Best seafood boil I've had in Columbus! Kai's Crab Boil is hands down one of my favorite seafood spots in Columbus. The gumbo is fantastic and honestly some of the most authentic I've had here in Columbus. It's packed with flavor and really stands out. Their shrimp and crab with the garlic butter sauce at a medium heat level is absolutely incredible. The seasoning and spice are perfect, and paired with their cornbread... OMG It's SO good! The service was great, and the ambiance was really nice too. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. If you're looking for a seafood boil with authentic Cajun/Creole flavors, I definitely recommend Kai's. Everything we had was delicious, and I can't wait to go back! read more

So this was the Goog apology for literally being asked to leave after spending $300 at this place AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE I make a bad Review and this is the Apology ‍ If you don't have space on Major occasions then You Should not take large Parties and make that plain You certainly took the money and the 18% gratuity tip. AWFUL SERVICE AND A EVEN WORSE EXCUSE We deeply apologize if this policy was not clearly communicated to your party by our hosting staff upon your arrival. It is never our intention to make our guests feel rushed, and we regret that the reminder from our management came across as harsh or selective. This limit was applied to all tables that day so we could honor the reservation times of waiting guests. read more

Our server was amazing! The atmosphere was extremely nice, very quiet but still welcoming and felt like an experience. Everything was extremely clean. The food was exceptional I got the pacific combo with the Kai's Kajun (I sincerely recommend this seasoning) with the medium heat and it was so good. The crab was exceptionally well cooked and the shrimp as well. Will definitely be coming back again! read more

Yummmmmm. I got the medium garlic butter with shrimp, potatoes, eggs, and corn. The flavor was so good. I was definitely satisfied. The inside is just ok but I'm here to eat. read more

Kai's Crab Boil - Medium garlic butter shrimp eggs corn potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Kai's crab roll has continued to maintain its quality. The seafood is fresh and in my opinion, this is the best place for seafood boil in Columbus. The last time we came here we ordered the king crabs. They were excellent but extremely expensive. I wish they still had the Queen Crabs on the menu. It's now either the snow crabs (much cheaper, but the meat is much more difficult to get to) or the King Crabs. For me, their "hot" sauce is just right. If you don't care for spicy food, ask for Medium or less. It's a fun experience eating with hands (gloves, actually) without forks, knives, or a plate. But the taste does come with a price --- everything is doused in a whole lot of butter. So, dieters be aware. You don't come here for either the ambiance or the service, but the restaurant is clean and the service is efficient. read more

