Where Chef Niki Nakayama of Netflix’s Chef’s Table Eats in LA

The Michelin-starred chef reveals her favorite LA restaurants

Welcome to The Relisher’s Los Angeles edition! This week, I met with Niki Nakayama, the acclaimed chef behind n/naka—one of LA’s toughest reservations and a Michelin-starred destination for modern kaiseki with a California twist.

Her restaurant has been featured on the Los Angeles Times “101 Best Restaurants” list every year since opening in 2013. Nakayama was a James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Chef in 2023, and her culinary journey was profiled in Netflix’s Chef’s Table.

In this LA edition, Niki shares all of her favorite spots — and what I loved most is how she reveals a side of the city you rarely see. Her favorites includes a homestyle Japanese restaurant that feels like you’ve been transported to the countryside, a place for excellent Korean noodles, and what she calls LA’s best burrito. She also talks about the new restaurants she’s excited to try — and more.

At the end of the interview, you’ll also find a Google Map with all the locations she mentions.