Kappo to Introduce Innovative Japanese Dining at Stanford Center

Kappo, a new Japanese restaurant, is set to open at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto on December 2, 2025. This establishment will offer a contemporary interpretation of traditional Japanese cuisine, featuring a unique nine-course tasting menu that focuses on live-fire cooking and seasonal, locally foraged ingredients. Kappo is part of the Omakase Restaurant Group, which also owns the acclaimed Michelin-starred Niku Steakhouse in San Francisco and Prelude.

Located at 660 Stanford Shopping Center, Kappo will seat just 12 guests at its chef’s counter, fostering an intimate dining experience. Under the leadership of Executive Chef Nikolas Neuwirt, the restaurant aims to redefine Japanese cuisine through a Californian lens. Chef Neuwirt brings a wealth of international culinary experience, having trained in Michelin-starred kitchens across Denmark and California, as well as apprenticed in France and Italy.

Chef Neuwirt’s career began in coastal New England and has taken him through Europe and the United States. His commitment to foraging is evident in the menu, which incorporates ingredients such as mushrooms, berries, and wild greens, as well as seafood harvested from California’s coastline. Signature dishes are expected to include seaweed soup with bull kelp and house-fermented squash miso, grilled spiny lobster with sweet chili, and California-grown Koshihikari rice paired with uni and forest notes.

Kappo will offer various beverage pairing options to complement the tasting menu. Guests can choose from a non-alcoholic pairing priced at $75, a traditional Californian beverage progression at $85, or a premium reserve pairing at $150 featuring select wines, beers, and sakes. The restaurant emphasizes direct interaction with the chef and the cooking process, creating an immersive exploration of nature, craft, and seasonal flavors.

The addition of Kappo aligns with the ongoing updates to the dining options at Stanford Shopping Center. Recent openings include RH Palo Alto and Dumpling Time, with future additions such as Zaytinya by José Andrés, Delarosa, Cedar & Sage Bistro & Lounge, and Bacio di Latte. Kappo’s unique high-end Japanese tasting experience is expected to enhance the culinary landscape of this evolving shopping destination.

As Kappo prepares for its debut, it positions itself as a noteworthy addition to the vibrant dining scene in Palo Alto, promising guests an exploration of Japanese culinary traditions reimagined for modern palates.