Arts District restaurant Yess from chef Junya Yamasaki closed without notice last week after a year of operation, leaving some diners who had reservations in the dust. Eater spoke with Yess owner and designer Kino Kaetsu, who confirmed the temporary shutter and said the restaurant will reopen on May 3.

After it reopens and for the indefinite future, the restaurant will serve a $110 tasting menu on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., with an a la carte menu available on Sundays. The restaurant will revamp its non-alcoholic, Japanese tea, and cocktail menus as part of its first anniversary.

Come June, the space and menu will undergo a significant overhaul requiring a significant pause in service. The exact changes, which Kaetsu refers to as a “renewal” and includes a new cafe accessible from a separate entrance, will be announced later. Kaetsu says that Yamasaki will eventually offer seasonal tasting menus in the omakase room, which accommodates up to 10 diners.

Update: May 31st, 2024, 1:59 p.m.: This post has been updated to include new information.

Baseball hot dog delivery, thanks to IHOP

Some folks were able to enjoy the comfort of Dodger dogs and other stadium fare delivered to their home during the COVID-19 pandemic when fans were unable to visit the ballpark. Those looking to fulfill their hot dog cravings at home can check out Ballpark Bites. According to the Los Angeles Times, the new program from Virtual Dining Concepts uses partner IHOP’s kitchens to prepare food around the city that can be delivered or picked up at the diner’s various locations. Offerings include doughnut holes, fries, and a variety of baseball-inspired hot dogs served on pretzel buns. Curiously, there aren’t any Dodger dogs on the menu, so LA baseball fans will still have to head to the stadium for those bites.

Changes at Sushi Sonagi

After about 10 months of serving omakase in Gardena, chef Daniel Son of Sushi Sonagi announced on Instagram that he’s upping the price of his 20-course tasting menu to $230, a $30 increase that he tried to delay for as long as possible. The 15 percent jump is due to the quality of the ingredients, most of which are sourced from Japan. Additionally, Son mentioned in the post that Sonagi will be closed from May 31 to June 2 and that the restaurant will no longer require deposits but will put a hold on credit cards that can be canceled up to 72 hours ahead; those who don’t cancel in time but don’t attend their meal will be charged $200 per person.

City targets cashless businesses again

KTLA reports that three LA City Council members and other officials renewed a plan to ban cashless businesses in Los Angeles that was first initiated in August 2023. The motion, if passed this summer, could help Angelenos who aren’t able to secure bank accounts or debit cards and must rely on cash to pay for goods and services. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, food businesses transitioned away from cash due to safety concerns. A press release from the Council members said cashless businesses disproportionately affect low-income communities of color, seniors, and young people who haven’t been able to transition to digital or card payments. If passed this summer, the city attorney must draft an ordinance before the ban goes into effect.

Urban Skillet’s rise in Minneapolis

Halal burger chain Urban Skillet, which first opened in North Hollywood and expanded to Santa Monica, Northridge, and Houston, has found success in Minneapolis, reports Eater Twin Cities. Franchise operator MJ Mohammed opened the burger spot in Minneapolis’s Uptown neighborhood in February 2022 to bring something new to his community: “We never had a halal spot just like McDonald’s, where you can have fresh food that a lot of people like me can relate to.”

Rising Stars return to Los Angeles

After a multi-year hiatus, Starchefs has awarded Rising Star awards to chefs and restaurant professionals in Los Angeles. This year’s class includes Francisco Aguilar of Simón, Nico de Leon of Lasita, Elizabeth Heitner and Nestor Silva of Malli, Rashida Holmes of Bridgetown Roti, Jihee Kim of Perilla, Matt Schaler of Birdie G’s, and Alisa Vannah of Mr. T.

Other Rising Star winners include chef Diego Argoti of Poltergeist, who was awarded the Game Changer award, restaurateurs Michael Francesconi and Matthew Glaser of Park Hospitality (Lowboy, Donna’s), proprietors Emily Bielagus and Mara Herbkersman of Ruby Fruit, coffee shop owners Shanita Nicholas and Amanda-Jane Thomas of Sip & Sonder, baker Jennifer Yee of Baker’s Bench, and pastry chef Mac Daniel Dimla of Providence. For beverages, Gianna Johns of Baby Gee, Ramsey Musk of Accomplice Bar, and Max Reis of Mírate were named Rising Star bartenders; Rachael Davis of Dunsmoor and Ian Krupp of Anajak Thai as sommeliers; and Benny Farber and Chelsea Rosetter of Benny Boy Brewing as brewers.

Wonho Frank Lee