BLUF: delicious food and a magic show to boot We went on a Friday night for dinner. The place was pretty busy, but we got a table quickly. The first thing that impressed me is that they left a nice big pitcher of cucumber water on the table to drink. I love cucumber water, and although I know leaving the pitcher there helped them as much as me, it was nice not to have to wait to have my water refilled. After we ordered, we were approached by Nick Tweedy, who introduced himself as the "in house entertainment." He did some impressive slight of hand magic tricks, and was very entertaining. We really weren't sure whether or not to tip him, since he introduced himself as part of the restaurant so we figured he'd share in our tip after the meal. Only later did we find out he took his own tips. So, sorry Nick. Our dinner was mostly made up of various appetizers. Started with the Tomato Tower, which is basically one big tomato made into a stacked caprese salad. It wasn't any more special than other capreses we've had, but it was fresh and good. The Hawaiian Pork Sliders rocked: great flavorful topping and sauce. Next up were Conch Fritters with rémoulade sauce. I thought they were a bit too much bread and not enough conch, but they were tasty and had a nice crunchy outside. The Kaya salad was a nice mix of ingredients, and although it could have used a little more dressing on it it was very tasty. The Tuna Poke nachos were delicious and fresh-tasting. We finished up with the Veggie Wontons, which were very good, with a tangy sauce on them. Definitely worth the trip. Probably among the top 2 places we ate while in Key West. read more

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Great service and delicious food. Will definitely coming back. Not pictured but highly recommend, conch fritters. read more

Kaya Island Eats - Blackened shrimp tacos Shrimp Skewers - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

We came here for a quick bite on a Monday night based on the good reviews and appealing menu, but unfortunately we were very disappointed, primarily due to incredibly poor management. First, the host stand is in the middle of the restaurant complex (not visible from the Duval entrance) and it was up to seated, dining guests to inform confused potential customers where to go. They take your number, but don't send a confirmation text, so you're left wondering if the restaurant even has the right number for you. When we were finally seated, after waiting 20-30 minutes, it took probably 15 minutes to get a beer in a plastic cup (subpar for a $25/plate restaurant), because the bar was "backed up," and it took us over an hour from ordering to get our food because the kitchen was "backed up." It was only after I threatened to leave (because we were starving) that they brought our food. I could maybe understand if we ordered something complicated, but we only ordered a chicken salad and a kid's hotdog! Plus, my husband never gets cold and we were both freezing due to the industrial fans blowing right on us for the whole experience. The food was good, but we were so frustrated by the time we finally were able to eat that we decided to forego dessert and leave immediately. There was no real apology or any thought of an offer for a discount or free dessert or something for our unreasonable wait. Our table was not an anomaly either, as I overheard other tables around us complaining as well. If they had moved on our order, the restaurant and server would have likely benefited from 1-2 more tables in addition to ours. I was excited to try this restaurant for its other more elaborate entrees on a different night, but now I wouldn't dare. read more

Wonderful meal at a very good price. Service was spectacular. Wish we stayed in Key West longer, we would have kept coming back.

Happy Hour hunter APPROVED! I'm someone who likes to taste everything where I am and find happy hour snacks a great way to do so. This restaurant has an amazing looking menu and I could have "happily" ordered so much but just tasted the tuna nachos and my first crazy lady blonde.... and am beyond "HAPPY!" Suuuuper friendly service and the vibe is ideal for those looking to escape Duval craziness (not my happy place) without venturing far off of it read more

Kaya Island Eats - Happy Hour Cerveza with sic glassware - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

