Kai Lounge

3.8

50 Reviews

$31 to $50

Japanese Speciality

Make a booking

2 people

17 Feb 2025

19:00

Booked 10 times today

Charming
Great for creative cocktails
Great for outdoor dining

Welcome to Kai Japanese Bistro, a hidden culinary treasure atop Pacific City in Huntington Beach, Orange County. Kai redefines the traditional Japanese dining experience, blending authentic flavors with innovative presentation.

Our expert sushi chefs showcase their craft at the sushi bar, preparing each dish with precision and care. For a truly unique experience, step into our private speakeasy, an intimate and upscale retreat designed for discerning guests. The pinnacle of our offerings is the omakase menu, where our chefs personally tailor a culinary adventure with the freshest, highest quality ingredients.

At Kai, we're not just serving meals; we're offering a journey into the heart of Japanese cuisine, all in an environment that epitomizes elegance and creativity. Join us at Kai for an unforgettable dining experience where tradition meets modernity.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese Speciality, Asian, American
Hours of Operation
Wed, Thu 16:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 11:00–22:00 Sun 11:00–21:00
Phone number
(657) 259-0010
Website
http://www.kailounge.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive Chef
Tin Nguyen
Catering
Bring the Kai experience to your event with our outstanding catering services. Whether you're hosting a private dinner, a corporate lunch, or a large-scale event, we provide the same exceptional food & service that our restaurant is known for. For inquiries, please contact us at info@wildthymegroup.com.
Private party facilities
Whether celebrating a special occasion or planning a corporate event, our venue offers versatile spaces that cater to any need. We are equipped to handle groups of all sizes with the option for a complete restaurant buyout.
Private party contact
Jordan Graham: (602) 918-2524

Location
21058 CA-1, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Area
Huntington Beach
Cross Street
Located at the Pacific City Mall, 2nd Floor, opposite the Bungalow
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Gluten-free Options

Offers

Happy Hour
Multiple dates available
Sun - 16:00 - 18:30,Wed - Thu - 16:00 - 18:30
🎉 Happy Hour at Kai🍹 Join us every Sunday to Thursday for our special Happy Hour! Unwind and enjoy with: 🕒 Time: 4pm to 6:30pm 🍸 Drinks: Exciting discounts on cocktails and beverages. 🍽 Snacks: Delicious appetizers at special prices. Great vibes, great company, and great deals await. See you there!

Veggie Tempura(6)US$16.00
seasonal veggies
Shrimp Tempura(5)US$17.00
Mixed Tempura(8)US$18.00
EdamameUS$7.00
garlic, sweet chili, butter, soy sauce
Shishito PeppersUS$9.00
yuzu honey aioli, cilantro lime salt
Hamachi KamaUS$17.00
Salmon KamaUS$10.00
Stuffed AvocadoUS$16.00
blue crab, spicy tuna, avocado
Ahi Tuna Egg RollUS$12.00
pineapple, cucumber, avocado
Tempura Rock ShrimpUS$18.00
yuzu honey aioli, toasted sesame
SRF Wagyu Gold NY StripUS$27.00
snake river farms, smoked sea salt, cracked pepper, pickled radish, kai sauce
A5 Wagyu MeatballsUS$17.00
toasted sesame, shaved scallion, orange teriyaki
Sticky Ribs(4)US$18.00
plum bbq sauce, sesame seeds
Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice(4)US$17.00
spicy aioli, sweet soy, green onions
Japanese Black CodUS$22.00
kai's signature miso marinated cod
Stuffed Jalapenos(6)US$12.00
blue crab, mango puree, eel sauce, spicy mango
Pork Gyoza(4)US$9.00
served with kai sauce
Vegetable GyozaUS$8.00
served with kai sauce

SALADS/SOUP

Watermelon SaladUS$14.00
pork belly, cilantro lime salt, mint & basil leaves, yuzu kosho vinaigrette
House SaladUS$10.00
greens, tomato, pickled apple, cucumber, sesame dressing
Miso SoupUS$7.00
tofu, wakame

BUNS

Kaiseki BurgerUS$18.00
signature house beef blend, white cheddar, spicy aioli, house baked milk bun
Pork Belly Buns(3)US$15.00
slow roasted bbq pork belly, spicy aioli, house baked milk bun

