Amazing service. They took us in very close to closing time and we felt like family. We showed up just before closing after a concert at belly up; instead of turning us away the chef made us two spectacular sushi rolls. Will be going back on our next trip to Solana Beach. read more

The food was absolutely excellent. The service was pretty bad. The staff were not trained to be attentive, they walked past or near our table and would not make eye contact or look our way so that they didn't have to help us. We got our first bite of food about 45 minutes after we arrived, they gave us 1 free edamame since it took so long. we had 4 alcoholic beverages (between all of us) plus food (not huge eaters) and the total bill with tip was $290. Yikes! I wanna love this place as a local as I'm into the laid-back beach vibe and I'm not overly demanding, but this service experience was a little over the top. read more

We came in on a Saturday with a party of 10, the host quickly found a table to accommodate us. Our server was Drake, he did a phenomenal job serving us, splitting checks. Overall great food and even better customer service ! We had some table allergies (shellfish and gluten) and they didn't hesitate to tell us what was safe, and we even offered substitutions for rolls to make them safe for the allergies. Highly recommend for quality sushi, allergy safe, and a great experience! read more

THE BEST GARLIC EDAMAME!!! We travel from south OC for this and the fresh FRESH spicy scallops handroll.

Tried Kai Ola Sushi for the first time on a date night with my daughter, who had raved about it. And it did not disappoint! We loved the black cod appetizer (incredible, just wish there was more) and the garlic butter edamame, which was some of the best I've ever had - chunks of garlic I happily ate on their own. We got the Moonlight and Swami's rolls. Both were tasty, though the Swami's was a bit too spicy for my 11-year-old. A few small misses...no ginger or wasabi served with the rolls, loose rolls, and parking is tough. But overall, it's bumped Sushi Lounge off as #1 on my list. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Really delicious!! So fresh!! 11/10 recommend, best spot in town. Glad we finally came in. read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Grandview roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Get the Flambing Ahi - so Delicious & Spicy! We paired it with the Beacon's roll & it was the perfect Balance! Miche11e is a great server! read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Flaming Ahi Special!! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Did not enjoy the condescension this evening. Poke bowl ok. Expensive. Value proposition terrible.

Really not worth the price point. The chicken Katsu that we ordered was soo thin that I was only eating the crust. Lol. Haven't had this bad service in a while! (Fast food is even better) they also charge a 3.5% service fee which I don't understand where this is coming from. Servers are rushing around the restaurant which makes you very stressful sitting there. Not recommended. read more

Exceptional service! Delicious rolls! Had the moonlight, swamis, and sunset. All were amazing but I especially loved the sunset. The rolls were huge and I was shocked I finished all three. The waitress was very attentive and really made an enjoyable experience. I highly recommend and will definitely return the next time I'm in the area. Parking is a little tricky. I parked across the street in the dirt by the railroad tracks and had no issues. read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Moonlight Sunset Swamis - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Food was very good! Not much for ambiance but we enjoyed the meal. Service was attentive. We would recommend and go back.

We've been a few times and it's always good enough to want to go again but the service is pretty mid. The food is really good, just order all the rolls that say "popular." read more

Very good sushi for the price. Service was mediocre b/c there was only one server but other than that we weren't in a rush so this place hit the spot read more

This place NEVER disappoints. Every thing I have tried has been amazing. Always enjoy sitting at the sushi bar so can get a great view of the food and ask about the rolls that just look good!! Had their summer special tonight and it was so good. Can't wait to see what they put up for their Fall Special.... I've said it before and I will say it again. The BEST sushi in Encinitas!! read more

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Kai-Ola was excellent. We reserved the 5 person table up front for dinner on New Years Eve at 5:30 p.m. and got some great sushi and excellent service. The theme at this restaurant is a relaxing surfer feel and very chill. Will be back again. read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Rainbow Roll and Crunchy roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

