Taiwanese soul food in the heart of Mar Vista.
David Kuo, chef/owner of Little Fatty restaurant started out working a 9-to-5 job after graduating with a degree in political science from UCLA. Quickly frustrated in an office environment, he soon discovered his passion for cooking and food. Kuo went on to attend the California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena, and found opportunities to work under acclaimed chefs and organizations such as Charlie Palmer, Wolfgang Puck, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten at his eponymous NYC mainstay.
In 2014, Kuo opened his own restaurant in the burgeoning neighborhood of Mar Vista under the name Status Kuo. At first a fusion of Asian flavor profiles and American comfort , he’s gone now back to his roots with Taiwanese soul food at Little Fatty. Kuo is a first-generation Angeleno and finds inspiration from the food he grew up eating at home. The name “little fatty” is the translation of Kuo’s childhood nickname, “xiao pang” given to him by his family.
At Little Fatty, the menu features renditions of typical Chinese restaurant classics, such as kung pao chicken, braised pork belly and walnut shrimp. Also, Taiwanese staples like Sunday Gravy (lu rou fan) and scallion pancakes will be holdovers from the original menu. Kuo’s focus on quality of ingredients are paramount in creating an accessible menu that is both authentic and unpretentious.
xiǎo pàng |小胖 |
little fatty (NOUN)
kuo family nickname for chef/owner david kuo, the youngest of 4 brothers and lover of food
Chef/owner David Kuo
Press
chinese bbq pork featured on buzzfeed’s “worth it”
DELTA SKY MAGAZINE: L.A. Chefs
May 2018
WORLDWIDE FOODIE: Restaurant Review: Little Fatty & Accomplice
4/16/18
INFATUATION LA: Review: Little Fatty
4/12/18
LA MAGAZINE: This Might Be the Most Inventive Breakfast Burrito in L.A. 3/13/18
EATER LA: An Eater’s Guide to Los Angeles
3/2/18
ZAGAT LA: 12 Best New Brunches to Try in LA
2/21/18
LA WEEKLY: Celebrate Cauliflower, the New Superfood and Chef’s Favorite, for National Cabbage Day
2/15/18
LA WEEKLY: Little Fatty Adds Taiwanese-Style Brunch on Weekends
1/24/18
Tableside Magazine: 7 L.A. Bowls That Will Warm Your Soul
1/2/18
EATER LA: LA’s Dining Authorities Describe Their Best Meals of 2017 12/29/17
EATER LA: The 23 Essential Chinese Restaurants in Los Angeles 12/22/17
LA MAGAZINE: Chef David Kuo of Little Fatty Shares His Favorite L.A. Dishes
12/4/17
EAST WEST BANK: Recipes of China: Taiwanese Sunday Gravy by Little Fatty
10/26/17
GOTHAM MAGAZINE: The Best Things We Ate Outside of New York Recently
5/31/17
NOTION MAGAZNE: 3 of L.A.'s tastiest Asian food spots
4/21/17
BEYOND WORDS: The Top U.S. Destinations For Foodies Right Now
3/2/17
INSIDE HOOK: Five New Spots For All You Dilettantes and Bon Vivants
2/27/17
KCRW FARMERS MARKET REPORT: Little Fatty’s zhajiang mian
2/4/17
DELTA SKY MAGAZINE: Dreamer's Next Exit
Feb 2017
FOODBEAST: Duck Pizza
1/13/17
OBSERVER: LA Dining in 2017: Glendale, Scenesters and Good Chinese Go Big
1/13/17
EATER LA: The Biggest LA Dining Surprises in 2016, According to Friends of Eater
12/29/16
EATER LA: The Top Los Angeles Restaurant Standbys of 2016
12/27/16
ZAGAT LA: 10 New LA Dishes to Cure Your Hangover
12/20/16
CBS LA: Tony's Table: Mapo Tofu 12/14/16
CBS LA: Tony's Table: 3 Cup Chicken
12/5/16
TIMEOUT LA: The most exciting restaurant and bar openings of November 2016
11/30/16
LA WEEKLY: Littly Fatty Serves Up Deep-Fried Taiwanese Comfort Food on the Westside
11/22/16
LA TIMES: Little Fatty (that's the name!) in Mar Vista offers kung pao chicken with craft cocktails next door
11/22/16
DAILY BRUIN: Alum's new restaurant Little Fatty shifts from culinary Status Kuo
11/20/16
EATER LA: Status Kuo Morphs into Little Fatty in Mar Vista 11/8/16