Kai

Went to Ma'Kai Lounge for a birthday party, and our car was stolen from their valet service. The valet driver (who did not have driver's license) left our car parked on the street in front of Ma'Kai with the keys in the ignition. After giving us the runaround for half an hour the valets admitted the car was probably stolen. We called the police and while we waited for them the manager and bouncer at Ma'Kai were incredibly unsympathetic and in fact antagonized the situation by telling us that they would tell the police we assaulted the valets (who we did not touch). They refused us water or use of the bathroom even though we had spent 4 hours in their bar, spent money, and had our car stolen due to their valet's negligence. Don't go here and especially do not valet your car. more

There is nothing worse (exaggeration) than driving around on a Saturday night in Santa Monica and not knowing where to eat... eventually after 5 laps around the promenade and countless visits to Opentable, you toss away your foodie-standards and join the mainstream - this is how we ended up at Ma'Kai. Imagine a hidden antenna somewhere on their roof that broadcasts (like a dog whistle), but at a very low frequency audible only to fans of ""Keeping Up with the Kardassians"", guys looking to score, and gals desperate for love they won't find. The spicy tuna on crispy rice, you ask? LOL, small crappy little pieces not worth $5 never mind the $14 they charged. The rice was not crispy, the tuna was not fresh, and the jalapeno slice on top was the only reason it could be called 'spicy'. The shrimp tempura roll - imagine an officer from the Tempura Commission knocking on their door in full uniform and then pointing his finger at the cook and saying, 'How dare you sir... how dare you' - because that is how bad this shrimp tempura roll was. Let me put it this way - if you go to a low-end supermarket and buy a shrimp tempura roll and then leave it in the fridge for a week and then pull it out and leave it on your counter for another week, it would still be better than the shrimp tempura roll at Ma'Kai. Small, weak and feeble. No life, no snap, not hot, not fresh... I could go on, but I will stop after my mention of the Filet Mignon. Sure I should have known that it was not going to be any good for just $21, but this place is all small plates, so I took a chance. I asked for medium and it came out so raw even the steak knife could not cut it. Plus, I don't remember ever having Filet before with fat on the sides.. total blubberfest. I had to send it back. In fact, if we weren't so hungry and desperate to eat, I would have sent it all back, saving the wine of course (decent glass of pinot.. compliments to the winery, not the restaurant). Would I ever go back? Do I have any hard feelings for them wasting my time and money? Of course not, I already knew better... we all know better. Question: Why do big, noisy restaurants surrounded by tourists suck? Answer: Because they can... Pros: location Cons: everything else more

My boyfriend and I basically chose to try this restaurant because we were both starving, and we happened to be right there. We were immediately dismayed by the limited lunch menu that they offered! Regardless, we sat down and ordered 3 dishes. My boyfriend ordered a standard $1 miso soup for an astounding $4 to start with and I had the most plain, boring garlic fries that I'd ever ordered. They didn't even taste like garlic, they tasted like fries that wished they were McDonald's fries that were fried in a garlic oil and then left unsalted. Served with a side of plain ketchup. Ugh. And then the ""main courses"" arrived. What a joke. I had the trio of kobe beef sliders with a so-called pineapple bbq sauce and cheddar, and my boyfriend had two plates of sushi rolls. My kobe beef sliders were unseasoned and not special. The poor presentation astounded me! Just three tiny misshapen burgers with some cheddar cheese melted and sprinkled on top, and then stuffed in a crudely torn apart dinner roll, with a bit of sweet bbq sauce plopped onto the meat, and then place on a plate divided into three sections. For $14, and no side salad or any choice of side at all. My boyfriends' rolls were laughably tiny, and he would have had a better choice of fish at Famima!! or 7-Eleven. They were rolled without any laver sheets, which would have been fine, except that the rice was slightly undercooked and the rolls were about an inch a half big. Those were $10 a plate. Then my boyfriend ordered a Sapporo and I had the tropical iced tea. The drinks were the best part of the meal. The waitress as well. She was very nice and quite attentive, made sure to come back and check up on us every so often. We didn't have any dessert, because they don't offer anything at lunch, paid our $58 bill and left dissatisfied. I don't even know who to be upset at, and I was about to speak with the manager, but he was in the middle of conducting interviews for the next sucker to work at this sad little spot. Maybe fine for tourists, we're not going back. Cons: Poor lunch options, scarce food for a lot of money. more

Overall the food is amazing and consistently good. Its a little pricey, but worth it, as they do an amazing job with the fusion of flavors. The specialty drinks are also really good. I highly recommend this place for a date, or a small group dinner. Sometimes the service isn't great, but it's never been horrible. I don't really understand though why they have bouncers - kind of tacky really. Pros: food, ambiance Cons: service more

1. Horrible Service (the waitress came to our table twice...and that was it! 2. Rude GM. Mike never apologized to me to rectify the situation..even when I called in to express my disappointment, he was VERY rude. 3. The DoorGuys are A*Holes (they abuse the tiny bit of power they have) 4. I will never go there again. Cons: Too many to list here. Read full review. more

