March 29, 2023 #1 Local News, Forum, Information and Event Source for Venice Beach, California.

Michelin-Starred n/naka Opening Second Restaurant Soon

n/soto coming to 4566 Washington Blvd

By Dolores Quintana

Acclaimed Westside restaurant with two-Michelin stars n/naka will soon be a second eatery in the area.

n/naka co-owners Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama will be opening a second restaurant called n/soto at 4566 Washington Blvd as reported by What Now Los Angeles. n/soto will be an izakaya in the California Japanese style that focuses on “market driven products” with Chef Yoji Tajima, formerly of Yojisan Sushi and Sushi House Unico, at the restaurant’s helm.

The restaurant’s concept is one that came about because of the pandemic and their attempts to stay connected to one another. The restaurant’s website says, “Soto” means outside in Japanese. n/soto was born during a pandemic that closed us off from the outside world. At n/soto, we hope to step outside of the familiar and welcome the opportunity to learn from the bigger world around us. We believe food can bring people together. It opens up new worlds and shapes our understanding of one another.” 

The restaurant has been giving the community a preview of their new menu and concept with a pop up residency at The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in the Toshizo Watanabe Culinary Cultural Center. 

Chef Tajima was part of the creation of the pop up tasting menu at the Center that showed the diners what they could expect from n/soto in the future. Part of the restaurant’s concept is to highlight the Japanese American culture to its diners through immersion into the culture.  

n/naka is the venture of Nakayama and her wife and sous chef, Iida-Nakayama. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nakayama started her career at the popular restaurant Takao before embarking 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. It was in Japan that Nakayama learned about the art of kaiseki, which led to her opening one of Los Angeles’ most esteemed restaurants, n/naka. The eatery was named one of Food & Wine’s 30 best restaurants in the world, and is one of six Los Angeles restaurants to have received two Michelin stars in the 2019-2020 edition of the Michelin Guide.

in Dining
Related Posts

Do You Think Outdoor Dining Should Be a Permanent Option? Take the Survey and Share Your Opinion

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the way we live our lives, and one of the most significant impacts has been...

California Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Offer Relief to Restaurants Struggling With Outdoor Dining Fees

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

Legislation would preempt local ordinances and preserve regulatory flexibility for struggling neighborhood restaurants By Sam Catanzaro A new bill proposed...

Prince Street Pizza up and Running in Venice

March 16, 2023

March 16, 2023

Famed NYC pizzeria Prince Street Pizza now open on Lincoln Boulevard just south Rose Avenue By Dolores Quintana The newest...

Two New Eateries Slatted for Boardwalk MDR

March 16, 2023

March 16, 2023

Winston Pies, Planta Cocina headed for shopping center By Dolores Quintana Marina Del Rey has two new restaurants to look...

LA City Council Motion Seeks to Reduce Financial Burden on Street Vendors

March 16, 2023

March 16, 2023

The Los Angeles City Council’s Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Committee approved a motion Wednesday calling for a study of the...

Famed Hinano Cafe in Venice Replaces Sign, Celebrating Sixty Years of Business

March 16, 2023

March 16, 2023

“We put it out to say we’re here for another 60 years,” says owner  By Keemia Zhang The Hinano Cafe,...

Oyster-Centric Bar CouCou Coming Main Street in Venice

March 9, 2023

March 9, 2023

CouCou arrives at 218 Main Street By Dolores Quintana Venice will have a new bar that features cocktails, oysters and...

Isla Restaurant Finds Permanent Home in Santa Monica’s Main Street

March 9, 2023

March 9, 2023

Restaurant to open in former Little Prince space later this month By Dolores Quintana Crudo e Nudo chef Brian Bornemann...

Michelin-Starred Chef Daniel Boulud Announces Plans for Cafe Boulud Beverly Hills

March 8, 2023

March 8, 2023

9200 Wilshire Boulevard boulevard location planned for restaurant  Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud has revealed more details about his...

Restaurateurs in SoCal Hit Hard by Record-High Natural Gas Costs

March 2, 2023

March 2, 2023

Some owners forced to raise prices and consider temporarily closing due to spike in gas costs Restaurants in Southern California...

Organizers Rally to Help Homeless Chef Clive Jackson

March 2, 2023

March 2, 2023

Goal of organizers is to raise enough funds for future costs of permanent housing By Dolores Quintana Former restaurateur Chef...

Celebrated Chef Enrique Olvera to Open Atla Venice on Abbot Kinney

March 2, 2023

March 2, 2023

Restaurants will open in former Adrift Burger Bar space later this year By Dolores Quintana Abbot Kinney will soon be...

Los Angeles Restaurants Facing Rising Food Costs and Lower Profit Margins

February 23, 2023

February 23, 2023

“Los Angeles State of Restaurants” report from TouchBistro finds sales volume recovering to 77.4 percent of pre-pandemic levels ​​​​TouchBistro has...