Came back to Kaya again! We waited for about 10 minutes and were able to get a table outside. I ordered mussels as appetizer and Vegetables with Mahi-mahi for myself. Mussels are a little small and not as fresh. It did take a while for the entree to come and we were not presented the dessert menu - that's why I gave four instead of five. The entree is very flavorful though. read more

Kaya - Seared Salmon - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We came here for lunch and was pleasantly surprised at just how good this restaurant really is. We ordered the jerk chicken torta and the Mahi Mahi fish tacos. The jerk chicken torta had great flavor and just the right amount of spice. The Mahi Mahi Tacos were outstanding! These tasted like fish tacos I've had in Florida and the Caribbean! The Mahi was incredibly mild and perfectly grilled. Best fish tacos I've had in the Burgh. read more

Kaya is a great spot for Caribbean inspired comfort foods like jerk chicken and fried fishes. They also do a great tropical paella which has chicken, chorizo, and the typical seafood (scallop, mussels, shrimp). Coming from someone who doesn't really tolerate spices - it definitely has a kick to it. The bean dip is a great starter for the table. I couldn't get enough of it! They use to have an amazing mango buratta appetizer, and I hope they bring that back one day. Overall the food is good. The service was just okay. We also got some cocktails but the drinks seemed slightly diluted. read more

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I had a lovely time at Kaya! It was fairly busy even though it was a Monday night. The service was quick and attentive. We sat at a table for eight near the front window that was well-spaced. All of the food was delicious. Everything tasted very fresh. I got the rainbow salad which was absolutely gorgeous and contained some of the most delicious mangoes I've ever had. I had a jerk chicken taco as well and it was tasty but it was a little light on the chicken and could have had more toppings too. We shared the queso and again it was tasty but the consistency was a little watery for my liking. I also got the Over the Rainbow cocktail (I guess I was in a colorful mood). I loved it. It was fruity and delicious. I will absolutely be coming back! read more

Kaya - Over the Rainbow cocktail - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Another fantastic night at Kaya! Brian took great care of us as we enjoyed our favorite, the rainbow salad. We were seated in a private booth in the back that had plenty of space to be comfy. Can't wait to come back again soon! read more

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Sensational experience at Kaya, so glad I finally tried! We started with mojitos (mango and passion fruit) which were excellent. We got the tropical guacamole as an appetizer which was so fantastic, we ate every last drop! The real star of the show was the rainbow salad with salmon. Talk about a flavor explosion! The salmon was seasoned to perfection and I could taste each individual ingredient in the salad yet they all blended together beautifully. Not pictured was a side of waffle fries which were crispy and fresh. I would say this is easily one of my top restaurants in Pittsburgh! read more

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Kaya was a great for lunch in The Strip District. Kaya has a flavorful menu that accommodates vegans and non vegans. The restaurant is conveniently located on The Strip and easy to access. The staff were friendly and attentive. Kaya has a had Caribbean decor and accents around the restaurant. They offered both indoor and outdoor seating. The pineapple mango tomatillos salsa was a light and tangy start to the meal. The crispy tofu was slight spicy and sweet and a very generous portion. Both chicken sandwiches were cooked well and tasty. Waffle fries are always awesome! The dining room seemed very busy for a Sunday afternoon. We would stop by again next time we are in town. read more

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The jerk chicken sandwich lived up to the hype. They have really good homemade chips too.

I went here with my buddies and we all ordered sandwiches, they were pretty good However My watermelon soup was STRANGE.... It tasted like cold tomato soup...Don't order that soup.... My friend asked for NO CHEESE and they still gave her cheese. Clearly these people aren't that good at directions Also they have "premade" sandwiches. Nothing here is fresh Ths place is beautiful however the table had interesting way of showing trash ... i thought we had a dirty table but its just trash inside of the resin.. SO UGLEHH!!!! overall good food we cleared! And good music read more

Kaya - Our food is cleared - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Wonderful food, great service, nice atmosphere. Generous-sized portions too, on the Mahi Mahi and Jamaican Jerk chicken tacos. Local beers and Mexican coke too! read more

This was our first time at Kaya and we really enjoyed our experience! We had reservations but had to wait about ten minutes to get seated. We did not mind, and we got a drink at the bar. We ordered conch fritters for an appetizer...amazing choice! I then tried to order a Cuban with no cheese but I was told that could not happen??? I was very confused why it couldn't. If it was premade they could just pick it off, and I highly doubt they would already have been in the press and just wait for someone to order one...who knows? I ended up ordering the chicken sandwich, which was really good, with fries, and my husband ordered the fish tacos. After drinking several beers and having an appetizer, he did not even finish them! We did think it was odd that they came with no side but the sandwiches did. read more