I'm so glad my husband found this restaurant via Yelp! I was going to choose something entirely different and I'm glad I let him decide. Kaya Island Eats is AMAZING. We went through the back where we sat outside. The decor is beachy and laid back, something that felt like home back in California. There are picnic benches, tables, colorful paintings from local artists, and beach themed props. This is definitely the perfect place to chill. Every employee was welcoming, nice, and quick. When you first sit down, you are served a complimentary shot of the Mai Tai and it was superb. However, I decided to go with the Pina Colada and my husband ordered the CBD seltzer, both really good choices. They also serve a giant water pitcher for the table filled with lemon, cucumber, and mint. I mean, even the water is good! I decided to order the Killer Fish Tacos and my husband ordered The Legendary Rasta Pasta. His pasta was phenomenal but I also enjoyed my fish tacos a ton, it's been difficult finding GOOD fish tacos in NC so this was great! Everything was so fresh and delicious and I especially liked the coleslaw on my plate. Everything was made perfectly. At the end, we had to go with some Key Lime Pie (while you're in the keys, you have to)! Oooomg this pie was so good. It was light on lime but you could tell that they make it in the restaurant. It is so fresh. I am telling you this right now...go to Kaya Island Eats! You will not be disappointed. If you're looking for a great beach-vibes spot for lunch, this is it and the food is absolutely amazing. read more

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We stopped in for a light bite, sitting in the store front. Glad we sat where we did cause the place is huge but in the store front it's well lit and the quietest. We got the veggie potstickers which were crispy and not oily, they had a good amount of lovely sauce which allowed for each to be flavored by it. For the main we split the tofu rice bowl, which has a unique and prefect Asian mustard n Wasabi sauce. This is a new favorite. read more

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Honestly the service and the food were SO amazing! We're not drinkers or party people so we were worried that we wouldn't vibe, so the food and our server made up for that. Marvin the manager came around to check in on us and we had great conversation where he invited us back for a magic show! We are going to go back with our own catch of the day so they will prepare us a 3 course meal! read more

Was down in Key West with my son in law and young grandsons, so we wanted something kid friendly but in the center of all the action. This place was perfect. We were greeted right away and taken to there outside dining area where they had live entertainment and a dance floor, Other kids were there too. We ordered some drinks and listened to some music. On recommendation of another patron we ordered the Mahi fish tacos. I got mine blackened and each taco came with a huge piece of fish. They were delicious. Kids were happy with the kids menu. Staff was great from the person that greeted us, to the bar maid and the waitress. Highly recommend if you're in the area. read more

Came here with my family on a little vacation away from home and we are in Key West all the time, but have never eaten at this place. The menu has a great variety and everything looks amazing. The server came in strong with the recommendations. I wish more places had the jerk wings. read more

I made a reservation here for a bachelorette dinner and it was a great choice. This restaurant is big with different areas. There is patio with live music, a karaoke room, a game area and a quieter seating room. The staff took care of our table well. The food was great with good portions. I had the coconut shrimp and the grilled mahi mahi tacos. All of it tasted fresh and flavorful. For dessert had some key lime pie and the hula girl pie with an oreo cookie crust and ice cream on top. We sat on the patio and that was a nice atmosphere with live music. read more

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Small little hidden gem on Duval street, it's tucked in 25 feet of the Main Street, unless you are going here you will miss it, but it's worth the search. Simple but amazing food, service is quick and ambiance is low key picnic bench mode. They have karaoke every night. The bang bang shrimp is awesome, Thai sauce is amazing Kids loves the "killer" fish tacos My son liked satay chicken We ordered yellowfin in 3 entrees and the coconut curry was the best, I thought my blackened with key lime sauce was too sweet for me and the fish little dry Their key lime pie is highly rated, we ranked it 3-4 in our rank of 8 key lime pie! read more

