It’s not every day that a popular Miami restaurant expands to the West Coast, what with the narrative of California’s difficult environment for conducting business and Los Angeles’s often Byzantine rules for opening a large-scale restaurant. But Kyu’s
November 9 opening in Century City, tucked behind the historic Fairmont Century Plaza at the base of a two-skyscraper luxury residential project owned by billionaire developers David and Simon Reuben, makes sense for a restaurant chain with plans to expand globally.
Kyu debuted in Miami in 2016and opened inside Las Vegas’s Fontainebleau in December 2023. With a Nobu-style menu of approachable grilled dishes and an expansive, high-design interior, Kyu brings another compelling restaurant to Century City — which had been on the wane in recent years, following the closure of Craft. Things are turning, though, as just a few weeks ago, Jeremy Fox reopened Birdie G’s at the Fairmont Century Plaza, and noteworthy restaurants Sushi Noz from New York and vibey Greek seafood specialist Estiatorio Milos are slated to open next to Kyu in 2027. At Westfield Century City mall a few blocks away, Super Peach, Casa Dani, Katsuya, and Rumi’s Kitchen have expanded the shopping center’s already impressive restaurant set.
A typical meal at Kyu might start with fire-roasted shishitos with yuzu salt, or hamachi crudo with tomatillo ponzu salsa. Expect an izakaya feel to early bites like pork gyoza with truffle ponzu or the restaurant’s signature roasted cauliflower, gently singed on the outside and served over a pale green shishito herb vinaigrette. Among the mains, smoked brisket sliced and served on the bone conjures Texas barbecue, while the Thai rice stone pot with king crab or confit duck (there’s also a vegetarian version) will feel familiar to fans of bibimbap. Two things distinguish this Kyu from the other locations: A “reserve” menu features dry-aged steaks (30-day-aged rib-eye, 45-day-aged tomahawk), plus Japanese and Australian wagyu cuts for beef aficionados. And a handy happy hour menu distinguishes itself with an LA-only Korean-style short rib taco and a pork belly bao bun (references to Kogi and Momofuku, respectively). For dessert, the cinnamon roll with chai frosting is a must-order.
Kyu corporate executive chef Raheem Sealey continues to oversee food operations, while culinary director Emre Koyel will run the kitchen in Los Angeles day-to-day. General manager Harley DeMeyers was previously at Tao, San Vicente Bungalows, and Houston Hospitality, incorporating a service model where everyone will feel like a VIP. Los Angeles has long loved high-energy pan-Asian restaurants, with upscale Japanese lounges like Katana, Koi, Katsuya, and, of course, Nobu, serving raw and cooked proteins in sleek environments. Now Kyu joins those ranks, with Century City’s white-collar office worker-types ready to bounce in in for happy hours as well as swanky business dinners, dates, and more.
Kyu Los Angeles will serve from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, closed Sundays. Happy hour runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations are available here. It’s located at 10200 Constellation Boulevard, Suite 225, Los Angeles, CA 90067.