We tried this place about four years ago and honestly weren't that impressed. The rolls felt small, overpriced, and just kind of forgettable. But we decided to give it another shot recently and wow something has seriously changed. We ordered takeout twice this week and both times it was incredible. Easily some of the best sushi I've had around here. Probably the best, actually. Everything was super fresh, the rice wasn't overdone, and the rolls were just really well balanced and flavorful. If you've written this place off in the past, it's worth trying again. Huge improvement and totally worth it now. read more

Good service and good food. The prices are a bit high. You're paying for being right on the 101. We are local, so it's enjoyable to come midweek when there's low crowds. read more

First time and last time there. Saw a mouse on the floor, thought it was a fluke because we sat outside. Service lady walked up to us , then walked away and didn't return, no greeting or letting us know someone would be with us. We sat outside, they had heaters, thought it was real cute till I saw the mouse. Food took over 30 mins, and it was just one order, not the other dishes. Everything came out one at a time. Salmon roll traditional didn't have much rice on it, seemed real spotty . Now over an hour and the rest of food ( and he brought wrong order out) was still not out. No explanation. Asked waiter he said that there wasn't any rice and he had to make it. Lol . Rice. Not sure what is happening there. But gave us diarrhea. Sad. Again won't recommend or go back. Looking at reviews, not sure where they were , definitely not at Encinitas Kaiola read more

Dropped by this costal sushi place for a laid-back lunch. Scored a parking spot right across from the train tracks, total win. The place has this chill, tropical vibe with cool fish paintings and metal fish shaped decorations over some of the walls. The friendly waitress kept things smooth, and the sushi? Fresh, flavorful, and absolutely on point. If you're cruising around Encinitas, this spot is definitely a catch! read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Wonderful sushi gem in Encinitas - make sure to snag a reservation as place gets booked up pretty fast! We had truffle and lemon slide rolls and each of them was marvelous. Server was a lot of fun and was prompt for any requests. Place is tiny but has good vibes. Highly recommend read more

Rolls both bland and bare No surprise, no spark, no care Cost without the craft Service lost in noise Staff laughing, not attending Diners left adrift Nothing calls me back Price inflated, tastes faded So forgettable read more

Not sure how this place only has a 4.2 rating, it was absolutely amazing! The food was incredible, fish was super fresh, everyone was friendly and it's conveniently located. We loved the nigiri, carpaccio, and rolls. Our new favorite sushi spot! Only complaint is that it's chilly inside, which makes sense because they have to keep the fish fresh, but bring a jacket. read more

Amazing place! Fresh sushi, generous portions, and super friendly service. Definitely coming back read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

If you should stop by and feel like a nice lunch, don,t order SALMON POKE. I did and could not find the salmon because of the salad and lettuce all over. Abominable to say the least. I expected at least some good pieces of salmon but when digging around i found a few thin slices. Nothing to write home about. So don't order any poke,if you are going there. read more

Unimpressed. Been walking by for years and finally went in. Felt the food was super average & colorless, and the prices were nuts. Not super friendly. Bummed. read more

Cool, unpretentious spot, friendly, inventive menu, BUT the prices are STRATOSPHERIC high. Nigiri nearly twice the price of other (high quality) establishments. Same for much of the menu. Uni nigiri $28? C'mon. Felt so good until the breathtaking bill arrived for $325 for 4 folks and we didn't go nuts ordering. Too bad such a premium paid for good, but not extraordinary sushi. read more

Really like this place just wish they had better wine selections and some more roll variety. If you don't eat shrimp and don't like spicy - you menu options will be quite limited. read more

My go-to sushi spot in North County. I always get the Grandview, Moonlight, and Sunset rolls & the crispy rice now and then as an extra treat. They did also once have Chicken Kaarage available on their seasonal menu & that was also fantastic. I've never had anything here that I didn't like. I always prefer sitting inside as opposed to outside, but if you have to sit outside and are by yourself or on a date, the seating on the side of the building is surprisingly nice & intimate. read more

After 50 minutes of waiting for our food we decided to pay for our drinks and leave. Apparently to-go orders get priority over people actually trying to eat at the restaurant. I have yet to be impressed by this place and I've tried a handful of times over the last 2 years. It is over-priced and disorganized read more

