Delicious food. Audrey was our server and she was as excellent. Highly recommend. We went on a Sunday night and they were very busy but our food came out very quickly. read more

Wow! What a find! This place has it all going for it! Japanese and Hawaiian dishes with contemporary twists, great service and great decor! To start, the staff was friendly and helpful. When my better half was looking for Gluten Free, the wait person picked up on that right away and pointed things out to her. Even dropped off a bottle of GF shoyu without being asked. Started off with edemame but cooked with butter and garlic. Wow, what a difference! We both got rolls that were well made, fresh, nicely placed on the dish and delicious! I think whichever roll you order will be made with the same quality and expertise. When we get back this way, this is one of the places we'll return to. read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - I really liked this wall hanging. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

The restaurant is spacious, clean, and comfortable, and the staff were attentive and friendly throughout the meal. While it's not an authentic Japanese dining experience, it's a decent option for the area since there aren't many Asian restaurants nearby. The food itself was just average. Most dishes leaned heavily on sauces and seasonings, which tended to overpower the natural flavors of the ingredients. The sushi rolls also came with an unusually large amount of rice, making them feel a bit unbalanced. Overall, it's a convenient neighborhood spot with good service and a pleasant atmosphere, but I wouldn't go out of my way for the food. read more

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Craving sushi on a Saturday night, we wanted to try a new spot for us. Yelp pointed us toward Kai Ola and we thought we would give it a try. Right on one of the main drags of Carlsbad Village, Kai Ola is a little corner sushi spot with a few outdoor tables, a small dining room, and some sushi bar seating. It was quite busy when we arrived around 7:15pm and seemed to die down by about 8:30pm. We were seated at the sushi bar area. Cool points - got to watch the chef make the sushi. Always fun. Unfortunately, they reached between us sometimes to put the tickets up for the chef in the beginning, although eventually they ended up reaching behind my BF or I instead. Still distracting a bit but not like an arm between us. (We didn't choose this spot, we were out here, so it's not like we choose the "service bar" area.). Overall, we enjoyed our time here. Brendan, I believe his name was, the sushi chef was hard at work and even checked in with us. Seemed really cool. But what about the actual food!? It was good! The nagiris were my favorite. Just a little rice and let the fish shine. We had the Kampachi (Amberjack,) the New Zealand King Salmon, and the Shiro (Albacore.) (we ordered the Yellowtail as well, but I think the server didn't hear us, because we did not get it, but it wasn't on the bill so it was fine.). They were all really good. I think the King Salmon was my fav We also tried the Crispy Rice. Their version is a little different than others I am used to as they use a fried rice patty versus the rice just formed into a cake and fried. This seemed to have a crust. The rice patty was topped with spicy tuna, spicy mayo, eel sauce, masago, green onions and a jalapeno slice. At first I didn't think the tuna was spicy at all but it creeped up and had a comfortable heat. I also really enjoyed the Protein roll and it was good for my BF who was trying to not overdo it in the rice. We ended with the Tempura shrimp which had the light crisp breading and had much more of a light feeling for being fried. BF thought the whole meal was good and had nice flavors. Not inexpensive so not some place we will come weekly, but we would come back. read more

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First timer! Busy (free) street parking. Really cute restaurant with friendly staff. Ordered take out and waited about 30 minutes. Food was packaged beautifully and was tasty. The fish was definitely very fresh! Our order: Hawaiian roll Rainbow roll Tuna roll Chicken teriyaki plate read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

My daughter really likes this place, so we most recently stopped by here for lunch on her birthday. Service is always pretty quick and friendly, and fish is very fresh. This is an easy stop for lunch when visiting the village, and I find it usually isn't too busy which is also nice. I also would like to note the cleanliness of this location! I'll be back next time I am in Carlsbad. read more

