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n/naka
Master Critic Reviews (10 Lists)
n/naka
9.3
Chef Niki Nakayama’s modern kaiseki is the defining special-occasion meal on the Westside, balancing deep Japanese technique with California seasonality. Courses move from feather-light dashi and pristine sashimi to warm, comforting clay-pot and grill moments, all paced with quiet precision. Reservations are tough, but the experience feels intimate and personal from first bite to final dessert.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal kaiseki tasting menu, Abalone spaghetti with mentaiko and black truffle, Miyazaki wagyu course when offered
Scores:
Value: 8.3
Service: 9.2
Consistency: 9.1
Food Quality: 9.6
Atmosphere: 8.8
Cultural Relevance: 9
What makes it special: A Michelin-starred, contemporary kaiseki tasting led by Chef Niki Nakayama.
Who should go: Food-focused couples and milestone celebrators
When to visit: Weeknight dinner for calmer pacing
What to order: Full kaiseki; add the wine/sake pairing; never skip abalone spaghetti
Insider tip: Set a Tock alert the moment reservations drop; they go fast.
n/naka
9.1
Chef Niki Nakayama’s modern kaiseki tasting menu is a seafood-forward procession of meticulous, seasonal courses with elegant broths, pristine shellfish, and subtle smoke and citrus accents. The three-hour meal feels both intimate and theatrical, with technique and ingredient sourcing doing the talking. Reservations are tough for a reason: the kitchen hits a rare balance of precision and warmth.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kaiseki tasting menu, Seasonal sashimi course, Dashi-forward seafood broth
Scores:
Value: 7.7
Service: 9.1
Consistency: 8.8
Food Quality: 9.4
Atmosphere: 8.6
Cultural Relevance: 8.9
What makes it special: A Michelin-starred kaiseki experience built around impeccably sourced seafood.
Who should go: Tasting-menu devotees and special-occasion diners.
When to visit: Weeknights for a calmer, more focused pacing.
What to order: Full kaiseki, seasonal sashimi, seafood broth course.
Insider tip: Watch for last-minute Tock waitlist openings mid-afternoon.
n/naka
9.1
Chef Niki Nakayama’s modern kaiseki tasting menu layers California seasonality into meticulous Japanese form, with courses that move from pristine sashimi to quietly inventive warm dishes. The room is serene and intimate, and the pacing feels like a story you’re meant to sit inside for a few hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Modern kaiseki tasting menu, House-made dashi courses, Seasonal sashimi and composed bites
Scores:
Value: 7.2
Service: 9.3
Consistency: 9.1
Food Quality: 9.6
Atmosphere: 8.8
Cultural Relevance: 8.6
What makes it special: A Michelin-starred, California-forward take on Japanese kaiseki by Chef Niki Nakayama.
Who should go: Tasting-menu hunters and special-occasion diners.
When to visit: Book far ahead for weekend dinners.
What to order: Chef’s modern kaiseki, seasonal sashimi, signature dashi courses.
Insider tip: Be open to the sake pairing—flights are dialed to the menu’s arc.
n/naka
9.3
Chef Niki Nakayama’s kaiseki tasting menu layers pristine seasonal ingredients with meticulous technique in a calm, intimate room. The pacing and storytelling make the meal feel ceremonial, ideal for milestones where you want dinner to be the event.
Must-Try Dishes:
Modern kaiseki tasting menu, Dashi-based seasonal courses, House-made desserts like black sesame ice cream
Scores:
Value: 7.6
Service: 9.2
Consistency: 9
Food Quality: 9.6
Atmosphere: 8.8
Cultural Relevance: 8.7
What makes it special: A Michelin-starred kaiseki journey that turns dinner into an artful ceremony.
Who should go: Anniversary, birthday, or once-a-year splurge diners.
When to visit: Book far ahead for weekend evenings.
What to order: Chef’s kaiseki menu, sake pairing, seasonal dessert course.
Insider tip: If you score a reservation, add the beverage pairing—it's tightly choreographed.
n/naka
9.2
Chef Niki Nakayama’s kaiseki tasting is a precision-driven, seasonal procession that feels quietly theatrical without ever turning showy. Every course is tuned for balance and texture, and the staff runs the room with near-silent choreography.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal Kaiseki Tasting Menu, Miyazaki Wagyu Course, House-made Dashi Broths
Scores:
Value: 7.6
Service: 9.4
Consistency: 8.8
Food Quality: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9
Cultural Relevance: 8.7
What makes it special: Michelin-starred kaiseki with exceptional hospitality and technique.
Who should go: Food pilgrims and milestone-dinner couples.
When to visit: Any seating—reservations are the real challenge.
What to order: Full tasting menu, add wagyu, don’t skip dessert course.
