N/Soto started during the pandemic, sort of a pop-up serving bento boxes. It became quite popular, and eventually became permanent around April 2022. N/Soto Photo Gallery
N/Soto is a Japanese restaurant in Mid-City Los Angeles by Niki Nakayama and wife Carole Iida-Nakayama, the duo behind the 2-star Michelin restaurant N/Naka. The name “Soto” means “outside” in Japanese, and as mentioned, it started during a pandemic that closed us off to the outside world. The restaurant is meant to be a more casual and accessible take on Nakayama’s fine dining cuisine.
The menu features a variety of izakaya-inspired dishes, such as grilled skewers, small plates, hand rolls, nigiri, sashimi, and other fresh seafood, plus their creations of more traditional Japanese dishes prepared using traditional Japanese techniques. The ingredients are sourced from local farmers and purveyors.
The restaurant has a warm and inviting atmosphere, with indoor and outdoor patio seating. The bar is a popular spot for cocktails, they have a nice list of specialty cocktails made with Japanese spirits and ingredients. Next time, I think I will try one…or maybe two.
Here are some dishes we had during our recent visit:
- Warm house-made tofu with ginger and tosa joyu (soy sauce)
- Octopus, kizami, wasabi
- Sashimi Moriawase (chef’s selection)
- Blue crab hand roll
- Umeshiso cucumber – hand roll with cucumber, umeboshi (pickled plum) and shiso.
- Hokkaido scallop sashimi, toro, caviar
- Toro nigiri and Toro osetra (chopped toro, caviar)
- Gyutan (grilled beef tongue)
- Zabuton (grilled pork belly)
- Ribeye cap wagyu skewer
- Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard with shrimp, chicken, and gingko nuts
- Snow crab, uni, caviar.
If you’re looking for a delicious and authentic Japanese meal in Los Angeles, N/Soto is definitely an option. The food is creative and flavorful, and the service is excellent. I highly recommend it. friends
N/Soto, located at 4366 W. Washington Blvd, Mid-City Los Angeles. Open Wed-Sun 5:30 to 10:00pm.