KinKan LA — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Absolutely sublime food and exceptional experience.

Had read a lot great things about Kinkan LA and been wanting to go for some time, and recently the opportunity to try them out arose. Decided to try their Nishiki Market Walk lunch as that sounded fun and timely as we had a plan to visit Kyoto soon.

The restaurant is an intimate, low key space with a lot of character. loved all their unique dishes and glassware. We sat at the bar with 8 seats allowing us to observe the meals being prepared, as well as chat and interact with Chef Nan and the staff. They were all so warm and personable, and Chef Nan was especially energetic. She moved deliberately and thoughtfully as she prepared the dishes and described how they were sourced with modest pride. She also gave us sake on the house - Katsuyama Ken - which she told us is her long time favorite, so much so that she calls it her "boyfriend." 😂 Oh my goodness, truthfully the most enjoyable and tasty sake I have ever drank. Really set a marvelous tone for the meal.

First up was a special tiny baby squid, which has a narrow window of seasonal availability. I had never seen, much less tasted anything like this before. She clearly has a great relationship with her vendors that offers her the opportunity for special ingredients like this. I enjoy squid, but this was on another level, enhanced by a fantastic Japanese pepper sauce.

Next she brought out a gorgeous slab of premium aged tuna. While she trimmed and sliced the tuna, her staff prepared a special house made shumai that was so much more flavorful and premium than any shumai I have had before.

The toro she sliced from the tuna was put on a small chirashi, along with special Hokkaido uni, amaebi, ikura, scallops and crab. I love chirashi, but this was so elevated and luxurious.

Next up was a beautiful pink soba that was colored with sakura cherry blossoms. It was so pretty, and yet the sakura taste made it even more delightful bathed in a wonderful rich broth. The soba was accompanied by outstanding tempura. I will confess tempura is usually a dish that I don't feel strongly about, but this was more delicate and delicious than any I have ever had before. I know I keep writing that, but that thought kept repeating as I ate, and I have been fortunate enough to enjoy a lot of great food.

For dessert, we were served a teddy bear monaka ice cream taiyaki, that was, yes, so much better than any taiyaki I have ever eaten.

My family and I unanimously loved loved loved this meal. Chef Nan took all these modest street food staples and elevated them so impressively with so much subtlety and flavor, all the while being so entertaining and charming. A top Los Angeles food experience, especially considering the price for such quality.

Since our visit, we ordered one each of all of her special bento boxes for a special birthday meal for Grandpa, and it was a homerun for everyone. Gorgeous and amazingly delicious. We are now planning to find a night as soon as we can to try out her Crab experience. Thank you so very much for gracing us with your artful food, Chef Nan! We are...

OVERALL EXPERIENCE: A MUST TRY!!! I have had the pleasure of dining with Nan three times so far (in her home, for a private birthday event, and at her restaurant). All experiences have been amazing!! The energy she brings to her craft makes for a magical experience! Would highly recommend!! Worth every penny!

AMBIANCE: We selected the last dinner seating on a Saturday night. Noise level is low/average, as there were only diners at the bar seating (total of eight ppl). Mood lighting throughout the restaurant and low lighting at the bar.

DRESS CODE: Smart Casual

TASTINGS:

[ April 2025 ] Kyoto’s Love (an early spring tasting menu): every dish was carefully curated. The flavor combinations complimented each other very well. Every bite, of every dish was savored. It's hard to choose one favorite dish, as they all consisted of different flavors. Impeccable presentation that matched the flavor! Highly recommend the sake pairing! Each sake was thoughtfully paired to enhance the flavors of the dish.

[ March 2020 Private Event ] We welcomed Kinkan in our home and kitchen for the evening and it was a spectacular tasting menu with bursting Thai flavors! Nan prepared food for a small group of 20 and everything was delicious!

Thai tasting menu: Crab spring rolls top with thai sweet and sour sauce Kow tung na tung : rice cracker with organic ground pork, shrimp in coconut paste Egg noodle with fish ball, organic ground pork and crab meat Miang-Pla : Endive wrap bronzino, vermicelli noodle top with thai seafood sauce Panang Moo : all natural pork spare rib in panang sauce serve with egg Tom kha chicken Sticky rice with shredded pork

[ January 2020 Omakase ] Nan and Momo welcomed me and my family into their home for an unforgettable omakase experience. Sushi and seafood was fresh, delicate, and effortless! The food was visually striking and thoughtfully arranged. This was when I knew I had to invite her to curate a tasting menu for my birthday!

SERVICE: Nan's energy is amazing and she is such a wonderful person and talented chef. Nan and her team delivered a thoughtful, well-orchestrated experience—from the perfectly paired sake to the beautifully plated dishes.

PRICE: $$$$ well worth the money spent!!

PARKING: There is a small lot next to the restaurant, and limited street parking. We took a Lyft anticipating difficulty finding parking. However, Saturday evening, the parking lot had plenty of space.

Food: 5/5 stars Service: 5/5...

KinKan had already been our favorite restaurant in LA and we always enjoyed interacting with Chef Nan each time we ate one of her amazing tasting menus or a birthday lunch at the counter being served amazing fresh seafood accompanied by their unique bloody mary.

And this story will show another special side of Chef Nan. We live in Pasadena and our friends who lost their house in Altadena had been staying with us until they figured out how to put their lives back together. As empty nesters, we all of a sudden had a household of ten people, large dog and large cat. Everything had been going smoothly but by the eighth day, stress and tension was building and everyone was a bit on edge. Until Chef Nan donated ten of her beautifully curated bento boxes arrived.

We all sat together, toasted (with sake Chef also donated) Chef Nan for her generosity. We each opened our bento boxes and all of the stress and tensions started to ease. All of our mouths and eyes opened widely in awe of how beautiful the boxes were. Our friends who picked them up from KinKan said she worked on the boxes herself. By the end of the meal, all of our spirits were rejuvenated and after a month, we’re happy to report that our friends have moved into their newly rented home and are doing well.

Thank you, Chef Nan. You and KinKan are very special and none of use will ever forget you being there during this unique time...