San Gabriel Valley native Jon Yao digs deep into his childhood and his mother’s cooking for the highly personal Taiwanese-inspired tasting menus at Downtown’s Kato. And the lens through which he sees food and his laser-focused attention to detail certainly haven’t gone unnoticed.
Not only has Kato topped The Los Angeles Times list of the 101 best restaurants in LA two years in a row, but the restaurant has a MICHELIN Star and was named “One to Watch” by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
But when Yao isn’t in the kitchen, he likes to frequent everything from other fine-dining destinations like Somni and Providence to more casual bistros like Camélia.
Read on to discover where Jon Yao loves to eat in Los Angeles, and then book those spots on OpenTable.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Somni (West Hollywood)
Chef Aitor Zabala recently reopened his ambitious, intimate fine-dining tasting-menu restaurant. The courses here take inspiration from Zabala’s Catalan background.
Why Jon loves it: “[This is] my favorite fine-dining restaurant in the city. [It’s] definitely an inspiration and [the] awe-inspiring precision is a given. [I] love that fine-dining perspectives are getting more specific in the city.”
Vespertine (Culver City)
Visionary chef Jordan Kahn’s Vespertine is an immersive, one-of-a-kind experience in LA. The restaurant received two MICHELIN Stars and a Green Star for sustainability soon after it reopened in 2024.
Why Jon loves it: “[It’s an] incredible, all-encompassing, holistic experience. [It’s] also very inspiring every time I go. [It] changes how you perceive and internalize the act of eating.”
Bavel (Arts District)
Bavel is the second LA restaurant opened by husband-and-wife team Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis after Bestia, and it’s a love letter to Middle Eastern cuisine and bold flavors.
Why Jon loves it: “I live super close and it’s so sharp and vibrant. I love all of chef Ori’s restaurants but this is my favorite.”
Dunsmoor (Glassell Park)
Chef-owner Brian Dunsmoor has perfected the art of open-fire cooking at his eponymous, candle-lit restaurant that incorporates some of the greatest hits from his culinary career (hint: get the cornbread).
Why Jon loves it: “I always love to see open hearths and how people use it. I have to stop myself from just getting full from the opening section but the pork chop with smoked pork fat is a must.”
chi SPACCA (Hollywood)
Meat is what’s on the menu at iconic chef Nancy Silverton’s Italian steakhouse, which serves everything from housemade charcuterie to a 42-ounce tomahawk pork chop. Don’t overlook the substantial Italian wine list.
Why Jon loves it: “[It is] great for large groups of friends and incredible grilled proteins. The cured meat plates are also incredible. If my dad asks to get taken to a steakhouse-type restaurant for a celebration, he’s talking about this.”
Providence (Hollywood)
In addition to two MICHELIN Stars and a Green Star for sustainability, chef Michael Cimarusti’s 20-year-old ode to the sea has also earned him a James Beard Award for Best Chef: West.
Why Jon loves it: “[I] have to pay respects to one of the longest standing fine-dining restaurants in the city. [It’s] a temple of seafood and incredible local farming. The menu is always changing, and it’s always a special experience.”
Camélia (Arts District)
The owners of Tsubaki and OTOTO meld Japanese and French flavors at their stunning Arts District bistro, which has a sake selection that’s as impressive and thoughtful as the wine list.
Why Jon loves it: “[It’s] the neighborhood bistro for me. You can go and put together a long menu for yourself or just stop in for an entree, but the Japanese-French connection just ends up feeling so comforting and perfect for a week night.”
République (Miracle Mile)
République by chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke is quintessential LA and a destination for its best-in-class pastries, elevated French fare, and iconic architecture.
Why Jon likes it: “[It’s] great for dinner and one of my favorite brunch spots. [It’s] great to be able to step into a large airy room for breakfast, coffee, and incredible pastries.”
Summer Rolls (Rosemead)
This casual spot serves no-fuss, flavorful Vietnamese fare and is especially known for its signature pork spring rolls, pork chop rice, and banh mi sandwiches.
Why Jon likes it: “[They make] incredible spring rolls. I have to go at the very least once every two weeks. Always do the bun bo hue, lemongrass chicken rolls, and sour pork rolls.”
Lu’s Garden (San Gabriel)
A go-to for homestyle Taiwanese dishes in the San Gabriel Valley, locals love heading back to Lu’s Garden for its popular buffet.
Why Jon loves it: “[It’s] the closest thing I can find to my mothers cooking. This is a weekly staple for us. Choose anything out of the hot case [and] you can’t go wrong with a side of white rice.”
Karen Palmer is a pizza- and pasta-obsessed food writer based in Los Angeles. She is the former editorial director of Tasting Table, and her work has appeared in Eater, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and many other publications. Follow her on Instagram at @karenlpalmer.
