Michelin starchef Chris Ono will open Hansei on Aug. 11 at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo as a part of the center’s Master Chef in Residence Program.
This program allows chefs to temporarily occupy a restaurant space to explore their culinary vision for Japanese cuisine before opening their own independent restaurant. Think of it as a restaurant incubator.
Hansei, meaning “self-reflection,” will provide an immersive three-part dining experience where guests will begin by entering through a floral Japanese garden with a calming waterfall as they enjoy a preliminary course. Next, guests will move inside the restaurant and sit at the chef’s counter where they will observe Ono’s cooking and plating techniques.
“It was a very personal decision for me to accept this role at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, which is committed to the preservation and celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture,” Ono said. “As Japanese Americans, we have a deep and rich history of our own, especially in Los Angeles. Being a fourth generation Nikkei, I am always searching for my identity as an individual and as a chef, which I am grateful to explore through cooking right here in Little Tokyo.”
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Some of Ono’s menu highlights include the Crispy Crab, a modern spin on the California Roll made with Dungeness Crab, Santa Barbara sea urchin, avocado, cucumber, sesame seeds, fresh wasabi, crystalized soy and Nikiri soy, and the Black Hawk Farms New York Wagyu Steak Teriyaki made with grilled broccolini, confit cherry tomato, house pickles, Koda Farms rice and Dwelly Farm’s corn as a nod to the teriyaki bento box lunch.
By launching Hansei, Ono aims to further explore the intricacies of L.A. Nikkei cuisine while paying homage to the dishes of the first generation of Japanese immigrants in Los Angeles. To provide more cultural relevance to his restaurant, Hansei features authentic Japanese scrolls that were hand painted by master artist in residence Hirokazu Kosaka with Japanese caricatures illustrating a playful political critique.
Hansei will be open to the public Wednesday through Friday starting at 6 p.m with four turns of eight guests at a time. You can secure a reservation with this link for $175 per person.
The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center is located at 244 San Pedro St 90012.
Photography by: Photo by Katrina Frederick for Hansei
