Niki Nakayama facts for kids
| Born | 1975 (age 49–50) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Cooking style | kaiseki |
| Education | Southern California School of Culinary Arts |
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Current restaurant(s)
n/naka
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Previous restaurant(s)
Azami Sushi Cafe
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Television show(s)
Chef's Table
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Award(s) won
Michelin stars
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| Official website | |
| https://n-naka.com/ | |
Niki Nakayama (born 1975) is a famous American chef. She owns a restaurant called n/naka in Los Angeles. This restaurant has earned special awards called Michelin stars. Chef Nakayama is known for her modern Japanese cooking style called kaiseki.
Contents
Early Life and Culinary Journey
Niki Nakayama was born in Koreatown, Los Angeles. Her parents were from Japan. They worked as fish distributors. Niki went to culinary school in Pasadena. After school, she worked at a restaurant called Mori Sushi.
Exploring Japanese Cuisine
Niki wanted to learn more about cooking. So, she traveled to Japan for three years. She learned a lot about traditional Japanese food. While in Japan, she cooked at Shirakawa-Ya Ryokan. This was a Japanese inn owned by her cousins. It was famous for its kaiseki meals. Her time in Japan greatly influenced her cooking style.
Opening Her Own Restaurants
When Niki returned to California, she opened Azami Sushi Cafe. Her family helped her with this restaurant. It was known for having an all-female staff. Later, she opened her very famous restaurant, n/naka, in Los Angeles. She works there with Carole Iida, who is her partner and a talented sous chef.
N/naka: A Unique Dining Experience
N/naka is a special restaurant. Chef Nakayama serves a multi-course Japanese meal. This meal uses fresh ingredients that change with the seasons. It's a way of cooking called kaiseki.
What is Kaiseki?
Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese meal with many small dishes. Each dish is prepared in a different way. It shows off the best of the ingredients. At n/naka, guests enjoy 13 courses. All the dishes flow together naturally. Many ingredients come from Niki's own garden. She grows fresh vegetables and herbs there.
Modern Kaiseki Style
Niki's menu focuses on what's in season. The dishes are served in a special order. For example, a raw dish might come first. Then a grilled dish, followed by a steamed or fried dish. It goes from light to heavy and then back to light again.
Kaiseki started centuries ago in Japan. It was simple, vegetarian food for tea ceremonies. Over time, it became a luxurious feast. Niki Nakayama makes "modern kaiseki." It respects the old traditions but also adds new ideas. She believes that the ingredients should always be respected. She also wants every guest to have an amazing experience.
Michelin Stars and Recognition
In 2019, n/naka received two stars from the Michelin Guide. This guide gives awards to the best restaurants in the world. Also in 2019, Food & Wine magazine named n/naka one of the top 30 restaurants globally. In 2024, n/naka received one Michelin star.
Chef Nakayama works in a closed kitchen. This means guests cannot see her while she cooks. She believes it helps people focus only on the delicious food.
Television Appearances
Niki Nakayama has been featured on television. In 2015, she appeared on the show Chef's Table on Netflix. In this episode, she talked about her career. She shared the challenges she faced and the things that inspired her. She also helped as a cooking expert for the 2019 Netflix movie Always Be My Maybe.
Personal Life
Niki Nakayama is married to Carole Iida. Carole is also her partner and sous chef at n/naka.
