Kai Ola is a great low key sushi with exceptional rolls and fresh nigiri. My go to local.

I am giving this place 2 stars only because our waitress was so nice. The sushi was atrocious! The rolls were full of rice and fish that was not high quality at ALL. I do NOT recommend eating here. The fish quality is sub par and the miso soup was better than any of the sushi or rolls. Extremely OVERPRICED for the lack of quality. I mean come on, we're right at the ocean, how hard is it to get fresh fish? read more

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Super high quality fish that you pay a premium for but it's really good. I liked the moonlight and spicy tuna on crispy rice. The salad wasn't too good on thr dressing so I'd skip that next time. Hirami and yellowtail nigiri was bomb too read more

Won't go there anymore. Not good. We went there yesterday (Saturday, August 18th), stayed in the line, put our names and were told to wait 20 min. 40 min after we called and asked that we are hungry and we're waiting twice longer, the answer was that I'm wrong with the time, and table should be ready soon. We came back to this place and realized that people who were behind us in the line for the reservation were already seated. I asked manager, and her reply (quite angry) was that they had a reservation. How come people who has reservations stay 30 min to wait for it?.. They finally sat us, but felt so rude and uncomfortable, as this place quite often feels... We ordered a glass of wine for $15 per glass, but wine felt like $5 per bottle. We had rolls, nigiri and some other stuff. Food is just ok, like 3 stars. Received a receipt and first time decided to check the prices... Realized that this place is over priced for the quality and for $$ they are saying in Yelp. Their salmon nigiri is about $10, nigiri unagi is $13 (per 2 pieces), low quality rolls $26. Versus our favorite sushi place in La Jolla (Himitsu) who rate their self as $$$ price restaurant: nigiri salmon ($7), best rolls about $24. We will never go back there this place. Bad customer service, not good food, overpriced (even for this neighborhood). read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

SERVICE: 5/5 The waitress helping us out on Saturday night was very friendly and patient! She was attentive and checked on us from time to time. FOOD: 4/5 - CRUNCHY ROLL (5/5): I love crunchy rolls that are super high quality such as theirs. The shrimp tempura is perfectly cooked and has an amazing flavor. It's hard to find the perfect crunchy roll back in OC but this place has it. - PONTO ROLL (3/5): This is a california roll with salmon on top basically. The salmon was not good at all, it was very vinegary and low quality. Overall, some of their rolls are good BUT their prices are very expensive for a roll. The ponto one was $18 but it wasn't worth it. The crunchy roll is pretty good though and I see why it's 15, but most places do sell their rolls for a lot cheaper. This is definitely a high end sushi place. read more

Couple of things that I really like about this place: - good quality of fish and consistency of cuts - rolls are clean, creative and light - I rarely eat rolls, and these ones I can eat without a) without feeling full and therefore guilty and b) without feeling that some questionable ingredients are hidden behind lots of colorful spicy sauce - awesome to go packing presentation - beautiful and good for the planet. No ugly squeaky styrofoam containers Looking forward to trying this sushi again with new friends! read more

Food: amazing, quality of fish; amazing, service: Michelle was great, ask for her, ambiance: great Encinitas vibe! Definitely my new favorite spot! read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Moonlight roll (left) philli roll (right) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

This place was worth the drive from North County Inland. My family and I were craving for some good sushi and wanted to try something new. I am very picky with the sushi I eat, so when we find a new sushi place, my hope is to make it a sushi joint that we'd frequent! The fish was pretty fresh, still, even at the end of day. We always order a rainbow roll to try out every type of fish on our sushi and let's just say, it did not disappoint! The portions of the fish were thicker than most places as well. Favorite roll here? I'd have to go with the Kook roll (in the pic). read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

