n/naka

n/naka went from a restaurant I had given up on trying to dine at (due to the difficulty of getting a reservation) to being an establishment I've had the pleasure of trying two times in 2024. Let's set the story straight though, their reservation system is still impossible but I just got lucky that I was given these 2 opportunities. My first visit was in June and I also got to visit again in December. Parking wasn't too bad, we got street parking both times. The entrance to the restaurant is spectacular and both visits we sat in the same interior room. Service was top notch and I felt like the pacing of the meal was almost perfection. The menus were pretty different for both visits, but the one dish which they've kept on the menu all these years was the Abalone Truffle Pasta, one of my favorite dishes. n/naka serves a modern twist of a traditional kaiseki meal which takes several cooking techniques but highlighting the unique ingredients. All the courses are so nicely designed from the plates, to the composition and the manner of how you consume the dishes, I was in awe most of the meal. We were able to experience a wine pairing on the second visit which I highly recommend just to be able to try all the different spirits paired with the courses. If I had the means to eat n/naka every day, I would because it's exactly how food should be presented and treated with the utmost care. I am already thinking of my next visit and hoping that each future visit was better than the last. Will definitely be back again!

n/naka is undeniably a beautiful dining experience--the presentation is stunning, the ingredients are high quality, and the service is impeccable. Each course is thoughtfully prepared, and you can tell a lot of care goes into every detail.That said, for the price and the months-long waitlist, I expected to be blown away, and unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to the hype. While the food was good, it wasn't particularly memorable or significantly better than other high-end kaiseki experiences. The flavors, while delicate and refined, didn't leave a lasting impression.If you're looking for a meticulously crafted meal and don't mind the price tag, it's worth trying once. But if you're expecting a life-changing culinary experience, there are other places that deliver just as well--if not better--without the long wait and steep cost.

So I've had alot of 13 course meals all over the world. The last one that was memorable(and became my favorite restaurant until today) was in Japan call florilege where they really feature their food natural taste as distinct as they can. Well Naka just one up them imo.Naka focus on Japanese food but fusion with some of California's culture and creativity. Which means their flavor are very bold and will make you really feel the ingredients which is a bit different than most Japanese culture where they are more subtle with their flavor and try to showcase their original flavor instead. Their preparation of their sushi and sashimi is basically on par with the best of Japanese 2-3 star michilin restaurant. Their sauce on the sashimi is very interesting and tasty though. The one with the yuzu cream and leek oil is something I never had together and now I want that on my sashimi. It has a very bold and strong flavor but yet somehow it doesn't overshadow the sashimi. It sounds contradicting but once you taste it, you'll understand what I mean. Is quite unique. One thing they do that really made me go...yeah they gave extra attention to detail is how they serve their sushi in s warm plate to keep the rice warm without being too hot to affect the fish on top. That's some careful planning and preparation. It does make the rice fluffier and alot more nicer texture wise. As for other dish, I think they really excels in all their soup dishes. The black cod simmered in broth is extremely delicious. How they made the smokey flavor into the soup and the cod while keeping the cod texture in tact perfectly is beyond me. The other soup which they turned the fish skin into a porcupine looking creature is mind boggling. How did they do that? Why is it so deliciously crunchy with a texture I've never seen before? This dish along makes me really curious how they did it. When it goes with that thick broth....omg is like heaven. Whatever this was, I want more of it. But their best dish isn't Japanese though. It was their truffle mentaiko and abalone pasta. They said everything on their menu changes all the time but this one never changes because it is so good(BTW please don't change that crunchy fish skin in the soup please if anyone from Naka is reading this!!!) well, they are right not to change that dish ever. The way the mentaiko and cheese sauce stick to the pasta while you bite into the truffle and abalone in one bite is just ridiculously awesome. If you love truffle pasta, this is THE one you want to try. Forget anywhere else. This is it! Out of so many things we ate there, there was only one thing I thought was mediocre which was the fish wrapped in eggplant which had no taste. Maybe because everything else tasted so good and unique that this one was overlooked. But for so many amazing food we had, I'm ok with one that missed the mark. Overall every dish aside from the fish in eggplant makes me want to come back again but I know next time they will have new dishes waiting which makes half of me sad that I might not get to eat that amazing food again but other half of me is curious what new and interesting things the chef will come up with next time. Now if only I can get a reservation which is probably the hardest part to eating here. The service staff here are amazing and so attentive. They really made me feel welcomed and enjoy my meal every minute of it. Even the chef came out to greet us and thanked us for coming. I really love her and her love she put into her food. I hope more people can get to experience this restaurant. It is a one of a kind experience and this is coming from someone who has traveled all over the world to eat. Naka has became my favorite restaurant of all time replacing florilege of Tokyo. That's a pretty hard thing to do. But luckily for me Naka is closer so here's to many more experience here in the future!

