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    Kai

    4.6 (347 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndNew American, Cocktail Bars
    Closed 5:30 pm - 8:30 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Kai New American Restaurant Photos

    KAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Kai

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    Reviews With Photos

    Panna cotta

    Laura, Feliciano, Austin, and the rest of the staff were incredible in explaining all the foods and making sure everything was perfect. The food was amazing and you could tell care was put into it. Not many people were there so it was a quiet place to enjoy good food and the sunset

    Deb B.

    I have never ever had an experience like the one I had last evening at Kai. From the moment we walked through the door until the moment we left which was 2 1/2 hours later, we were treated like celebrities. I've never had service this excellent and food prepared so beautifully and tastily (is that even a word?) We arrived a few minutes early and were greeted by our last name and presented with a tablet with specialty cocktails. The bartender came to us to take the order and to deliver the drinks while we waited for our 6 PM reservation. Everyone who works in this establishment, and there are many who make it happen, know all about the native culture, the menu, and seems so happy to be working here. You can select from a few choices of every course and there are some surprises from the chef in between. Whomever created the concept thought of everything even chilling thr silverware when we were eating a cold item and heating the silverware when we were eating a hot item. Each dish was masterfully explained by Taylor our wait staff. She had just the right amount of intelligence and humor to make the evening very enjoyable. The menu features native dishes and ingredients and most things are locally sourced. The staff know where every item comes from and we had a lot of exchange about what we were eating. As soon as we finished a course, wait staff scooped in and took the dirty dishes, pronto. They brushed crumbs off the table, though I couldn't see them. This level of service is unprecedented as is the food. It was pricey, but well worth it. As I was leaving one of the staff asked if I enjoyed the food and asked me to tell them what I had which I did. There was a lot. She gave me a beautiful card handwritten by Taylor as well as a gift. The ambiance is amazing and a tribute to the native culture on which the resort stands. I am a fan.

    Honey dessert
    Jessica P.

    More than just an incredible meal - it's an unforgettable experience. Kai has been on my list to try for years, and we finally visited this past weekend for my birthday. I truly could not have had higher expectations and they were surpassed. Each course told a story and was well executed, and the service was fantastic. We loved the pee posh garden, Ha:L, late harvest, u'uwhig, key lime pie, and honey. The duck was one of the best dishes I have ever had in my life. The hotel and restaurant are gorgeous, romantic, and very peaceful- I can only imagine how beautiful the view is at sunset. Such an amazing experience and I cannot wait to go back !

    Fonda S.

    this food was like nothing i've ever had before!!! the service was like i was the queen of england!!!!

    Kris F.

    Being with friends in the industry made the evening fantastic! The narration of what is on the plate is perfect. It draws you into the flavors before you even taste the food. I loved the great service in a relaxed environment. We all started at the bar, and the Cosmo was on point. We visited the beautiful fireplace and then meandered to the dining room, where the group I was with filled the entire room. Our lead waiter was gracious to our chit-chat and moved around to network. The wine pairing was perfect, as you could choose white, red, or both to accompany whatever tasty course you were presented. I highly suggest this as a place to take your team or go out on a romantic evening for two.

    Sylvia C.

    My husband brought me here to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary! We arrived early and that gave us time to walk around the grounds and just enjoy the sunset. Once we got to the restaurant, we were given a glass of wine and we sat next to the fireplace. I have to say I have never experienced such outstanding service! The service was exquisite! the food was delightful and our servers were knowledgeable and ever so friendly! The only criticism I have is that the lobster tail could have provided more lobster! I know it's a tasting menu but really one bite of lobster for $350 was a tad disappointing! Oh yeah, the wine pairing was phenomenal! but don't come here if you don't want to spend money with the wine pairing, it was $350 apiece and with the tip it was $900! But it was well worth it because the experience is something that's hard to put into words!

    Red sun
    Royce K.

    2nd time here was not a disappointment food and service as good as last time the bar tender I I wish I could remember her name she went well beyond what she had to do for a drink she even made and new one ramons aviation fiz it was the best

    Bread
    Ethan S.

    I have to say this was the best experience I have had at a restaurant to date. From being called by our last names, having our chairs pulled out for us, napkins placed on us to a full on history lesson and a timeless story told through the food. Not to mention the lighting was yellow which I normally I'm not a fan of but they were able to match the lighting with all the colors around bringing out an exotic feeling.

