Mai-Kai Restaurant

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3599 N Federal Hwy
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

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(954) 563-3272
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Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mai-Kai Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Reviews
( 12 )
( 5 )
( 9 )
( 2 )
( 7 )

Best

Always a great time when myself, friends, and family visit Mai Kai. The drinks specials are a good plus too! Great idea for a business meeting, birthdays, and major accomploshmen...

Worst

My husband and I were eagerly anticipating our evening at the Mai-Kai while we were in Ft. Lauderdale for our honeymoon. We are terribly disappointed to say that our server was ne...

Deceptive Trade Practices, Patrons Beware!!! 5/26/2008

I'm a local S. Fla resident and met some out of town friends that wanted to go to the Mai Kai for Happy Hour (Sad Hour :-( @ the Mai Kai). They Advertise buy one drink and the second is one us. The service was great in the beginning than it went to downhill right after the third drink was ordered. We asked the server where was our 2nd free drink after the third and she said only the 2nd was free. Please visit their web site maikai and you shall see buy one drink and your 2nd is free...DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES!!! We asked the bar mgr Rick, he really should put a "P" in front of his name as he said nothing and just ignored us as I'm sure he hears it all the time. I told him to change the website to limit 1 or one drink only but just ignored me. It wasn't always like this it used to be buy one get one thru 7PM no limit. I heard the oldman died and left the restaurant to his kid who never bothered to put a roof on the place after Wilma blew it off and doesn't pay his quartly taxes (snorts away the profits). The place is a filthy tourist trap clip joint now :-( BTW the PooPoo plater lived up to its name, bunch of fried garbage same as the crab rangoon. more
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SAVE YOUR MONEY, so many other NICE places in town! 3/9/2008

I took my family to the Mai Kai last night, 1st you wait on BUSY Hwy1 to park your car, the service started off good and went down hill from there. After we received our appetizers and main dish (over priced and everything is an extra charge) we did not see our waitress again. I had to get water for our party and clear the table of the dirty dishes myself. When I complained to what seemed like a man in charge he ""barked"" at me ""she is busy, your gonna be here for at least another hour anyway."" The show was good and the dancers were GREAT. They then had the nerve of automatically adding a $64.00 tip to our bill for service that was awful. We will never go back; their are sooo many other nice RESTAURANTS in Ft. Lauderdale. SAVE YOUR MONEY! I give Kudos to the valet they were working their buns off. We received our car much quicker than I thought we would. Pros: Valet is hardest working in town Cons: Service and prices are the worst in town more
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SAVE YOUR MONEY, so many other NICE places in town! 3/8/2008

I took my family to the Mai Kai last night, 1st you wait on BUSY Hwy1 to park your car, the service started off good and went down hill from there. After we received our appetizers and main dish (over priced and everything is an extra charge) we did not see our waitress again. I had to get water for our party and clear the table of the dirty dishes myself. When I complained to what seemed like a man in charge he "barked" at me "she is busy, your gonna be here for at least another hour anyway." The show was good and the dancers were GREAT. They then had the nerve of automatically adding a $64.00 tip to our bill for service that was awful. We will never go back; their are sooo many other nice RESTAURANTS in Ft. Lauderdale. SAVE YOUR MONEY! I give Kudos to the valet they were working their buns off. We received our car much quicker than I thought we would. Pros: Valet is hardest working in town Cons: Service and prices are the worst in town more
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Twilight Zoni-ness, hey now! 10/7/2007

The show was cheeky, food was 50/50 .... And neither my date nor I could understand the announcer guy. Pros: Quite a decor, valet parking was efficient Cons: If you do not like bus tours - you won't like Mai-Kai more
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Twilight Zoni-ness, hey now! 10/6/2007

