KinKan LA

This was the top dining experience of my year so far. The perfect combination of fresh, delicious food in a personal, unpretentious atmosphere. The restaurant is Nan’s passion-project and you can feel her thoughtfulness and enthusiasm in the unique concept and intricate flavors and textures of the food. Our group shared two bottles of natural wine as well that paired perfectly with the food. I also loved the bespoke handmade stoneware, delicate glassware, and mismatched vintage furniture. Would absolutely recommend sitting at the bar to see the process and incredible attention to detail. We came for the “lunchtime indulgence” for Sunday lunch, but will definitely be back for the tasting menu in the future.

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 fav

We’ve been here several times, and each visit somehow feels better than the last. Every course is layered, thoughtful, and deeply flavorful, an elegant conversation between Thai and Japanese influences that I never imagined could be so harmonious. The team radiates genuine warmth, and the chef welcomes every guest like family, infusing that same sense of care and generosity into her food and the beautiful, inviting space she has created.

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 - Katsuya

The Crab Night menu at Kinkan LA was an exceptional experience. I’m not going to lie—the night started out on the sketchy Virgil St. Despite all the gentrification, the graffiti, scattered trash, and makeshift cardboard tents can make it a rough start for a date night experience. But the moment you step through Kinkan’s door, you’re transported into a cozy, intimate restaurant that feels worlds away. The night kicked off with the Corn Tofu, Kegani, Hokkaido hairy crab meat, uni, and ikura in a corn dashi. The blend of savory and sweet was unlike anything I’ve had before. Highly recommended. The Kani Croquette was next: a perfectly crisp bite with Hokkaido snow crab claw, scallops, shrimp, and umeboshi. The Crab Curry with ume blossom somen and blue crab was rich and comforting. The King