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The moment you walk in, you're greeted with a relaxed Hawaiian-inspired atmosphere that immediately sets the tone for a laid-back dining experience. The vibe is warm and welcoming, making it a great spot to unwind and enjoy a meal. The sushi itself is incredibly fresh, and the presentation is beautiful--each roll looks as good as it tastes. You can tell there's real attention to detail in both the quality of the fish and how everything is plated. That said, be prepared to bring your pocketbook. The prices are definitely on the higher side. While the quality and presentation are impressive, it's certainly more of a splurge night than an everyday sushi stop. Still, if you're in the mood for fresh sushi in a fun island-style setting, it's worth checking out. read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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not a fan of Kai Ola. premium pricing. skimpy portions. the two cut rolls (MOONLIGHT -- yellowtail, avocado, krab, jalapeno, lemon slice, and sea salt, and BEACON's -- tuna, shishito tempura, avocado, cucumber, sumiso sauce, and furikake) were dishelved and appeared to have been cut with a weed-whacker and plated in a haphazard toss across the room. except that they weren't extra "ricey," the cut rolls looked like fugitives from an AYCE place. their only redeeming quality was the sauces and seasoning went beyond the gloppy, heavy-handed sriracha-mayo and sweet soy (that i will sheepishly confess to enjoying) that dominate the other American-style sushi places in the neighborhood. the uni was definitely NOT premium grade. the briny, taste of the sea was AWOL and the texture and aftertaste were off-putting the salmon skin on the handroll was gummy rather than crispy, but the shaved bonita topping was a nice touch. the place was packed so apparently mine's a minority opinion. nobody looked familiar, so maybe the crowd was vacationing out-of-towners who didn't know any better. sushi's a competitive niche in the village with Taisho and Blue Ocean in easy walking distance. all-and-all, would rate dinner at KAI OLA a disappointingly subpar experience. read more

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Great place for a nice sushi roll. Tasted fresh and had good amount of fish in each roll. The pitcher of beer is huge and the hot sake was pretty good. Server was super nice and attentive as well. No complaints here read more

Best Sushi we have had in a minute. The restaurant is adorable, the service was great. We waited almost 2 hours for a table on a Saturday at 630 pm with no reservations BUT... it was worth the wait. We can't wait to go back.... And sang Happy Birthday to Skylar! Ordered: Cucumber salad, Moonlight, Grandview, California Rolls, Crispy Rice and Bluefin Tuna Carpaccio...Amazing!!! read more

I'm glad to see more sushi spots in the Village area. Kai Ola Sushi took over the chocolate shop that used to be there...can't remember the name. We came across this place after coming from an event in the area. We were craving some premium sushi. When we stepped inside, it had a casual atmosphere with Hawaiian vibes. The service was pretty good...didn't have to wait too long. I ordered the Moonlight roll which was sooo fresssh and yummy to my tummy...yesss. Loved the creativity and flavors! I'll be coming back for more ;-) read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Went there for our anniversary. Everything was excellent! Jalapeño poppers were extremely good as was the tuna. Salmon skin hand rolls might be the best we have had. Brandon was the lead chef, and he and his team were fantastic. Ashley provided great service with spot on suggestions. This Kai Ola of the three has a lot of room fun decor. We will return for more! read more

New cool spot in downtown Carlsbad. Decided to try it out and it did not disappoint. I had the edamame, with the yellow tail roll and shrimp house specialty with mango sauce. Both were very good. I will definitely go back to try other items in the menu as it is close to my house. It is conveniently located in Downtown Carlsbad. It is modern and nicely decorated. I highly recommend give this a try. Also, the service was pretty good as the hostess was able to accommodate my party quickly. read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Yellowtail roll and shrimp roll with mango sauce - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Pretty good. Nothing to come out of your way for, but solid if you're hankering for sushi in this area. Slightly pricey for what you get, but fair for the neighborhood and inflation. read more

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I decided to treat myself to a nice dinner and sushi was on the menu. This place didn't disappoint as it was absolutely divine! Everyone was so nice, the waitress checked in throughout the meal and even put my beer in the cooler when I used the restroom. The place was clean and had a great vibe. I spent around 2 hrs reading, having a beer or two, and enjoying my meal of Yellowtail hand roll and specialty rolls of Stone Steps, and Sunset. It is hard to pick a favorite as everything was delicious. The convenience of it being on the corner and on the main strip of the Village makes it ideal to pop up and grab a bite. read more

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I was in the area due to an event and decided to check this spot out. Service was good, I really liked the decor. I ordered the flaming ahi and my friend got the moonlit something in honor of the full moon. Both were decent, the flaming ahi had a bit a kick to it so that was nice. Overall, okay sushi spot, if in the area I may stop by again. read more

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This place was an amazing addition to the Village. Sushi chef, Brandon, is as talented as he is friendly. He engages with guests in such a welcoming way. Our server Audrey was spot on with the Flaming Ahi roll recommendation. DELICIOUS! Gavin was a sweetheart. The food is killer and the staff are wonderful. Love down bad Kai Ola read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Spicy Flaming Ahi, Grandview, saki, beer - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Food is mid. Service is fine. That's about it. The prices are way higher than they should be.

