Highland Park’s Buzzy New Robata Spot Closes Just Ten Months In

Highland Park robata spot RBTA has closed, lasting just around ten months on bustling Figueroa Street. Eater has confirmed that the place is indeed done for, though a plan to reconcept and put something new in the space is still in the works.

RBTA was the work of chef Justin Baey, who collaborated with Fat Dragon’s Allen Wong and David Tewasart of the Sticky Rice Restaurant Group to bring the restaurant to life. The trio envisioned a small, comfortable space for smokey meat skewers and other robata classics, with views into the kitchen and beer at the ready. The team even launched a donburi-based lunch menu earlier this year, but as of last week was buttoned up during the daytime with no word from staff about the change in hours.

Now RBTA is officially off the grid. Their website is dark, Google lists them as closed, and reps for the place say the final evening of dinner service has already come and gone. As for what may be next in that same location it’s unclear at the moment, but for now hustling Highland Park is down one new restaurant along its busiest stretch.

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