I love how the makai serves absinthe, and they do it with the sugar cube and the spoon and everything! i love watching their mixologists throughout the entire process of making their drinks more

Been here a couple times. The location is great, right across from the cliffs overlooking PCH. The loung itself gets real small on the weekends with the crowds. The indoor dance floor accomodates the DJ as well so not much room for dancing. Pretty people all over the place and also well dressed. The best part... they let you smoke on the Patio! Unusual for Santa Monica with all the smoker haterz. Drinks would be considered expensive if you're only used to drinking at home. Otherwise, no more no less expensive. Pros: smoking on patio, good vibes more

Okay...Okay... I read the reviews and was a total skeptic. I went, ate, drank and got conquered. This is a total HOT SPOT! Anyone who is willing to venture out to the destination of delicious flavors must go to Makai. There's a full bar, delicious asian fusion dishes, and gorgeous peeps up in there. Order the spicy tuna with crispy rice-- a true mouthful of flavors..How does the chef come up with such savory delights? This is weird but my girlfriend complimented the green tea! And you know what? It was actually flavorful.The Chef even thought of that too!!!!!!!!The server called it Bon Vivant green Tea. Service was prompt and friendly. To anyone heading out to Santa Monica drop in to this place and have a fabulous time it truly is a great dining experience! Pros: menu and service Cons: NA more

they offer an great selection of sushi, as well as tempura...staff is very friendly and is always available for additional orders, or to fill your cocktails, or tea...teh japanese bon vivant green tea is really good...refill that...my experience with makai has been good...I recommend this place to anyone looking to enjoy sushi in a small, yet casual eating environment, who wants to be satisfied as a result of a good eating experience... would I eat there again? sure...overall, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone for drinks, or sushi. Pros: nice service Cons: hhmmmm...none really more

So I hadn't been to Makai in almost a year when I went there last week and it was awesome! Used to go to this place alot back in the day but hadn't been in a really long time. Some girlfriends suggested we go for happy hour so on we went. Ordered a round on martinis and they were all great...I loved this cucumber saketini, it was super refreshing and went very well with the sushi we ordered. Which brings me to the food...YUM! We ordered the Hamachi Fusion that had this wonderful truffle, yuzu sauce also had the tuna on crispy rice and the steak asparagus skewers...yum! Bartender (super funny guy) mentioned that they recently hired the chef from Koi. I always liked Makai for the drinks but now will be back for the food! The vibe has also changed a bit too and I mean for the better. This place is definatly going back on the rotation list for where my friends and I frequent!!!\r Pros: Fun bartenders, great vibe, awesome food Cons: parking-- just valet or park in the lot on Colorado more

It was my bosses birthday (who is also my friend) and I was feeling a bit under the weather. It was one of those nights that I would've rather have stayed home, but really needed to attend the dinner.\r \r About 9 of us attended and we waited for about 45-50 minutes (a little longer than expected considering that we had reservations). But the chatting at the bar made the time go by.\r \r I had the spicy tuna with the crispy rice. It was delicate and so good that I kept popping them into my mouth...lol. In addition, the meal was also served with Wasabi, a green hot mustard/horseradish blend, sliced pickled ginger, and teriyaki sauce, all of which created a variety of taste possibilities. With a choice of soup or salad- I had Miso- a hot seaweed and tofu soup- the meal was very enjoyable.\r \r The most exciting part of the night came rather unexpectedly. I decided to order some tea (being a tea lover) and the waitor recommended their new tea (apparantly it's popular with the staff, too). Having drank tea from around the world for over 10 years, I have to say, this unlike anything I have ever had. By far.\r \r Just in case I need to repeat myself, this tea is the best!! I had never heard of it (although the waitor said that it's well known by health and fitness people) and the smell of the green tea was simply amazing. I don't know how it did it but I felt recharged and out of my slump after drinking a delicious cup. And it so complemented our sushi, too. Almost everyone in the party ordered the tea. It was hillarious.\r \r I asked the waitor to buy the tea but they said that it wasn't packaged for sale. But you HAVE to ask for Bon Vivant Green tea if go here. You'll be glad you did.\r \r The overall service has changed a bit. I hadn't been to this restaurant in about a year and I was delighted with great service and a new menu. :) Pros: service, menu, especially their green tea Cons: longer wait than before more

This place is great! I loved the atmosphere most of all, dimly lit, exotic wood,and candles all over the place. The music never got too loud, I found it very easy to have a conversation with the person seated next to me. The staff were ""johny on the spot"", prices very affordable, and overall I have to say the best lounge Ive been too in the USA. ....... Check it out, you will be glad you did.............. Pros: just trust me once you get there its worht it Cons: parking is a little tight.....use valet more

