Kai Ola Sushi

Came here for a dinner at 7:15pm on a Friday in the summer. Busy when we arrived and emptying out by 8pm. Food was good but felt like it was missing something. Fried shrimp was cold as if it had been refrigerated. Staff was l kind and service was quick. While well decorated, changes could make a big difference to the atmosphere. It was really loud inside. Some sound absorbing panels above the rafters would make it possible to understand others at your table. Lights in the evening could be dimmed earlier or made a bit warmer to make it more relaxing, inviting, and feel less like a cafeteria. People dress informally with shorts, flip flops, and Hawaiian shirts or sports jerseys being common.

would recommend to anyone who loves sushi. rolls are and look amazing. i had the california roll. it was great. so were the avocado rolls <3 Ashley is super nice. lots of seating. many different menu options. not bad prices. opened up about 2 weeks ago.

Best sushi I’ve had in a while! The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the portions were generous. Our server, Sebastian, was super friendly and attentive. I highly recommend trying the sunset or grandview roll – they were both incredible.

This place looked promising as I saw the sushi chefs from the outside. The sushi was fresh and the chefs were kind. It was the other menu items that were disappointing. The ramen had the blandest broth I have ever tasted. I’ve had cup noodles with more flavor. I don’t like wasting food but I could not finish my meal.

Good sushi place. Everything we ordered was delicious

Delicious sushi, incredibly welcoming service, and convenient, easygoing, but trendy vibe. Loved the Kook roll (pictured), as well as the Crispy Rice and Agedashi Tofu (which was eaten too quick to photo). Highly recommend for families or a casual date night.

The food was at best mid and for that price it was outrageous!!!! The atmosphere is very plain and boring but at least it’s clean and nice. The menu was wrong and didn’t have the correct prices. We then asked for a discount because a fourth of our rolls were missing and they removed 3 dollars of our 110$ tab!!! It was honestly insulting but we just payed it to get out of there because although our server was really nice the service sucked there was no asking for refills and when we asked about the discount they went back to ask and never came back to respond. I would not recommend there is so many better sushi places in the area for cheaper.

I promise you, best and highest quality fish/sushi you’ve had in a LONG time. Owner and staff are the best at what they do and are so nice. I’ve been going to Kai Ola since they first opened in Leucadia and they never disappoint. So happy to see their now third location open up. This is a must-visit spot right in the heart of Carlsbad Village.

Had a girls night and dined here on a Saturday evening in Carlsbad Village. Everything was so good! I'm sad I didn't take any photos, but I remember everything we enjoyed! -Watermelon Green Tea -Spicy Garlic Edamame -Cucumber Salad -Moonlight Roll -Crispy Rice Roll -Beacon's Roll The standouts were The Crispy Rice Roll, Watermelon Green Tea and Moonlight Roll! 10/10 would order again! Service was great too, the team working was friendly and food was delivered quickly.

I want to like this place but the service here is horrible. I called to put in an order. They kept me on hold for 10 mins. Tries to call back no answer. Put another order in another day. They said 20 mins. It took them over an hour. Even when we sit down and eat there they get the order wrong or forget a roll.

I've tried the Encinitas location before and wasn't the biggest fan, but the Carlsbad Village spot feels much better--more spacious, comfortable, and newer overall. The sushi here is decent, but what really stood out was the bluefin tuna flight--it was delicious and definitely worth ordering. I also tried the yellowtail roll, which was on the smaller side but very fresh and flavorful. Still fairly new location, service was friendly but pretty laid back. A nice easy vibe for lunch Overall, a nice spot in the village with good sushi and a couple standout items that made the visit worthwhile.

New cool spot in downtown Carlsbad. Decided to try it out and it did not disappoint. I had the edamame, with the yellow tail roll and shrimp house specialty with mango sauce. Both were very good. I will definitely go back to try other items in the menu as it is close to my house. It is conveniently located in Downtown Carlsbad. It is modern and nicely decorated. I highly recommend give this a try. Also, the service was pretty good as the hostess was able to accommodate my party quickly.

Great food which was super savory.Additionally, it was very traditional with various traditional Japanese cuisine.The service was great with kind servers and the chef giving gracious amounts of food.Finally, besides the faint hum of the fridge is was otherwise quiet.

Rolls Perfect. Wait time for to go order, Quick. All of the staff were bubbly and smiling when I arrived, for my order. Place is open layout and I love the light wood everywhere. The box the sushi comes in if you take it to go will have people asking you where it's from, Kai Ola baby!!! We took it to Crackheads bar, across the street, and had it with some beers.

Decided to pop in to this local spot for a celebratory lunch and was not disappointed. Large menu to appeal to folks but small enough it's not overwhelming, felt like a genuine sushi experience. Our server was busy yet attentive and the tuna and omakase tasted fresh and delicious. We were also able to snag a plate (for an upcharge) of real wasabi which added to the experience. Plenty of bar seating and table seating, despite being a little corner spot. Located right in the hustle and bustle of the main street in Carlsbad, I would def dine here again!

Filling that void Yoshino left. The special salmon skin roll 10/10. Bluefin tuna flight was good. Gonna c9me back tomorrow too.

I was so excited for a new sushi restaurant in the Village. I finally tried it and was so disappointed. The servers were - awkward? But the worst part was the sushi. All of it tasted like mush which makes me assume most of the ingredients were frozen. We weren't asked why we didn't eat majority of our food which was slightly disappointing. Hopefully things get better considering this is their third location.

The food is amazing. The ambiance is great. I forgot the waitresses name. But the service was excellent. Definitely coming back.

Very surprised to see this Kai Ola Sushi in Carlsbad location. Corner store Ambiance is inviting. Service was good. Sushi rolls seem to have too much rice and not enough fish. Overall nice location and hope it does well. Rainbow salad was good. Pass on the Omakse.

I was able to sit at the sushi bar without waiting for more than 5 minutes. The chairs at the sushi bar are a bit too close to one another but we made it work. Our sushi chef was super nice and was able to explain what each piece of fish was on the omakase plate. The time it took for our drinks/food to come out was longer than I had expected, but I did keep in mind that they JUST opened 2 weeks ago and probably still getting the hang of the pace. The fish was so fresh! I just kept saying that I'm not usually a fan of albacore, but when I ate the albacore belly on my omakase plate, my mind changed so quick!! I want to go back just so I can get a taste of their locally caught tuna.

Great place with fantastic sushi. It has a nice casual vibe and a diverse menu full of fresh fish options, including omakase. I got the tuna flight with three different nigiri pieces of tuna with the fatty, leaner, and most lean cuts. I also tried the A5 wagyu beef ($25 in 2042), two small little cuts. Was it legit? I hope so, but I'm not totally sure. The omakase has three options: light medium and heavy. I went for the medium and got a good diverse mix of everything from ikura, snapper, tuna, sea urchin, and it was presented beautifully. No regrets. A great place for a traditional sushi lover, which also has some more Americanized roll options. Recommended! Oh -- and the extra star is because they offer real wasabi.

Very disappointed in our sushi considering this place is averaging 4.5 stars. Went here on NewYearsEve and tried a bunch of nigiri as well as one of the rolls. I'll start with the positives: - All the servers were very friendly, and we liked the atmosphere - The carafe of craft sake that we got was very tasty. - In the BlueFinSampler (three types of blue fin) one of the types had excellent flavor and texture Now onto the rest: - in the BlueFinSampler one style seemed completely flavorless, while the Otoro was pretty typical for Otoro Kook Roll was fine: liked the mango topper a lot, but the roll as a whole didn't really wow us. Salmon nigiri was okay Yellowtail Belly nigiri was a thumbs down The Jalapeno Roll was fine, but paled in comparison to the one we had at the Kai Ola in Leucadia a few weeks prior. My mom (a non-sushi eater), ordered the cooked Teriyaki Salmon; she was quite disappointed with it (not enough to send it back, but we heard multiple times that night and the next day how much she didn't like it. We tasted it, and thought it was fine, but she didn't care for the fish nor the sauce (she orders grilled salmon almost every place we go, and this is the first time she has been really disappointed in one). We won't be returning here. Not sure how this sushi place is averaging 4.5 stars; other reviewers must have very different taste buds.

This new sushi spot in the village is great! The chef and staff are always friendly and welcoming and waitress is very knowledgeable on food allergies or sensitivities. I came in recently on a rainy day and the sake was nice and hot! To the gluten free people out there: they do not use gluten in the crab in their rolls so most of the rolls are ok AND they have gluten free soy sauce! The rainbow roll and cucumber-avo roll did not disappoint! Soooo good and they have a nice happy hour where they offer simple rolls and discounted beer/sake! Check it out you'll be glad you did!

Really fresh yummy sushi. Beautiful inside. On the pricier side but it is downtown Carlsbad. Probably would only go here for a special night as there are several other local spots that are a little more reasonable. Service was hit or miss. We had to ask about a few things that were forgotten. We also got charged for 2 things that we didn't realize we didn't receive until we got home, which was unfortunate.

I came in on a Tuesday afternoon hoping to get another taste of Hawaii after having just returned from vacationing there; I was NOT disappointed. We got three different speciality rolls: The Flaming Ahi (not shown on the menu that particular day), Special Hawaiian and Kook, each unique but also very complimentary of each other. I thought all three were a perfect blend of spice and flavor, with the Flaming Ahi obviously being the spiciest consisting of spicy ahi, spicy mayo, jalapeño and other ingredients, and the Kook being the sweetest with its coconut-flavored shrimp. Ashley, although her name was spelled different, was a great server and quickly brought out our food as they were prepared behind the sushi bar. Pair your sushi with their house blonde or various non-alcoholic drinks, and you'll be taken to your favorite poke/sushi spot in Hawaii!

The Kook roll is my favorite roll of all time, anywhere. Please never take it off your menu! Love the mango salsa. My husband and I have been here 4-5 times since it opened and it's consistent and amazing every time. We also tried the yakitori chicken skewers today and they were so good! My husband loved the bluefin/toro nigiri and their uni is top notch. This is our favorite sushi spot in the village, better than Blue Ocean. Love that they have plates, ramen, and hot items as well.

Ok, coming from SF I'm kind of a food snob. On top of that I made reservations for my husband and I, so I felt the pressure to make a good decision on our dinner reservation. Kai Ola Sushi exceeded our expectations. I'm GF--so kind of particular. I felt safe. I loved the wave and surf art. The food and service was stellar. It felt like a local place where returning customers were welcomed as family. We are definitely coming back.

First off, very mediocre sushi. Could have been better for sure. But the biggest complaint is they were not careful at all for my wife and son who have celiac. We asked 2 times about about making sure things were safe, they assured us. My wife and son got sick after and are still sick 2 days later. So, we will not be coming back. Waiter seemed confused about GF to be honest and we should have got up and left. When we asked the sushi chef about a sauce being GF he looked up and the ceiling and said yes. Did not really check to be sure. Overall experience was not that enjoyable. The male server just seemed like he went out too late the previous night and did not really want to be working. Not very knowledgeable on the food either. Sushi? As noted it was just OK. Nothing special nothing Bad, just OK. So I think that will be the first/last time we go. Hope they can use this info to improve.

This place is great. It's newly opened in Carlsbad but there are two other locations in Encinitas already. We came on a Tuesday and got seated right away. We ordered the shishito appetizer and the large Omakase which also comes with soup, salad and dessert. Everything tasted and presented great. We love it and will be back.

I was very excited to try this sushi bar after seeing the pics and good star rating. Unfortunately the food didn't wow me. We ordered 3 rolls of which only one was good, the Moonlight roll. The Kook roll lacked flavor and the third was a special. The Special was the worst. It had pico on top which was grey in color and did not look appealing and tasted even worse. The restaurant was clean and the waitress made some recommendations but overall a 1/3 so unfortunately we won't be back

We had sushi, poke, ramen, gyoza. The fish was not tasty and a little old. The rice had poor texture. The avocado was brown. The gyoza was ok. The service was poor. All the food came out at different times. The waiter kept forgetting what we ordered. The atmosphere was sterile. I've had worse I suppose

incredible!!! if i could eat here every week I would. Awesome ambiance, fresh sushi, prices are not Terrible but definitely splurging a little.

So fresh and delicious. Staff was helpful in ordering. Saw so many different platters go by, I'll have to come back again!

High quality fish for sure. Like what they did with the interior too. To accurately rate any restaurant in Carlsbad Village in terms of price, you've got to compare them to other nearby establishments. A few blocks away is Sushi Taisho (right above the Coyote) so I think they're a fair comparison: Kai Ola definitely beats them in terms of quality. Not that Taisho is lacking there, but Kai Ola's fish quality really stands out. Like look at this Maguro (blue fin tuna). It tasted even better than it looks. Melt in your mouth, amazing. Price-wise, a little higher than I'd like. For a similar price (for nigiri) you could go to Wrench and Rodent if you're a bit more adventurous. However, here you could get their Lite Omakase for the substantial cheaper $75 ($90 at WR if memory serves). So all in all, very high quality and you pay for it. Fair. I'll be back for sure. Will probably try their omakase next time.

Great fish in a fun relaxed atmosphere. I enjoyed the fresh Blue Fin Toro and other specialty sashimi with a fantastic Spider Roll.

The original location is in Encinitas, and this new location is located in the heart of Carlsbad. Ryan knows how to do sushi the right way. If you want to have an awesome experience, this is the place for you. Fresh fish, beautiful presentation and delicious, what more could you ask for. I have also had the pleasure of his catering side of the business from his other location. If you want to wow, your coworkers pick up a few boxes for the office.

We checked this new place out today. It's their soft opening so not their complete menu as their other locations They've done a great job reworking the old tried chocolate shop that sat at this location for years. Here's the run down: * Clean and fresh decor * Attentive staff * Food appealing (presentation & tastes) * Worth a second look.

Great food, service, and location. The plates option is a great deal. If you're in the mood for sushi, this is the place to go.

First off the food is fantastic and if this was just a review for the food, it would be a solid 4 to 5 stars. However, the service is hit or miss. This is the third time we have had a bad experience and the service being horrible recently. My fiancé and I went to get lunch today, Taylor was our server and it seemed like we were bothering him when we asked to put in our order or asked for anything in general, even with there only being four other tables filled at the time we ate. After we received our rolls, I asked the sushi chef for extra ginger and then sriracha, the sushi chef pointed at our server and then proceeded to ignore us. Again we had to wait to try and get a hold of Taylor to get the items we had asked the sushi chef for. We had planned on ordering more food but decided to leave after this experience. My fiancé and I will be going to Blue Ocean two blocks down going forward, we always have a great experience there and the food is top notch.

Great service, fresh and delicious sushi and beautiful location. We had the kook and a couple of other rolls. All really great mix of flavors.

First time here and the sushi definitely did not disappoint! You can tell the fish is extremely fresh! The happy hour menu is also great! The service was lacking a bit... had to track down the waiter twice after waiting for a while but I would definitely come back for more sushi!!!

Excellent service Delicious food! Gorgeous Lots of good energy throughout the restaurant Just a very enjoyable time

Good service, nice ambience, sushi was so-so but nothing special. Tempura was soggy and not flavored well.

Got the rainbow poki bowl. $25 after taxes. So not worth the price. Was a 25 minute wait for what? They put like 6 cubes of fish, a mountain of lettuce which wasn't advertised to be in the bowl. And a ton of rice. The fish was ok.

Great place, great fresh food, service (Nate) and ambiance. Sushi is super fresh... our server Nate was knowledgeable about the menu, dishes and beers.. Totally recommend

First time here. The raw fish was very fresh and taste great. The first round of nigiri, the pieces of fish were big and even the chef threw in pieces extra. I think it was to impress us. Then another chef showed up, and the second round nigiri, the pieces were thin and half the size of previous ones. First sushi row was wonderful and delicious. Second row from the second sushi chef was horrible with very thin layer of fish on top. It was mostly California row. The waiter was deeply engaged in conversation with another customer and didn't pay much attention us. Overall, it was not a great experience. Your chef must be consistent in the portion sizes and your waiter needs to give equal attention to all his customers. I won't be back.

Tried this place out thinking it would have good food. But food was cold and tempura was soggy. Dissapointing for $100 bill.

This has been one of the best experiences for sushi I have had since childhood growing up in Hawaii! This place really upholds a quality for their food and a wonderful aloha experience all around from the staff! I highly recommend for any seafood lover to come experience the love put into the food here!

Amazing sushi! We had the Sunset and Moonlight roll and they were both outstanding. The staff is super cool and they take a lot of pride on what they do. "Sea bass" was our server and he was very knowledgeable and efficient. Great ambiance. Will definitely come back

We tried Kai Ola for the first time for my husband's birthday and had an incredible experience. The quality of the sushi is hands down, among the best in San Diego. The service was perfect as well. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the sushi, sake, and more. We will absolutely be back!

Amazing sushi and staff, great location for the village and wonderful music. Love the atmosphere. will return

This was a great meal for my solo dining experience here in Carlsbad!! The chefs were so kind and friendly, and the fish quality was INCREDIBLE! :) they have lots of sake available too

The food was great. The service was excellent. Sebastian was friendly and very helpful. The atmosphere was nice and pleasant.

Not happy of their customer service! First they forgot about our 3 orders! I asked 3 times to close their door, it was windy and cold. The manager kept closing the door! My son just came from ER a couple days ago, that's why we picked indoor place not outdoor! Sushi was good, too pricy though! I will probably not come back because I was disappointed of them not being nice.

This place is fantastic. The Moonlight roll is my favorite sushi roll of all time. The sashimi specials were fantastic. I really enjoyed the iced green tea. I will be back many times, for sure!

Food was wonderful and great spin on some classics. Tried the torro, Philly roll, black cod, fried rice and tuna, and the rainbow roll. Good non-alcoholic drinks with various green tea and mixes. Good service, fair prices for Carlsbad. Clean location. Parking right out front is not happening in the summer. Park where you can and walk. Good ambiance. We will come again. Try it you'll like it!!!

We absolutely loved this restaurant! We had 6 different rolls and a couple appetizers and everything tasted delicious! Our favorites were the Crispy Rice roll and the Moonlight roll! Tried takoyaki for the first time (I normally don't eat octopus) but I was shocked at how good it was! We loved the server Aschliey! She is so friendly and does a wonderful job!