Niki Nakayama

Chef
Niki Nakayama

Los Angeles

About Niki Nakayama

Niki Nakayama is the chef/co-owner of N/Naka. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she began her career at the renowned Takao restaurant in Brentwood, working under the guidance of esteemed chefs Takao Izumida and Morihiro Onodera. Committed to exploring new techniques, she embarked on a three-year working tour throughout Japan, sampling her way through different regional flavors and immersing herself in the essentials of Japanese cuisine, both traditional and cutting-edge.

My Venues

Accolades

  • 101 Best Restaurants 2014
    LA Times
  • Four Stars
    LA Weekly
  • LA's Best Sushi
    Food & Wine
  • Must-Try Tasting Menus in LA
    Zagat
  • Rising Star Chef 2014
    Star Chefs
  • Best Chef: West Nominee, 2018
    James Beard Foundation

Where I Go Out

French toast
French toast
Square One Dining
$$, Modern, American, Breakfast, Little Armenia
"This is my favorite French toast in Los Angeles. They offer different toppings and sauces but my favorite is always the seasonal fruit with a variety of nuts and vanilla whipped cream. Delicious!"
Niki Nakayama
Chef
Niki Nakayama
N/Naka
Carne asada taco
Carne asada taco
Tacos La Doña
$, Mexican, Food Truck, Burritos,
"This is the best taco truck near my house and the carne asada tacos and huaraches al pastor are some of the best in town. It’s the perfect spot to go after a work when I just want to fulfill a craving and be really satisfied."
Niki Nakayama
Chef
Niki Nakayama
N/Naka
Braised mackerel
Braised mackerel
Seongbukdong
$$, Korean, Koreatown
"This is one of the most delicious preparations of mackerel I’ve ever had. It’s deliciously braised with large Korean daikon radish and spicy pickled kimchee. It’s delicious with a beans with rice mix that’s red, which they call “brown rice.”"
Niki Nakayama
Chef
Niki Nakayama
N/Naka
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At My Venues

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