Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Kai Joe's

    3.9 (276 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Kai Joe's Takeout or Delivery

    Kai Joe's Photos

    Business Info

    KAI JOE'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Kai Joe's

    Recommended Reviews - Kai Joe's

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Fish tacos, ordered by a friend
    Erik S.

    Great place for a tasty quick meal on OKI! Literally a taco shack, but really the only place for this kind of cuisine on the island itself. The ordering process is a lot like a food truck. Order at the window, get a buzzer, it goes off and you pick up your order. There are a few covered picnic tables where you can eat, or you can go somewhere else to enjoy. We got an order of loaded tots and the buffalo cauliflower. The tots were DEFINITELY loaded. So much potato cheesy goodness. There was a ton of ground beef on top as well, however, the meat had very little in the way of seasoning. It was almost like a chopped up hamburger. Something to make it more like taco meat or give it some spice would have been welcome. The buffalo cauliflower on the other hand was perfect. Just the right amount of breading and zing from the buffalo sauce, tender cauliflower inside. Could not have been better. Overall, very pleased with this group snack. We didn't get any tacos, next time we will to give a more thorough review but this definitely satisfied our snacky cravings!

    Loaded tots
    Devon E.

    Spent a lovely beach week at Oak Island. I've been coming to this island for many years so developed my favorite places I wanna eat and Kai-Joe's is definitely on that list. It's a small pick up taco joint. You order at the window and you can either take it to go or enjoy your food at one of their picnic tables (that are semi covered for some sun shade). In addition to various gourmet tacos they have burritos, quesadilla, nachos, some appetizer beach snacks. When I'm at the beach I just naturally gravitate toward seafood for hopefully obvious reasons, so I ordered the Papa Joe Fish Tacos (grilled fish, fruit salsa slaw, cilantro lime crema, and cilantro). The tacos were prepared pretty quickly and had great visual appeal when I opened the box. Two big tacos that were overfilled with large grilled fish pieces and lots of toppings. It had a very light and refreshing taste, perfect for a summer day. I was impressed that the tortilla kept its structural integrity even with the juicy slaw. The lime crema was plentiful (team sauce over here) and added nice creaminess. Solid tacos. My only minor complaint is the rice and beans kinda felt like an afterthought. They were cooked well, but completely lacked seasoning. I do applaud the use of black beans though as I much prefer them to refried. My brother got some of the buffalo cauliflower bites and loaded tots. Both appetizers (or beach snacks as they called) were quite plentiful. He was kind enough to give me a few bites and both were tasty. Slight preference for the cauliflower. Sometimes fried things too heavy, but they had a nice batter, but still could taste the full cauliflower pieces. Found some new things at Kai-Joes to enjoy.

    Ben M.

    Coming to OKI after work to check on the house after renters, I stopped in as it was taco Tuesday. While looking at the menu I saw they had a taco Tuesday deal listed but not telling you what it was. Kindly asking the lady to inquire, she told me, "well, we have a deal on Kai Joe's tacos, chicken is 2$ and beef is 4$." With this in mind I ordered the coulio tacos, and as I look to pay, I see I'm charged 12$ for chicken tacos. Before paying I ask again to confirm, "this is with the deal correct?" To which she responded, "Yes". Instead of making a scene I paid, and while confused and curious I took a gander at the menu to find that one taco is listed as the "Kai Joe's taco". Then it all clicked in my head. Despite the establishment being named Kai Joe's, only one of their tacos is called the Kai Joe to which she was referring to the deal being applicable. Whose taco I was eating? I guess nobody truly knows. This behavior of word games was a true disappointment for taco Tuesday across the world. Despite my less than enthusiastic experience, these tacos were exactly what you'd expect from a foot truck, decent food, at a higher price. This is a good spot in a pinch of hunger, but overall, there are much better tacos on the island.

    Fish taco- very good and a generous amount of fish
    Jenny H.

    Great food. It's a tradition to stop when we first get on to town for our beach vacay. Always love the surf and turf tacos and the avocado bites. The family also really likes north shore and coolio tacos. They forgot our guac and chips. And they mixed up one order so I know it's a pain but check your bags before you leave.

    "Big mamma" Burrito more like petite mamma
    Jonathan M.

    TOURIST TRAP. This used to be a go-to spot for me and the crew--but I won't be coming back. They've shrunk the portion sizes and dropped the quality, all while keeping prices sky-high. The "Big Mamma" burrito? It used to be bigger than my forearm--now it fits in the palm of my hand. Let's call it the "Petite Mamma." Nachos came with barely any queso and just a handful of shredded cheese for decoration. Mostly soggy chips that somehow managed to be stale too. The ambiance? Meh. Not entirely their fault, but the ice mechine next door is insanely loud. Combine that with their own music, and it's impossible to relax or hear your own conversation. The wait was way too long for what we got--if the food's going to take that long, it should at least be worth it. Feels like Kai's given up on regulars and decided to cash in on passing tourists. Don't eat here--it's not good.

