Niki Nakayama

Niki Nakayama (born 1975) is an American chef and owner of the Michelin-starred n/naka restaurant in Los Angeles. Born to Japanese parents in Koreatown, Los Angeles, Nakayama grew up in a family involved in the fish distribution business. After attending culinary school and working at Mori Sushi, she embarked on a three-year working tour of Japan to further explore Japanese cuisine. During her time in Japan, Nakayama cooked at the renowned kaiseki restaurant Shirakawa-Ya Ryokan. Influenced by her experiences, she returned to California and opened Azami Sushi Cafe, which featured an all-female staff. Eventually, she established n/naka, a highly acclaimed restaurant specializing in modern Japanese kaiseki cuisine.