WOK

Black Angus Shaking BeefUS$29.00
charred beef tenderloin, scallion, watercress, kai sauce, pickled chili
Pork Belly Fried RiceUS$19.00
kurobuta pork belly, five-spiced pineapple, basil, mint, cilantro leaves, garlic, ginger, sunny egg
Jidori Chicken Fried RiceUS$19.00
lemongrass, green beans, garlic, ginger, scallion, soy, sunny egg

ROBATA SKEWERS

Black Angus Filet MignonUS$19.00
smoked sea salt, cracked pepper, pickled radish, kai sauce
Hokkaido ScallopsUS$19.00
shaved fennel, mandarin orange, thai basil, mirin butter glaze
Kurobuta Pork BellyUS$16.00
pickled apple, crispy shallot, cilantro leaf, yuzu marmalade
Roasted Corn SkewerUS$8.00
black truffle butter, cilantro lime salt

Signatures

(available after 4pm)

Jidori Chicken BreastUS$29.00
crispy sushi rice, vindaloo curry sauce, pickled chilis, toasted coconut, thai basil
Black Angus Filet MignonUS$41.00
royal trumpet mushroom, kai sauce
SRF Wagyu Gold NY StripUS$59.00
snake river farms, wagyu gold grade, royal trumpet mushroom, kai sauce
SRF Rib EyeUS$41.00
snake river farms rib eye steak, royal trumpet mushroom, kai sauce
Japanese A5 Wagyu
choice of 2oz or 4oz, cooked table side on our signature hot stone

SIDES

Green BeansUS$8.00
garlic, chili, sweet soy, crispy shallots
Kyoto FriesUS$8.00
shichimi salt, furikake

What 50 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.8

3.8 based on recent ratings

4Food
3.9Service
3.9Ambience
3.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Kai Lounge offers a lively atmosphere with "awesome music and decor." It's an ideal spot for private events with "great staff" and a speakeasy vibe. Highlights include "amazing" sushi, gyoza, and desserts like the yuzu key lime pie. While service may vary, the ambiance and certain dishes shine.

50 Reviews

T
Tony
Orange County
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 3
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
Was here for 2 hours and only ate and drink for 30 minutes total , waited over 40 minutes for service with reservation, and 40 minutes for a check after done
Is this helpful?
I
Immanuel
San Diego
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 3
Reviews about being understaffed were deserved. It took around 15 minutes for our drink order to be taken. Food came out quickly (sashimi only) but the quality was very bad. We ordered toro, salmon, and chu toro. All tasted like they had been frozen and were not fresh at all.
Is this helpful?
G
Greg
VIP
San Antonio
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on 11 January 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Nice restaurant with some great choices for food, we would definitely go back again if were were in the area.
Is this helpful?
A
Alisa
Los Angeles
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on 28 December 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
The quality of the food was terrible! The sushi was not fresh! Myself and guests that joined me got sick shortly after eating.
Is this helpful?
J
Jose
Orange County
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on 28 December 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Definitely a “for the gram” location. In terms of music and decor the place was awesome. Our server was kind and did his job well. But that is as far as it goes. Food was mediocre at best. If you’re looking for good Japanese Cuisine there are other locations which do a much better job. To the owners and staff, I understand the want and need to differentiate yourselves amongst others in terms of your cuisine. Less is more, keep that in mind.
Is this helpful?
A
Ann
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 15 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The speakeasy was a great option for our private event, the staff was awesome, from the bartender to the sushi chef. Great experience!
Is this helpful?
K
Kevinn
Los Angeles
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on 24 October 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 3
Very slow service, portions small and price very high. Definitely not on my go back list.
Kai LoungeResponded on 25 October 2024
Hi Kevinn, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. We always strive to provide exceptional service and value, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Interestingly, at almost the same time as your review, we received another one from a guest on Yelp who had a fantastic experience at KAI. Lori G. praised the food and service, giving us a 12 out of 10! It goes to show that tastes and preferences can really vary, but we’ll certainly take your comments to heart to see where we can improve. Thank you again for your input, and we hope to welcome you back in the future to provide a better experience. Best regards, Management Team at KAI
Is this helpful?
M
Matthew
VIP
Orange County
3 reviews
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on 11 October 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 2
Awful experience; we literally “begged” to be served; nothing arrived on time; we have had really high expectations but were terribly disappointed. Food was just OK; nothing special. We cannot recommend this place…
Kai LoungeResponded on 25 October 2024
Hi Matthew, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet your expectations. We strive to offer better service and will address this with our team to ensure future visits are more in line with the standard we aim to provide. Best regards, Management Team at KAI
Is this helpful?
M
Mike
VIP
Seattle
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on 5 October 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Tried this place out as it was highly recommended. On the whole it’s a cool looking restaurant in Pacific City mall, with friendly staff and some interesting cocktails. The food though is ok. Had the dumplings, sticky ribs, tempura vegetables, fried rice and noodle dish. I found the meat to be very tough on both the ribs and the noodle dish. Also the sticky ribs were not sticky and coated in a watery sauce. The tempura veg was in a soggy batter and some of the veg half cooked or hard. Not really appealing. The gyoza were well done and enjoyable. Solid 3/5 place.
Kai LoungeResponded on 25 October 2024
Hi Mike, Thank you for trying us out and for sharing your detailed feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the service, cocktails, and gyoza. We’re sorry to hear that some of the dishes didn’t meet your expectations. Your comments about the ribs and tempura will be shared with the kitchen team to ensure we improve. We hope you'll consider visiting us again for a better experience. Best regards, Management Team at KAI
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on 30 September 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We went to early dinner and had the restaurant basically to ourselves. No need for a reservation, but they sat us in a separate space of our choosing, for our anniversary. The service was fantastic and food was wonderful. We will certainly be back.
Kai LoungeResponded on 3 October 2024
Dear guest, thank you so much for rating your experience with us so highly! We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed your time with us on your special date. Your kind words are highly appreciated. Stop by any time! you are always welcome. Best, The Kai Management team
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Kai Lounge offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (657) 259-0010.

