A gem on Galway's trendy west end. Reservations suggested. We walked by at 5 an hour before they opened and reserved a table for two. Daily menu posted on window. Had a pint while we waited down the street at Universal, a new restaurant/pub. The Dory was perfect. The lamb chops were exceptionally seasoned. The bread was delicious, fresh and thoughtfully made. read more

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Cute location. Had a delicious fresh creative lunch. The fresh crab salad from west coast of Ireland was delicious and very herbaceous and crispy fresh lettuces were added welcome after too much heavy pub foods in previous days. Soup of kolorabi and fresh kale and miso was so tasty and great combination. Their brown bread with seeds was perfect and hearty. Service was excellent. Treacle pie was divine. Highly recommend this fun little restaurant. read more

Kai Cafè + Restaurant - Treacle Pie ~ YUM - Irish Near Me - Galway, G

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The Pretty Pollock fish fingers was better than any fish and chips I've ever had! This restaurant has amazing veggie filled dishes that leave you perfectly full, and ready for dessert! read more

Kai Cafè + Restaurant - Irish Near Me - Galway, G

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I can't say enough good things about this place!! I was in Ireland for my wedding in June and we traveled to Galway with some family and friends after. My husband and I had been to Kai previously and really enjoyed our meal so we were dying to go back. I booked the private room upstairs and was so glad I did! Galway in the summer is extremely packed as was the restaurant. Our server was great and very knowledgeable of the menu. Everything I had was delicious but the crab salad appetizer was my favorite! The flavors were so unique and fresh. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal and we all agreed we would go back next time we were in Galway. You will not be disappointed in this place!! read more

Fabulous find! They don't skimp on the portions or flavors! We had a large table of eight but service was swift and friendly. The atrium area makes you feel like you're dining al fresco. read more

Kai Cafè + Restaurant - Irish Near Me - Galway, G

Phenomenal food, exceptionally friendly staff. The atmosphere is comfortable and charming. Huge asset for Galway.

By far, the best meal we had in Ireland! Delicious and healthy. It was a nice change from meat and potatoes. Come here! I am still dreaming on how I can recreate the salad I ate. read more

Kai Cafè + Restaurant - So good! Fish fingers plus a light salad! - Irish Near Me - Galway, G

Unbelievable. That's all you can say. Heart of Galway. You will struggle to beat this place. Class act on every aspect. read more

Wow!! Incredible food, service and ambiance. Arrived in Galway looking for food options and could not believe how good Kai was. Nondescript building gives way to an amazing food experience. Do not miss Kai if you are in town read more

Book early and bring your credit card! This is one of the most popular ( and priciest) restaurants in Galway. Quite a succinct dinner menu but guaranteed all locally source fresh produce and variety of craft beer and home made lemonade :) 3 course fine for 2 with 2 beers came to €120 so just special occasions really inked your minted ! Have yet to try Sunday brunch- which there was a queue for the last time I attempted to get in! read more

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Lovely place! We got there with less than an hour before 4pm, so we had something quick and moved on to another place. The ambience was lovely and the staff was so nice. I'd come back for dinner next time. read more

I love this place, food excellent a bit left field, take it as it is but high standards all round and original.

The food was very good. There is no disputing this. However the entire experience was ruined by the incredibly rude American waitress who repeatedly made us feel uncomfortable, and at times was flat out rude and disrespectful. You are charging a premium price for a premium product, it baffles the mind that it has not occurred to this person that dining is as much an experience as it is about anything you can offer gastronomically. We are paying for service and ambience. Perhaps you don't have a naturally sunny disposition, however at the very least you can be professional and courteous. Clearly, not everybody has the personality to work in the service industry. It's a shame that such excellent food was completely and utterly overshadowed by this grotesque sideshow. read more

