2 weeks Ago
Katianna and John Hong of Yangban in LA. | Stan Lee John and Katianna Hong’s modern Korean restaurant has closed its chapter in Arts District Celebrated modern Korean restaurant Yangban is closing its space in the Arts District after three years. The move comes after a statement released on Instagram on April 16 saying chef and owners John and Katianna Hong are “in the midst of exploring new possibilities,” implying the closure.
When pressed for more context, a spokesperson said the Hongs are searching for a new location in another Los Angeles neighborhood.The Hongs came to Los Angeles by way of Napa Valley, where they cooked at three-Michelin-starred Restaurant at Meadowood and later at the Charter Oak; Katianna was executive chef at the latter. Neither John nor Katianna grew up in Los Angeles but spent time cooking professionally at Mélisse.
In January 2022, they opened Yangban Society in the former Bon Temps space as a casual Jewish deli-meets-Korean superette with casual dishes like kimchi pozole, barbecue beef ribs, and furikake-dusted Asian pears with avocado. Yangban garnered recognition from numerous publications, including positive write-ups from the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Bon Appétit, and Eater, including an Eater LA Award for Most Impressive Transformation.That transformation included a more composed dining approach, featuring a tasting menu and more upscale dishes.
By September 2023, Yangban Society dropped the latter half of its name and completely remodeled the interior with a dimly lit, moody interior adorned with Korean artwork and crafted decor. The restaurant settled into an upscale, modern Korean destination appealing more to Angeleno and Korean American palates with dishes like dry-aged galbi-marinated ribeye and new-school banchan.In December 2024, Yangban announced a temporary closure, hoping to reopen in spring 2025 after another remodel that would have built out a new cocktail bar.
Katianna is also a competitor in the current season of Top Chef, which made the temporary closure less than ideal.It could be said that Yangban was the most written-about Los Angeles restaurant from both local and national perspectives during its tenure in the Arts District, but that the challenges of the 2025 wildfires, as well as the ongoing tariff and economic downturn, were too great to overcome. In addition, the proposed cost of its second renovation made the prospect of reopening in the space less appealing.
Yangban’s financial and operational partners Sprout, which is also behind Redbird, Destroyer, Vespertine, and the soon-to-open Lielle, will continue to back the Hongs in their next venture. Hopefully, one of LA’s most celebrated and impressive modern Korean restaurants can find new footing, perhaps in Koreatown itself or adjacent areas like Mid-Wilshire, Hancock Park, or Larchmont, where well-heeled Korean Americans tend to live. Wonho Frank Lee Banchan array at Yangban.
Wonho Frank Lee The dining room of Yangban is September 2023 after its remodeled interior was completed..