We came here for our first time with some friends while visiting Encinitas! There are a few tables outside and a few more inside, but overall not a very big place. Only 1 unisex bathroom which can typically have a wait. We started with a bottle of sake and a round of Miso soup. We also ordered the Jalapeno Bomb which we did not realize until the end of the meal that we never received. They offered to bring it out to us, but at that point we were full and did not want it. They offered to give us some additional sake to make it up to us which was really thoughtful, so we took them up on that! We ordered a few different nigiri and some specialty sushi rolls including the Moonlight and Swamis. The Moonlight was my favorite! The citrus taste from the lemon slice on top and the spice from the jalapeno were so good together. We tried the special Wagyu nigiri since it was so unique and something you don't typically see at sushi places. It was almost $30 for the two pieces of nigiri and did not seem to live up to that price tag. We ordered another special, one of the deep fried rolls, and that one was delicious. We also got a side of fresh chopped wasabi which was recommended by my friend who comes here often and it was the perfect addition to add to any of the pieces of sushi we had. Overall this was a great place for some delicious sushi and I would eat here again! read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I've been cheating on my other fav sushi places by going here lately...enuf said. Just sometimes slight chilly lately so wear a cute sweater or bring someone cozi to hug but also I appreciate the open door. read more

I'm gonna keep it real with you. Went tonight Friday. It was busy. I got seated promptly. Ordered 2 rolls and 3 orders of nigiri. Took way to long to come out. Food was good. What you'd expect from a good sushi spot but the price gouging is wild. Over $90? That's what I'd expect from an exception spot like Nobu or sugarfish in santa Monica where the actual have authentic sushi where the rice is warm and made with vinegar. Premium cuts. Etc... again it's good but not that good. I had to go find my waiter to get my bill. Try it for yourself i guess read more

FOR LUNCH. Pricey. The food was really good, but our experience was completely overshadowed by the waitress, who seemed either half-asleep or high. She forgot to put in our order, made us wait (thinking our order was in) and then came back 20 minutes later and told us we needed to reorder, and then still delivered the wrong food--twice (once to us, once to someone at the sushi bar). We asked for a third place setting and never got it; we finally just took one from another table. She was clearly overwhelmed and kept messing up orders all around us. She delivered a roll without ginger or Wasabi and disappeared. I finally got up and got it myself from the sushi bar. She also delivered two of the meals and then we waited for almost 10 minutes for the 3rd. Frustrating service ruined what could've been a great afternoon. Oh and I have mixed feelings about the "surcharge". They said they import fish from Japan and have to pass on the tariffs. I hate that this is happening but I like that they are transparent about it I guess. A "surcharge"ended up on up om our tab and I had to ask what it was for! Great food but expensive terrible service. read more

good sushi and super chill staff! The place has got a nice vibe and it is small and always crowded! Recomended to reserve spots!! read more

Kai Ola Sushi - garlic Edamame - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Fresh fish and good cuts of sushi. Staff was welcoming. Called ahead and got a table. Would recommend. read more

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We came on a Thursday night, crowded and almost no host and a line in the door. Tables are to close together so no privacy. Not a family restaurant. Lack of service in general and poor planning. Matt the sushi chef at the sushi bar was extremely unwelcoming and almost seemed like he did not want to be there. Overall sushi was standard, atmosphere none existent and service lacking, Wish we could have welcomed something better to Carlsbad! I gave it a three but its really a two. Rolls are over priced, you can go to blue ocean sushi and get quality rolls under 18 a block away with better service and better atmosphere. read more

05/18 - We came here as a family for dinner back in May and though the sushi isn't as "fancy" as some of the other sushi places, it's really a no-frills type of place. If you enjoy fresh sushi, fresh sashimi and don't really care about the uppity of the decor or innovative sushi plates, then this place is for you. Personally, I like my fish fresh and I don't want cream cheese with it, so for me, this place works. Just straight, honest, fresh, good food. The udon noodles was also pretty good too, I was rather impressed. read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Solid sushi option in Encinitas. Kind of stumbled on it by accident. Favorites were the MOONLIT roll and BEACON roll. The BEACON being the favorite of the too. Street parking. Make reservations ahead of time. Mostly informal. Indoor dining and two patio tables. A bit crowded inside with some bar seating available. Solid service. The chefs making the sushi are very friendly. read more

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Bummed by the treatment at Kai Ola tonight. This was probably our 10th (and last) time coming to this restaurant. We had a 6pm reservation for 3 people at the sushi bar. At 7pm, the hostess/waitress came & told us that they had "A LOT" of other reservations and it was time to go. In the 1 hour we were there, we ordered $165 of food/drinks and had paid the bill. We were finishing our drinks & were wrapping it up. There are so many amazing sushi spots in North County SD so we will take our business elsewhere next time. read more