‍We walked into Kai's Crab Boil and stumbled into their weekday dine-in special: 2 lbs of snow crab for $50. Unplanned, but welcome. Snow Crab: Sweet, fresh, and easy to crack. Claws had a fair amount of meat, and the texture reminded me why snow crab is always the safest bet. Seasoning: We chose the mild Kai's Cajun seasoning, and it delivered -- flavorful with just enough kick. A balanced blend that didn't overpower the crab. Butter: They use clarified butter. It's rich, heavy, and greasy enough to make your stomach turn if you don't pace yourself. I needed water... and a Sprite. The fizz from the Sprite honestly saved me -- carbonated drinks can work like edible defibrillators when your stomach's on the ropes. Extras We Ordered (not part of the special): * White Rice: When you layer crab and butter over it? It makes sense. * Garlic Noodles: Sounded promising but lacked flavor. The dried parsley garnish gave it Fiona-from-Shrek 2 vibes -- trying to pass as royal, but still swamp deep down. Tossing them in the bag might save them, but just barely. * Sausage: A standout. Juicy, seasoned well, and soaked up the flavor nicely. * Corn: A disappointment. Tough, dry, and not worth the bag space. * Potatoes: Nothing bad to say except... for the price, I was expecting more than spuds the size of a toddler's thumb. * Egg: My dining partner's request. I took a taste and immediately knew -- it looked wrong, and it tasted how it looked. The Blue Crab: We added one for $7.50 -- out of curiosity. What arrived was a female blue crab packed with roe -- bright orange crab eggs, clumped inside like a seafood surprise party you didn't RSVP for. For folks unfamiliar: blue crab is smaller and messier to eat. You don't crack and pull like snow crab. You lift the top shell, remove the inedible parts, and dig for the meat in small chambers. It takes work, and if you're not into crab anatomy, it's probably not worth the trouble. What else could $7.50 have gotten us? 1. Thomas's tip 2. A gallon of gas and a gas station soda 3. Three king-sized packs of gum -- which I almost needed after that butter The Drinks: We ordered a Sprite (fizzy and reliable) and waters. Their drink cups are generously sized -- meaning the average drinker only needs 1-2 refills, which is rare and appreciated. The Blueberry Mojito was... just okay. Not bad, just unremarkable. No bold blueberry flavor. No stand-out freshness. It simply confirmed you're over 21 -- not impressed by it. Quick Crab Talk: Kai's offers several types: * Snow Crab - Mild, sweet, easy to eat, solid yield * Blue Crab - Smaller, more work, often has roe * King Crab - Large legs, more meat, more money * Dungeness Crab - Slightly sweet, meatier than blue, more effort than snow Besides price, a lot of people don't really know the difference. If you're unsure -- stick with snow crab. It's the least stressful bite for your buck. Final Thoughts: Overall, the boil itself was a win. The snow crab was solid, the seasoning hit, and the sausage held it down. The butter was intense, the blue crab was a surprise I didn't need, and the sides were hit or miss -- but if you build your own bag wisely, Kai's can definitely satisfy the craving. Just... don't let curiosity write a check your stomach can't cash. read more

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I've tried probably half a dozen crab boil places in Columbus and this is the BEST one. The seafood is really fresh and the service is great. The spices actually are spicy and not just well seasoned. Prices are fair. read more

The best Crab Boil I had so far in Columbus. The service was great, our server was informative and outgoing. The ambiance made for a good experience with family and friends. read more

Service was amazing and I was so excited to try a seafood boil for the first time cause we don't have any back home where I'm from. It was better than I could've imagined and it was an overall amazing experience, I definitely recommend it read more

Kai's Crab Boil - Seafood boil - Seafood Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I have been eating here since they opened a few years back, actually I was the first customer ever here. The seafood quality has been up & down but today is the day I decided to walk out and will never come back. As a restaurant owner, I totally understand the food quality coming from food supplier is unpredictable. However, I also know when to take losses when it come to my customer satisfaction. I paid $114.99 for one lbs of king crab leg & the meat was deteriorated inside the shell to less than half & the manager said unfortunately he couldn't see what inside the shell so he couldn't take it back!!! I asked if we could swap the king crab for more Dungeness crab since we are not going to eat it but he said no & he gave us a complimentary cluster of Dungeness Crab that was nice of him but come on a $24.99 Dungeness cluster to replace a $114.99 lbs king crab??? read more

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Kai's is absolutely delicious. Their spicy (OMG) Cajun sauce is the perfect amount of spice and flavor. I've been there multiple times and I seem to always get lucky with getting Jordan as my server, he gives the BEST service! He is so patient and when it was my first time there, he took extra time to explain everything to us and how to build a good crab boil we would all enjoy with the right amount of stuff for each person. We had no idea how to order a crab boil when we walked in, but he explained everything and made it easy. It is always clean at Kai's and the restaurant is aesthetically pleasing. I 10/10 recommend this place, especially if you want a spicy, flavorful seafood boil! read more

Food was good asl ain't had food this good in a long while, everything was js fire in general. Will be coming back several times

We had such a lovely experience at Kai's today! From the time we walked in the staff was extremely friendly. Our server, Jordan, made our experience 10x better. His personality is so warm and inviting. He's willing to answer any and all questions you may have. My husband ordered one of their combo bags and said it was very good. Our daughter and myself don't do seafood, so we both got the chicken tenders and fries. Their Cajun garlic fries are delicious. They don't offer many dipping options for chicken, but it was still very good. Overall, we were very impressed with everything from the service to the food. read more