Immaculate vibes. Server John was really friendly and helpful. Food is curated beautifully. They pay attention to what you like, dishes, plates, glasses, every single ingredients. I am coming here every season

I drove 1 hours and half from irvine to here N/naka Worthly of two star michelin i was so lucky the food is very incredible detail is very special for me thank you nikki for made amazing food.And thank you Indra and Melanie for taking care of me your guy is lovely and the best service i really appreciate you guy i definitely be back for sure !!

Came back to n/naka after 6 years. Years ago I was disappointed. Warm food came out cold with dinner at 945. This time around we came again at 9.Overall, slightly better than the first time. Enjoyed the spiny lobster and the usual signature noodles with truffle and abalone. However the remainder of the meal was equally disappointing. The sashimi was similar to the Nigerian with 1 cut differing. The wagyu med well instead of med rare. I also felt there were cost cutting moves like cutting the uni in half for both the sashimi and nigiri course. The amadai and matsutake mushroom were solid and standard.As a whole, kaiseki wise I would say it was an average experience but is in a different league from hayato and other kaisekis from Japan. For it's price it is a bit steep. If you are just looking to try n/naka once for a general kaiseki, it's worth a visit however do not expect anything life changing.

I don't know where to begin. Just when I thought I've tried it all and knew what top notch Japanese tasted like - Chef Nakayama proved me entirely wrong!! I'm no food critic or anything like that, but I'm 100% a foodie for sure. Best. Sushi. I've. Ever. Had. Hands. Down. Having the chance to dine at a 2 star Michelin Japanese restaurant was a bucket list memory I'll never forget.Just like you may have read, reserving here is surely a pain to do. Wish there was a simpler way to ensure reservations way ahead of time, but after dining here I'm very certain N/Naka has its reasons!Finding this place was simple enough and parking was easy too, as long as you use their valet service adjacent to the restaurant.The outside isn't flashy at all - that's when my wife and I knew we were in for a delicate treat! Ambiance was prestige and so authentic that it felt as if I was back in Japan dining in a hole in the wall "diamond in the rough" kind of gem. Bathrooms even looked cleaner and classier than my cleanest room. Service was spectacular and lives up to its 2 Michelin star rating! We selected pairing of drinks that went with the omakase meal. Extremely glad we did! Every bite, every sip, and every savory moment was to die for. Flavors blasted, meats melted in our mouths, and the Toro sushi.... omg the Toro... best I've ever had and afraid to say will never experience such sushi like that again. The A5 wagyu nigiri was another delicacy that simply took our breaths away. There were so many high points in every dish and drink pairing we were generously served that I can't remember it all. Just look at the photos - pics are worth 1000 words.If you are fortunate to make a reservation and can afford this once in a lifetime experience, then go for it. Worth every penny! Extremely recommended and should definitely be on your bucket list!Don't be so quick to leave! Chef Nakayama insists on customers not leaving hungry. You will be offered extra food at the end. Take the offer humbly, believe me you won't regret it.P.S. Best part of the night? Chef Nakayama herself may come out to greet you for a brief moment. This is not the time to be shy!! Take a photo with her - she's a legend and worth so much more than any Hollywood star (in my eyes)! A lifelong memory to brag about!

We didn't know what to expect as this was our first time, but we will certainly be back for the next seasonal course! From beginning to end, absolutely incredible-The food, service, ambiance, and knowledgeable friendly staff. Thank you for a by far the best and unforgettable dining experience.

n/naka is a true gem! The newly renovated restaurant has a modern but warm vibe, perfectly complementing the kaiseki experience. Every dish was thoughtfully crafted, delicious, and memorable. The service was impeccable--attentive and genuinely friendly. A truly satisfying dining experience. Highly recommend and can't wait to return!

Amazing experience! Food was beautiful and delicious. The decor and elegance of the restaurant is very evident. My only concern was the service was slow to start. I waited a while for my first course. That being said, the meal was memorable & I will be returning!