?

Ask the table next to @PorkyBelly for the other half. Geez - crab on the half-softshell - what next…?

CiaoBob · May 20, 2017, 6:10pm

Did they not offer the supplements with the longer meal? Those are generally a bit more substantial than the TM™ dishes.
Still no booze? That food cries out for beer/sake/wine/soju.

PorkyBelly · May 20, 2017, 8:45pm

the supplements are completely gone now with the addition of the longer menu. I was so looking forward to that damn chicken sandwich and pork belly rice. when they told me this would be my last savory course and they’re not offering any supplements i died a lil inside.

still no booze.

CiaoBob · May 20, 2017, 8:59pm

sad

even sadder

aaqjr · May 20, 2017, 9:02pm

I get the feeling they are pretty open to suggestions if you talk to them -looks like a very small team. The portion sizes are super small but I very much appreciate the creativity at that price point as someone for whom tasting menus are usually not in the budget.

PorkyBelly · May 20, 2017, 9:14pm

The egg was the smallest dish, everything else i would say was appetizer size or smaller. at $80 + tax and tip it’s not quite the bargain. as for the smaller menu at $55, i can’t imagine anybody with an average appetite being satisfied, especially with no more supplements.

J_L · May 21, 2017, 3:57am

I look at Kato as a 5-9 course series of exquisite amuse bouche to start my evening. Once that’s done, then Shunji is usually the next bang bang.

BradFord · May 21, 2017, 4:05am

Good ol’ Nancy sings the FTC anthem:

frommtron · May 21, 2017, 4:06pm

Nothing cries out for soju.

I kid. Sort of.

CiaoBob · May 21, 2017, 6:41pm

Hahaha. Kind of true.

Xochitl · May 28, 2017, 7:42pm

I left a message, at Kato, asking if we could bring our own booze and never heard back. Not sure what the rule is. I remember years ago, spending time in Manhattan, the restaurants would advertise BYOB, but I think on a thread here it was mentioned that unless they already have a liquor license, they can’t serve.

PorkyBelly · May 28, 2017, 8:17pm

They weren’t allowing byob when i went

aaqjr · May 28, 2017, 10:41pm

When I last went they said they are in the process of getting their license and don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that.

Barolo · June 14, 2019, 5:17am

They called me and told me that it was BYOB.

This restaurant is excellent. Easily the best non-Japanese Asian food I’ve eaten in LA. (Though it seems Japanese in some ways…)

Clayfu · June 14, 2019, 11:28pm

I was told you have to use their water glasses for anything you bring in.

moonboy403 · June 14, 2019, 11:54pm

What if I BOYG(lass)?

J_L · June 16, 2019, 2:57am

Let’s not jeopardize Kato’s license application by going on about the BYOB. Only half kidding.