Amazing food and service. Got the Pacific bundle and it was really tasty. I really recommend trying this place. The appetizers (fried shrimp and calamari) were off the hook good. Do yourself a favor and go here. read more

This place is so f'ing good!!!!!!!! I'm coming back for my 50th birthday and my daughter wants to come back for her 12th birthday. The food and service is so amazing! All staff is so warm and welcoming... If you like seafood I 100% recommend this restaurant. We will be back! read more

Good was good seasoning was good will be back the corn was good a lot of shrimp too the crab legs were fresh too

The service and the food was incredible!! Moving to Columbus from Maryland, I miss getting great seafood and this place killed it! It was so good and exactly what I have been looking for in a place to get crab and shrimp! I will definitely be going back! read more

Kai's Crab Boil - Pacific Combo - Seafood Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

GOT A LOBSTER WITH NO MEAT! And they told me it was because the lobster was "molten". Would never go here again! Trying to respond saying you tried to fix it is wild seeing as there was no way you did not know. The tail was off the lobster before we even got it. Also you offered a SMALLER one in exchange for it because you were out of the size I ordered. Not to mention zero flavor sauce and crazy prices. If you're looking for a GREAT sea food boil ACTUALLY WORTH YOUR MONEY, go to the Cajun boil bar on Brice road. Cheaper AND ACTAULLY GOOD. Real garlic in their sauce. Friendly staff and you actually get the food you order. Thank me later! Even a molting lobster still has meat. It may be softer, smaller, or waterlogged -- but not empty. A lobster with literally zero meat usually means: It was dead for too long before cooking and the meat broke down It was poorly handled or frozen/thawed improperly It was severely dehydrated or spoiled Calling it "an empty lobster with no meat" due to molting is not industry-standard wording -- that's damage control language. read more

Simon greeted us at the door, we told her we had a party of six (a Black group) with one person in route. She told us that the whole party had to be present in order to be seated. After we had to inform our sixth party member they couldn't come, another party of four (a White group) two of the members were present sat down, and the other two members arrived later. That was blatant racism on their end and totally unacceptable. Other members of the staff also displayed the same acts, when trying to get their attention for final asks, my mom called on a staff member for a to go bag and was met by just a stare and was ignored. The whole interaction of being in the restaurant made my whole family uncomfortable and upset. read more

We absolutely loved this place. We started with a Kajun fry app. They were seasoned so salty and delicious. I ordered dungeoness crab and 1/2 lb of peeled and deveined shrimp in Mahin medium. It was so good. I will have to admit next time I will reduce a spice level and may not add kajun as the seasoning overpowered the seafood. Our server was quiet, kind and and attentive. However we did see much more personable waiters which would have been nice. We loved this place. I would come back read more

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Server: Jessica S, was a great waitress and Kai's is one of the BEST seafood restaurants to eat from thus far.. she was attentive and VERY personal. The place was very colorful and clean. However, one of the servers were careless and didn't care when asked for gloves he completely ignored us and NEVER said anything about bringing the gloves or not. So, I was going to give this establishment a 5 star rating but because of that servers lack of communication and caring for the customers. I'm giving this establishment a 2 - 3 stars. read more

They said the wait time is 10-15 but it toke over an hour just to even get inside. The food was amazing, toke me back to my childhood.

