Taco Tuesday at Kai Joe's is a no-brainer. We came for the à la carte taco deals and ended up trying a little bit of everything--the Kai Joe beef taco, chicken taco, surf and turf (shrimp and steak), and the North Shore shrimp taco. Every single one delivered. Great flavor, fresh ingredients, and just the right balance on each. We also grabbed chips and queso, which was exactly what you want it to be--simple, solid, and gone way too fast. Big picture--this group just gets it. They consistently do a great job across their restaurants on OKI, and Kai Joe's is another winner. We'll absolutely be back. read more

Very salty and the shrimp was awful. Not so fresh tasting and overall bland in taste. I hate giving them 1 star because they were very nice. So they have two. This place was ok at best. read more

Great place for a tasty quick meal on OKI! Literally a taco shack, but really the only place for this kind of cuisine on the island itself. The ordering process is a lot like a food truck. Order at the window, get a buzzer, it goes off and you pick up your order. There are a few covered picnic tables where you can eat, or you can go somewhere else to enjoy. We got an order of loaded tots and the buffalo cauliflower. The tots were DEFINITELY loaded. So much potato cheesy goodness. There was a ton of ground beef on top as well, however, the meat had very little in the way of seasoning. It was almost like a chopped up hamburger. Something to make it more like taco meat or give it some spice would have been welcome. The buffalo cauliflower on the other hand was perfect. Just the right amount of breading and zing from the buffalo sauce, tender cauliflower inside. Could not have been better. Overall, very pleased with this group snack. We didn't get any tacos, next time we will to give a more thorough review but this definitely satisfied our snacky cravings! read more

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First time in North Carolina Kai Joe's is a great place to eat. The restaurant has a great vibe. The food is delicious and they serve great portions at great prices. The drinks are AMAZING. The owners and staff are very friendly. This is a place you don't want to miss eating at. They are a 5 star restaurant. Thank you soooooooo much for the great experience. read more

Spent a lovely beach week at Oak Island. I've been coming to this island for many years so developed my favorite places I wanna eat and Kai-Joe's is definitely on that list. It's a small pick up taco joint. You order at the window and you can either take it to go or enjoy your food at one of their picnic tables (that are semi covered for some sun shade). In addition to various gourmet tacos they have burritos, quesadilla, nachos, some appetizer beach snacks. When I'm at the beach I just naturally gravitate toward seafood for hopefully obvious reasons, so I ordered the Papa Joe Fish Tacos (grilled fish, fruit salsa slaw, cilantro lime crema, and cilantro). The tacos were prepared pretty quickly and had great visual appeal when I opened the box. Two big tacos that were overfilled with large grilled fish pieces and lots of toppings. It had a very light and refreshing taste, perfect for a summer day. I was impressed that the tortilla kept its structural integrity even with the juicy slaw. The lime crema was plentiful (team sauce over here) and added nice creaminess. Solid tacos. My only minor complaint is the rice and beans kinda felt like an afterthought. They were cooked well, but completely lacked seasoning. I do applaud the use of black beans though as I much prefer them to refried. My brother got some of the buffalo cauliflower bites and loaded tots. Both appetizers (or beach snacks as they called) were quite plentiful. He was kind enough to give me a few bites and both were tasty. Slight preference for the cauliflower. Sometimes fried things too heavy, but they had a nice batter, but still could taste the full cauliflower pieces. Found some new things at Kai-Joes to enjoy. read more

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Coming to OKI after work to check on the house after renters, I stopped in as it was taco Tuesday. While looking at the menu I saw they had a taco Tuesday deal listed but not telling you what it was. Kindly asking the lady to inquire, she told me, "well, we have a deal on Kai Joe's tacos, chicken is 2$ and beef is 4$." With this in mind I ordered the coulio tacos, and as I look to pay, I see I'm charged 12$ for chicken tacos. Before paying I ask again to confirm, "this is with the deal correct?" To which she responded, "Yes". Instead of making a scene I paid, and while confused and curious I took a gander at the menu to find that one taco is listed as the "Kai Joe's taco". Then it all clicked in my head. Despite the establishment being named Kai Joe's, only one of their tacos is called the Kai Joe to which she was referring to the deal being applicable. Whose taco I was eating? I guess nobody truly knows. This behavior of word games was a true disappointment for taco Tuesday across the world. Despite my less than enthusiastic experience, these tacos were exactly what you'd expect from a foot truck, decent food, at a higher price. This is a good spot in a pinch of hunger, but overall, there are much better tacos on the island. read more

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Great little taco place! Seating is outside- not an issue, but important to note! Order at the window and get a beeper! Portions were good! read more

Kai Joe's - Mexican Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

Three stars, because they do not seem equipped to handle the recent influx of tourists. Visited in May 2025 and could not wait to return, so much so that we planned our last night of our May 2026 vacation around tacos at Kai Joe's. Sadly, they were out of fish, and several other items, and we had to go elsewhere. read more

