Kai

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

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

I've been going to Ma'kai for 3 years now and it has definitely been through some ups and downs. Over the last year or so, the attitude has decreased and the quality and value increased. Used to always go for the happy hour specials and cocktails, but recently have been dining and been really impressed. Despite some of the other reviews, all the staff have been friendly and accomodating and the food is great quality and value. On a street filled with hyper expensive sushi, steaks and seafood, it is nice to find a relaxed, comfortable place. I usually get either a filet or bone-in ribeye and they are huge & excellent. My girlfriend gets the miso black cod or the soba noodles with seafood in a garlic sauce. We haven't been disappointed yet. It's also nice to be able to have a romantic patio dinner and after move into the lounge for DJ and dancing. There are very few places where that is possible. Definitely a great place to have in Santa Monica. Pros: Ambience, Patio Fire Pit, Value Cons: Definitely gets crowded on weekend nights more

I just moved to Santa Monica from San Francisco. Which we all know is a mecca for some of the best restaurants, anywhere. With that being said, I have been spoiled. Upon getting here I started trying out the finer establishments in the area. Last Friday I went to Ma'kai for the first time. Like I said, it is my new favorite place to go. The staff was attentive, and easy on the eyes. The facility was decorated immaculately, with perfect lighting. On to the food, it was amazing. The sushi was fantastic, and everything was really fresh. And the best mojito I have ever had. You must try them. I will continue to go there, and will recommend it highly! Pros: Ambience, Service, Quality of Food, Creative Menu more

Had dinner and drinks last night at Ma'kai on the patio and it was fantastic. The cool island vibe, attentive service and great food and drinks were a pleasant surprise. We started out on the patio for cocktails and were impressed with the selections at Happy Hour. All the martinis & cocktails are on special, not just the usual beer & wine and cheap bar brands. Had a Mango Mojito and a Makai Kiss martini and they were great for $7! After relaxing with drinks for a while we decided to stay for dinner and moved inside to the dining room. The walls are decorated with cool Gaugin style painted wallpaper as well as ample windows looking out toward the pier and palm trees. We had the Lobster Dynamite for an appetizer and a Filet & Halibut for an entree. The Lobster Dynamite was awesome! The filet was cooked perfectly and was really large, the Halibut came with a spicy Asian sauce and ginger glazed tofu. Both were excellent. Powers was our waiter and did a great job (doesn't hurt that he looked just like Christian Bale!) We will definitely be back and recommend the place. Pros: Ambience, Food, Drinks, Service more

Do not expect fresh sea food from Ma'kai's. The mahi mahi was more like dry tilapia and the rib eye was that of TGIF quality. Most disappointing was the ""sushi grade"" Hawaiian Poke Salad that had to be drowned in soy sauce to give it any real flavor. The ONLY upside to this ""restaurant"" is that the bartender can make a great dirty martini, but the food is not fresh and the wait staff is beyond obnoxious and don't know the menu. Nothing would give me more joy than to see this place ripped down and replaced with Chili's. At least Chili's has the decency to take their mediocre food and deep fry it. Cons: Too many to list more

Celebrated my birthday last night with 7 friends and this was my third visit to Ma'Kai. We had requested an indoor table with the initial reservation and found that we were being seated on the patio far away from the energy (and warmth) of the restaurant. The nice manager and sweet hostess apologetically arranged for seating inside and a bottle of champagne was sent to the table. Nice gesture! The food, as usual, was delicious. Calamari, Lobster Dynamite Roll and Filet Mignon are my favorites! Our hot server, Clint, was great! Love the atmosphere here - don't mind the music level. We'll be back again soon! \r \r Pros: Location, Food, Staff, Ambience Cons: Small Dining Room more

I've been here midweek for a drink and its a great atmosphere. You can have a drink on the outside patio by the firepit or sit inside at the bar. The weekends get more crowded, almost too crowded. Just had drinks here, never tried their food before, but I've been told they have some good deals for happy hour. more

Came here with a couple friends on a late wednesday. The bartenders were quick, and the price wasnt too expensive. The crowd was about just right, not too crowded, but not too dead. The patio area right next to ocean blvd, that overseas the santa monica pier was very nice. The fire pit was also a great touch, to keep the people warm, while they are drinking and socializing. In all, we had a good time. Pros: Ambience, Music, Drinks more

Went to Ma'kai last Friday for the first time in many months. Was completely surprised by the shift in attitude and menu. What used to be a confused menu now makes sense and is executed well! Had the NY Steak wrapped asparagus, hand rolls, Hawaiian Poke and the Sliders and they were all fantastic. Everyone was friendly and helpful (and attractive). As the night got later, it definitely got louder and more crowded. Hollywood Club style music and a good crowd of 20 to 30 somethings. Definitely not the crazy young bottle club crowd that gets so old in LA. Would definitely recommend! Pros: Great food, atmosphere and service Cons: little crowded as the night gets later more

If you want to avoid the typical $10 pitchers and chicken wings happy hour, check out makai. Its 7 days/week and there are some great deals on drinks and tasty snacks... more