Kai's is HANDS DOWN my #1 favorite seafood boil place in Columbus. I have lived in over 5 states and have traveled to eat fresh seafood, and Kai's is still on the top of my list. Their sauce is 5/5 each and every time. It's flavorful, saucy, but you don't feel like you just ate a pound of butter. 4/5 for their pricing- its seafood in Ohio, what can you ask for! I do recommend maybe allowing a free add-on to your bag if you order a pound or certain amount of food. They are al la carte as of now. 5/5 for their service each and every time! Minimal service needed- just make sure the drinks are filled and the buckets aren't all the way to the top! We have had a kind and knowledgeable server every time. 5/5 for ambiance- easy to find location, bright and open spaces, enough room for you to dig in, easy decor Would recommend to anyone! Kai seems very family oriented and their employees seem like they have a great time working there. read more

It was our first time here and we were excited to try their options. There's plenty of space outside and decent amount of seating inside. It's pretty loud and lively inside. I got the mussels, crawfish, an egg, and with Kai's spice. The spice/sauce was delicious and so flavorful but because they add the sauce post steam, the crawfish meat was a bit bland. The crawfish was decently cooked, they were a bit small but tasty. The mussels were fantastic and cooked well. The entire meal was good, but I feel like it was so expensive for what it is. I will probably only come back if I was really craving this. The lobster rolls were pretty good as well, could use a bit more flavor but made well. They're a bit expensive, but they do have a happy hour deal for two. The Cajun fries were also really yummy, covered in Kai's sauce and garlic. I think the fries were good but can be heavy with the boil. The calamari was crispy, plain on its own, but came with two sauces. Staff was nice and helpful! Our server explained things well, but seemed a bit flustered and forgot a couple things sometimes. Though our server did a birthday cornbread for one of friends! I would recommend for a seafood boil and a good meal. It's a good place to be with good company! read more

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Just didn't hit the mark. My boil had shrimp, snow crab, sausage, and corn. Both the shrimp and the crab were overcooked to the point where the meat did not keep its integrity. This tells me they cook everything ahead of time and then recook it when it's ordered. That's just not good eats, I understand restaurants need to prep but when it comes to seafood which literally cooks in minutes you can afford to cook it fresh. I ended up adding 1 lb of extra snow crab and I wish I hadn't. I ordered it plain just steamed/boiled so I could just dip it in plain butter and the crab was still very salty even w/o any seasoning. My guess is that it's cooked or sits in salted water which is a mistake bc seafood, especially crab legs don't really need salt, the ocean provides enough. For a place that specializes in crab they were worse than red lobster and that's unacceptable bc red lobster is mids. The sides it came with were corn on the cob and potatoes except it was just a small whole potato not cut and about the size of two golf balls roughly. The best part was the sausage, I would go back just to get that but unfortunately the boil only came with one piece which is insane bc I spent over 90 bucks on the boil, they can certainly afford to add way more. I honestly need to stop trusting the ratings, I'm convinced the ppl rating this well have just never had a good boil or seafood cooked properly. Perhaps my standards are high bc I travel for work so I'm comparing them to the boils I've had in LA, Florida, and in Mexico where seafood is cooked fresh but I was just really disappointed to say the least. I should say the staff was super friendly and the place is clean so the environment is a positive but the seafood once again was just not it. read more

I don't think I've ever been to a crab boil before, but my mom has made some for us at home. This place was on me and my friend's list! We came on a rainy Wednesday evening, so it wasn't all that busy. A few groups here and there. You can order to share or get your own. They hand the food over to you double-bagged so as not to spill. I basically took out each piece individually so as not to cause too much of a mess. But they place a large sheet of paper over the table. I got the Pacific Combo, which our waiter suggested. It came with 2 snow crab legs and a pound of shrimp. I chose the shrimp to be headless. I also chose the Kai's Cajun sauce for it and medium heat. It comes with 3 sides, so I got 2 sausages and 1 potato. Very delicious! Buttery and a nice Cajun flavor! Medium heat wasn't really all that spicy for me. I couldn't finish my food. Probably ate 2/3 of it? There's no type of food challenge here as to whether you're able to finish you're food, but I told the waiter they need to have that!! My friend got the Gulf Combo. It came with a pound of shrimp and a pound of mussels. She chose a potato, sausage, and corn as her sides. You gotta be ready to spend here though. I saw a couple walk in, look at the menu, then walk out. My friend paid $30, while my meal was around $50. But it's seafood! It's kind of expected to pay that amount. Staff was really friendly and easy to talk to. I also enjoyed the vibe. They played some good music in the background. They give bibs and gloves if you want to keep your hands and clothes clean. Honestly, I didn't spill anywhere and my clothes didn't get dirty. You can order alcohol if you want as well. The one thing I loved were the sinks they had on the back wall. It's nice to be able to wash your hands after touching the food! I will add that the smell of seafood and butter stayed on my fingers for a while LOL. read more