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OMG,OMG,OMG... We have been coming to Key West for over 20 + years for the great food,people & fun & just so happened that my father retired here so we have been very lucky to get to come down for our family visits/vacation & this is our first trip back since COVID & needed to experience some new restaurants & VERY LUCKY TO EXPERIENCE KAYA ISLAND EATS ... # 1. We were greeted by a very nice staff member who was happy to give us a lot of options of where we would like to dine & we chose to be in the air as it was very hot (August) lol ...but it was also close to the bar & was told that they have AMAZING DRINKS & that they do!!!! Our server happened to also be our bartender & WOW SHE WAS SO AWESOME (ELISA) ... we were also asked if we would like to try a sample of 1of their drinks & wow...so fresh & delicious!!! #2. We also found out that the staff member who greeted us & helped us find the perfect table is the owner of this fabulous restaurant & he was so attentive to all of the dinners in his restaurant!!! #3. SOOO now for the food... I'm extremely picky pescatarian & omg there food is so good & for my husband he will eat/try anything & he did ...lol...we had plenty to take home & enjoy in our condo & nothing went to waste...including the key lime pie that we took home to enjoy later that evening that was so delicious... also want to thank another member of the staff who delivered our delicious food & also kept checking in on us to see how we were doing & if we needed anything & unfortunately did not get his name...but thank you my friend...WE CAN'T stop talking about our wonderful dining experience in this great restaurant!!!!! FYI we went back a couple more times for drinks & a couple appetizers & to have some of our friends/family try this amazing restaurant!!! A really great CLEAN,FUN, DELICIOUS FOOD & DRINKS PLACE TO TRY!!!! read more

Kaya Island Eats - Amazing - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

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The best food in Key West right here. I was so unimpressed with every restaurant I went to in Key West, except for Kaya Island Eats. The staff is so warm and friendly. The food was absolutely delicious and super fresh. If you are looking for fresh seafood dishes, then you've come to the right place. Their bar selection looks great. Chef comes out and brings your food to the table. Would have just been happy eating here every night. I ordered the tuna poke on crispy wonton, and the Asian catch (ordered Mahi)neither. Chinese hot mustard buerre blanc. Incredible!!!! My bf ordered the Carne asada tacos which were cooked to perfection, and the tasty pork sliders. read more

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This place has awesome staff and a salad so good I came back the next day to order it again. The Jamaican Hibiscus Vinaigrette, pickled onions, carrots...omg--so scrumptious. Wish I lived here so I could order this all the time! Staff showed a lot of care/attention about my dietary restrictions and had a clearly labeled menu with knowledgeable staff (clearly trained.) read more

Kaya Island Eats - House Salad GF Field Greens / fresh veggies / Jamaican hibiscus vinaigrette. - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

Kaya Island Eats did a wonderful job preparing and cooking our tuna and snapper that we caught and brought into the restaurant. The chef prepared three separate delicious courses consisting of tuna and wonton chips, seared tuna and blackened snapper. Would definitely return and bring in any fresh catch for them to prepare! read more

We love Happy Hour appetizers at Kaya! So much flavor and 1/2 off 4-6. Today we had the Hawaiian Sliders and the Wontons. Great atmosphere, tons of big screens for sports and so much more! Check it out! read more

Food is absolutely fantastic. We stopped there first night in Key West and will definitely make our way back. The fish tacos were possibly the best I've had. Everything there is so good. Just nailing the flavors. Soooo freaking good!!! read more

Kaya Island Eats - Fish tacos - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

Absolutely phenomenal meal. The atmosphere was fun, the service was excellent, but the food is out of this world. We had a little of everything. The pork is to die for. The Reggae fish and jerk chicken are amazing, If you don't like flavor then this isn't for you. But if you have taste buds, this is a must visit! read more

Everything was amazing, the food the service and reasonable prices. We tried different dishes and enjoyed every single one. read more

Kaya Island Eats - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

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This is our 2nd time here and we are equally impressed and pleased with our service from Ericka and food choices. Over the top good. I was scared because I loved it the first time and was so exited to find that I love it even more this time. I didn't know it was possible! The jerk chicken wings were shared and loved by all! My Cuban pork was exceptional and different than my nephews Hawaiian pork. I don't think you can go wrong with any item on the menu. We'll be back! Hopefully won't wait 2 years. read more

