Exploring elevated saryo Japanese cuisine in Lake Tahoe.
On Lake Tahoe’s north shore, an understated, ash-toned restaurant fuses ancient cooking traditions with luxury dining and innovative cocktails. Welcome to Smoke Door Lake Tahoe Saryo.
Executive chef/co-owner Tyler Burges — who worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants in San Francisco, including Saison and Angler — chose a Kings Beach location in which to showcase his inventive style of Japanese cuisine. It’s a premier destination restaurant.
The word “saryo” means “small tea house” and is used to describe boutique restaurants in Japan. In fact, Burges opened the first Smoke Door restaurant in Yokohama in 2022. Honoring the saryo tradition, Smoke Door Lake Tahoe offers a petite dining room, bar, and patio seating (weather permitting).
Upon stepping inside, diners are transported to a bright, open space where every detail evokes alluring harmony. Breezy shoji screens and minimalist booths are juxtaposed with stacks of wood and exotic aromas scenting the air.
At Smoke Door, the subtle art of wood-fired cooking, which imparts flavor through embers and light smoke, elevates each dish, coaxing out pure, natural flavors. The seasonal menu features six- or 10-course omakase tastings and beverage pairings, while the patio offers a dedicated à la carte menu of more casual, shareable, drink-friendly fare.
Local and Global Ingredients
Splitting his time between the United States and Japan, Burges, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York and veteran of Bay Area restaurants, draws inspiration for Smoke Door’s menus from “tasting new foods at farmers’ markets or traveling around Japan, exploring items that I have never seen before, using techniques that are new to me.”
Working with notable vendors at Tokyo’s world-famous Toyosu Fish Market, Burges transforms the freshest hand-selected seafood and other ingredients into tantalizing creations such as haiboshi Japanese wagyu beef, Toyosu fish, donabe rice, and the popular crispy pork belly.
Shaking It Up
Beverage director Ria Kim curates the extensive whiskey and sake menu and cocktails. Many beverage items feature fire elements, such as the smoked highball and the “It’s Godzilla!” with a kick of jalapeño.
At his quaint restaurant, Burges says he will continue to “implement techniques I learn in remote places in Japan and apply them to food in my way to deliver the finest dining experience.”
Smoke Door Lake Tahoe Saryo has quickly earned a reputation for its unparalleled cuisine — blending East and West with a bold infusion of fire and smoke. Its innovative approach celebrates the artistry of ancient cooking and offers diners a truly unforgettable experience in the heart of Lake Tahoe.
Smoke Door Lake Tahoe Saryo
9980 N. Lake Blvd., Kings Beach
530-553-1064 · Smokedoor-tahoe.com
Find Smokedoor_tahoe on Instagram and Smoke Door Tahoe Saryo on Facebook
Open for lunch Sat. and Sun. 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. (last seating at 1:30 p.m.) and for dinner Wed. – Sun. 5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. (last seating at 8:30 p.m.)