Great food. It's a tradition to stop when we first get on to town for our beach vacay. Always love the surf and turf tacos and the avocado bites. The family also really likes north shore and coolio tacos. They forgot our guac and chips. And they mixed up one order so I know it's a pain but check your bags before you leave. read more

Kai Joe's - Fish taco- very good and a generous amount of fish - Mexican Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

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TOURIST TRAP. This used to be a go-to spot for me and the crew--but I won't be coming back. They've shrunk the portion sizes and dropped the quality, all while keeping prices sky-high. The "Big Mamma" burrito? It used to be bigger than my forearm--now it fits in the palm of my hand. Let's call it the "Petite Mamma." Nachos came with barely any queso and just a handful of shredded cheese for decoration. Mostly soggy chips that somehow managed to be stale too. The ambiance? Meh. Not entirely their fault, but the ice mechine next door is insanely loud. Combine that with their own music, and it's impossible to relax or hear your own conversation. The wait was way too long for what we got--if the food's going to take that long, it should at least be worth it. Feels like Kai's given up on regulars and decided to cash in on passing tourists. Don't eat here--it's not good. read more

Kai Joe's - "Big mamma" Burrito more like petite mamma - Mexican Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

Took 45 minutes to get 2 simple beef and fish orders of tacos! There's a very loud ac unit outside and flies will swarm your food. Food was definitely mediocre for the price which for 1 coke , some not fresh chips and two orders of 2 tacos each came to $37.82. And I made the mistake of giving a 18% tip ahead of time. Stupid me! read more

Waited a long time to order. I was thinking wow this place must be great. Lots of people waiting. I got shrimp tacos and my husband got a chicken burrito. We ordered a side of chips and salsa. My shrimp taco had store bought slaw sprinkled with cilantro. The salsa was Tostitos brand. It has a distinct taste. My husband said his burrito was ok. Not sure I would waste my time or money. $40 later we were disappointed. read more

SLOW!!!! Do not stop if they have a line. Seriously, why would it take over an hour to get a taco?? Overrated. We stood in line for over a half hour waiting to place order and we were only about 8 couples back. They would take a couple of orders then shut the window and make the next couple wait 10+ minutes. Then take a couple more, etc. The wait after ordering was over 30 minutes. And the girl taking the orders was rude. This business must think they are doing you a favor to serve you. Will not be back. read more

Food was decent, service was great. First time being here and was a great experience overall. They also have an assortment of hot sauce to try. read more

Kai Joe's - Front of Kai Joes - Mexican Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

This place is a must to try! The north shore tacos were delicious. Each flavor just matched so well. The food is full of good flavor. The avocado bites were a great starter and came with a delicious creamy dipping sauce. The seating consisted of outdoor chairs. It is not a fancy place, however it's delicious! read more

Great place to stop at on the way home from the beach! Food is very good quality, just wish it came with more per serving & there was more ability to customize dishes for food allergies. read more

Delicious food I've come here a lot but someone seriously needs to set the girl at the front today up with some customer service classes. I've never been around someone so utterly stupid it made me cry when I got to the car. I'm not trying to be offensive but she needs to go to culinary school so she can work in the back away from people. read more

I've never had a bad meal here! My sister loves their shrimp nachos. The tacos are tasty but keep in mind, they are priced per taco. Through the years I have loved their North Shore taco the best and I'll usually try whatever special they offer that day. Lately, I have been totally hooked on the Long Beach burrito with shrimp. You HAVE to try it! Order this burrito with extra chipotle ranch and queso on the side and have yourself a time! Very good. The speed of their service is spotty and the online ordering is down most of the time. Look past that, and you'll find a really great taco stand in Oak Island. read more

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Made from the freshest ingredients, VERY tasty!! The North Shore taco with grilled shrimp & asian slaw - divine! We make sure to catch it at least once (or more) every trip. read more

Saw a long line while passing through town and thought it must be good. So glad we stopped. For a burrito and chips and queso. The food was so fresh and tasty. Perfect lunch break for after the beach. read more

Very good food and service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And at a very fair price!!!! I will definitely be back!!!

Yummy tacos, friendly service & picnic table outdoor seating! We showed up 30 min before they closed, waited in line for awhile and were tasked with letting anyone who arrived after us know that we would be the last customers served. Everything we ordered was definitely worth the wait! Special shout-out to the Long Beach burrito & Buffalo cauliflower! The staff even let us swap firecracker shrimp as the protein in the burritos. Definitely recommend stopping by during your next trip down to Oak Island! read more

