Magna Kainan

Magna Kainan reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. B

   Bradley VIP

   Denver5 reviews

   4.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   We have been to Magna Kainana 3 times now. We make multiple visits to many of the new restaurants in town. This way we are able to try the menu variety and give the restaurant a proper review. The first time was opening week and everything was perfect. Steak was great, fried rice was great, chicken skewer, scallop skewer. Amazing and we were telling everyone to go! Second visit was good, even better service (everyone settled in) but we ordered a couple items that didn't win us over on flavor including the eggplant skewer, scallop ceviche and charred cabbage. We decided to go a third time to finish trying the menu and make sure we could give it a great rating that matched our first visit. This third visit was ok, I get it, Sunday night, Skeleton crew etc. but the music was bad which set the ambiance back a bit. Server was solid. We went through the menu and placed a large order with some remaining items including crispy lamb, crab squid ink noodles, salmon etc. we enjoyed most of it. Ticket time was a little off. Squid ink noodles came before lumpia, waited almost 30 minutes for the lamb. The lamb was over fried and so dry it was mostly inedible. The salmon just wasn't right. The squid ink noodles are amazing though and so was the lemongrass chicken. Overall not a bad experience but not the wow factor we found during our first visit. I'm not always one to write reviews but coming from the food service industry and being a "foodie", I wanted to share our experience and let you know where we felt you came up short. Thanks for reading!
   

   Is this helpful?

2. G

   Georgia

   Portland4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Fantastic menu! I’m so glad I found Magna Kainan. The octopus as the most tender and flavorful that I’ve ever had. The desserts were off the charts! There are so many more dishes on the menu that I want to try. Can’t wait to go back!
   

   Is this helpful?

3. K

   Kathreena

   Denver1 review

   5.0

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This is our second time to visit Magna and both times were extraordinary experiences. We love how warm all staff welcomed us and accommodate our needs. We are definitely going back for more. I recommended this place for any celebrations.
   

   Is this helpful?

4. A

   Abigail

   Las Vegas6 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 13, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Enjoyed the restaurant ambience, the servers/staff, and the food. As a 2nd Generation Filipina, the food and flavors in the dishes served were nostalgic with a beautiful modern american flair to it. Take for example their pan de sal - served fresh and warm with a side chamoy butter and a marrow butter. It was delicious. Pancit was incredibly flavorful. Main course was served with different sauces (a broth and a chili) and plenty of rice. The ube dessert reminded me of all the family parties I attended and how I used to stuff my face with them. Only the dessert arrived super fancy and with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and toasted coconut - quite the American Gastronomy. However, the dishes were incredibly heavy on the salt. My husband and I felt so full after the first course (we opted for the three course "journey") and took a few bites of the remaining courses before packing it all up and heading home. I brought the leftovers to my mom who has cut back significantly on salt due to potential high blood pressure and even she was feeling the intensity of the salt within the first few bites. That being said, I do recommend dining here and also I suggest drinking lots of water before and after your meal.
   

   Magna KainanResponded on April 17, 2025

   Thank you Abigail, for coming in and sharing your experience—it means a lot, especially from someone who connects personally with the cuisine. I’m really glad some of the dishes brought back good memories and that you got to enjoy that balance of comfort and creativity we aim for. I also truly appreciate your honest feedback about the salt levels. That’s something we take seriously, and your insight helps us reflect on how we can better balance our dishes without compromising flavor. We always want guests to feel nourished and cared for, and I’m sorry we missed the mark there. We’re always working to grow and improve, and your kind words and insight help us do just that. We hope to welcome you back soon. Salamat po! Christina Stone, General Manager
   

   Is this helpful?

5. J

   Jo Ann VIP

   Omaha21 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 6, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The food was excellent and the service was top notch! As a Filipina, I love how their Chef de Cuisine truly elevated the flavors I grew up with and took it to the next level. This is truly a worthy sister to their first restaurant in Portland, OR.
   

   • 
   • 
   • 
   • 
   • 
   • 
   • 
   • 
   • 

   Magna KainanResponded on April 7, 2025

   Jo Ann, thank you so much for your kind words—it means so much coming from someone who knows and loves the flavors at the heart of our food. We’re incredibly proud to carry that spirit from Portland to Denver, and it’s guests like you who help make this place feel like family. Can’t wait to welcome you back again soon! Christina Stone, General Manager
   

   Is this helpful?

