Meet 2 of L.A.’s Michelin award-winning restaurants 

The interview with Mae Malai chef Malai Data can be viewed in the video player at the bottom of this story.

Los Angeles is home to some very good eateries, but not all are created equal. 

One establishment that retained their Michelin Star for the fifth time in a row this year is Kato in downtown Los Angeles. 

Serving Asian-American fare in an upscale setting, Kato’s menu is curated by chef Jon Yao, who was inspired by his upbringing in the San Gabriel Valley. 

Co-owner and sommelier Ryan Bailey detailed the rise of the restaurant, which started in a simple 900 square foot space eight years ago and has now moved to a spot at ROW DTLA that’s more than five times larger. 

“We went from six employees to 40, and 900 square feet to about 5,000,” he said.  “Then we took on the undertaking of putting together a wine list of over 3,000 wines and [implementing] exceptional bar service.”