‘Top Chef’ alum Brooke Williamson keeps it fresh with Da Kikokiko
By Jessica Koslow

Poke is a traditional Hawaiian dish of seasoned cubed fish and veggies over a bed of rice.
Photo by Erica Allen
“Top Chef” alum Brooke Williamson likes to keep things moving.
Whether it’s opening a new restaurant — Runway at Playa Vista newcomer Da Kikokiko is her and husband Nick Roberts’ fourth — or changing her hair color from her natural honey brown to purple and now to blonde, Williamson likes to find outlets for her creativity.
“We could continue to do the same kind of cuisine,” says Williamson, sitting beside Roberts on an outdoor bench of Da Kikokiko (which means “the spot” in Hawaiian), “but we wouldn’t fulfill everything we want to do. Having so many different concepts allows us to think of a dish and have a place to put it.”
Williamson is referring to the couple’s growing restaurant empire, called Company for Dinner, which also includes Hudson House in Redondo Beach and Playa Provisions, The Tripel and the culinary boutique Tripli-Kit in Playa del Rey.
Sandwiched between Hopdoddy Burger Bar and the local branch of Chase bank, Da Kikokiko opened in October and offers all three of the couple’s favorite Hawaiian foods: poke, shaved ice and musubi (grilled spam on top of rice, wrapped together with a piece of seaweed).
“We’ve always liked Hawaiian food,” says Roberts. “We have a favorite place on Washington Boulevard, Rutt’s Cafe. I’m a Spam fanatic. I love Spam. This is an awesome collaboration between all of those foods.”

Husband-wife restarateurs Nick Roberts and Brooke Williamson at work in the Da Kikokiko kitchen.
Photo by Erica Allen
“It’s surprising there aren’t more Hawaiian street food places,” adds Williamson. “There are poke places, but in order to find musubi you have to seek it out.”
Serving authentic shaved ice is important to the couple, who have an 8-year-old son who loves the cold treat. They traveled to Hawaii to experience and recreate the texture of real shaved ice, which should not taste crunchy and overly sweet like a snow cone.
Da Kikokiko’s chunky poke bowls include seven signature recipes or the option to build your own from mild or spicy yellowfin tuna, lomi-lomi salmon, octopus, Japanese eggplant or ‘Krab with a K’ combined with any of 30 different toppings and one of six sauces.
Williamson and Roberts met 15 years ago in the kitchen of Zax in Brentwood. Roberts was Williamson’s sous-chef. So, then, they were friends first?
“Sort of,” says Roberts.
“… ish,” adds Williamson. “We didn’t love each other at first.”
Today, they wouldn’t have things any other way. As they stand side by side in the kitchen plating a Yellowfin Tuna poke bowl, or sit together talking about their passion projects, their working relationship works.
“It’s the only way we know each other,” says Williamson. “It’s nice to not have to explain your day to someone who doesn’t understand.”
“Or, at the same time, explain your day and they do understand,” Roberts says.
Both Williamson and Roberts are beach lovers. It’s why they picked seaside communities for all of their restaurants. Roberts surfs. They both love the ocean.
“It feels very comfortable on this side of town,” says Williamson. “It feels like a different city.”
When the couple first met, Williamson lived in Hollywood and Roberts resided in Redondo Beach. The two moved in together in Venice, then moved from Mar Vista to Marina del Rey to Westchester, where they recently bought a home. The couple often eats dinner at local spots such as Ayara Thai Cuisine, Kanpai Japanese Sushi Bar, ASAP Phorage, Caffe Pinguini and Alejo’s.
The first restaurant Williamson and Roberts opened together was Amuse Café, which launched in 2003 on Main Street near Abbot Kinney Boulevard. After it closed, they opened Beechwood in 2005 on Washington Boulevard, but eventually decided to part ways with their partner.
Then, eight years ago, they hit their stride with Hudson House in Redondo Beach. The Tripel and Playa Provisions followed.
Tripli-Kit, currently tucked behind The Tripel, sells knives, aprons, dishes, cookbooks and other of the couple’s favorite items. Williamson’s mom is a potter, and Tripli-Kit sells her butter bells, berry bowls and olive dishes.

Williamson and Roberts share a poke bowl at Da Kikokiko.
Photo by Erica Allen
“We share with the public stuff they can’t get on Amazon,” says Williamson.
When Williamson’s not in the kitchen at one of her four eateries, she’s traveling — usually for TV, which is something she has a lot of fun doing, much to her surprise.
“I don’t see myself as competitive,” says Williamson.
Roberts is quick to counter: “I disagree. She’s competitive.”
With so much to do for a team of only two, it would appear that Williamson and Roberts have enough on their plate.
“We’re never settled,” says Williamson. “We have new ideas, even if we’re not ready to take the next step.”
“We used to push a lot harder,” says Roberts. “Now we take our time and make the right decisions.”
Da Kikokiko is in Runway at Playa Vista, facing Runway Road. Call (424) 835-4192 or visit dakikokiko.com.
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