Top Chef’s Katsuji Tanabe Opens Upscale Chophouse in Whittier

Top Chef alum Katsuji Tanabe keeps quite busy, having opened up restaurant spaces not only locally, but also in Chicago and New York City over the past few years. Now he’s honing in on the suburbs with the new The Nixon Chops & Whiskey, an upscale offering to the city of Whittier.

The name, of course, is a reference to former President Nixon, a longtime Whittier local. As for the space, this is the shuttered Seta Dine lounge restaurant on Philadelphia Boulevard, but redone with a whole new bit of flair. Expect a backlit bar, on-tap cocktails, and impressively tall red booths.

The menu is mostly classic steakhouse fare, with room for a bone-in ribeye, flat iron steak, and a double cheeseburger for those in need. Expect seafood and the usual assortment of sides as well, along with some of Tanabe’s showier tendencies: A confit pig’s head for two, for example, arrives intact and is carved tableside. And yes, as the name implies, there will be lots of whiskey on hand, as well as punch bowls and a speakeasy-style mezcal bar that will debut later this month.

The Nixon

The Nixon officially opens today, and is running a giveaway where the first 16 diners eat for free (up to $75 a head). Hours kick off at 6 p.m. sharp, and run through 10 p.m. most nights (11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday). Look for lunch and brunch later this month as well.

The Nixon Chops & Whiskey
13033 Philadelphia St.
Whittier, CA

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