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This was the second time my wife and I have eaten at Kaya and definitely feel it is 5 star worthy. We had the Caribbean Shrimp Skewers and both feel it was one of the best meals we have had in Key West. Service was great and the outside area of the restaurant was pleasant. Definitely would recommend you give it a try. read more

My wife and I brought my sister to visit the keys while she was in town from Dubai and this happened to be one of the places we stumbled upon while searching for dinner. We sat in what seemed like a room away from the rest of the restaurant but our server was great. The food was good and the drinks were good. I'd highly recommend and I'm sure we'll be back on our next trip to the Keys. read more

Kaya Island Eats - Chicken Curry - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Great food in a laid back setting. The portions were generous and delicious!! Our server was very friendly. Highly recommend! Can't wait to go back on our next trip! read more

My family and I came here right after getting off the plane after a 12 hour travel day. We walked in through the front entrance which is their sports bar and it looked much different than online had suggested. Turns out this place is enormous with something for everyone. Sports bar looked great, game room with a pool table, karaoke, outside dining and a live music section. The food was spectacular and drinks were top notch. The espresso martini comes with a skewer of toasted marshmallows which we thought was awesome. This will be a regular stop when we come here in the future. On another note they had a mentalist/magician walking around to the tables and at first you might be wondering why is this guy interrupting your dinner, but he was insanely talented. Be patient and let him do his thing and I guarantee your mind will be blown we were all flabbergasted at his ability. His name was Nicholas Tweedy/Doc Mental read more

Great little place just off of Duval st. We tried their veggie won tons and Coconut rice entree with Portobello mushrooms and plantains. The food was really flavorful and tasty. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for something different! Something which is not pizza/burgers. Friendly servers, great eclectic vibe. read more

Kaya Island Eats - Veggie Won Tons! - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

I NEVER write reviews. Good or bad. In my 50+ years, 30 of which have included on-line access, I can't recall a public post. It's possible I've forgotten one or two, but a fair characterization that I never post. But for what it's worth, Kaya changes that. I've been coming down to the keys for almost 15 years. We usually fish for three days, so most often we're going to restaurants that "Cook your catch." Plenty of decent options, but none that compares to the meal we had last night at Kaya. They took our yellowtail, mangrove snapper, and tuna and prepared it three different ways, in three separate courses, each better than the last. I was parking while my family put in the order, so I don't know specifically what each dish was, but I know for sure we had the "Bang bang" and "Reggae fish" options. As I told the owner, it was a 'drop the mic' performance. The flavors were fantastic and the fish was perfectly cooked. When I called to make reservations, he modestly suggested that it would be the best experience of our trip...so we went in with high expectations which they proceeded to hurdle! Going fishing again tomorrow and fully expecting we'll be trusting our catch to Kaya one more time before we leave. FYI - this is not just a plug for "cook your catch" restaurants. While the fish was as fresh as can be, it was the flavors and preparation that made the meal, so would highly recommend for anyone looking for seafood or who enjoys a well-executed blend of Caribbean and Asian flavors. Thank you Kaya!!! read more

Best food in Key West!! Amazing perfectly cooked fish! Awesome drinks!! We have eaten at many restaurants in key west and this one by far is our favorite! read more

Kaya Island Eats - Yellowtail Snapper plates! - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

Omg I just ate at Kaya island Eats and I'm soooo excited to come back and try so much more on this amazing menu. This is probably the best fish entree I've had on the island!! And very reasonably priced!! Don't let the wooden picnic tables fool you, the FOOD IS FANTASTIC!! We started with Mai Thais and they were soooo delicious. I'm not even a rum drinker and I loved these Mai Thais. Appetizer we had the Boom Shakalaka coconut shrimp .. soo good! Lots of rich coconut and bang bang sauce was amazing. I'm not even a coconut shrimp fan but this was impressive. Entrees we had: - Signature Asian Cajun catch, blackened, over jasmine rice was sooooo good. I love the fresh ginger on top, and the creamy coconut rice. Yumm. - Macademia coconut catch with Thai peanut sauce.. WOW! My favorite! It was mahi mahi, and the Thai peanut sauce was amazing with the pineapple salsa on top. This dish was ridiculous! Everyone needs to eat here cause I want them to stay around for a long time. Best island food I've had so far. Amazing! read more