    Menu. Individual art on cover.
    Bella B.

    Experience photo-documented. MIC DROP. WOW. The service BLEW US AWAY more than the food and ambiance. And the food and ambiance were stunning. Yes, it was pricey, but it was so worth the visit. What a treat. Of course, MAKE RESERVATIONS. Overall, highly recommend!

    Emily K.

    Service was 10/10, ambiance was beautiful 10/10, food was beautifully presented with a lot of different flavors but I wasn't that wow'ed by it so 8/10. From their website, the restaurant "celebrates Native American cuisine... while highlighting the culture and history of the area" and it did just that. Maybe it was that I am not used to this kind of cuisine that things didn't sit so well with me that evening, but during the meal everything was great. It is pricey for the meal so maybe that why I was hoping for more. The history and culture that the servers were sharing was very interesting and the plates and silverware were created to match the vibe.

    Darya S.

    Absolutely phenomenal from the hostess stand to the walk out to your car. The staff here is out of this world. They are wholly dedicated to your experience. It is fine dining to the max. My husband and I waited for our table at the bar and he got a super cool cocktail. It was $50, and he said it was worth it. When our table was ready, the server came and got us. When you go inside, you see a gorgeous view of the sky and Native American cultural artifacts on the walls. It's simple but effective. As for the food, prepare to be amazed. I can't say enough about the thought and care the chef has clearly put into each bite. You get to choose four items off of the menu, and they add amuse-bouche, a cheese dish, and truffles as well. I chose the crab, the lobster, the veal, and the corn (dessert). I genuinely was worried my husband and I wouldn't be full, but we were satisfied in terms of hunger. In terms of taste, I don't think I can convey just how high-quality and elevated this meal was. The meat was so tender, the bread and cheese were so fresh, the sauces were so fragrant. What is extra cool is that your server (ours was Feliciano) explains each ingredient before you dive in, so you know what you're eating. It's kind of like a history lesson too, because there's a lot of Native American culture infused into the dishes. Yes, it's expensive, but it's probably the best dining experience I've ever had. When you leave the restaurant, the hostess even has the valet to have your car ready for you by the door. When we got our car, the valet gave us a jar of honey and a card thanking us for dining with them. Such a nice touch!

    Dawn B.

    My partner took me out for my birthday and we were super excited because we haven't been back to Kai since before Covid. It was our first fine dining experience in three years and one that was extremely disappointing. In the crab dish my partner bit into the cartilage, which should be an absolute no-no in fine dining. The onion tart was overwhelmingly horrible, one not, and missing a lot of seasoning. It was the only thing either of us could taste for the rest of the evening, which my partner ended up throwing up when we arrived home. Overall everything seemed to lack seasoning. The saving grace was the terrific service and desserts. Nothing was taken off of our check for the cartilage. It's a real shame to see such a fine establishment go down hill. It used to be my favorite restaurant but now I do not think we will go back.

    Garden.  This was my favorite!!
    Leann M.

    Eating at Kai is about the experience. If you like to be pampered, have someone pay attention to the details, and try flavors in a new way, this is your place. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, it was perfect. Exceptional service. This is just as special as the food. Intimate setting with tables spaced well enough to have your own conversation. Highly recommend for those special occasions when you want to feel special.

    Creator's Mountain

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    1 year ago

    Amazing food but small portions, even by fine dining standards. Great taste, and service, but leaving wanting a burger to fill the void

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    Didn't return my phone call!! We had dinner there before and it was very good, but I guess they are too busy to call back!

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Kai

    Hi, is the prefix tasting menu a set menu, or does it give you options for each course?

    It's pre-fix, but you get still 2-3 selections for each of four or five main courses.

    Are the prices for the dinner that I'm seeing (145 fir tasting menu, 265 for wine pairing) per person? Is the wine pairing price extra or is that including the 145 for the tasting menu?

    That price is per person. The wine pairing price is the total price per person, it's not on top of the tasting menu price.

    Can anyone share the average price of dinner? The tasting menus specifically? Thanks!