Had dinner at Kai Ola and the food did not disappoint. The service brings the experience down to 3 stars. Bratty girls with a sour pretentious attitude. Specifically the leucadia location on two separate occasions. read more

There is something about this place, everytime I come here, everyone has an attitude. From servers to the managers. You can just feel the negative vibe and hate coming from their faces. After reading their reviews, looks like I'm not the only one that feels this way. read more

This place gives you all the Hawaiian vibes, I love it! The staff was very friendly and gave us great recommendations! The facility was clean and simplistic, with a the Hawaiian touches that brought me back to Hawaii! The sushi was really good! We got the specialty Hawaiian roll, the moonlight and another specialty roll, that I cannot remember. The Hawaiian roll was really good, definitely my favorite. The sauces all complimented each other. The moonlight was not my favorite mainly because of the crab, but it was crazy when you added the salt on top it brought out so many flavors it was actually good! Very impressed and would definitely go back when we come to visit! read more

Nothing bad to say about Kai Ola - I've been here a few times as I'm right in the area, and everything is always so delicious. This past time, we ordered miso soups and edamame to start, hamachi kama, and the rainbow, spicy tuna, and tempura rolls. Chefs kiss. It's a cute, cozy lil spot and the food comes out fast as everything is made fresh to order. I'll probably be back as many times as I can in the future :) read more

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Amazing gourmet sushi and awesome service and chefs! My daughters love sushi but this was their first time at an authentic sushi restaurant. So delicious and great atmosphere! read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

Such a great little spot! Not a lot of seating but good pricing for the rolls. Love the Hawaiian vibe

First time here and we were very happy with it. It is a small place so expect a wait. We were told an hour but got seated in less than 40 minutes. The service was good and both specialty rolls we got were delicious. Looking forward to going back! read more

Kai Ola Sushi - Sunset and Grandview - Sushi Bars Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Outstanding!!! Sushi Fresh and unique flavors..... local flavor and charm. Just be prepared $$$$$ and a "freshness" tax added to the check.. read more

Host was not friendly. Told us there was a 20 minute wait for inside seating when there was an open table, so we sat outside. An older couple came in and said "Table for two, and there's an open table inside so we'll take that one" then got seated inside. The lady serving us was nice until we asked for a few more minutes then forgot about us outside. Peaked inside and she was seated at a table having a conversation with someone. Wasn't until I made eye contact with the guy server that she came out because he asked her if she's taken our order yet. Afterwards, food came out fast. The spicy edamame was good. The sunset roll was about a 1/10. The scallops on top were good on their own. Could've been seared more. The spicy tuna on the inside is ruined by this sort of truffle sauce that's it's soaked in. It's super strong and you can smell it as they're putting it in front of you. Overall, the options here aren't that great and they're on the expensive side (obviously, given the area). Takoyaki -- 4 pieces for $9 is criminal --as well as $5 for miso soup -- and $12 for a maki roll with so little fish The guy server's demeanor towards us was bland and questionable considering about a week ago, he was very upbeat and happy to help. Hoping it was just an off day and not because we didn't have any people of a certain demographic with us like last time. read more

poor service from Grayson, who had my friends wait over an hour to place an order. Sushi was not fresh, waited 80+ mins for 2 rolls. he sat around and ignored us. When we asked to order. There was only 4 tables, restaurant was empty! He stil ignored us. food was not fresh. Grayson did this intentionally, choosing not to serve young women. unacceptable and nasty. read more

Not sure why it took me so long to write a review on my favorite sushi spot- EVER!! If you are a sushi connoisseur like myself, you're going to fall in love with everything Kai Ola! The food is amazing, the staff always warm and friendly and the ambiance is sooooo Encinitas!!! Plus we get to go with our ever so popular Mr Cooper (our adorable sheepadoodle) and we get to sit on the patio with him!! Thank you Kai Ola for always delivering the best sushi around!!! read more