Had been recommended this by a Galway local when here for a weekend recently. They said "If you haven't eaten here before you leave, you *must* try it". So we did. And we were glad, Verily. The place kind of announces itself to you from the outside. Something about the look, the chairs outside, the casual yet artfully classy look tells you it's going to be good. Inside it gets better - lovely room, massive skylight letting in natural light, huge blackboard with the dishes laid out and specials indicated. Home made desserts piled up on one counter. Folks of all kinds, from couples to groups, hanging out across the a variety of tables. We were there for Sunday brung. There was a queue to get in 5 minutes after they opened at noon! You have been warned. The food is fecking excellent. Really really really good pancakes. I had Portobello mushrooms with poached eggs, great coffee and I even had their seaweed shake. That's right, a seaweed shake. I'd have it again. Now. Looking forward to returning - this place is fantastic. next time I'm going to try it for dinner. Then I'm probably coming back int he morning for brunch. I detect a distinctly Antipodean flavour to the style and cooking here - it's seems like a great Sydney or Melbourne brunch place has decamped to Sea Road in Galway. If so, let's just cancel their visas and ensure they never leave. Instead let's mandate they open one in every town in Ireland. That good. read more

Wonderful meal. The Hake and mussels casserole was so fresh and the fish was buttery. The sauce was brothy and so delicious. Lamb chop was perfectly seared and seasoned and every component of the dish was well thought out and compliments each other. Chocolate mouse and cherry Gelato dessert capped a perfect meal. Nice setting and attentive staff read more

Came here for a quick lunch and it was so good! I got the crab salad and my boyfriend got the beef stew. The interior is beautiful and the service was quick. We spent 35 euro on our lunch which included the meals above and two beers. Everything was so fresh, and the desserts looked amazing! read more

Expectations were high. As we located Kai around 12 on Sunday there was a massive queue outside and that in my head was another indication that we were in for a treat. I wanted to love this place so bad! There is no menu and everything they serve is written down on a black board that was not visible from where I sat and as someone with allergies I like having a menu in my hands to ask questions about the various items but I think the menu changes daily which is why we did not get a menu so that is kind of cool. I ordered the Fry as it was one of two items they could make gluten free that wasn't cake, it was lukewarm when it was served and there were the driest oat cakes I've ever had instead of bread and the hot chocolate tasted like milk, I was not impressed at all. The staff were absolutely lovely and so was the venue and perhaps it was simply because I ordered the celiac option that it was less than stellar. Perhaps I will try going back for dinner next time I am in Galway. Again lovely staff and venue and I am sure if you do not have any allergies this place is fantastic. read more

Totally delicious pastries! Fantastic atmosphere and friendly staff. We had five different pastries and one was better than the rest. Big portions. Free wifi. Friendly staff. Don't miss it if you don't have to. read more

Kai Cafè + Restaurant - Fantastic pastry breakfast! - Irish Near Me - Galway, G

Excellent meal in Galway. It is able to balance modern decor with the cozy feel of a cottage. Our meals were outstanding. Highly recommended. read more

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We stopped in for lunch and were so glad we did. The waiter was extremely friendly and helpful. My husband got the lamb stew and said it was the best he's had. I got a seafood picnic/platter dish and also really enjoyed it. We were stuffed so we got a couple of pieces of cake to go. Don't dare skip on the dessert! read more

The first time I came it was great but the next few times it kind of disappointed. Since they change their menu all the time it just depends on what you like. Service has also been very inconsistent, sometimes great, sometimes not so great. So it's just very middle of the road for me read more

Fantastic meal - I had beetroot risotto & pistachio cake. Just all around excellent - great service, didn't hurt that it was 75-degrees and a sunny beautiful evening! Would return in a heartbeat. read more

This restaurant was awesome! The food was great and the service was excellent. I had the lamb meatloaf and my wife had the fish fingers. We both throughly enjoyed our meals. I would definitely recommend this place and would certainly visit again! read more

Kai Cafè + Restaurant - The meatloaf sandwich. Excellent!!! - Irish Near Me - Galway, G

Delicious. Love the "convertible" ceiling - it lets so much wonderful light in, and you can see the church next door. If not for that touch, this would feel like the tiny little cottage it once was. Menu is small, but solid, and the pastries looked divine. I abstained, because I had already had more goat cheese and bread and butter in a week than I'd normally have in a year, but it looked fantastic. My only quibble is that it's quite tough to see the menu from some seats. I just got up and moved to a better spot to read it through, but felt very "in the way" as I did so. The rest of my dining companions had me report back rather than do the same. Someone at my table said the tomato soup was the best he's ever had, but he was not wild about his smoked salmon salad. Everyone else was very happy with their choice. read more

