Renowned LA Restaurant Here’s Looking at You to Close

News Summary

Here’s Looking at You, a celebrated restaurant in Koreatown, Los Angeles, will permanently close on June 13. Co-founded by the late chef Jonathan Whitener, the restaurant was known for its innovative cross-cultural dining. Despite facing numerous challenges, including the pandemic, Lien Ta invites patrons to enjoy the final weeks of a beloved venue that has made a significant impact on the local culinary scene since opening in 2016.

Los Angeles – Here’s Looking at You, a renowned restaurant situated in Koreatown, will permanently close its doors on June 13. The establishment has been a mainstay in the community since it opened in 2016, co-founded by the late chef Jonathan Whitener and partner Lien Ta.

The restaurant gained acclaim for its exploration of cross-cultural dining, featuring standout dishes such as uni panna cotta and salsa-negra-crusted frogs’ legs. The culinary innovations came paired with a creative cocktail program, enhancing the overall dining experience at the establishment.

The announcement of the closure was made by Lien Ta through an Instagram post on May 6, where she noted that the restaurant had faced numerous challenges and near closures in the past. However, she confirmed that this closure will be final. The timing aligns with the conclusion of their 10-year lease for the property, adding to the bittersweet nature of the news.

Ta has expressed a desire for patrons to make the most of the restaurant’s final weeks, inviting customers to experience their favorite dishes one last time. Here’s Looking at You opened to significant praise, garnering attention from food critics, notably Jonathan Gold of the Los Angeles Times, who highlighted the restaurant’s ability to blend flavors and ingredients from various cultures into a cohesive menu using fresh, locally sourced components.

Both Ta and Whitener brought experience from prestigious culinary backgrounds before launching this restaurant. They had previously worked at Jon & Vinny’s, with Whitener serving as chef de cuisine at Animal. The decision to establish Here’s Looking at You in Koreatown was intentional, aimed at revitalizing non-Korean fine dining in the area.

In 2019, Ta and Whitener expanded their culinary footprint by opening a second restaurant, All Day Baby, in Silver Lake. This venture quickly distinguished itself with its breakfast offerings, thus attracting a loyal customer base. Unfortunately, All Day Baby closed permanently in late 2024 due to declining business and landlord-related issues.

Here’s Looking at You faced significant hurdles during the COVID-19 pandemic, temporarily shutting down in July 2020. The restaurant struggled to meet rent under a takeout-only model but managed to reopen in January 2022 following successful fundraising efforts through GoFundMe and a revised agreement with the landlord.

The loss of chef Jonathan Whitener in February 2024, at the young age of 36, left a significant void in the culinary community. His passing sparked a wave of support from both patrons and fellow chefs for Ta and the restaurant, indicating the impact they had made together. Here’s Looking at You maintained its reputation after reopening by continuing to serve its popular dishes and innovative specials.

Despite the numerous challenges over the years, Here’s Looking at You stood out as a notable establishment within Los Angeles’s culinary scene. As the closing date approaches, customers have just over a month to visit before the restaurant shuts down permanently on June 13. In her farewell message, Ta conveyed heartfelt gratitude to all patrons for their support over the years, marking the end of an era for this unique dining destination.

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Additional Resources

• Eater: Here’s Looking at You Closing
• Los Angeles Times: Yangban Closes
• Eater: Baekjeong Reopening
• Hawaii News Now: Korean Restaurant Closing
• KITV: Sorabol Closing
• Wikipedia: Restaurant Closure
• Google Search: Restaurant Closures 2025
• Google Scholar: Restaurant Closure Impact
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Restaurant
• Google News: Restaurant Closures Los Angeles