Contrary to other opinions shared on this restaurant, I thought the restaurant/bar/lounge was quite unique and fun! You walk in and the bar is the first thing you see, so it's kind of confusing. The whole front/ left side of the restaurant is a lounge and the right/ rear dining. Upon first look at the menu, you think there are simply tapas; however, turns out it is quite extensive. Decor was really cool, food was great, they have a nice selection of mixed drinks, and fun nightlife on Saturday nights. I also hear the Luau on Sunday is pretty cool, if you like Hawaiian music, food, dancers, and all that. Definitely worth a try for something new and different! Pros: Decor, Food, Ambience Cons: A little pricy more

Whether or not you enjoy this place depends on what you're going there for. I didn't really dine there (just ordered off the bar menu), so can't comment on that directly. I did notice the typical, overly young hostess doesn't seem to give a care.\r \r Don't go here expecting to meet up with a group of people especially on a weekend - seating is sparse. We had a sizable party and luckily arrived at 8:30, with some arriving earlier to grab one of the three outside patio tables. After 9 or 10, the patio spills into the bar and vice versa becoming a mad collection of people. Not that this is necessarily bad, just depends if that's what you're looking for. I guess the 'meat market' label might be deserved, I saw a whole lot of random pawing going on even though my gf and I split by 11.\r \r The drinks: Overpriced yes, but in a place trying to be hip and trendy in such a location not to be unexpected. Had ours made at the bar and the bartender toward the door made a good cocktail. I heard complaints from other patrons their drinks tasted like fruit juice, so they switched to wine. Fairly sure they had a different 'tender than us. \r The bar eats: Also pricey, but the lobster sushi was decent nibble for one to two people. Be aware the 2/$10 sushi rolls are each one mouthful. Small selection.\r \r Decor was nice and definitely upscale. However, the indoor bar seating was atrocious. There about 4-5 giant lounge chairs arranged two tables, with a small sofa on the other side for each one. That's all the seating. Smallish yes, but accomodating layout, hardly. Same goes for the huge barstools to a lesser degree. Could've fit in some more seats thus, they were already full at 8:30. Who's your designer?\r \r Waitress was a little clueless/slow but got the job done. Unfortunately, she transferred our bar tab to her and even though we were a couple (2 in our party) separate from any group tab that came after us, she charged us a ridiculous group gratuity ($12). Pros: Mixed drinks, location/scenery Cons: Price, seating, cattle more

When I first started going to Ma'kai I wasn't too impressed with the service. But when I started sitting at the bar that opinion changed! The bartenders and owners are soooo nice, attentive and make the best drinks. They are always helpful whether you are male or female and remember their regulars. If you like sushi get their lobster dynamite roll which is out of this world! Ask for Parker, Palomino or Matt to get the best service around. Pros: Excellent Bar Staff, Drink Variety, Valet more

While the ambience and decor are cool, this place also boasts a snobby host & hostess and sub par food. (They must think they work at a finer establishment.) The food sounds creative and new, but neither the taste nor presentation is worth the price. Pros: Decor, Location Cons: Food, Host/Hostess more

What happens when a seemingly upscale restaurant fails to deliver on the dinner menu? $10 cocktails flow to obnoxious bar hoppers crowding a walk area posing as a dance floor, thus ruining the mood for those few people suffering through a horrible dining experience. I was thoroughly embarrassed to have suggested this spot blocks from my home in Santa Monica thinking the food would be exotic and of the caliber of nearby restaurants such as Boa, The Lobster or Il Fornaio. Their seafood was simply atrocious. Of the three items we ordered, two were returned and the third was a depressing limp salad. If you want a sunset and a mojito, and to leave hungry for your dinner reservations at a respectable establishment, Ma'kai won't disappoint. I assume the bouncer outside the restaurant is there to cover up the fact that Ma'kai is a restaurant gone horribly wrong. Pros: Location Cons: Food, Attitude, Wait more

it's great during the week since it doesn't get too crouded. very nice looking place inside. yet again like everyplace out here, friday and saturday night can get very crowded and it is one of the bars on the smaller side...overall I've been there 4 or 5 times and would go back anytime. Pros: nice atmosphere, can wear a hat Cons: too busy on weekend, a little pricey more

i too had to eat my food with it on my lap- interesting! this place has over priced food that isn't BAD but certainly isn't worth the cost. it also gets WAY too crowded at night for the bar scene, i've walked out soaked in drinks on numerous occasions. i would never choose to go back. Pros: cool decoration Cons: expensive, crowded, meat market more

I noticed a mature crowd in the line outside as i stepped out of the car, but that didnt matter since my group was on the list. We were fortunate to get in because around 10:30, the place couldnt be anymore overcrowded. It definitely a happening scene, although the male-female ratio wasnt impressive. Do not get me wrong,i spotted some beautiful ladies. On the other hand, there was a lot of guys, some real old ones trying to get jiggy with it. Drinks were average price considering we are in LA. Pros: beautiful ladies, inexpensive, mature crowd Cons: overcrowded, long line more

We were there on a Monday night--the bar filled up fast with a crowd that looked like they couldn't afford the overpriced drinks and mediocre food..Service was touch-and-go---LITERALLY.. waiter hopped by as if he was on a pogo stick.. Some tapas were great, balanced out by other less-than-mediocre ones... Still wanna go there? Roll the dice and good luck enjoying the overall experience more