The show was cheeky, food was 50/50 .... And neither my date nor I could understand the announcer guy. Here is my best impression. "Welcome ladies and gntlma hey and kizz... now your gonna wan kosa wi smalla hey!!! , and the dancers fru Polaneeesaaaaaa.... hey now ..... enjoy !! .......here they rrrrrrrrr!" ....... You will understand when you go believe me (just have another of their famous drinks - you'll be fine).....and you will go because of its legacy.. Now, I must set the stage for the night I decided to go to Mai-Kai. This was my first time to the restaurant as well as the first time my date had been as well (mind you this was our "first" date). I was really trying to impress so taking her somewhere with a stellar reputation is of course in order. I looked on line for the best in Ft Lauderdale and paid attention to $$$$ as this would surely never fail??!! Summary: Budget Vegas show with locally hired Latin?s (okay some of the girls had skill in the hips) impersonating Polynesian dancers. At first we were seated on the main floor at what seemed to be the extended children's table - seriously at the end of adjoined tables with a dozen kids. The staff was polite and relocated us - much better.. now on the elevated level (Oh, did I mention the air conditioner was on the fritz - little fans tried oscillated in vein in an attempt to keep everyone cool - wasn't working for my date.....she was HOT! .... ya I mean hot ! - sorry... back to my review. The new seating was much better?.beside a large party of Latinos. There was one guy though that was too funny and it seemed that every time he ended a complete sentence it was with a drum roll sound .....ya know BRRRRRRRRR......( We both LOAOOOOOO - thank you for having a great sense of humor SM :-) But, what is the restaurant suppose to do about that?! Let me save you $130 - Fire will the grand finale. Out of town parents would love it, you should do it at least once for the experience. JWR Pros: Quite a decor, valet parking was efficient Cons: If you do not like bus tours - you won't like Mai-Kai more
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I always seem to go back 8/25/2007

It's an ok place if you don't mind blowing the electric bill money... I still can't get my arms around a 4.00 side order of rice Pros: The girls in those skirts Cons: The girls in those skirts when you're there with a girl more
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I always seem to go back 8/24/2007

It's an ok place if you don't mind blowing the electric bill money... I still can't get my arms around a 4.00 side order of rice Pros: The girls in those skirts Cons: The girls in those skirts when you're there with a girl more
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Barrel o Rum 3/3/2007

I am a local and I go here 2 or 3 times a year. I have seen the fire show many times and it's still pretty good. I like the barrel o rum drinks and the Crab Rangoon the best. I get the duck or crispy duck. Yes, it's too expensive, but if you're in a mood to go it's really a gas. I went one time with friends to the bar and ordered appetizers. I loved it, they choked when they saw the price. I paid the bill just to shut them up. Then they relaxed and enjoyed it. I have been there about 30 times and have never had a service problem or a crummy waiter. And I have enjoyed the food that I got. I usually buy something in the gift shop because they have some weird stuff in there. Pros: Lots of old wood and a Tiki look, that looks real. Cute big breasted waitresses in the bar Cons: price is a little high but not crazy high more
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Barrel o Rum 3/2/2007

I am a local and I go here 2 or 3 times a year. I have seen the fire show many times and it's still pretty good. I like the barrel o rum drinks and the Crab Rangoon the best. I get the duck or crispy duck. Yes, it's too expensive, but if you're in a mood to go it's really a gas. I went one time with friends to the bar and ordered appetizers. I loved it, they choked when they saw the price. I paid the bill just to shut them up. Then they relaxed and enjoyed it. I have been there about 30 times and have never had a service problem or a crummy waiter. And I have enjoyed the food that I got. I usually buy something in the gift shop because they have some weird stuff in there. Pros: Lots of old wood and a Tiki look, that looks real. Cute big breasted waitresses in the bar Cons: price is a little high but not crazy high more
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Cool, Retro Ambience -- Mediocre Food 1/8/2006

Friends were raving about the retro Mai Kai. How cool to find an old Tiki restaurant in original condition! I agree that the place is a throwback to another era, but so is the food. We went for appetizers and cocktails. The drinks were strong and tasty. The food left a lot to be desired. Everything we ordered --and we ordered almost everything on the appetizer list-- was sub-par. Either salty or bland. The Mai Kai should alter their standard 50's fare to taste good to the clean palate of today. They have certainly raised the prices to reflect modern wallets. Nothing impressive about the food at all. Service was for the most part cheerful and attentive. I would not return for a full dinner judging from the food we tried. No floor show could make up for the lackluster fare. Pros: Cool, Retro, Drinks Cons: Food, Food, Charge for Parking more
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Cool, Retro Ambience -- Mediocre Food 1/8/2006