    $145 for five courses, $265 with wine pairing

    View All 4 Questions

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    I've never been to a cigar bar before but I was impressed at the friendliness of the staff. I…read moreloved the lounge-y vibe. And the bathrooms were super clean which is probably silly to others, but I always appreciate a place that takes pride in their bathrooms. They offer drinks and let you order food from right next door. Then you can pick it up and eat it over at Castro's. It's definitely a place I would visit again. There's lots of seating and had a great outdoor patio too.

    Love this place for date nights with my husband or for card nights with friends. The service is…read morealways great. The staff is welcoming, helpful, and interactive every time we come in. Their drink selection is huge and everything we have tried has been amazing. The cigar selection is also excellent and the employees are very helpful when it comes to helping you choose the right one. They offer monthly locker rentals, have lots of TVs, and usually play great music. My favorite is when they have R & B or jazz vibes. I have come in before when they were playing Green Day or harder rock, which did not quite match the chill atmosphere, but that is a small dent in this great place. They manage the smoke really well so it never feels overly smoky inside. There is also a restaurant next door, which is perfect because you can order food, bring it over, and they give you a pager to let you know when it is ready. Always a great experience here, one of our favorites! They are always playing games and were showing the Olympics this time.

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    Tried out Bonfire for Happy Hour. This was our first time at this establishment. It previously was…read morea Tilted Kilt when I lived in the area before. Now it is has a dog friendly patio and game room. We met some friends for a few drinks and to watch the Nebraska basketball game. My understanding is that the owners like both Michigan University and Nebraska. I can support that, Go Big Red!!! Anyway, the happy hour was decent for drinks. Somewhat limited for specials on food. We ended up ordering the smoked wings. The wings were good and large in size. My husband ordered the tender and potatoes. He was underwhelmed by the breading on the tenders. All-in all, very nice establishment. The frozen margaritas were good. I was very buzzed off three of those. Our waitress was great and friendly. Shout out to the bus boy for keeping our table clean at all times. Will be back to partake in some more games in the rear and play some pool and shuffleboard.

    We went on a Thursday afternoon with a group of 6 adults and two kids…read more Was slow when we arrived around 430 but by the time we left it was very busy. Good service and solid food choices and variety. Good BBQ items I had the BBQ pasta (not sure what they called it. Others had wings they said were excellent. Good service refilling drinks regularly. Reasonable prices as well as good beer selection. We will be back.

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    Finally stopped in after driving by this place for a while and not realizing what it was and I'm…read moreglad I did. The restaurant and outdoor entertainment complex is huge and has a really fun, energetic vibe. According to the bartender, they have ping-pong, pickleball, and a big upstairs outdoor patio with amazing views of Tempe and the surrounding area. There's also a large parking lot, lots of outdoor seating, and even a dog park area, which makes it really easy to spend time here. The bartenders and wait staff were very friendly. Azbel was a great server. I had the bistro steak and fries and the Szechuan lettuce wraps, and both were really good. Portions were generous. During late-night happy hour my total was about $55 for a main entrée, an appetizer, a cocktail, and tip, which felt like a great deal. I was pleasantly surprised that happy hour runs every day Monday through Sunday from 3-6 PM and again from 8 PM to close. I also checked out the event venue on site, and it looks like it would be a great place for a company party, corporate event, or group gathering. I'll definitely be returning in the near future.

    After a previous experience here, I thought the food was great, so I decided to share it with my…read morefamily, with the hopes they too would enjoy. The Service was "electric" for us as we were celebrating a birthday at the table during lunch. It was too Hot for us to do pickleball, but they do have a fully shaded area that had people playing outside ~105 degrees. As for the food, we had the Fish & Chips with a Mahi Mahi Slaw & Fries, the Ahi Poke Tacos which come in Wonton shells. Hot Honey and Sausage Pizza was great. The Barbacoa Nachos had all the right ingredients & the Double Smash Burger had only some "fancy sauce" on the plate. The Tempura Green Bean, can't remember who ordered, but were good with the chipotle ranch sauce. With me, I'm all about the cocktails, so I treated myself to both the Froze Margarita & the Chi Chi. They call them spiked slushes, I call them "heaven sent" during the Arizona Summer. All of the food was a hit for the table and my family understood why I suggested EP for lunch! I said our Server was "electric" and that's because they made our experience very enjoyable. It was appreciated and I will return again for lunch and pickleball (in the evenings) during the hot summer!

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    Kai - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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