Grand view roll is freaking delicious. Hangover Ramen is just the ramen you have dreamed of. This place is so so good and the people are really nice and helpful. No wonder they are adding locations. My go to for ramen and sushi. read more

Went here for lunch today and it was amazing! I had the Gyoza, edamame, the Moonlight roll and another roll that our server helped us choose. I forgot what it was called. I meant to take photos but the sushi was so good I completely forgot. Our server Michelle was really good and attentive. She was really sweet and had really good recommendations and was really quick. I definitely recommend this place and I am definitely coming back. read more

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Had a nice lunch here today. It is a little pricy but everything tasted fresh and the Kook & Black Cod was great. The service was decent and the atmosphere was cute (very Hawaiian hut vibe). 4/5 If you don't mind paying extra to eat in this area, then I would say it is worth stopping by and grabbing a bite. read more

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Really bad service even at the sushi bar where they seem to actively ignore you and laugh with their other chefs. Servers are spread very thin. Beverages served almost room temp. Sushi more costly than a better sushi restaurant in Encinitas..Kaito. The bar looks better but the lighting still is awful and there is now a dark alley outside where they have two tops aligned at high tables. Yuk. The fish was ok. Only the kampachi stood out. Not worth it. read more

Great food and great service!! I would recommend a reservation. It's a small place and always busy

The female hostess and waitress is awful. I see many other Yelp reviews complaining about her horrible service and demeanor. She single-handedly ruins this place. She rushes you through your exceedingly overpriced meal and has a very undesirable way about her. Because of her alone I will take my hard earned money to one of the many other sushi restaurants in North County who know how to treat paying customers. We cringed every time she approached our table. read more

This spot is a must if you're craving sushi and you're in Encinitas. Everything is so fresh, and we love the variety they have on the menu. The moonlight roll is my absolute fave...just that little zest of lemon with each bite is just perfect and chefs kiss. We've had many different kinds of sashimi & nigiri, along with their seasonal or daily specials, and we're convinced they can never do us wrong. The prices are a bit higher than some for sushi, but it's so fresh and a local joint we love to support because of how good it is, and the employees are chill! read more

As a Carlsbad resident of many years it is exciting to say how much I loved this sushi spot. Kai Ola is the perfect blend of casual but high quality ingredients and plentiful options to pick from. Every roll we tried was incredible and the sake tasting they offer was also so fun! If you're craving sushi on the coast, this is definitely the place to come. read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Don't want to say why.... But won't be back. Service was okay, seats area little small. It's my sons favorite sushi place. read more

Wow - what an amazing spot!! We recently moved to the area and while searching for places to live, we found Kai Ola. That first visit wowed us - the chefs behind the counter are the sweetest and now recognize us whenever we come in. Their fish is some of the freshest we've had. They also introduced to new sushi and different parts of the fish and now we get that every time. Absolutely recommend Kai Ola. Some of the best sushi in San Diego and a great staff to go with it! read more

I really wanted to like this place as it's in my neighborhood. We got the Omakase and unfortunately we didn't think it was worth the price. A few of of the nigiris were a little tough and lacked flavor. I would give this place another try for their rolls and will report back on my experience! Stay tuned! Mahalo! read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Street parking. Ordered takeout on their website which was pretty easy, but wished they had descriptions of their specialty rolls. I only knew what was in some of them by cross referencing the menu photos on Yelp. Also, I ordered 1/2 day in advance but still waited 15 minutes to get it after the time that it was supposed to be ready. Our large party all seemed to like what they got,but a little pricey for the amount of sushi provided. Albacore roll, spicy tuna, scallop, salmon poke, salmon roll, protein roll. Btw, they are seating indoors with only a few tables outdoors. Small place so I can see the wait being long if you don't make reservations. read more

