Rising Star Chef Niki Nakayama of n/naka - Biography

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Chef Niki Nakayama began her career at Takao restaurant in Brentwood, working under the guidance of Chefs Morihiro Onodera and Takao Izumida. Committed to exploring new techniques, Nakayama embarked on a three-year working tour of Japan, sampling her way through various regional flavors and immersing herself in the essentials of Japanese cuisine. An essential learning experience came during Nakayama’s time working at Shirakawa-Ya Ryokan, a Japanese inn owned by relatives. While there, Nakayama trained under Chef Masa Sato in the art of kaiseki, the traditional Japanese culinary practice that emphasizes the balance and seasonality of a series of dishes.

Upon her return to Los Angeles, Nakayama opened her first restaurant, Azami Sushi Cafe, which quickly became known for her omakase menu. Inaka, Nakayama’s ambitious second venture, functioned as a Japanese takeout by day and an intimate eight-course chef’s table by night. With this project, Nakayama discovered that focusing on tasting menus allowed her to do what she enjoys most: creating a thoughtful and cohesive series of dishes that provides a personal experience for each diner. n/naka, a passion project 10 years in the making, is the expansion of Nakayama’s previous endeavors, applying the artistic and technical notions of kaiseki to create an ever-evolving seasonal narrative within each meal.