Kai's Crab Boil - Gulf Combo - Seafood Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This place has been excellent every time we have dined! First off, my husband is allergic to shellfish. I know it sounds odd that we still go, but we try to not let it restrict us. Each time we have told staff of his allergy, they have gone above and beyond to accommodate him. They've been gracious and kind and made him feel welcome. My husband gets the chicken tenders and I get the king crab with peeled shrimp and eggs. It is always hot, fresh and delicious. We try to stop by every time we are in town. Kai's is a wonderful restaurant that we recommend to everyone! read more

This is the only place I get my pizza hands down!.. The best plus the topping seem endless!

Expensive but delicious. Wear your gloves is definitely recommended. Service was just okay. Ambiance was nothing special. One and done for us! read more

4.5 stars. This place is AMAZINGGG. The restaurant is super clean, the staff is really friendly, and the food is FIRE. We got a seafood boil, Medium is the perfect amount spice. Only taking of 0.5 stars because the service was just a tiny bit slow but seriously go here it's so good. read more

I stopped by because I love seafood and try at least one seafood restaurant in every state I visit. The bag that I ordered consisted of two clusters of snow crabs, a pound of black mussels, 1 corn, and an an egg with the Cajun flavor with a spicy level of OMG. It wasn't that spicy for me. The flavor was very tasty, Nicely seasoned, and crabs were big. The margarita was very good. My feedback is, when I see margarita being served in a big glass like this, I assume I would at least get a buzz off of it. I got absolutely nothing. One shot of Tequila in a big drink like this should be a crime. What is the reason? Please use a smaller glass. The restaurant was very cold. I watched my butter sauce solidify and I've never seen this before. This was disturbing to see because all I could think about was my arteries. I would've given you a 5 if it wasn't for the cold temperatures Besides the temperature of this place, I recommend it because it is delicious. read more

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We kicked off my birthday celebration week by going to Kai's Crab Boil. I heard great things about Kai's from multiple people. Last night, I thought to myself, crab legs sound great for dinner. Kai's where we sent the truck heading. We were greeted by two smiling faces at the door. They seemed genuinely happy to see us. We were seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant. Quickly one of those two smiling faces brought over a paper menu, kind of the catch of the day with the market prices on it. Our servers name was Jordan and he was an absolute delight the entire night. He found out that we had never been to Kai's before. He took the time to give us an entire run down of the menu, ordering process, and some of his personal suggestions. He was so thorough and knowledgable when it came to all the options. In the end we went with the pro. Whatever Jordan suggested, we said yes to. He delivered our cold beers, we sat back and relaxed, but honestly it was not for too long because our "boil bag" came out. It is truly your seafood double bagged in huge plastic bags, piping hot, with the melted butter and seasonings sloshing around in the bag marinating all your shellfish. As suggested by Jordan we went with the Pacific Combo with the crab leg clusters and the head off peel and eat shrimp. We choose the Kai's seasoning and we went with mild in the bag, but medium on the side. When you open the bag the ingredients are steaming hot. We suited up in our gloves and bib and we dug in. I was in love after the first bite. Both the shrimp and the crab legs were cooked perfectly, not under done and definitely not rubbery or hard, meaning not over done. The seasoning was good. I dipped all my shellfish in the Kai's medium that I got on the side. When we come back next time, we will definitely go with medium. We were so thrilled with our choice (all credit should go to Jordan). We were beyond please with our service from Jordan! It was a true delight all night. We know we will be back and we hope Jordan will be there to take care of us. The night was perfect. If you are like me and you have not made it out to Kai's yet, change that! You will be thrilled! Ask for Jordan!!! read more

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One of the best places for seafood! One of the best meals I've had in a while! Will certainly be back soon.

