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Magna Kainan, Denver, CO

Magna Kainan

4.5 (150)
$31 to $50
Filipino
1350 40th St, Denver, CO 80205-3315

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 11 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Innovative
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Hot spot
Magna Kainan is the passion project of Chef Carlo Lamagna, Food & Wine’s 2021 Best New Chef and 2022 James Beard finalist and Chef Max Mackissock (Michelin recommended A5 Steakhouse and Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded Ash’Kara). Kainan, which means “eatery” in Tagalog, will be a refined, woodfired approach to Filipino comfort food..
At Magna Kainan, just like our sister restaurant in Portland, Oregon, Magna Kusina, our mission is to share the vibrant flavors and rich traditions of Filipino cuisine and culture through a contemporary lens. Whether you’re new to our culinary heritage or a longtime fan, we aim to create an experience that resonates deeply and sparks joy and connection.
We believe in the power of food to bring people together. Our doors are open to everyone, and we look forward to creating a space where great meals, creative cocktails and a warm, welcoming ambiance unite us all. As we say in our family, “Mangan tayon!”—Let’s Eat!

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Filipino, Asian
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 10:15 am–2:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Carlo Lamagna
  • Neighborhood
    River North (Denver)
  • Cross street
    1350 40th Street. 40th and Walnut<br />Suite 120
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Island Drams — A Glenfiddich x Magna Exclusive

    $14.00 per person

    Prepaid

    May 1, 2025 - Jun 30, 2025
    Start your night at Magna with a warm welcome — in the form of a glass! When you reserve it in advance through OpenTable, we’ll have it ready and waiting for you when you arrive. Because nothing says “we’ve been expecting you” like a cocktail poured just for you. Magna Kainan invites you to escape into flavor with our newest signature cocktail: Island Drams — a vibrant collaboration with Glenfiddich that blends Filipino soul with a timeless Scotch twist. Island Drams harmonizes tropical and earthy notes with honey, passionfruit, cinnamon, and fresh lemon — delivering a bold sip of warm island nights and modern heritage.
    Island Drams — A Glenfiddich x Magna Exclusive Photo

What 150 people are saying

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

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Magna Kainan offers a vibrant dining experience, expertly blending Filipino flavors with modern twists. Guests rave about its "amazing food" and "great ambiance," with highlights including "fantastic menu" options and "unique cocktails." While service can be inconsistent, the restaurant's rich, flavorful dishes and welcoming atmosphere make it a must-visit.
150 Reviews
  1. Eliana

    Denver1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food, drinks and experience. Justin took amazing care of us and we will definitely be back.
    Magna KainanResponded 3 days ago
    Thank you for the review. We love that you enjoyed the ambience and our Magna experience. P.S - We think Justin is great too! Can't wait to have you back! Nehra A. General Manager

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  2. Amy

    New York City1 review

    3.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    At the insistence of our server, we ordered the family-style chef’s choice menu. There were many items we wished we could have tried and may have been better choosing our own destiny. The only thing that was downright bad were the mussels (entree). The whole thing was super fishy and we elected not to eat it. The papaya isla cocktail was delicious and I’d go back just for it.
    Magna KainanResponded 3 days ago
    Thank you so much for joining us and for sharing your feedback—we appreciate you giving the chef’s choice menu a try! We understand how it can feel like a bit of a gamble when you’re excited to explore the menu yourself, and we’re always looking for ways to improve that experience for our guests. We’d love to learn more about your visit, so we’ve sent you a private message with a way to connect. Your insight is incredibly valuable to us! We’re glad to hear the Papaya Isla cocktail was a hit—it’s one of our favorites too! We hope to welcome you back soon for a more personalized dining experience. Nehra A General Manager

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  3. Marti VIP

    Chicago41 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were in town for a long weekend and I’d seen this on Instagram. I’m so glad I made a reservation as it was a steady flow of people. The staff was wonderful, drinks were amazing and the food was delicious!! Chefs kiss! I definitely recommend this spot!
    Magna KainanResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you so much for the lovely review! We’re so glad you made us part of your weekend—and even happier to hear you enjoyed the food, drinks, and our amazing team. Chef’s kiss right back at you! Next time you’re in town, we’d love to welcome you back for brunch—our ube waffle is a must-try and the perfect way to top off your trip. Until then, thanks again for the kind words and recommendation! Until Next Time! Nehra A General Manager

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  4. Nathan

    Denver2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    The food is fine. Nothing memorably good or bad. Presentation and preparation could both be refined. Service was inconsistent—everyone’s entrees came out at different times and additional orders of drinks or food seemed to take ages to come out. Cute vibes but overall not a place I’d return to.
    Magna KainanResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you so much for coming in and for taking the time to share your feedback. We always aim to create memorable experiences for our guests, and it sounds like this visit didn’t quite reflect that goal. We’d truly love the opportunity to learn more about your experience and how we can improve. We have messaged you privately with a way to contact us - If you are open to letting us know more about your experience! Thank you again for giving us a try, and we’re hopeful we’ll have the chance to welcome you back for a stronger visit in the future. Warmly, Nehra A General Manager

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  5. Laura

    Dallas1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible food, especially the bread and 2 butters (I forget the name of the dish)
    Magna KainanResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you so much for the kind words—we’re so glad you enjoyed the pandesal with duo butters! It’s one of our favorite ways to kick off the meal, and we’re happy it left an impression. We’d love to have you back soon—especially for brunch! Be sure to try our ube waffle next time, it’s a guest favorite and just as memorable. See You Soon! Nehra A General Manager

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  6. Bradley VIP

    Denver5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 28, 2025

    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!
    Magna KainanResponded on May 2, 2025
    Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful and detailed review—we really appreciate your support and your commitment to truly exploring the menu! It means a lot to us that you've visited three times and were such fans from the start. Your feedback on the timing, ambiance, and specific dishes is incredibly valuable and has already been shared with our team. We’re constantly working to deliver that consistent “wow” factor you mentioned from your first visit, and we're hopeful we’ll have the chance to show you our best again soon. Thanks again for your honesty and for cheering us on—we hope visit #4 brings the magic full circle! See You Soon! Nehra General Manager

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  7. Georgia

    Portland4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 28, 2025

    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!

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  8. Kathreena

    Denver1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 25, 2025

    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.
    Magna KainanResponded 3 days ago
    Hi Kathreena! Thank you so much for the review. We appreciate that you have made Magna your dinner spot not just once but twice now! We look forward to welcoming you back again. Maybe this time - for Brunch! Thanks again, and see you soon! Nehra A. General Manager

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  9. 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

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  10. 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

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FAQs

Magna Kainan offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (720) 524-8684.

Magna Kainan is rated 4.5 stars by 150 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Denver / Colorado
  4. Denver
  5. River North (Denver)

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 11 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Magna Kainan

1350 40th St, Denver, CO 80205-3315

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    1350 40th Street. 40th and Walnut<br />Suite 120
  • Neighborhood
    River North (Denver)
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 10:15 am–2:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Filipino, Asian
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Carlo Lamagna
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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  • Terms of Use
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  • Cookie Preferences
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