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I was in college when Kaya first opened, and I have been there several times over the years when traveling home. However, it's probably been over ten years since the last time we ate there, so now that we have moved back to the Pgh area we made a point of checking it out. My wife and I went for lunch on a Friday, and the place was about half full. I will say that one major negative regarding anything in the Strip is parking. I have no idea why some of the local gravel lots have not been converted to parking decks, but for now it just sucks going down there. Anyway, the interior of Kaya is much as I remembered it, but obviously refreshed and kept very clean. The staff was very friendly, and our waiter was super nice and efficient. We decided to make this our big meal for the day, and also to take home some doggie bags as provisions for the big snow storm due on Sunday. We started with the Yucatan hot bean dip. It was a tasty take on refritos served with potato and taro chips. We then ordered two hot appetizers: corn & lentil beignets with green curry sauce, and the hearts of palm fritters. We each had our favorite. My wife liked the fritters, but I found them a little greasy. I enjoyed the beignets, though they were heavier than expected. The curry sauce was fantastic. Next, we each had a bowl of butternut & sage soup. It was really good and was perfect for a cold January day. For entrees I went with the Jamaican jerk chicken tacos, and my wife ordered the chiles rellenos. The tacos were simple, but fantastic with multiple layers of flavors, and even the one I ate like a cold wrap the next day was super tasty - it really held up well. My wife's meal was large, with two chiles and a huge amount of beans and rice. She ate one and we packed up the rest. She enjoyed it very much, and everything heated up well the next day. Finally, we took an order of the chocolate-banana bread pudding home with us. It was sooooo good heated up while we watched the snow. Overall a great experience, and we'll be back for sure. read more

Tried this spot on a whim after my sister recommended it and I was delighted by this place! Outside the place is nothing special (which is normal), but upon walking in you're greeted by decor from another world. It's genuinely beautiful to see! The ambiance is moody and dark, and really gets you in the mood to eat some good food. We were seated quickly despite it being dinner time and having no reservations, so I was really glad the waitress could accommodate us. Drinks are a bit of a hit or miss. I ordered mojito and it was great. My husband ordered a carpihiana and he said his was awful. Food was totally great though. Husband got Jamaican jerk wings and a Birria sandwich. I got tofu and Banh mi, and we shared a tomatillo mango salsa. All of the food was fantastic! My only confusion was the menu seemed a little chaotic lol but it was more funny than critical. I don't usually see a menu that serves Jamaican jerk wings as well as Nashville hot chicken sandwich as well as a birria sandwich. Regardless, highly recommend this place! read more

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So first, the waitress was not nice. Wasn't mean but was just short and not very friendly which made it uncomfortable to even want to ask for something. It took like 40 minutes to get our food. I ordered the Cuban birria sandwich and it was underwhelming. The consomé was salty but the sandwich felt like it needed flavor so I still dipped it in there. My friend had the jerked chicken and she liked that so she would recommend that dish. Overall, for the price and the food (and service), I do not recommend going. read more

Kaya - Cuban birria sandwich - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I've known about this place forever but never tried it. I guess Caribbean food is never top on my list of things I want to eat. Now I wish I had come here sooner! They have many dishes that sound really yummy. My daughter and I ended up sharing the queso fundido, the fried fish tacos and the jerk chicken sandwich. The queso was possibly the best I've ever had. I sometimes find queso with chorizo to be too heavy and greasy for me, but not this version. It had a lightness too it and the flavor was spectacular. We also really liked the jerk chicken sandwich. In fact, the sandwich reminded me of a trip to the Caribbean. We were at a beach and locals were grilling jerk chicken. It smelled so good! And this sandwich tasted just like that smell. The one slight disappointment was the fried fish tacos. They were good, but maybe lacked a little flavor. The menu doesn't identify the type of fish they use, but if I had to guess, I'd say it was catfish. I thought it had a touch of a muddy flavor. It didn't ruin the dish, but it's something I noticed. Of course, I could be completely wrong about the catfish. Whatever it was, it wasn't my favorite fish. Nonetheless, my daughter and I really enjoyed our lunch and will definitely be back to try some other things. read more

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This was my first time at Kaya and I was quite impressed! I have been to other big burrito restaurants and was surprised this was one! The drinks were unique and I loved my amaretto sour! We ordered the queso and we ate it before I could even get a pic! I enjoyed the fried chicken sandwich and waffle fries! Their chipotle aioli is soooo good! All my other friends enjoyed their food too. Our service was fast (not too fast) and friendly! It was a little dark for my preference and I can't stand appropriated, stereotypical ethnic restaurant menus. Sorry, but this is hardly a "Caribbean" restaurant! But that was on me for thinking it might have anything authentic. Overall I'd give this is B+ and will probably come back! read more

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I recently went back to Kaya for dinner and it happened to be Fried Chicken Night. My friend and I ordered the tropical guacamole as our appetizer and I ordered the fried chicken special. The pros: the guacamole was amazing as always and the fried chicken was so good! They give you a big portion of chicken and it's fried and seasoned perfectly! I did have to knock off a star because the rest of the meal (the sides) was just okay. It came with potato salad, coleslaw, a tortilla, and some kind of dipping sauce. The potato salad didn't have much flavor and it felt like the potatoes weren't cooked the whole way. The coleslaw had ginger in it, which was cool but the ginger was overpowering. I did read that they rotate their sides each time, so I think I would try the special again to see if different sides are better. But overall, I love Kaya and it's always a great atmosphere in there and our service is always stellar. read more

