A highly-rated, family-run independent neighborhood kitchen and café located in Kemptown, Brighton, known for its authentic and traditional Asian cuisine with a daily-changing menu, including non-vegetarian, vegetarian, and vegan options. It was ranked #39 of 1,115 restaurants in Brighton on Tripadvisor.
Nanima Asian Kitchen & Café was a family-run, local, and independent establishment located in the heart of Kemptown, Brighton. It was known for its authentic Asian cuisine offered through a daily-changing selection of freshly-prepared food from across the region. The venue also functioned as a welcoming neighbourhood kitchen and café.
Customer Perception
Customer feedback was overwhelmingly positive, praising the delicious food, warm and inviting atmosphere, and friendly owners, Nikki and Loni. Many highlighted the unique daily-changing menu, the quality of ingredients, and the reasonable pricing. Specific dishes like Laksa and Vietnamese Coffee received commendation. Some customers felt a strong sense of community and described it as a 'true gem.' However, one negative review mentioned feeling pressured by the owner, bland food that appeared reheated, and a less welcoming experience for the price paid.
Additional Details
Nanima Asian Kitchen & Café operated for six and a half years before closing down. It was known for its commitment to traditional and authentic Asian flavors, served in a relaxed, community-focused setting.
Given the daily-changing menu and café aspect, it was ideal for regular visits for lunch or dinner. The 'Supper club' mentioned in reviews suggests evenings were also popular.
An absolute delight to be in Nanima whenever I visit Brighton. This time I booked a room nearby just to be able to have my lunch here every day. Food is delicious and prepared with love by Nikki (hope I spell the name correctly!). Every day it’s a different menu so you’ll never get bored. I love the atmosphere and gentle presence of Loni. I feel home here - having warm food, chatting with Loni and Nikki who own a place, having an occasional conversation with regulars, sipping hot chai, writing my notes, just being. For me it’s the heart of my every visit ♥️🍜🍲
Really good food, friendly staff and lovely atmosphere. Highly recommend for anyone in Kemptown area looking for a fresh and filling meal for a decent price.
Food will change depending on visit and they like to mix up their options. Their menu when we went covered plenty of vegetarian options as well as meat/fish.
£15 per person for a really nice mix of main + rice or noddles and then a choice of 3 vegetable based sides.
Would recommend the Vietnamese Coffee to finish your meal.
Will definitely be going back and considering their Supper club.
5
I had the most fantastic experience at Nanima, the husband and wife team devote everything to creating an environment that is nourishing and enriching. The food was utterly delicious, there is no set menu so each dish feels unique. The owner was incredibly warm, welcoming and attentive. He described the menu so well, it was hard not to order it all! Despite the whole place been filled the food arrived promptly and the service overall was impeccable. This is a true gem! Go once and you will go again…and again!!
5
Best food spot in Brighton by far! The variety of food was insane, and all freshly made that day. The staff were so lovely and the environment was super inviting. Lonnie was super helpful and his poised yet enthusiastic energy really contributed to the comforting atmosphere. I got to meet the chef Nicky who was so wonderful and amiable. The Laksa that I had here was incredible... I polished the bowl clean! With a daily changing menu you are unlikely to get bored of this amazing food. The pricing is also very reasonable considering the high quality of the food and service. I highly recommend giving this place a try.
1
We visited Nanima while in Brighton because one of my children is vegan and there were limited vegan options nearby. Initially, we stopped outside to look at the menu, but the owner came out and strongly encouraged us to come inside. While I appreciate businesses trying to attract customers, I felt somewhat pressured rather than welcomed.
Once inside, we found ourselves to be the only customers, which made for a rather flat atmosphere. There was no menu provided, and the owner was quite directive about what we should order. We decided to go along with his recommendations.
Unfortunately, the food did not live up to the expectations that had been set. It appeared to be reheated in a microwave, and parts of the meal were cold in the middle. Given that we paid over £25 per person I expected a much higher standard of food preparation and presentation.
The food itself was fairly bland and lacked seasoning. When the meals arrived below expectations, it felt uncomfortable to raise concerns because the owner had been so enthusiastic about the quality of the food. His manner throughout the visit came across as passive-aggressive at times, which made the overall experience less enjoyable.
It’s positive that vegan options are available, but for the price charged, I expected freshly prepared food, better flavour, and a more welcoming customer experience. Sadly, this was not the case for us, and we left disappointed.