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Food is exceptional. Had ocean eats; signature Asian and Reggae styles. Excellent sides with yellowtail.. We love the Caribbean style food. Our second time. Last year at happy hour specials--that's when we knew we wanted to go back--this year at lunch. Service was very good; attentive and cheerful. The ambiance is a little confusing. You pass thru the bar to a couple dark inside seating areas and to the outside seating. It's covered and cozy and very key east. Appealing Art on the walls. It's one of our go-to's in Key West read more

The food was delicious. Highly recommend. We had the snapper special, which was delicious.

The food is so good here, especially the fish options. It's tucked away in a corner but lots of seating available. They have sun shades and fans everywhere so it helps block out the sun so much! The staff is very attentive and welcoming. We definitely will be returning here again during our trip! read more

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Food was excellent, service was excellent! We are a diverse group of eaters - vegan, vegetarian, no dairy/no gluten and we all found something awesome on the menu! We sat outside at a picnic table and had a great time. Drink menu was clever with some less expensive alcohol options. read more

Kaya Island Eats - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

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OMG! The Jamaican Jerk Jackfruit tacos are delicious! My daughter got the Shrimp tacos and loved them. The fires are so good too! I wish I could take this restaurant back to Las Vegas with me lol. The service is truly amazing as well! This is a must try! Vegetarian friendly, makes that that much better! read more

Kaya Island Eats - Menu - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

Fabulous food and service and great Ambiance. Best meal we have had in our three days in Key West. Reasonably priced with very good portions read more

A restaurant is nothing without customer service and Kaya has some of the best service I've had at a restaurant. Everyone is so friendly and nice from the host, waiter, bartender and even the owner! They bring out a complimentary mai tai shot and some water before taking your order. My mom and I ordered mojitos - which were tasty and got us a lil tipsy! For main entrees, I asked what the best seller was and it was the Rasta Pasta which came with angel hair, jerk macadamia pesto, and I added shrimp. It was probably the best pesto I've ever had. It also was a LARGE portion but my mom and I finished it! My mom ordered the fish tacos which had a little kick to them but she said they were really tasty. I tried a bite and can confirm it was fresh and spicy! The flavors of the salsa, cream and fish all went together very nicely. We had the best time here! read more

Kaya Island Eats - Fish tacos - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

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This place is delicious! Chef Scott ( also owner )- pays attention to detail from taste to playing food well!! My favorites are jerk chicken wings, Bang bang fish bites & tomato bisque & Hawaiian pork sliders!! Although I'm sure everything on menu is delicious!! It has numerous areas to dine! I love the backyard bar area on this complex best! It's cozy & very island vibe! I highly recommended it ! Suggested from Key West Island local resident! ;) read more

Visited while vacationing in the Keys and had to make a stop for dinner again before we left! Everything was super delicious, both drinks and food. I highly recommend the blackened mahi tacos and the wings as an appetizer. The servers were very sweet and attentive, as was the manager who took the time to show us the different rooms (both indoor & outdoor) where you can choose to sit and eat. It was well worth a visit! read more

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Great food, nice atmosphere and very friendly staff. Ordered the conch fritters and crab cake special. Amazing key lime pie. Definitely would come here again the next time I'm in town. read more

Kaya Island Eats - Crab cakes - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Food was delicious and gluten free friendly! The servers were so pleasant and got us great seats and free drink samples while we looked over the menu. The live music was fun and hula hoops were available to use on the dance floor. Karaoke to finish the night was a blast! read more

Kaya Island Eats - Shrimp pasta and steak curry! Both 10/10 - Caribbean Near Me - Key West, Florida