On June 13, the groundbreaking Koreatown restaurant Here’s Looking at You will permanently close its doors, marking the conclusion of a significant culinary era that began in 2016. Fans have until June 13 to experience the innovative menu, featuring items such as uni panna cotta and salsa-negra-crusted frogs’ legs, before the restaurant closes permanently.
Highlights
- Here’s Looking at You, which was founded by Lien Ta and the late Jonathan Whitener, gained popularity for its globally inspired cooking.
- The closure coincides with the expiration of the restaurant’s 10-year lease and marks the end of Ta’s restaurateur days.
- All customers can visit the place before the restaurant closes permanently in June.
Restaurant’s Roots and Evolution
Here’s Looking at You became popular in no time with its spicy, nimble cuisine that crossed cultural boundaries while incorporating farmers market ingredients, stated by Jonathan Gold in a 2016 Los Angeles Times review.
Both Whitener and Ta previously worked under Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook, with Whitener serving as chef de cuisine at Animal prior to the pair opening their own establishment on Sixth Street in Koreatown. Three years after the opening of Here’s Looking at You, Ta and Whitener opened their second restaurant, All Day Baby, in Silver Lake.
Closure Announcement and Its Impact
On May 6, Lien Ta posted on Instagram regarding the restaurant’s shutdown, saying, “We’ve closed this restaurant a few painful times. You could argue that we ought to be used to it by now, but… no, we are most certainly not.”
She went on to say that the closing aligns with the expiration of the 10-year lease on the building, writing, “This lease is ending, as is my era as a restaurateur, and I quite honestly can’t think of anything I desire more than to see all of us enjoy these final weeks of my favorite living restaurant. It’s a great little place.”
Response From Loyal Customers
Since the announcement, regulars have been rushing to secure table reservations to enjoy the restaurant’s top hits and delectable drinks one last time. Social media is flooded with praise from diners who are posting fond memories of their favorite dishes and experiences. Local chefs and owners of Here’s Looking at You expressed gratitude for what the establishment contributed to the dining scene of Los Angeles.
A History of Challenges and Triumphs
Here’s Looking at You has been through significant tribulations during its time, including a temporary closure in July of 2020 during the height of COVID-19, when the restaurant could no longer sustain paying rent while operating as a takeout establishment.
While the shutdown was not permanent, Ta and Whitener did not know if the restaurant would survive the pandemic. It reopened in January 2022 after it came to an agreement with the landlord and raised money via GoFundMe.
The Loss of Jonathan Whitener
The restaurant’s worst blow came in February 2024 with co-founder Jonathan Whitener’s premature death at 36, shocking the Los Angeles restaurant community. Following Whitener’s passing, the community rallied behind Ta and the restaurant, with chefs offering to help out while the crew made plans for what was next.
Redefining Koreatown’s Non-Korean Dining Scene
Ta and Whitener were first attracted to Koreatown for its central location, calling it “the physical heart of Los Angeles.” They wanted to “help revive the non-Korean, more-than-casual dining culture of the area, like when Old Hollywood used to hang out and spend an evening in this mid-Wilshire area.” Fans have until Friday, June 13, before the restaurant closes permanently.
As Here’s Looking at You sets its sights on closing up operations after nearly a decade of culinary innovation, it leaves its mark eternally on the Los Angeles dining world. “It is a fragile time,” Ta writes, “But it gladdens us that we made it this far, my word, we owe you for that.”