Friends were raving about the retro Mai Kai. How cool to find an old Tiki restaurant in original condition! I agree that the place is a throwback to another era, but so is the food. We went for appetizers and cocktails. The drinks were strong and tasty. The food left a lot to be desired. Everything we ordered --and we ordered almost everything on the appetizer list-- was sub-par. Either salty or bland. The Mai Kai should alter their standard 50's fare to taste good to the clean palate of today. They have certainly raised the prices to reflect modern wallets. Nothing impressive about the food at all. Service was for the most part cheerful and attentive. I would not return for a full dinner judging from the food we tried. No floor show could make up for the lackluster fare. Pros: Cool, Retro, Drinks Cons: Food, Food, Charge for Parking more
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The best service you could asked for! 11/17/2005

Great show! Want to impress friends from of town? Bring them here! The food was wonderful, but the service was the best I have ever had! The atmosphere, was perfect! It was worth evry penny! You could not ask for better dining! Pros: EVERYTHING more
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The best service you could asked for! 11/16/2005

Great show! Want to impress friends from of town? Bring them here! The food was wonderful, but the service was the best I have ever had! The atmosphere, was perfect! It was worth evry penny! You could not ask for better dining! Pros: EVERYTHING Cons: none more
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You must be kidding... 10/25/2002

My husband and I were eagerly anticipating our evening at the Mai-Kai while we were in Ft. Lauderdale for our honeymoon. We are terribly disappointed to say that our server was negligent (we had a dirty plate on our table for over an hour, we left before it did!), the CHINESE food, albeit good was grossly overpriced and were child size portions. Drinks were insanely expensive, and I've tasted better deserts at a fast food restaurant. The show was the one saving grace of the evening, although we missed parts while our waitress stood in front of us as she talked to another table at length. Even the Maitre d' was lacking in courtesy. Pros: Nice Decor, Good Polynesian Show Cons: Expensive, Poor Service more
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You must be kidding... 10/24/2002

My husband and I were eagerly anticipating our evening at the Mai-Kai while we were in Ft. Lauderdale for our honeymoon. We are terribly disappointed to say that our server was negligent (we had a dirty plate on our table for over an hour, we left before it did!), the CHINESE food, albeit good was grossly overpriced and were child size portions. Drinks were insanely expensive, and I've tasted better deserts at a fast food restaurant. The show was the one saving grace of the evening, although we missed parts while our waitress stood in front of us as she talked to another table at length. Even the Maitre d' was lacking in courtesy. Pros: Nice Decor, Good Polynesian Show Cons: Expensive, Poor Service more
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not again 8/29/2002

The restaurant is over priced. You leave there hungry.I will not go there again. The show is 45 min. long the food stinks. more
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not again 8/29/2002

The restaurant is over priced. You leave there hungry.I will not go there again. The show is 45 min. long the food stinks. more
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Amazing! 6/30/2002

This place has it all. Great show, fabulous food and a drink menu that is out of this world. I couldn't believe when the waitress handed me the drink menu - I thought it was the food menu because it was so large. My boyfriend and I enjoyed it so much, we only wish we had found it sooner. I can't wait to go back next time we're in Florida. Make sure you walk around outside too. Pros: Atmosphere Cons: Expensive more
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Amazing! 6/29/2002

This place has it all. Great show, fabulous food and a drink menu that is out of this world. I couldn't believe when the waitress handed me the drink menu - I thought it was the food menu because it was so large. My boyfriend and I enjoyed it so much, we only wish we had found it sooner. I can't wait to go back next time we're in Florida. Make sure you walk around outside too. Pros: Atmosphere Cons: Expensive more
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Menu for Mai-Kai Restaurant


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Founded in 1956, Mai-Kai is a visual marvel that's also one of the country's last true tiki bars. It boasts a thatch-roof exterior and multiple dining rooms--each decorated in...

  • 6/29/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Monday and Tuesday 5 pm - 9.30 pm. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 5 pm - 11.30 pm
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Discover, Diner's Club, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Coral Ridge Country Club Estates, East
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