Me and my boyfriend and a couple friends went to this restaurant for the first time a few weeks ago. The atmosphere is great. Its a really cool spot and a lot of fun. The staff is so friendly. The spicy tuna on rice cakes tastes like hash browns and the lobster dynamite roll taste like eggs.i was not the only one who thought that. It's so weird but its good. The manager Mike is great at recommending saki in every price range and a really nice guy. Later that night we went into the bar that becomes a lounge. The bar was busy and a dj plays good music. ladies BEWARE the old men at the bar pounce at the sight of any young girl. overall we really like this place and will be back. Pros: Atmosphere, Saki, Staff more

I went to Makai for a late Wednesday dinner with a friend and it was absolutely wonderful. The staff were all smiles. The food was delicious ( I recommend the kobe steak). We ordered appetizers consisting of edamame and fried calimari, which we both enjoyed very much. This restaurant has changed over the years, but in my opinion it is only becoming better. Soon, it will be as recognized as Boa or Sushi Roku.\r I honeslty enjoyed my self very much and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a sophisticated, brilliantly decorated, fine dining restaurant. In response to some of the negative reviews: give Makai a second chance. The restaurant is changing things for the better frequently. They have made improvements over the years, and I'm sure you will enjoy yourself if you go again. \r And if not, your drink is on me! Pros: Decoration, staff, food, ambiance, EVERYTHING! more

I came here for a friend's birthday with about 10 people, with a reservation. It was a crowded bar scene with people spilling over into the dinning area. The manager asked us to leave after 1 1/2 hours into out eating because there was another party waiting on our table. I mean, c'mon, what the hell kind of bookkeeping is that??!! It took our drinks 10 minutes to get to us and our food about 50 minutes. that left us with only 30 minutes to enjoy our food and order dessert and sing happy birthday. \r \r the food is not bad, it's just not special and the price is ridiculous. I can get the same foods at a cheap sushi restaurant down my street...and it wouldn't be so loud that I couldn't even converse with my friends. They should just turn this place into a bar-only place, because it really comes off like a pseudo restaurant that only caters to its drunken masses.\r more

I recently stumbled across this Ocean Ave bar/restaurant the other night while out with a group of friends. We had just finished dinner at a local spot and were looking for a spot to grab a few more drinks. Great choice!\r The atmosphere was hip but still approachable. Drink menu was next level and left me with the difficult decision of what to choose. Bartender definatly knew what he was doing back there and one drink turned into three. \r We were planning on Bar hopping, but ended up joining the party which kicked off with the DJ and ended with one of the best nights I've had on the Westside.\r Not to be missed!!! Pros: Awsome Drinks/Cool Vibe more

I went to Makai last weekend on a first date. I haven't been in about a year, so I thought this would be a good place to check out again since I had such a blast on my last experience. I made a reservation prior to sit in the dinner section around 8, and as I sat down for dinner I noticed that I was sat within arms reach of another couple which is kind of uncomfortable to have an intimate dinner with random people listening to your every word. After sharing the creamy rock shrimp as an appetizer which was totally dry and disgusting. I ordered the pacific soba which was a pretty bland and my date ordered the sea bass which she couldn't even finish because it was flaky and tasted like rubber. Afterwards we decided to go over to the lounge section and grab some drinks and listen to the dj. It was pretty vacant, and we waited 10 minutes for a cocktail server to even notice us. Then we waited 10 more minutes to get our drinks - a mojito which was 10 bucks and tasted like it didn't even have alcohol in it, and my date decided to order pomegranate martini which was 13 bucks and tasted like cough syrup. This place is totally not like what it used to be. They used to have a hot, very friendly staff, and a very awesome nightlife. I'll never go there again. I feel sorry for whoever manages this place because they turned something very good into a hollywood wannabe club. This is Santa Monica and I'm sure nobody from Hollywood would be willing to drive here to have fun. My advice to you, don't go. It's a has been. Pros: no pros Cons: unfriendly staff, disgusting food, ugly decor more

\r This place used to be one of my favorite spots to hang as I live locally and it is usually an impressive date spot. It has had its ups and downs over the years........ but I'm never going back nuff said. Seems to be a front these days for one of the oldest businesses in LA. Its a shame because the environment used to be hip, friendly, and legitimate ...now its a war zone laundering tool. Proceed with caution. more

Makai has changed a lot over the years. I've been to MaKai a few times and everytime I leave satisfied. They're menu ranges from Miso Black Cod to Rib Eye Steak and Sliders. They also have a small sushi roll selection. The ambiance is relaxed but nice. The service can be a little lacking at times, but in a city filled with would-be actors, can you expect anything more?! If you haven't been to Makai it's worth a trip to make up your own mind. It seems the harshers reviews are a little dated, as they've made a lot of changes recently. If you're looking for a hip, non-pretensious restaurant with a good lounge scene and good food, this is the place. But don't forgo your reservation at Spago to go here, they're not the same type of restaurant nor are they trying to be. Pros: Good Food, Location, Ambiance Cons: Price of Parking, Crowded on Weekends more

man.... really good japanese/american fusion! well they say japanese/american but i call it... more