Kris Tominaga Leaves Hart & The Hunter For Manuela in the Arts District

There’s some movement in the Downtown dining scene today, as Eater has learned that chef Kris Tominaga is now in as the chef at Manuela in the Arts District.

Tominaga is known to fans as a journeymen of sorts, but one with footprints through many popular Los Angeles restaurants. He first gained acclaim for a series of pop-ups before going legit with the founding of The Hart & The Hunter inside the Palihotel on Melrose. Tominaga and then-partner Brian Dunsmoor (now in charge at Hatchet Hall) led that all-day restaurant to great heights before moving on, with Tominaga ultimately opening Cadet in Santa Monica. The restaurant closed in early 2016, leaving Tominaga to head over to open a different hotel restaurant — Mardi — before returning to lead the overall Paligroup restaurants and hotel dining portfolio.

Now Tominaga is fully divested and making a run at Manuela, the Southern-leaning stunner inside the Hauser & Wirth art gallery in the Arts District. The place was initially presided over by Wes Whitsell, but he left back in mid-December and no replacement was immediately announced.

Joshua Targownik

Reps for the restaurant say Tominaga is officially in as of this month, but they don’t have details yet on how, or when, the menu might start to change to reflect his new role.

Manuela
907 E. 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA

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