Hollywood’s next best restaurant will transport you from the hustle and bustle of the city and into the Yucatán Peninsula.
On Dec. 11, celebrated chef and Los Angeles native Wes Avila will open his newest establishment, Ka’teen. The coastal Mexican restaurant will showcase Alta California cuisine that pulls in flavors and techniques Avila absorbed during his many trips to the Yucatán region.
“My intention with Ka’teen is to offer a gathering space to bring back the community we all longed for during the hardest parts of the pandemic,” Avila explained. “The design of the space is spectacular. I want to recreate the festive atmosphere of people coming together to enjoy a meal that is meant to be experienced together in a setting unlike any other in L.A.”
Avila also carries with him culinary experience while traveling in and living in Carmel by the Sea and Paris, France, among other destinations around Europe and Latin America.
By now, you’ve likely grabbed tacos from Avila’s Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurant, Guerrilla Tacos, so you can trust the food at Ka’teen will be next level. The menu features a selection of tacos, but seafood really takes the starring role and is directly sourced from Baja California. Such items include scallop ceviche tostadas; oysters with jalapeño mignonette; tiradito-style Kampachi crudo; big-eye tuna aguachile, pescado zarandeado; braised lamb neck barbacoa with carrot habanero salsa and cochinita pibil.
The entrees are complemented by an expansive beverage program that primarily highlights mezcal-driven cocktails, such as the Gypsy Fever (Ilegal Mezcal, passion fruit, guava, lime, agave, fire water) and the Witch Doctor (Bruxo Espaïn Mezcal, mango, lime, agave, burning sage). It also includes an array of Mexican craft beers and wine list mostly from Latin American vineyards.
The Yucatán-inspired dining experience goes far beyond the flavors. Sprawling across 5,000-square-feet, the space also finds influences from the region’s jungle and Mayan Riviera. Diners enter Ka’teen via a reeded tunnel that ultimately opens to a lush oasis of vibrant greenery, basket chandeliers and hand-woven seating.
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As Tommie Hotel’s chef-driven signature restaurant, Ka’teen was developed in collaboration with Relevant Group and Ten Five Hospitality.
Reservations are now open.
See also: The 48 Best Los Angeles Restaurants You Must Try in 2022
Photography by: Andrea D'Agosto