    Front of Kai Joes
    Chad S.

    Food was decent, service was great. First time being here and was a great experience overall. They also have an assortment of hot sauce to try.

    Shrimp nachos

    I've never had a bad meal here! My sister loves their shrimp nachos. The tacos are tasty but keep in mind, they are priced per taco. Through the years I have loved their North Shore taco the best and I'll usually try whatever special they offer that day. Lately, I have been totally hooked on the Long Beach burrito with shrimp. You HAVE to try it! Order this burrito with extra chipotle ranch and queso on the side and have yourself a time! Very good. The speed of their service is spotty and the online ordering is down most of the time. Look past that, and you'll find a really great taco stand in Oak Island.

    Tacos
    Katie W.

    Yummy tacos, friendly service & picnic table outdoor seating! We showed up 30 min before they closed, waited in line for awhile and were tasked with letting anyone who arrived after us know that we would be the last customers served. Everything we ordered was definitely worth the wait! Special shout-out to the Long Beach burrito & Buffalo cauliflower! The staff even let us swap firecracker shrimp as the protein in the burritos. Definitely recommend stopping by during your next trip down to Oak Island!

    Christine M.

    I really wish I could do a half star because I feel like a 4.5 is a more accurate rating! North Shore taco - shrimp was cooked perfectly and I love the fresh Asian slaw, but the Thai chili sauce was a bit spicy for my likings. Not too hot that I couldn't eat it, but just had to chug some water between bites Surf & Turf taco- again the shrimp was cooked perfect, steak was too (not chewy at all) I loved the horseradish cream sauce, the big downfall of this was wayyyy too much cilantro in my opinion. Half the amount would have been sufficient Coulio taco- simple but done well. The ground beef was soooo flavorful and you get a lot of it for a small taco I also got a side of chips and queso, for only $3 you get this huge cup of queso!!!

    Bubbas nachos, kj tacos and chicken quesadilla

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mariah E.
    147
    84
    76

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alli H.
    17
    62
    61

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Chad S.
    2
    22
    10

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Genesis E.
    303
    39
    61

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Very good food and service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And at a very fair price!!!! I will definitely be back!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 3
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ann C.
    0
    85
    9

    1 year ago

    Super disappointed in the new menus. Larger quantities of food. Always loved them for a quick bite on the beach.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Christy L.
    76
    27
    108

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    One of the most memorable little spots we've ever visited on vacation. Makes us want to go back to Oak Island just to eat here!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Great quesadilla! Really the perfect post beach snack! Cute exterior and friendly service!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Liz M.
    41
    10
    1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    I thought it was pricey for what you get. We were the only people there. Outside eating at picnic tables. Bring bug spray and a fly swatted

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    My first visit. Regrettably, my burrito was so salty it was inedible. Maybe I caught them on an off day.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Kai Joe's

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Mexican 827 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Los Primos Mexican Restaurant & Bar - Salad Bowl

    Los Primos Mexican Restaurant & Bar

    3.7(32 reviews)
    4.8 mi

    With no specific New Year plans, I decided to head down to my place on Oak Island for a few days. I…read morelove going down there during the off-season. I almost feel like I have the beach to myself. There have been years that I have celebrated New Year's in Amsterdam, New York on a cruise ship or sometimes like this year, in my robe and pajamas by myself, reflecting on a great year that just passed. On New Year's Day I decided to treat myself to a restaurant, but Oak Island and Southport are not any different than Greensboro and most establishments on this holiday.. Most things were closed. I did notice as I was riding around that there was a Mexican restaurant open in one of the new shopping strips in Southport called Los Primos Mexican Restaurant and I decided to give it a shot. Parking was right in front and the OPEN sign was blinking!! It was a very casual setting which I appreciated considering I was in my sweats and baseball cap. It had a mixed feeling of a casual restaurant and a bar which was fine by me, even though I don't drink! The waitress was very welcoming, and before I knew it I had a tall glass of Diet Coke and a basket of chips with salsa. My son-in-law Steven enjoys mole and so I decided to give it a shot and had a burrito with the mole topping. Wow! That was delicious. A combination of sweet and savory. I will definitely try that again and although I don't have anything to compare it to, I thought Los Primos did a really good job with that dish. I enjoyed watching locals Come in and reflected on 2025 over this delicious Mexican lunch. I thought it was also fairly priced and a good alternative to my normal visit to San Felipe which was closed. I have been wavering between giving this restaurant a four or a five but I'm going to give them the top mark for the following reasons. Their prices were moderate, food was very tasty, the diet coke kept coming, the mole was tasty, they were open on New Year's Day and service was excellent and for a restaurant/ bar, I thought they did a great job. Gracias Los Primos ! Hasta luego!!

