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Magna Kainan, Denver, CO

Magna Kainan

4.5
4.5
126 Reviews
$31 to $50
Filipino

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2 people
19:00
Booked 31 times today

About this restaurant

  • Lively
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Good for special occasions
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

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Filipino, Asian
  • Hours of Operation
    Happy Hour Daily 16:00–18:00 Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Carlo Lamagna

What 126 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
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Magna Kainan is a vibrant addition to Denver's food scene, celebrated for its innovative take on Filipino cuisine. With standout dishes like "crab fat noodles" and "adobo fried rice," the restaurant offers a delightful mix of flavors. Guests appreciate the "great ambiance," "friendly staff," and "fun atmosphere," making it perfect for a memorable dining experience.

126 Reviews
  1. Crystal VIP

    Las Vegas8 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was okay - some dishes were way better than others. The fish was undercooked on my second course, but the sauce and the crisp on it was DIVINE. They really lost us with the poor service. We waited a very long time for our entrees and tables that sat after us got their food first. In my opinion, the whole situation should’ve been handled better which I honestly think is a poor training issue with their staff. Now they DID comp our drinks which was super nice and we do appreciate it but we probably won’t be back. Which is a shame because I really wanted to like it!

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    Denver1 review

    3.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    We were seated in the back room, and if they try to put you there, I’d recommend saying no! The acoustics were pretty bad, making it quite loud, it was hard to hear each other. That said, the food was good, and the service was great!

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  3. Susan

    Denver1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was delicious and unique. The drinks also were beautiful to look at and again unique. In spite of the chaos of Restaurant Week, the service was friendly and prompt. We highly recommend this restaurant. The only request: turn down the music a little.

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    New York City2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    We recently dined at Magng Kainan during Restaurant Week, and overall, it was a mixed experience. The ambience was really nice—warm and inviting, making for a pleasant dining atmosphere. We opted for the Restaurant Week menu, which featured some items not available on the regular menu. The skewer appetizers were a highlight—charred beautifully and packed with flavor. However, the main dishes were a bit of a letdown. The lechon belly lacked seasoning, though the accompanying sauce helped elevate it. The lamb caldereta, while well-cooked and flavorful, was overpowered by the taste of olives—rather than feeling like a creative twist, it seemed more like an oversight. When I mentioned this to our server, there was no effort to address it, which was disappointing. Service-wise, I wasn’t impressed. The staff simply placed the dishes in front of us without any explanation, leaving us to refer back to the menu to understand the components of our meal. Additionally, I had noted in the reservation that I was celebrating my birthday, but there was no acknowledgment of it at all—not even a simple "Happy Birthday" from the staff. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it did feel like a missed opportunity to make the experience more special. The saving grace of the night was the bibingka for dessert—easily the standout dish! It was served individually, cooked in a banana leaf with a wonderful charred flavor. However, I later noticed that on subsequent days, they switched to baking it in a sheet pan and cutting it into squares. While that might be more efficient, I personally preferred the original presentation. This dessert deserves a spot on their regular menu! Overall, while some dishes fell short and service could be improved, I’d still be open to giving Magna Kainan another try.

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  5. denverfoodie

    Denver1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was outstanding, unique flavors with varied ingredients. Loved it!

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  6. Clare

    Denver1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Really impressed. A comfortably casual, yet exciting atmosphere. The portions were generous. The lumpia, adobo fried rice, inasal chicken and pandesal were all perfect. Cannot wait to come back!

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  7. Kate

    Denver1 review

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Overall, it was a good experience. We had the kordero, lumpia shanghai, tokwa, adobo fried rice, and and the kare-kare. Our favorites were the lumpia shanghai, tokwa, and kordero. The kare-kare was a bit of a let down. It was missing something - salt or spice but was a flat way to end the meal.

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  8. Whitney VIP

    Denver6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This place is so special! Our server was really knowledgeable and helpful guiding us through the menu, the n/a drinks are just as fabulous as the cocktails, and the food is exciting yet familiar, and so comforting and delicious. I will be back!

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  9. Johanna VIP

    Denver131 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 4 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had never Filipino food before. Stephen, our server, explained everything very well. We had a great variety of delicious food and a very enjoyable experience overall!

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  10. Tami

    Denver1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 28 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic food, very different flavors and menu. Sisal pork was delicious. Very fun and delicious cocktails.
    Magna KainanResponded on 4 March 2025
    Thank you Tami for dining with us and taking the time to review. We love bringing bold and unique flavors to the table, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the Sisig dish and our cocktails. Thank you for being part of our growing community—hope to have you back soon for more! 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 126 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 31 times today
Google Map for Magna Kainan

1350 40th St, Denver, CO 80205-3315

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Filipino, Asian
  • Hours of Operation
    Happy Hour Daily 16:00–18:00 Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Carlo Lamagna
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  • Terms of Use
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