By: Alondra Nicole
For Los Angeles royals in search of new culinary excitement, look no further- the Kodō
restaurant has forged new flavor onto the scene of the Arts District. The ambience at Kodō
echoes a modern Manhattan dine-out affair, though it remains true to its Los Angeles edge and
artfulness. Upon entering the establishment, high ceilings enhance the flow of various energies
throughout the room – doubling Kodō as a breathing art exhibition. Each furniture fixture
arranged in the dining venue is a hand-crafted piece of design that was purposefully made to
support the splendor of human activity. The marble bar, underpinned by a jet-black foundation of
stone, leads the eye to numerous imported bottles installed into the very makings of Kodō’s
walls. The Kodō restaurant is led by Executive Chef Alex Suzuki, whose reputation as a culinary
artist is well known across the mountain peaks of California.
During a visit to Kodō one may find themselves enraptured by the extensive snack dishes menu,
which includes specialties like Braised Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps, Charcoal Grilled Oysters, and
Karate Broccolini’s. If a Kodō guest elects Charcoal Grilled Oysters as a starter, brought to their
handmade table will come a generous assortment of Pacific Oysters rubbed in garlic butter,
accompanied by citrus ponzu. The brim of each oyster is torched to achieve a caramelized
simmer. A similar technique is performed unto the Karate Broccolini – sautèed florets are
charred in a tender glaze and served with imported Japanese chili oil. Though the culinary
searing technique is not featured within the cocoon of the Braised Pork Belly Lettuce Wrap,
garlic jalepeño and radish pickles combine fascinatingly with the sweet soy braised pork belly.
Buttered lettuce and miso bean paste amplify the varying flavor origins incorporated into the
layered wrap.
Inside the Kodō restaurant sits a gray-scale slab table composed of massing artistic dimensions.
The table’s edges mirror the rugged texture of the coastal cliffs in Santa Cruz. Guests are
welcomed to dine upon this table with their treasured friends and mates, absorbing and
contributing to its distinct force of gravity. Main courses at the Kodō restaurant range in
flavoring and preparation style; a few of the delicacies on the hot menu include Sticky Miso Pork
Ribs, Mushroom Fam Risotto, and ‘Garlic Crack Chicken’. The Saikyo Miso splashed into the
Mushroom Fam Risotto is made from premium grade soybeans and rice grown in Japan.
Ingredient elements in the dish involve flavor notes of braised mushroom medley, parmesan, and
mushroom dashi broth. Comparably, the Sticky Miso Pork Ribs combine complimentary flavor
elements for a roasted finish. Sweet miso soy and fresh chives build the coating for the roasted
pork rib to marinate superbly alongside a house-made cucumber sunomono. For guests craving a
fresh wind of delight, Kodō’s ‘Garlic Crack Chicken’ combines Tokyo onions, sautèed bell
peppers, and garlic white soy to spruce the tender organic chicken thigh. Each dish available on
the hot menu promises to take guests on a pixelated journey of culture and gratification.
A prominent element of the Kodō restaurant is its beloved Sushi counter. Guests gather daily at
this contemporary Sushi nook to feast on imported fish sourced locally and from private markets
in Japan. A la Carte Sushi offering types include Toro, Maguro, Salmon, Uni, Suzuki, and
countless others. Maki-Rolls are also assembled fresh at the time each order is placed. In the
Kodō ‘Spicy Toro Roll’, guests are fed Spicy Toro packed in with spicy mayo, cucumber, and
pickled radish. Vegan offerings include the ‘Futo-Maki Roll, which features seasoned spinach,
seasoned cucumber, fresh kampyo and minced carrots. For guests craving comfort food with a
touch of elegance, Kodō delivers the ‘Shiso sea bream ceviche’ with shallots and cucumber – a
dreamy delicacy that transports diners to seaside retreats.
There are a multitude of enticing dining settings within and around the primary dining space at
Kodō. Bask in the tranquility of Los Angeles weather at the breezy outdoor patio, then
draw-close in conversation with a lover in the intimate private lounge. Regardless of where
seated, all guests are treated to a menu that celebrates the best of Kyoto cuisine with a California
twist. For visitors desiring to elevate their dining experience, Kodō offers a private dining room
optimal for special occasions. When electing private seating, guests are treated to a customized
menu in a secluded space with as much artful splash as the main grounds. In Los Angeles,
artfulness is expressed through cultural cuisine; the Kodō restaurant has encapsulated the essence
of the city while forging its own path of novelty.
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