6. A

   Alia

   Denver5 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 6, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   The food was amazing! And the drinks are really fun. Our first round of orders took a while - but turned out our server misplaced them with another table. She also forgot one of our main dishes. Bit of a bummer, but honestly it was fine. We were super stuffed at this point anyway. Would love to go back!
   

   Magna KainanResponded on April 7, 2025

   Thank you, Alia, for the kind words and for being so gracious about the hiccups during your visit—we truly appreciate your understanding. I'm glad you enjoyed the food and drinks, even with the mix-up. We always aim for smoother service, and we’ll make sure everything lands exactly where it should next time. We'd love to welcome you back soon! Christina Stone, General Manager
   

   Is this helpful?

7. T

   Teena VIP

   San Francisco2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 5, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great food and ambience! The tofu apps was incredible! Squid ink noodle w/crab was perfectly cooked and tastefully made. Food & drinks were on the pricier end but portion size was good as shareable / family style. Highly recommended if you haven’t had Filipino food.
   

   Magna KainanResponded on April 7, 2025

   Thank you Teena, for dining with us and taking the time to share your feedback. We're so glad you enjoyed the Tokwa and Mom's Crab Fat Noodles—two dishes that are close to our hearts. We always aim for bold flavors and generous, shareable plates, so it's wonderful to hear that came through. We'd love to welcome you back anytime you're craving more—and be sure to say hi when you do! Christina Stone, General Manager
   

   Is this helpful?

8. C

   Carolyn

   Denver4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 4, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   New delicious tastes! So glad we came here. Loved the vibe and the food. Mocktails were perfect and not too sweet. Cabbage was particularly special. Will be back!
   

   Magna KainanResponded on April 7, 2025

   Thank you Carolyn, for the kind words. We're so glad you stopped in and got to explore some new flavors. It’s great to hear our Mocktails and Repolyo hit the mark for you. We’ll be here whenever you’re ready for your next visit, make sure to say hi when you do! Christina Stone, General Manager
   

   Is this helpful?

9. H

   Hannah VIP

   Denver6 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 3, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Delicious meal and great team! Will definitely return again.
   

   Magna KainanResponded on April 7, 2025

   Thank you Hannah, for the kind words! We're thrilled you had a great experience and felt well taken care of by our staff. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another memorable meal! Christina Stone, General Manager
   

   Is this helpful?

10. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Baltimore1 review

    1.0

    Dined on March 29, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2

    We had the opportunity to dine at Magna Kainan, a Filipino kichen yesterday evening, but the experience was disappointing. The restaurant's dishes lacked cultural authenticity. Even my five-year-old child did not enjoy the pansit, and the flavors in the dishes we ordered were overwhelming, with too much garlic, pepper, and salt. As I understand, the restaurant aims to innovate and refine Filipino cuisine, but it appears to have compromised its cultural identity. We ordered the following: Isaw, Lamb empanada (sent the 2nd back because it was hard over fried), Laing, Adobo rice, Garlic rice that never made it to the table, Sisig, Pansit, Inasal, Lechon Kawali, and tried some mocktails. There was a cap of 90 minutes for our table and was informed that's there's another reservation at 1830hrs. They brought out the food in waves, but by 1810hrs, all ordered food hasn't come to the table, and all our server asked us , is if we want boxes for our barely untouched food. The Inasal became a to go order, and it's not worth the $37 price tag to it. My evaluation: Magna Kainan is an American restaurant with a Filipino fusion fare to it. I don't recommend this place.
    

    Magna KainanResponded on April 7, 2025

    Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I’m sorry your visit didn’t meet expectations—dining with family should feel warm and relaxed, and I regret that we fell short. Filipino food is incredibly diverse, and we know authenticity means different things to different people. Chef Carlo honors his family’s roots while bringing his own creative lens to the table. As for the time limit—our goal is to honor all existing reservations while also making room for walk-ins to have a chance to dine with us. We often work in additional tables in between bookings, and giving a time frame helps us stay fair to both our reservation holders and guests who are just walking in. Your feedback is appreciated and helps us grow. Christina Stone, General Manager
    

    1 person found this helpful