I will be thinking about this meal for a long, long time. And looking forward to the next time I get to eat here. We got the saimen, and the broth is unbelievable! And full of all the stuff. Cucumber salad with sesame dressing--so yummy! Shrimp Tempura roll-- so good! Shrimp Gyoza--I LOVE. Excellent, efficient, friendly service! read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Need I say more? We cleaned those plates! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

We did not have the best experience here. The sushi was extremely mediocre. For comparison, my wife and I both agreed that Sporuts' sushi was much better than anything we ordered at Kai Ola. The sushi was also pretty expensive, which I wouldn't have a problem with if it was good. The service was also not the best. For the price, I would not recommend going here. read more

This sushi spot is amazing! The service was amazing and pretty fast too! The servers made sure we were taken care of and the chefs blew us away with how good and fresh the food was. We started with miso soup and veg tempura, they both were great, it was so good we didn't even grab pictures. The sushi was really amazing, moonlight roll with jalapeño and lemon was the star of the show. Be sure to come by when in Carlsbad. read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Spicy Scallop Hand Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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I've tried the Encinitas location before and wasn't the biggest fan, but the Carlsbad Village spot feels much better--more spacious, comfortable, and newer overall. The sushi here is decent, but what really stood out was the bluefin tuna flight--it was delicious and definitely worth ordering. I also tried the yellowtail roll, which was on the smaller side but very fresh and flavorful. Still fairly new location, service was friendly but pretty laid back. A nice easy vibe for lunch Overall, a nice spot in the village with good sushi and a couple standout items that made the visit worthwhile. read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Blue Fin Flight (3pc) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Decided to pop in to this local spot for a celebratory lunch and was not disappointed. Large menu to appeal to folks but small enough it's not overwhelming, felt like a genuine sushi experience. Our server was busy yet attentive and the tuna and omakase tasted fresh and delicious. We were also able to snag a plate (for an upcharge) of real wasabi which added to the experience. Plenty of bar seating and table seating, despite being a little corner spot. Located right in the hustle and bustle of the main street in Carlsbad, I would def dine here again! read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Very Delicious food but very expensive as well! Plan on to spend at least $100 for a date of 2 with only 1 drink each! Very nice place for a special occasion or if you have some extra bucks to spend! read more

Great food which was super savory.Additionally, it was very traditional with various traditional Japanese cuisine.The service was great with kind servers and the chef giving gracious amounts of food.Finally, besides the faint hum of the fridge is was otherwise quiet. read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Ikura Hr - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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We love coming here when we are visiting Carlsbad . The moonlight roll is one of our favorites and the staff is very friendly. They don't have a full bar but it's still a great place read more

I love Kai Ola, it's one of the best local sushi spots I've had, and I've tried many. The tuna flight is to die for, it's delicious and always hits the spot. I will continue to come here for my weekly dates with my husband and can't recommend it enough! read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Very surprised to see this Kai Ola Sushi in Carlsbad location. Corner store Ambiance is inviting. Service was good. Sushi rolls seem to have too much rice and not enough fish. Overall nice location and hope it does well. Rainbow salad was good. Pass on the Omakse. read more

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We checked this new place out today. It's their soft opening so not their complete menu as their other locations They've done a great job reworking the old tried chocolate shop that sat at this location for years. Here's the run down: * Clean and fresh decor * Attentive staff * Food appealing (presentation & tastes) * Worth a second look. read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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This place is amazing!!! Great food, friendly staff and an attentive professional manager, Aschliey. We highly recommend this place. We have never been disappointed any time we have gone to dinner there. The Best fresh sushi and the best service and staff in North county. A must have when visiting Carlsbad YUM!! read more