Really delicious & great service but beware pricy. 2 people, 2 combo meals, all the sides, 2 drinks each. read more

Kai's Crab Boil - Receipt. 2 people - Seafood Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

10/10, I love this place so much. It's definitely my favorite seafood boil place and the seasonings and flavor of everything is always top tier. Would highly recommend. read more

Food was Miid and over priced lobster rolls were half the size of normal one you get anywhere else. They auto add 18% gratuity. For 6 or more people including children. For the prices they charge they should be able to afford to pay their employees instead of stealing another 50 buck from the customer on already over priced mediocre food read more

Kais crab boil is my go to place for seafood boil. Columbus has several of them but this place is consistent in their quality and flavors. The place is always packed so make sure to get a reservation, If you plan to eat in. The seafood is fresh and seasonal. Don't come here if you are on diet, everything is smothered in butter or deep fried (yum!! ).The OG Kais Cajun sauce is the best, so do give it a try. I usually get Medium or Hot, but it totally depends on your personal heat tolerance. Do your self a favor and order the bread on the side so you can dip your bread in the juice that lies at the bottom of the bag, so worth it. Some other sides to go with your boil- Cajun garlic fries or Garlic noodles. Do give them a try!!! read more

Kai's Crab Boil - Snow Crab legs and Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We were traveling and got hungry. As I was driving my husband was searching for a place to stop rest and eat. He came across Ka"s. Neither of us were sure we wanted seafood but boy were we happy we stopped afterward! It's a small place nestled in a shopping plaza. From the moment we walked in the staff was enthusiastic and helpful. It was really clean inside also. I have to admit we were a bit apprehensive because there wasn't too many customers and it was around 7pm, but to be fair it was also mid-week. Getting back to our experience, our server was a quiet guy but he was very helpful. Since it was our first visit he explained the menu well, brought our drinks and utensils expeditiously and also allowed ample time for us to decide what we wanted without playing a disappearing act Our food came fast, and the young lady who brought it out was pretty funny. I like that they verify what you ordered b naming what's in the boil bag before setting it down on the table. I think the prices are comparable to other restaurants of the same caliber. In addition to that the food was Delicious! We ordered the Kai sauce.. Although my husband and I enjoy spicy food, since we were traveling not to mention the fact that we happen to be on the same page and wasn't craving anything too spicy coupled with the fact that our server informed us the hot is very HOT we decided on the medium spice level. For us the sauce was perfect! A even blend of salt, spice and a very small hint of sweet the umami was umami-ing. During our visit we both had to visit the restrooms and they were not only clean but also smelled nice. All in all we really enjoyed our experience there and if we find ourselves traveling the same roads in the future will definitely stop back. read more

Had a great meal tonight. Our server was friendly and the food was delicious. Will definitely go there again. read more

Kai's Crab Boil - Pacific combo with shrimp and snow crabs. Plenty for 3 people. - Seafood Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

There are definitely having more seafood boil option in town compare to a few years back. I still remember Kai's Crab Boil is the first place that I tried seafood boil in Columbus. The place is still feel familiar and they are quite busy during dinner hours. I still like their big blackboard on the wall. It listed all their seafood option along with the market price. They have a new menu item, which is Lobster Roll Slider Maine style. The toasted Hawaiian Roll is warm and slightly crisp. Along with the fresh cold lobster chuck with mayo. The texture and the flavor is totally on point . Also got the Kai's Gulf Combo [1 lb of Shrimp and Mussel, along with 3 add-ons]. The seafood itself is fresh. read more

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