YAO opened on Jan. 29th of 2024. Executive Chef-Owner, Kenny Leung, immersed himself in a government culinary program in Canton, China. After graduating, Chef Kenny flourished at Canton’s prestigious White Swan Hotel and Restaurant; it was the only restaurant to earn a Michelin Star. In 1988, he moved to NYC to join the culinary landscape. In 2015, he co-founded August Gatherings with Thomas Tang.

Thomas is an Owner-Operator, who grew up as the son of one of China’s top chefs who catered for regal events. As an adult, he moved to New York City. He met Chef Kenny while working together in the original location of August Gatherings. They decided to purchase the Canal Street location and have been partners since.

Every detail of YAO’s interior reflects the harmonious blend of Chef Kenny’s culinary art and meticulous eye for design.

YAO is a modern Cantonese cuisine located in the Financial District. Center to the YAO’s ethos are the crown jewels of Cantonese cuisine, abalone, sea cucumber, and fish maw.

The six-course tasting menu, named “Jia Yan”, a Chinese word loosely translating to “a celebratory family gathering” or “banquet begins with an amuse bouche followed by Shikoku Bamboo Shrimp Dumpling. The banquet continues with Gold Leaf wrapped Fried Abalone, sustainably sourced grade-6 wild abalone from South Africa that is deep-fried, sitting atop a house made sauce on a crispy wonton skin, wrapped in edible gold leaf. This creates several layers of texture, notable in Cantonese cuisine.

One of the main stars of the progression is the Alaskan King Crab Wensi Tofu Soup. The broth is a two-day production, made from the shell of the crab with ham and chicken, not boiled, then placed in a water bath. Grilled Angus Short Rib is tenderized with kiwi, drizzled tableside in a pear and oyster sauce. Longevity Noodles with Fish Maw is a jewel in Cantonese cuisine as it's rich in collagen. The final course of the progression is their seasonal signature dessert, a warm Deep Fried Mochi Sesame Ball filled with Red Bean Paste served on top of a homemade seasonal fuji apple sorbet.

The six-course tasting menu is available for both lunch and dinner, Monday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

In addition, you can order from the a la carte menu as well. For appetizers, we suggest Brown Sugar Duck Thigh, Shumai Abalone and Pork as well as Fried Crab Meat with Shrimp dim sum. For entrees, we suggest Oven Roasted Black Angus Short Rib, Wensi Tofu Soup and Assorted Organic Mushrooms in Hot Stone Pot.