On Food: Experience the five natural elements through food at NOVA Kitchen & Bar

Dec. 18, 2019 2:54 PM PT

A new restaurant billing itself as an “experiential dining destination” is now open in Garden Grove.

NOVA Kitchen & Bar serves a pan-Asian menu highlighting Japanese, Sichuan, Cantonese, Korean and Thai cuisine, among others. It’s helmed by executive chef Abel Vargas, whose credits include Mesa in Costa Mesa and Habana in Irvine.

NOVA has three kitchens that work together to create a “five-part” menu, highlighting the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

The “wood” menu has items like chow mein, seafood fried rice and dan dan noodles, while “fire” showcases chicken karaage and Peking duck. Earth’s menu is about the vegetables, including a Caesar salad with seaweed powder.

Formerly a nightclub, the expansive restaurant boasts nearly 11,000 square feet and has five distinct areas with bold décor choices that exemplify those five elements.

You’ll find plants and nature images alongside vertical lines and columns. Fire has red and orange triangles, symbolizing peaked forms and flames, according to a news release. Meanwhile, while earth’s style is comprised of warm, neutral tones, stone and square forms.

“The idea is to create a soulful place that radiates harmonious energy and allows the diner to fully immerse themselves in the experience, as they nourish not only their bodies with food and drink, but also their minds and souls,” Joseph Gebhardt, NOVA’s general manager, said in a statement.

For the water section, Kenji Haruki, a sushi chef formerly of Katsuya in Los Angeles and SLS in Las Vegas, oversees the sushi bar.

NOVA complements its food with nearly 400 offerings on its beverage menu, including signature craft cocktails, wines, sakes and locally brewed craft beer. There is also a speakeasy-style private event space that looks like a library and is set up for karaoke.