This Is TASTE 710: You Need to Get to Charleston with Kultura's Nikko Cagalanan
Jan 2, 2026
Join chef-owner Nikko Cagalanan of Kultura in Charleston as he shares his inspiring journey from nursing to fine dining, driven by a passion for Filipino flavors. He discusses the excitement of transitioning to a larger kitchen and expanding his menu with traditional dishes like pancit and kare-kare. Nikko also reveals his experiences on TV competition shows and the crucial role they played in funding his restaurant. Tune in for insights on Charleston's evolving food scene and the growing diversity in its culinary offerings.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Year Of Hostel Commutes To Learn Fine Dining
- Nikko commuted two hours each way and stayed in hostels to work at Zero George while living in Myrtle Beach.
- He did this for almost a year to learn fine-dining techniques and build experience.
DM Led To Career-Changing Opportunity
- Nikko DMed Sean Brock and got invited to help during Charleston Wine and Food, which changed his career.
- He saw meticulous technique there, like testing rice cookers and precise rice cooking methods.
Pop-Up Named For His Grandmother Starts It All
- In 2019 Nikko launched his first Filipino pop-up called Mansuetas named after his grandmother.
- That pop-up led to meeting his wife and eventually inspired Kultura.