Shota Nakajima facts for kids
Shota Nakajima
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| Born | Tokyo, Japan |
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| Education | Tsuji Culinary Arts School |
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Current restaurant(s)
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Previous restaurant(s)
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Television show(s)
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Shota Nakajima is a talented Japanese-American chef. Many people know him from the TV show Top Chef, where he competed in Portland, Oregon. He is famous for his delicious Japanese dishes.
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Shota's Early Life and Learning
Shota Nakajima was born in Japan but grew up in Seattle, Washington. When he was 18, he moved to Osaka, Japan. There, he went to the Tsuji Culinary Arts School to learn how to cook. He also trained with a famous chef named Yasuhiko Sakamoto. Later, Shota came back to Seattle. He worked at a restaurant called Sushi Kappo Tamura from 2011 to 2012.
Shota on TV Cooking Shows
Shota Nakajima has been on several popular cooking shows.
Competing on Iron Chef Gauntlet
In 2017, Shota appeared on Food Network's Iron Chef Gauntlet. He was the fourth chef to be eliminated from the competition.
Winning on Beat Bobby Flay
In 2018, Shota was on Beat Bobby Flay. He won the episode by making his special dish, tempura. Tempura is a Japanese dish where seafood or vegetables are lightly fried.
Becoming a Finalist on Top Chef
In 2020, Shota competed on Top Chef: Portland. He made it to the final three chefs. Fans of the show also voted him their "Fan Favorite."
Other TV Appearances
Shota also competed in Season 4 of Tournament of Champions. He reached the quarterfinals before losing to another great chef, Mei Lin. In 2023, he appeared on Bobby's Triple Threat.
Shota's Restaurants
Shota Nakajima is not just a TV chef; he also owns restaurants.
Opening Kappo Kitchen and Naka
In 2014, Shota started a catering business called Kappo Kitchen. A year later, in June 2015, he opened his first restaurant, Naka. It was a kaiseki restaurant, which means it served a special type of Japanese multi-course meal. In 2017, Naka changed its name to Adana.
Taku and its Journey
In March 2020, Shota opened a new restaurant called Taku. It was in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle. Taku focused on kushikatsu, which are deep-fried skewers from Osaka. Both Adana and Taku had to close for a while during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Taku reopened in May 2021. It changed its style to focus on karaage, which is Japanese fried chicken.
Make Umami and Banzai Teriyaki
In late 2021, Shota started making his own teriyaki sauce called Make Umami. You can buy it at Taku, in Uwajimaya grocery stores, and online. In February 2022, Shota announced plans to open a teriyaki restaurant called Banzai Teriyaki in Cle Elum, Washington. However, by June 2022, he decided not to be part of that project anymore.
Awards and Recognitions
Shota Nakajima has received many awards for his cooking.
- He was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's "Rising Star Chef of the Year" award in 2018, 2019, and 2020. This award recognizes young chefs who are making a big impact.
- In 2018, he was named a "Young Guns Winner" by Eater, a popular food website.