    My wife and I visited on January 1. Positives: the staff was friendly and polite, our server Chris…read moreseemed like a nice guy, the place was clean, and the salsa and cheese dip were good. That said, the experience was terrible. The visit took an hour and 20 minutes, and our food took forever to arrive even though we ordered basic tacos. If they were short-staffed, they should have said so upfront and given people the option to stay or leave. The service was slow and disorganized. While, Chris was a nice guy, he was not a great server and really needs some coaching or to have a different profession. The portions were honestly shocking. My wife ordered two crunchy shrimp tacos with extra cheese and sour cream -- one taco had 1 shrimp, the other had 3, and there was no extra cheese. My steak tacos had barely any meat, chopped so small and sparse it was almost comical. The meat was chopped so tiny it was approximately the size of a meal worm that you feed a chicken. Our total was almost $35 before tip for 4 tacos, one Coke, one water, and a small cheese dip. Earlier this week we ate the same meal at San Felipe for $35 WITH tip, and their portions were generous (5-6 shrimp per taco and real chunks of steak). Slow service, no communication, and laughable portions for the price. Do not recommend. To those about to nosh, DON'T DO IT HERE! Go elsewhere!

    Photos
    Los Primos Mexican Restaurant & Bar - Great selection of beers on tap including Modelo, Corona, Dos Equis, and Pacifico, among others.

    Great selection of beers on tap including Modelo, Corona, Dos Equis, and Pacifico, among others.

    Los Primos Mexican Restaurant & Bar - Posole Soup

    Posole Soup

    Los Primos Mexican Restaurant & Bar

    See all

    Blue Cow Grille - Fried green tomato pimento cheeseburger

    Blue Cow Grille

    4.3(161 reviews)
    5.5 mi

    Took the Fort Fisher ferry over to Southport for the day, and we stopped in for an early lunch…read more They were not busy yet, which was our plan. Eat first, then do all our walking. We were greeted by very friendly staff that seated us in a back corner. No foot traffic over there. Server came by for drink orders and we had some time to look over the large menu. It is your typical diner food. Big portions and all fresh made. We tried the Henny Penny sandwich with side of fries and the Reuben with side of fries. Chicken was cooked perfectly on this wonderful roll. Looked delicious. The Reuben meat was chopped and mixed with the sauce and sauerkraut. Very easy to eat this way. And I love the marble rye bread. Not sure where they get their bread but both sandwiches were amazing. Fries were hot and crispy too. This is a great spot right in the middle of Southport. When we finished and left, almost every table was full, even outside tables. There are only about 8 tables inside, so when they are busy, I'm sure there is a wait. We will definitely return when in Southport. Give this little place a try. Great food and service right in the heart of Southport. 5 stars

    Good burgers & service, in a great location. Ambience leaves a bit to be desired but overall…read morepositive experience. Prices a little on the high side but average for downtown Southport. A solid choice, especially if with teens or picky eaters.

    Photos
    Blue Cow Grille - Small but great vibes on the interior

    Small but great vibes on the interior

    Blue Cow Grille - Grilled cheese

    Grilled cheese

    Blue Cow Grille - Dining area

    See all

    Dining area

    Olivers On the Cape Fear - Ahi Tuna Appetizer

    Olivers On the Cape Fear

    4.1(583 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$

    Delicious food, vegetable burger, excellent service from Cathy and her delivery lady, clean, lovely…read moreambience! We will be back!

    Pretty disappointed about our two most recent visits. I feel like their attention to detail and…read morequality is going down hill. Originally reviewed 2 years ago and was so pleased. We have been to the restaurant 6 times over the last several years and our visit in March 2026 and last night, May 15th 2026, has prompted me to lower the rating. First, my wife's shrimp cocktail had not been deveined, for $17 dollars would expect the few shrimp to be pristine and ready to eat. Plus the greens that were under the shrimp were not just wilted but "gooey" like they were past their due date. I had the ribeye and ordered it medium rare. It came out well done without a hint of pink. The chefs potatoes last night were a mashed variety and they were cold and stiff enough to lay brick with. Our server, Richard, was friendly enough but he came to our table a total of 4 times in the 70 minutes we were there. Even if we wanted to communicate about our meals preparation it would require for our service to have been better. The lobster bisque was excellent and my wife had a side of fries that were also good. The ambience is lovely and we like the location, but after two recent visits with really poor food and service, we won't be back. To those about to nosh, you have been warned. Go elsewhere.

    Photos
    Olivers On the Cape Fear - Interior

    Interior

    Olivers On the Cape Fear - Grilled Caesar salad

    Grilled Caesar salad

    Olivers On the Cape Fear - Outdoor seating on the river

    See all

    Outdoor seating on the river

    Kai Joe's - mexican - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...