First-time eater at this lively spot on a popular "strip" in Encinitas. Lots of restaurant choices, but my wife and I were angling for sushi. Being a Saturday night, we made a reservation - recommended. We did arrive early and had a beer down at the Saint Archers tasting room a 3-min walk away. The decor is unpretentious (local-ish?) and efficient, and the service is friendly but not too fast - it was busy, however. The cold sake "waterfall" and beer chaser was a delicious start. The food was excellent - among the several dishes, I ordered the Spanish Mackerel and loved both the fish and the presentation. They have a lot of interesting specialties, so we'll happily go back to try more. read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Spanish Mackerel and salmon sashimi... nice presentation! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

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This place is My bf and I had a huge lunch but wanted something light for dinner so we found ourselves at Kai Ola. The energy of this place is fun, energetic yet chill. We're from nyc and not used to seeing patrons and staff having fun? We ordered some daily specials - split the Spanish toro nigiri (melt in your mouth good), Kampachi nigiri (delicate and tasty), Hokkaido scallop sashimi app (order this and you will lot be disappointed in the glory of the scallop and their creamy sauce) and seaweed salad. Don't forget to order their homemade wasabi. They should bottle it. I wish we had the stomach for more sushi to smear it on. read more

After coming here three times now, I feel like I can review this restaurant. The first time we came, we thought it was incredible. The next two times were just so so. The service is always fantastic, everyone is friendly- however the sushi itself isn't incredibly flavorful. Just a bit underwhelming for the price point. The vibe of this- local hole in the wall sushi place- super crammed. I'd still recommend trying so you can decide for yourself, though! read more

Amazingly fresh fish, great service, fun ambience! Fantastic sashimi, nigiri, and special rolls read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Executive Chef Matthew making killer Salmon Nigiri like no other. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

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It used to be amazing! Ordered take-out & it was 20 min late. No problem, worth the wait. Then I get home & it just wasn't like it normally is! Felt like I splurged on sushi rolls from Von's. Yuck Presentation = not good. Taste = not great. I come here because it's excellent. This was just edible. Maybe they were short staffed? All I know is it's going to be a while before I order from here again. read more

BEST SUSHI ON THE WEST COAST!!! 11/10 stars. I promise that you won't find better flavor, higher quality, and fresh caught fish anywhere else. I've been coming here since opening week and every time I come back it gets better. They appeal to the community with rolls created and named after the beaches that are local. They continually update their specials and add new drinks. The staff is truly happy to serve you and spark fun conversations. This is a must stop on the 101, driving in or out of San Diego County. To the staff: Keep doing what you're doing. You make the experience that much better than it already is. Ryan, you are the man. See ya soon. read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

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This was our first time trying out Kai Ola, and we ordered takeout. My fiancé and I were looking forward to the experience based on all the positive reviews, but were unfortunately really disappointed by the food. We're big sushi people and the quality fell far below our expectations. We ordered the Big Omakase, which comes with 20 pieces, 2 cut rolls, miso soup, salad, and dessert. We didn't receive a dessert with our order. The miso soup was so salty that we didn't have more than a few sips each. The rice for the rolls and nigiri was too firm and wasn't good quality. Some of the nigiri fish were better than others, but the best ones were still mediocre or oily. This meal definitely wasn't worth it. We've been to 10+ other sushi places in the greater San Diego area in the past year, all of which were quite a bit better than Kai Ola. We sadly won't be returning. read more

Disappointing. Prices are ridiculous for what you get. Rolls fall apart. Servers very nice. Chefs were slummy and rude. No welcome when you came in treated new server like crap instead of being helpful. We were told the owner just like doing new projects so he opened this place and it shows not to be a serious business. Just not a pleasant experience. Maybe good for some , but for us....we will stick with our normal spot that is never disappointing and run like a business. read more

Wanted to go but got intimidated by the severe lack of parking options especially if you're driving a full size truck. Didn't get to try their food but if it's hard to get into a restaurant then they already failed... read more

Super disappointed in this place. My husband and I tried three different rolls and the lobster appetizer and didn't like any of them. We got the grand view, the sunset, and the stone steps. They all had very weird flavor and all the rolls were minimum $17- super expensive considering they weren't even large rolls. The seared scallops on the sunset roll were definitely not seared at all. Overall, will stick with hooked on sushi which is $14 for a much larger roll and flavors are more in line with what we like. read more