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The food was really good great service and affordable prices everyone there was super nice The fish was super fresh. Recommend this place to any of my friends. read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I was able to sit at the sushi bar without waiting for more than 5 minutes. The chairs at the sushi bar are a bit too close to one another but we made it work. Our sushi chef was super nice and was able to explain what each piece of fish was on the omakase plate. The time it took for our drinks/food to come out was longer than I had expected, but I did keep in mind that they JUST opened 2 weeks ago and probably still getting the hang of the pace. The fish was so fresh! I just kept saying that I'm not usually a fan of albacore, but when I ate the albacore belly on my omakase plate, my mind changed so quick!! I want to go back just so I can get a taste of their locally caught tuna. read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Medium omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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I want to like this place but the service here is horrible. I called to put in an order. They kept me on hold for 10 mins. Tries to call back no answer. Put another order in another day. They said 20 mins. It took them over an hour. Even when we sit down and eat there they get the order wrong or forget a roll. read more

Great place with fantastic sushi. It has a nice casual vibe and a diverse menu full of fresh fish options, including omakase. I got the tuna flight with three different nigiri pieces of tuna with the fatty, leaner, and most lean cuts. I also tried the A5 wagyu beef ($25 in 2042), two small little cuts. Was it legit? I hope so, but I'm not totally sure. The omakase has three options: light medium and heavy. I went for the medium and got a good diverse mix of everything from ikura, snapper, tuna, sea urchin, and it was presented beautifully. No regrets. A great place for a traditional sushi lover, which also has some more Americanized roll options. Recommended! Oh -- and the extra star is because they offer real wasabi. read more

Very disappointed in our sushi considering this place is averaging 4.5 stars. Went here on NewYearsEve and tried a bunch of nigiri as well as one of the rolls. I'll start with the positives: - All the servers were very friendly, and we liked the atmosphere - The carafe of craft sake that we got was very tasty. - In the BlueFinSampler (three types of blue fin) one of the types had excellent flavor and texture Now onto the rest: - in the BlueFinSampler one style seemed completely flavorless, while the Otoro was pretty typical for Otoro Kook Roll was fine: liked the mango topper a lot, but the roll as a whole didn't really wow us. Salmon nigiri was okay Yellowtail Belly nigiri was a thumbs down The Jalapeno Roll was fine, but paled in comparison to the one we had at the Kai Ola in Leucadia a few weeks prior. My mom (a non-sushi eater), ordered the cooked Teriyaki Salmon; she was quite disappointed with it (not enough to send it back, but we heard multiple times that night and the next day how much she didn't like it. We tasted it, and thought it was fine, but she didn't care for the fish nor the sauce (she orders grilled salmon almost every place we go, and this is the first time she has been really disappointed in one). We won't be returning here. Not sure how this sushi place is averaging 4.5 stars; other reviewers must have very different taste buds. read more

The food was amazing. The staff was great. Thanks for taking us in last minute and serving us on Valentine's Day. We were here for a soccer tournament for our kid and we were lucky to wind up here. There's plenty of great sushi where we're from in Hawaii and this is better than most Mahalo for a wonderful experience. read more

This new sushi spot in the village is great! The chef and staff are always friendly and welcoming and waitress is very knowledgeable on food allergies or sensitivities. I came in recently on a rainy day and the sake was nice and hot! To the gluten free people out there: they do not use gluten in the crab in their rolls so most of the rolls are ok AND they have gluten free soy sauce! The rainbow roll and cucumber-avo roll did not disappoint! Soooo good and they have a nice happy hour where they offer simple rolls and discounted beer/sake! Check it out you'll be glad you did! read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Delicious sushi, fresh moonlight role, perfectly cooked Tamarack role and tasty house sake. Locally owned and we will be coming back

Really fresh yummy sushi. Beautiful inside. On the pricier side but it is downtown Carlsbad. Probably would only go here for a special night as there are several other local spots that are a little more reasonable. Service was hit or miss. We had to ask about a few things that were forgotten. We also got charged for 2 things that we didn't realize we didn't receive until we got home, which was unfortunate. read more

Filling that void Yoshino left. The special salmon skin roll 10/10. Bluefin tuna flight was good. Gonna c9me back tomorrow too. read more

Kai Ola Sushi | Carlsbad - Special salmon skin roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California