Heisei Is Bringing Chef Chris Ono’s Japanese American Cooking Home to Culver City

Culver City has a new restaurant to watch. Chef Chris Ono is bringing Heisei, his first independent restaurant, to the neighborhood where he grew up. Its projected opening is October 2, just blocks from local landmark Tito’s Tacos. 

Ono arrives with a résumé that includes Citrin, Providence, Eleven Madison Park and Yojimbo. But Heisei’s most interesting connection may be closer to home: Ono is a fourth-generation Japanese American chef and Culver City native who has explored his family roots through food, including at a limited-run pop-up at Little Tokyo’s Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. 

What to expect from Heisei

The restaurant takes its name from Japan’s Heisei era, 1989 to 2019, and Ono plans to cook Los Angeles Nikkei cuisine through that lens. It’s an intriguing starting point for a restaurant shaped by Japanese American history and by Ono’s own experience growing up in LA. 

A detailed menu, hours and reservation information have yet to be confirmed publicly. For now, Heisei is one to put on the “follow along” list, rather than a dinner reservation to count on: October 2 remains a projected opening date. Check Heisei’s Instagram for the latest announcements.

Why this opening matters beyond Culver City

A chef opening his first independent restaurant in his hometown gives us a story worth following. Heisei promises an opportunity to see how Ono translates his heritage, training and sense of place into a restaurant of his own. For readers coming from South LA County or Long Beach, it may be a reason to make a Culver City dinner trip once the doors open.

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