Kai Lounge is rated 3.8 stars by 50 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

17 Feb 2025

19:00

Booked 10 times today

Order delivery or takeout

21058 CA-1, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross Street
Located at the Pacific City Mall, 2nd Floor, opposite the Bungalow
Area
Huntington Beach
Hours of Operation
Wed, Thu 16:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 11:00–22:00 Sun 11:00–21:00
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese Speciality, Asian, American
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Tin Nguyen
Additional
Gluten-free Options

Website
http://www.kailounge.com/
Phone number
(657) 259-0010
Catering
Bring the Kai experience to your event with our outstanding catering services. Whether you're hosting a private dinner, a corporate lunch, or a large-scale event, we provide the same exceptional food & service that our restaurant is known for. For inquiries, please contact us at info@wildthymegroup.com.
Private party facilities
Whether celebrating a special occasion or planning a corporate event, our venue offers versatile spaces that cater to any need. We are equipped to handle groups of all sizes with the option for a complete restaurant buyout.
Private party contact
Jordan Graham: (602) 918-2524

Kai Lounge

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Happy Hour

SMALL PLATES

Veggie Tempura(6)US$16.00

Shrimp Tempura(5)US$17.00

Mixed Tempura(8)US$18.00

EdamameUS$7.00

Shishito PeppersUS$9.00

Hamachi KamaUS$17.00

Salmon KamaUS$10.00

Stuffed AvocadoUS$16.00

Ahi Tuna Egg RollUS$12.00

Tempura Rock ShrimpUS$18.00

SRF Wagyu Gold NY StripUS$27.00

A5 Wagyu MeatballsUS$17.00

Sticky Ribs(4)US$18.00

Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice(4)US$17.00

Japanese Black CodUS$22.00

Stuffed Jalapenos(6)US$12.00

Pork Gyoza(4)US$9.00

Vegetable GyozaUS$8.00

SALADS/SOUP

Watermelon SaladUS$14.00

House SaladUS$10.00

Miso SoupUS$7.00

BUNS

Kaiseki BurgerUS$18.00

Pork Belly Buns(3)US$15.00

WOK

Black Angus Shaking BeefUS$29.00

Pork Belly Fried RiceUS$19.00

Jidori Chicken Fried RiceUS$19.00

ROBATA SKEWERS

Black Angus Filet MignonUS$19.00

Hokkaido ScallopsUS$19.00

Kurobuta Pork BellyUS$16.00

Roasted Corn SkewerUS$8.00

Signatures

Jidori Chicken BreastUS$29.00

Black Angus Filet MignonUS$41.00

SRF Wagyu Gold NY StripUS$59.00

SRF Rib EyeUS$41.00

Japanese A5 Wagyu

SIDES

Green BeansUS$8.00

Kyoto FriesUS$8.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does Kai Lounge offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Kai Lounge restaurant rated?

Is Kai Lounge currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information