Insider tip: Grab a bar seat if you can’t land a full table.
n/naka
9.1
Chef Niki Nakayama’s kaiseki counter delivers a tightly choreographed seasonal tasting menu where technique and ingredient integrity drive every course. Expect Japanese tradition filtered through Southern California produce, with quiet precision and a personal, story-like flow to the meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Modern kaiseki tasting menu, Abalone pasta with truffle, Seasonal sashimi and simmered courses
Scores:
Value: 7.6
Service: 9.1
Consistency: 9
Food Quality: 9.4
Atmosphere: 8.6
Cultural Relevance: 8.6
What makes it special: A rare L.A. kaiseki experience led by chef-owner Niki Nakayama.
Who should go: Serious food lovers celebrating something big.
When to visit: Weeknights for calmer pacing and easier parking.
What to order: Full kaiseki menu; abalone pasta; seasonal dessert finale.
Insider tip: Reservations drop monthly—set a reminder for release day.
n/naka
9.3
Chef Niki Nakayama’s kaiseki tasting menu is built around meticulous seasonal produce and pristine seafood, with each course highlighting a single ingredient at its peak. The pacing is calm and precise, and the menu shifts constantly to reflect farmers-market availability.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal kaiseki tasting menu, House-made tofu with fresh soy milk, Hassun course of market-driven small bites
Scores:
Value: 7.2
Service: 9.1
Consistency: 9.2
Food Quality: 9.5
Atmosphere: 8.7
Cultural Relevance: 9
What makes it special: Market-driven kaiseki that treats local seasonality as the main event.
Who should go: Tasting-menu seekers and special-occasion diners.
When to visit: Weeknight dinner for the most relaxed cadence.
What to order: Seasonal tasting menu, house tofu, dessert course.
Insider tip: Book the moment releases open; cancellations move fast.
n/naka
9.1
Chef Niki Nakayama’s modern kaiseki unfolds as a tightly choreographed sequence of seasonal dishes that feel both delicate and quietly bold. The experience is serene and deeply personal, with technique-forward plates that balance Japanese tradition and California ingredients.
Must-Try Dishes:
Abalone spaghetti with mentaiko and black truffle, Seasonal sashimi course with house-made garnishes, Grilled Miyazaki wagyu with seasonal vegetables
Scores:
Value: 7.8
Service: 9.2
Consistency: 9
Food Quality: 9.4
Atmosphere: 8.6
Cultural Relevance: 8.6
What makes it special: A modern kaiseki tasting that’s one of L.A.’s defining fine-dining experiences.
Who should go: Food-obsessed diners celebrating something big.
When to visit: Weeknight seating for calmer pacing and better focus.
What to order: Abalone spaghetti, seasonal sashimi, wagyu course.
Insider tip: Watch for last-minute Tock drops early mornings.
n/naka
9.2
Chef Niki Nakayama’s modern kaiseki unfolds as a tightly choreographed multi-course journey where seasonal California produce meets classical Japanese technique. The room is serene and intimate, and pacing is deliberate, letting each course land with quiet impact. Reservations are famously scarce, and the experience rewards anyone who loves narrative dining.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal modern kaiseki tasting menu, Uni with crispy shiso, Housemade dashi courses
Scores:
Value: 7.2
Service: 9.3
Consistency: 9.2
Food Quality: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9
Cultural Relevance: 9.1
What makes it special: A Michelin-starred modern kaiseki chef’s counter experience led by Niki Nakayama.
Who should go: Tasting-menu devotees and special-occasion diners.
When to visit: Weeknight dinner for the calmest, most focused service.
What to order: Full kaiseki menu; add the sake pairing; save room for dessert.
Insider tip: Grab a late seating if you want slightly more relaxed pacing.
n/naka
9.1
Chef Niki Nakayama’s kaiseki tasting menu is a tightly choreographed parade of seasonal California and Japanese ingredients, with each course balancing restraint and surprise. The dining room’s serene, minimalist feel heightens the sense of occasion, and the restaurant is frequently booked out weeks ahead for celebratory dinners and private buyouts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Modern kaiseki tasting menu, House-made dashi courses, Seasonal dessert finale
Scores:
Value: 7.4
Service: 9.2
Consistency: 9.1
Food Quality: 9.5
Atmosphere: 8.6
Cultural Relevance: 9
What makes it special: A Michelin-starred, modern kaiseki experience led by Chef Niki Nakayama.
Who should go: Serious food lovers celebrating something big.
When to visit: Midweek evenings for the calmest pacing.
What to order: Kaiseki tasting, add-on wagyu, seasonal dessert course.
Insider tip: Snag cancellations by checking the reservation portal frequently.