We had two starters and shared a main meal. Ceviche was very good and my wife really liked it. We also had the lamb with pecorino sardo and grilled nectarines. I really liked it. Very thin slices of lamb with good flavor. The main meal was the swordfish. They have a very light mayonnaise like sauce. Very well done, taste wise. Really very rare from a grilled stand point as is the custom now. We liked it but a person at the next table sent his back for a few more minutes of grilling. So your taste may dictate how to ask for preparation. Desert was lemon pudding with black berries. Wow. Very good. The pudding reminded me of lemonchello. Very good service. Full change of cutlery with each serving. This place may be had to get in so call or stop in to reserve you time. read more

The food and atmosphere were great for a leisurely dinner with friends. They were very accommodating of my need for gluten free food (celiac). read more

Everything done right - ambiance very cute,+ open; great, friendly service. Mains and sides were excellent.. Pickled peaches with mint + onion pork chops. Steak with compound butter mushrooms and house cocktails great. Had an interesting bread item too.. Unleavened bread that tasted like crushed flat grape-nuts.. Good stuff. 102euro with 4 drinks two starters and two mains. A Seal. I've paid 80% of that for awful in DC.. Come here if visiting Galway. read more

Amazing food and service! Best meal I've had in Ireland so far. I had the ceviche, lamb, and hazel mountain mousse. All yummy and inventive. read more

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The best meal we had during our trip in Ireland! Must go!! My husband and I went to Kai during our trip in Ireland. After searching on yelp for restaurant recommendations, we decided to go into Kai cafe one evening without a reservation. We arrive when the restaurant just opened for dinner and was told that we will only have 1-1:30 hour to eat because they are mostly booked. We were seated promptly. The decoration was rusty and cute and the wait staff were all super friendly. We ordered the tomato salad with labneh to share and ordered the lamb chop and monk fish for entree. The food was BLOWING OUR MINDS amazing!!!!! The presentation was beautiful and the flavor was just so surprisingly tasty! All the ingredients tasted so fresh and well prepared. The lamb chop I ordered had picked beans and hummus with it and the combination of flavor was just sooooo good!!!Even the mashed potato on the side tasted delicious!!! We ordered the blueberry pie for dessert and that was the only thing of the meal that was good but not great. Coming from New York, we like to think that we have been spoiled by the food scene in NY but Kai cafe didn't disappoint. And the best thing is the price for each dishes were not at all expensive. It was definitely a restaurant that you should go. read more

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May well be the best restaurant in Ireland- after dining here we began to pass on the word to other travelers we met. Exceptional food, drink and service- the owner came round to personally check on our progress throughout the meal in a manner that felt genuine and not forced . With a quirky decor anchored by a striking photo of the chef/owner's grandmother adding to it's many charms, this is the kind of destination worthy venue that makes a vacation memorable. I won't talk about the specific dishes we ordered as the menu changes frequently depending on what is seasonal. Suffice to say that my partner used to raise cattle and said he never has a steak as flavorful as the one at Kai. Well worth the price, especially considering the size of the portions. NOTE- Reservations are a must. You'll understand why by the end of your meal. read more

We first tried going here on a Saturday night (without reservation) and unfortunately they didn't have any availability. But were able to fit us in a few nights later, and provide us with some great recommendations on where to eat in the meantime. The service here was top notch and the food, superb. The portions are quite large, but everything is prepared fantastically. read more

I was hoping to be the first 4 star review but just can't do it. The service was great the food excellent and just a lovely space. I would highly recommend. read more

Very cute hipster restaurant with a lovely design and friendly waitstaff. We went to Kai while on Holliday and we ordered the Thai dish. Although we we're warned many times how spicy this dish is we actually didn't think it was hot at all, not even zippy. I think it depends on what you typically eat, we are from Texas and regularly eat Tex-mex so to us it was about as spicy as regular peper. It was delicious, but if you don't find people hot you will like it, it really is not "to spicy". read more