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I really wish I could do a half star because I feel like a 4.5 is a more accurate rating! North Shore taco - shrimp was cooked perfectly and I love the fresh Asian slaw, but the Thai chili sauce was a bit spicy for my likings. Not too hot that I couldn't eat it, but just had to chug some water between bites Surf & Turf taco- again the shrimp was cooked perfect, steak was too (not chewy at all) I loved the horseradish cream sauce, the big downfall of this was wayyyy too much cilantro in my opinion. Half the amount would have been sufficient Coulio taco- simple but done well. The ground beef was soooo flavorful and you get a lot of it for a small taco I also got a side of chips and queso, for only $3 you get this huge cup of queso!!! read more

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Idk how this place does have 5 stars. It was SO GOOD! I got their north shore tacos & my husband got a quesadilla. They were so flavorful & really good size! Will probably be going again before the week is over! read more

Average white person burritos. Food was fine, just not worth the wait in my opinion. I had a chicken burrito and felt the meat could have had more flavor. read more

We vacation here regularly and everytime we're down we have to make a trip to Kai joes, always amazing food and super fast service! read more

Kai Joe's - Bubbas nachos, kj tacos and chicken quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

The food is great. This is my 3rd time here. Was VERY disappointed they didn't accept cash. As a business owner myself. I feel the need to accept all forms of legal tender. read more

Super disappointed in the new menus. Larger quantities of food. Always loved them for a quick bite on the beach.

We found this hole in the wall on a whim while riding around the island! We are hooked, everything was so delicious! My Daughter had a quesadilla and said it was the best she'd ever had! My husband had a huge burrito and I had tacos, everything was so fresh and delicious! A new tradition when we're in town! Sorry, forgot to get pictures of the food, we inhaled it! read more

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Service was amazing the food is great I wouldn't go to another place Then this one if I was hungry. The workers did a fantastic job ,the girl with dreads and the boy with the curly hair were so amazing everyone was so nice it was a great experience I would definitely go again. read more

One of the most memorable little spots we've ever visited on vacation. Makes us want to go back to Oak Island just to eat here!

5/2024 update Decided to give our old favorite Kai another shot today ... and was NOT DISAPPOINTED! Quick, accurate service even during a busy time of day , on a weekend no less. KAI IS BACK!!! YAY!! read more

Great quesadilla! Really the perfect post beach snack! Cute exterior and friendly service!

My husband and I both got the big mama burritos, 1 chicken, 1 vegetable. Sorry for no photos! They were just the right size as they were huge and we were starving . We did have to wait a little for our food which made sense as they have a small set up. Next time going to order in advance so the deliciousness is waiting for us when we get there!! The food was super hot and just really tasty. read more

Upon arrival to Mom & I's North Carolina beach weekend, I HAD to find the taco stand! It's kind of a given anywhere I go. But especially in a beach town. There's something extra special about experiencing delicious tacos outside in the sunny, salt filled beach air. And this joint served up huge deliciousness! The chicken taco had a unique cilantro crema taste to it. And the beef taco was quite tasty. The homemade queso dip and chips were the perfect compliment to the tacos. Pretty great choice for our first lunch stop around $10 each. read more

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While the recipes and food quality are decent, the service is incredibly lacking. Have been there a few times, and the wait is always impossibly long. This evening, we ordered nachos, 2 tacos, and chips and queso. It was not that crowded - we walked right up to the window, and it still took an hour to get our order...and it was cold (and they forgot a simple modification that they said they could do easily). It took them so long that they had put away their condiments, napkins & forks. I understand that places can have an off day, struggle with adequate staffing, and such...but there were quite a few staff in the kitchen and running around the place. Lastly, I tipped 20% because it asked before service completion. I'm tired of places asking for tip before service is done - a tip is for good service...doesn't feel good to tip and then have a crappy experience. read more

Good for lunch. Picnic tables and no inside dining. The only point to make is the call-in orders are many and take precedent over anyone in line. Be ready for a bit of a wait. read more

We got two bowls and both were mediocre. Food was not hot and it lacked flavor. For the amount of time we had to wait I would have expected better. read more

Placed an online order and showed up at the pick up time. My food was not ready for another 45 MINUTES. I ordered nachos and tacos and both were somehow soggy. It's like my order was ready at the correct time, but the employees let it sit there and forgot about it, then blamed it on them being "busy" ( there were 4 other people in the entire restaurant). On top of all that terrible service, the food wrecked mine and my wife's stomach. Don't waste your money. Sand off the beach would be better read more

Food is 5/5, but had to take a star away as we waited close to 45 minutes in a line with no one taking orders. Once orders resumed the food came out pretty quickly! They have some tables for you to eat at outside, otherwise it is to go. They are asking people to wear masks, but lots of groups did not/ no employees did, which was disappointing. We got a Surf and Turf Taco, North Shore Taco, Queso and Homemade Chips, Papa Joe Burrito, and Kai Joe Taco; which were all delicious! Good prices and they really fill the tacos/ burritos up! We will be back, but might order ahead next time? read more

Kai Joe's - Surf and Turf Taco, North Shore Taco, Queso and Homemade Chips, Papa joe burrito, Kai joe taco - Mexican Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina