KAI
Restaurant · Ahwatukee Foothills
5594 W Wild Horse Pass Blvd, Chandler, AZ 85226
Highlights
Native American cuisine elevated with local ingredients and stories
Native American cuisine elevated with local ingredients and stories
"Kai, one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the Valley, is a beautiful celebration of Native cuisine. The restaurant is part of the Sheraton Grand Wild Horse Pass Resort, which sits on the reservation land of the Gila River Indian Community, a combination of the Pima and Maricopa tribes. It’s the heritage of these tribes that influence the meal, laid out as a story on individually painted menus. Local Arizona ingredients, like tepary beans and Saguaro blossoms, are woven through the dishes; a simple fry bread called wamichta, which is soft and chewy, pairs well with the accompanying whipped goat cheese." - Asonta Benetti
"The only restaurant in Phoenix with five diamonds from AAA and five stars from Forbes, Kai (which means “seed” in the Pima language) sits in the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass on Gila River Community land. Its expanse of windows overlooks the desert, and its menu is rife with Native American-influenced dishes and Indigenous ingredients — many grown by the community on nearby land. Here, local products are transformed into elegant representations of the diverse culinary cultures of the Southwest. Case in point: grilled tenderloin of American Bison served with 60-day corn puree, oxtail and scarlet runner bean cassoulet, cholla buds, and saguaro blossom syrup. For the full experience, opt for the multi-course tasting menu ($185 per person, $330 per person with wine pairings). Notable for: One of the most distinctive dining experiences in the country — Indigenous-led, rooted in storytelling, and unlike anywhere else in Arizona." - McConnell Quinn
"The only restaurant in Phoenix with five diamonds from AAA and five stars from Forbes, Kai (which means “seed” in the Pima language) sits in the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass on Gila River Community land. Its expanse of windows overlooks the desert, and its menu is rife with Native American-influenced dishes and Indigenous ingredients — many grown by the community on nearby land. Here, local products are transformed into elegant representations of the diverse culinary cultures of the Southwest. Case in point: grilled tenderloin of American Bison served with 60-day corn puree, oxtail and scarlet runner bean cassoulet, cholla buds, and saguaro blossom syrup. For the full experience, opt for the multi-course tasting menu ($185 per person, $330 per person with wine pairings)." - Mcconnell Quinn, Chris Malloy, Nikki Buchanan
"The menu at this restaurant inside the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass is influenced by the Pima and Maricopa tribes, while the ingredients are sourced from the Gila River Indian Community. You’ll find dishes like grilled buffalo tenderloin, chorizo and scarlet runner bean chile, escargot with wild mushrooms, and more, all of which highlight what’s best in season. While you can order dinner items a la carte, there’s also a tasting menu option called The Journey that comes with wine pairings. " - anne cruz
"For an unforgettable meal that’s just outside of city limits, head to Kai. Yes, it’s a hotel restaurant, but it’s not just any hotel restaurant. Dining here is a truly immersive experience, where every detail of every dish is explained in a way that tells a story of the land and people of the Maricopa tribes. By the end of your meal, you’ll know the backstory behind the cholla buds on your plate and be on a first-name basis with your server, who will probably wax poetic about the saguaro blossom syrup. Kai has built up plenty of buzz for its elevated service and fine dining interpretations of tribal foods, which include Arizona-grown ingredients and items sourced from a partnership with a non-profit that preserves ancient lines of heirloom seeds." - Lauren Topor
