N/naka

n/naka
Saki Zuke Kumamoto oyster at n/naka
Saki Zuke Kumamoto oyster
Map
Restaurant information
Established2011
Owner(s)Niki Nakayama
Head chefNiki Nakayama
Food typeKaiseki
Dress codeBusiness casual
Rating1 Michelin star (Michelin Guide)
CityLos Angeles
StateCalifornia
Postal/ZIP Code90034
CountryUnited States
Coordinates34°01′30″N 118°24′44″W / 34.0251246°N 118.412216°W / 34.0251246; -118.412216
Seating capacity26
Reservations3 months in advance
Websitehttps://n-naka.com/

n/naka is a one-Michelin-star modern kaiseki restaurant located in Los Angeles, founded by chef Niki Nakayama.[1] The name is a portmanteau of Nakayama's first and last name. In 2019, n/naka was named to Food & Wine's 30 best restaurants in the world.[2]

History

Nakayama opened the restaurant after selling her first venture, acclaimed sushi restaurant Azami, in 2008. After selling Azami, she purchased the building that now houses n/naka, and ran her sister's restaurant in Arcadia. Nakayama originally intended to build an open kitchen, with food preparation visible to diners, but ultimately decided against it, preferring that diners not see her and focus instead on the food.[3] Carole Iida, is a sous-chef and partner at n/naka. She joined the restaurant in 2012, after closing her own sushi restaurant. As is the case with many kaiseki restaurants, most ingredients used at n/naka are sourced locally.[4]

Reviews and accolades

In 2023, n/naka received two Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide, one of only five Los Angeles restaurants receiving two Michelin stars.[5]

The New Yorker called n/naka the most prominent kaiseki restaurant in America.[6]

The restaurant is featured in Season 1 of the critically acclaimed Netflix original series, Chef's Table.

In 2024, n/naka received one Michelin star in the Michelin Guide, making it one of four Los Angeles restaurants to lose a Michelin star compared to the previous year.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Rosner, Helen (11 March 2019). "The Female Chef Making Japan's Most Elaborate Cuisine Her Own". The New Yorker. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  2. ^ "These Are the World's Best Restaurants: North America, South America, Africa and Middle East". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  3. ^ Fuhrmeister, Chris (2018-09-28). "'Chef's Table' Recap: How Niki Nakayama Overcame Misogynistic Kitchen Culture and Forged Her Own Path". Eater. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  4. ^ Wells, Pete (2019-03-19). "Kaiseki, Straight Up With a Twist". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  5. ^ "LA's 2023 Michelin-starred restaurants, mapped". 19 July 2023.
  6. ^ Rosner, Helen (2019-03-04). "The Female Chef Making Japan's Most Elaborate Cuisine Her Own". ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  7. ^ "Here Are the 2024 Michelin Star Winners in Los Angeles". 5 August 2024.


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