Ridiculously good. One of the best in many memories. That good. In Galway with family. Heard about the restaurant from producer friend of CHEFS TABLE. We called same day, Friday afternoon, middle of August and go figure- table for 5 at 9PM. Perfect for Californians jetlagging it anyway. 3 adults, an 8 year old and 5 year old, watched the sunset at Salthill, found a place to park nearby the restaurant (what?!) and dropped into a big table in the window. See pics. Lovely. The menu is for adults but they had fresh "fish fingers" with mashed potatoes for the kids (good luck). We said sure and prayed. Fresh house baked bread and of course, incredible Irish butter hit the table and BOOM, devoured. The soda bread, brown, seeded, savory and a bit Sweet is insane. Want that forever. My wife and oldest daughter eat vegetables and (wife) fish. They had the buratta with peaches and tomatoes to start. I had an unbelievable crab with fish roe covered with thin, pickled celeriac. Nuts. Every mouthful. Chased with monkish, stuffed zucchini blossoms and hanger steak and finished with house made blueberry ice cream come thing and a berry lemon curd meringue. Can't praise the food, the chill, friendly and impressions vibe and hospitality enough. Oh, and we had 2 kids at prime time. This place rocks. Hope to get back and do it again and again. read more

Kai Cafè + Restaurant - Irish Near Me - Galway, G

I'm far from a gourmet who samples the finest cuisine and best restaurants everywhere. But I do travel a lot for work and play and have eaten in some very good restaurants along the way. The recent meal that my wife, a few friends and I had was among the best I've ever had. It was recommended by a local whom I'll hug in gratitude if somehow we ever run into them again. The restaurant does vary its menu regularly, so I supposed there's no guarantee that the dishes we had last week will still be on it. But the pork main and the dried lamb appetizer were out of this world, both far richer in nuanced waves of flavor than I can do justice to here. And the beef and turbot mains and crab-based and other appetizers were also superb. We all loved it all, even including the bread they put out at the start of the meal - and I loved that bread despite not being a bread-lover. If I have a very slight caveats to offer on the place, one is that our waiter was a bit on the cool side. Not the same cheerful, effusive service we encountered throughout most of our two-week trip throughout Ireland. But he was certainly informative and professional, and certainly not unfriendly. The other caveat is that such fine dining might normally be found in far fancier places in other countries, costing twice as much or more (not that Kai is inexpensive). So don't expect fine linen or whatever. But the casual nature of Kai is part of what we liked about the place. Far more important, the overall dining experience, including that casual ambiance, was simply great. If you want to combine it with hearing some good Irish music, The Crane just a few doors away, is a pub that offers that. Regardless, Kai is fantastic. If it were not our last night in Galway, we definitely would have returned for another meal. read more

Came in with our children for a 9am reservation. THe idea was to all have dessert and a glass of wine for the adults. When we sat down and told them we were just having dessert and wine, they immediately gave us some nasty looks, started clearing our table, and seemed super annoyed. I was very disappointed in this place - I had heard so many good things from a friend in the US who had eaten here, and the behavior of the staff towards us was really rude and unfriendly. Sorry we didn't order an actual dinner, but we still deserve to be treated with respect. read more

We went to Kai on our second day in Galway. GOOD CHOICE! We went for lunch. They took our name and we walked around for a bit and then returned. We ordered off a menu that is created daily. The menu is written on a chalkboard above the kitchen. They had seven or more entrees, all sounding delicious. It was hard to pick! I had a luncheon plate and my friend ordered the halloumi salad. We both said we would have returned for another meal had time allowed. They offered us a takeaway meal for a friend at home and service was good. The restaurant is very cute with a large pastry bar on one side. It was a popular spot. I would recommend Kai to a friend visiting Galway and would like to return someday. read more

Can't believe I'm using a five star rating, but it really is that good! Recommended by our B&B and we scored a 9 pm reservation on a Friday nite! Burrata app, monkfish and cockles along with the tuna. All were spectacular. I always feel like there's some room for improvement, but not tonite! Cheers! If you can get in go! It is that good. read more

My favourite brunch spot in Galway. I've never had a bad meal and love the ever-changing, seasonal menu. The decor is super cool and I can fault counter, laden with delicious sweet treats and cakes. A must visit in Galway. read more

Excellent! Hake Muscle casserole was delicious and we ate it to the last drop of the wonderful madras sauce. Tasty desserts and delightful ambience, excellent staff. What a find! read more