JON YAO
Kato (Los Angeles, CA)
Jon Yao was born to Taiwanese parents in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California. His parents are interior designers but his mother worked in restaurants in her youth and is an amazing cook. He graduated with a degree in Anthropology from UC Riverside. He is a self taught chef who has staged at various restaurants in Los Angeles and San Francisco. He chose to pursue a career in the hospitality industry to discover more about his heritage and upbringing as well as to share Taiwanese culture with the world. His cooking philosophies are to serve and highlight pristine ingredients in simple ways that do not compromise the identity of the product. At Kato, he is known for his seasonal seafood focused tasting menus. He is planning on moving Kato to a new location that will allow for a more refined dining experience.
