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Magna Kainan, Denver, CO

Magna Kainan

4.5
4.5
140 Reviews
$31 to $50
Filipino
1350 40th St, Denver, CO 80205-3315

Make a reservation

2 people
11:00 PM
Booked 17 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Hot spot
  • Lively
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

What 140 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
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Magna Kainan offers a delightful fusion of Filipino and modern American cuisine. Diners rave about the "amazing food and service," with standout dishes like the crab fat noodles and pancit. The restaurant boasts a vibrant atmosphere and attentive staff, making it a "great place to experience Filipino food" in Denver.

140 Reviews
  1. 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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  2. 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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  3. Alia

    Denver4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was amazing! And the drinks are really fun. Our first round of orders took a while - but turned out our server misplaced them with another table. She also forgot one of our main dishes. Bit of a bummer, but honestly it was fine. We were super stuffed at this point anyway. Would love to go back!
    Magna KainanResponded on April 7, 2025
    Thank you, Alia, for the kind words and for being so gracious about the hiccups during your visit—we truly appreciate your understanding. I'm glad you enjoyed the food and drinks, even with the mix-up. We always aim for smoother service, and we’ll make sure everything lands exactly where it should next time. We'd love to welcome you back soon! Christina Stone, General Manager

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  4. Teena VIP

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and ambience! The tofu apps was incredible! Squid ink noodle w/crab was perfectly cooked and tastefully made. Food & drinks were on the pricier end but portion size was good as shareable / family style. Highly recommended if you haven’t had Filipino food.
    Magna KainanResponded on April 7, 2025
    Thank you Teena, for dining with us and taking the time to share your feedback. We're so glad you enjoyed the Tokwa and Mom's Crab Fat Noodles—two dishes that are close to our hearts. We always aim for bold flavors and generous, shareable plates, so it's wonderful to hear that came through. We'd love to welcome you back anytime you're craving more—and be sure to say hi when you do! Christina Stone, General Manager

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  5. Carolyn

    Denver4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    New delicious tastes! So glad we came here. Loved the vibe and the food. Mocktails were perfect and not too sweet. Cabbage was particularly special. Will be back!
    Magna KainanResponded on April 7, 2025
    Thank you Carolyn, for the kind words. We're so glad you stopped in and got to explore some new flavors. It’s great to hear our Mocktails and Repolyo hit the mark for you. We’ll be here whenever you’re ready for your next visit, make sure to say hi when you do! Christina Stone, General Manager

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  6. Hannah VIP

    Denver6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious meal and great team! Will definitely return again.
    Magna KainanResponded on April 7, 2025
    Thank you Hannah, for the kind words! We're thrilled you had a great experience and felt well taken care of by our staff. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another memorable meal! Christina Stone, General Manager

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    Baltimore1 review

    1.0

    Dined on March 29, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    We had the opportunity to dine at Magna Kainan, a Filipino kichen yesterday evening, but the experience was disappointing. The restaurant's dishes lacked cultural authenticity. Even my five-year-old child did not enjoy the pansit, and the flavors in the dishes we ordered were overwhelming, with too much garlic, pepper, and salt. As I understand, the restaurant aims to innovate and refine Filipino cuisine, but it appears to have compromised its cultural identity. We ordered the following: Isaw, Lamb empanada (sent the 2nd back because it was hard over fried), Laing, Adobo rice, Garlic rice that never made it to the table, Sisig, Pansit, Inasal, Lechon Kawali, and tried some mocktails. There was a cap of 90 minutes for our table and was informed that's there's another reservation at 1830hrs. They brought out the food in waves, but by 1810hrs, all ordered food hasn't come to the table, and all our server asked us , is if we want boxes for our barely untouched food. The Inasal became a to go order, and it's not worth the $37 price tag to it. My evaluation: Magna Kainan is an American restaurant with a Filipino fusion fare to it. I don't recommend this place.
    Magna KainanResponded on April 7, 2025
    Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I’m sorry your visit didn’t meet expectations—dining with family should feel warm and relaxed, and I regret that we fell short. Filipino food is incredibly diverse, and we know authenticity means different things to different people. Chef Carlo honors his family’s roots while bringing his own creative lens to the table. As for the time limit—our goal is to honor all existing reservations while also making room for walk-ins to have a chance to dine with us. We often work in additional tables in between bookings, and giving a time frame helps us stay fair to both our reservation holders and guests who are just walking in. Your feedback is appreciated and helps us grow. Christina Stone, General Manager

    1 person found this helpful

  8. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The service and food were excellent. Our server was helpful in navigating the menu. I love the different flavors and mostly how Filipino cuisine is elevated and celebrated by the restaurant. The menu leaves plenty to be explored and that includes the drink menu. Well done and Salamat po.
    Magna KainanResponded on March 24, 2025
    It means a lot to hear that the spirit of our Filipino cuisine came through in a way that felt both elevated and true to its roots. We're all about celebrating the richness and diversity of food—and we love that you’re excited to keep exploring the menu. Can’t wait to welcome you back to our growing community. Salamat po! Christina Stone, General Manager

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  9. David VIP

    Denver21 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a great dining experience - cannot recommend the cheesecake enough
    Magna KainanResponded on April 7, 2025
    David, thank you so much for the kind words! We’re thrilled you had a great experience—and totally agree, the Pandan Cheesecake is something special. We’ll have a slice waiting for you when you come back! Christina Stone, General Manager

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  10. OpenTable Diner VIP

    Las Vegas4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I live in Portland, OR. I came for a one night trip to visit MAGNA Kainan. I was treated like family royalty’s the food was as beautiful as it was delicious!
    Magna KainanResponded on March 24, 2025
    Thank you so much for making the trip all the way from Portland. It means the world to me to hear that you felt so warmly welcomed and that the food lived up to the journey. We always aim to make our guests feel like part of the family, and I’m so glad that came through. Hope we get to welcome you back again—your seat at the table is always waiting. 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 140 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
11:00 PM
Booked 17 times today
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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