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This place is amazing! I highly recommended the black bean burger as it is one of the best I have ever tasted. The staff is so nice and food comes fairly quickly. The vibe in the restaurant is so cool as well. read more

Been to Kaya multiple times - always have a good meal! Got the Kaya Burger and it was delicious! Wouldn't necessarily think a burger would be great from a Caribbean restaurant, but it was really good! Enjoyed the margarita as well. Nice size restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. Did not have to worry about parking (took Uber) so can not comment. Everyone enjoyed their meals (tacos and chicken sandwich). Would recommend stopping in! read more

Kaya - Kaya Burger - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Stopped in here for appetizers and cocktails with a friend recently! We didn't do reservations and just sat at the bar. It was crowded but it was nice to get a seat. The crispy tofu was delicious. We also had the guac with pineapples which was also very good and refreshing. I tried their spicy marg and a red sangria and both drinks were good. Will be back for dinner for sure read more

Kaya - Crispy Tofu (Vegan) - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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A great restaurant for vegans and people with allergies! Kaya is a cute and intimate restaurant in the Strip with great options for anyone. I liked the crispy tofu appetizer quite a bit! The sauce it came with was delectable. I wasn't thrilled with the paella or taco entrees--they were just a little bland. But they were very filling nonetheless! Our dessert ice cream trio was a nice way to end the night. We didn't love the service but found our waiter to be prompt when needed. read more

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Kaya is a tried and true favorite for me. The atmosphere is cozy and the staff is so friendly. I recently sat outside for the first time and I also enjoyed their outdoor space! I don't always drink at Kaya, but when I do I go for a mojito. They're delicious and not too sweet for me. I love that their menu has options for all diets, including vegan options. On this last trip, a friend and I decided to order several apps to share. The chickpea chili and crispy tofu were easily my favorites. The beignets were yummy but the sauce was a little spicy for my taste. Overall, one of my favorite places to eat in Pittsburgh! read more

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Very noisy inside. Food was good, however I asked our server if the half jerk chicken was really a half chicken or an airline breast. She assured me it was a real half chicken. It was not. It was an airline breast. Our meal took very long to arrive. The conch fritters were good. read more

Typical Caribbean / casual bar. Decent menu. Good prices. Very bright interior. Service prompt. read more

Kaya - View of the front / bar area from rear of restaurant. - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Stopped here for dinner on a whim one weekend. We sat at the bar because we had no reservation and they were packed. The bartender/waiter was grumpy but the couple seated next to us was extremely friendly. We had a few drinks which were delicious! Ordered the half jerk chicken which was in no way half of a chicken. It also was not "jerk", hardly had any spice whatsoever. I will say it was delicious, for me the fresh vegetables elevated the dish. The menu had a good amount of options. Not pictured were the corn and lentil beignets which were 10/10. read more

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I recommend this place anytime somebody comes to visit Pittsburgh and they are in the strip district. Great food choices, amazing drinks and a vibe that fits. The tropical paella is always a go to choice as well as any of their appetizers. read more

Kaya - Tropical paella and Cuban sandwich - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Shoutout to the bartender/server Alex who was an absolute rockstar. His multi tasking abilities on a busy Saturday afternoon was absolutely impressive. He gets a 5. We were only able to rate our experience from a bar prospective. They told us they could not offer a table unless you had previous reservations on Saturday around 3ish. We took the bar seating option and purchased 2 drinks, jerked wings and queso and chips. Wanted to try the Ceviche so bad but it was sold out. For the food and atmosphere bar experience we are rating our overall experience a 3 which is fair and typical for the offerings from our similar dining experiences. read more

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Delicious! We stopped in for dinner last night around 7:30 and sat at the bar. We started with the corn and lentil beignets. They were seasoned perfectly and served hot and crispy. We ordered a Rainbow and a Miami Salad. I forgot to take photos but they were very tasty and the dressings were perfect. The service was very good. read more

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Great food and ambiance. Good vegetarian options and ways to make things vegan. Knowledgeable bar staff! We also tried the tortilla chips and pineapple salsa and only wished the chips were fresh tortilla chips, not bagged/nacho type chips. Otherwise great experience! read more

Kaya - Carrot & Broccoli Paella - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Found ourselves downtown in strip on Monday afternoon. Had never been to Kaya (which is part of big Burrito Restaurant Group) & popped in for late lunch. Decor is cozy & island themed. (Love the palm barstools. ) our waitress Lisa was friendly & knowledgeable & attentive. The food was delicious & full of flavor. Definitely will be back to try many other menu items. read more

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Taking a break from our Strip District shopping we tried Kaya for lunch. We ordered the Tropical Guacamole, Rainbow Salad, and Grilled Jerk Chicken Torta. The guacamole was refreshing but just okay IMHO. The Rainbow Salad looked amazing, fresh, and beautiful. Flavors, however, were lacking. It was bland. The citrus vinaigrette was weak; the extra on the side simply tasted like lemon juice in vinegar and water. Not to mention there was only three pepitas, three little seeds. The jerk chicken was overdone, dry, and tough; I couldn't eat more than two bites. If it wasn't for the friendly server and apologetic manager who took the sandwich and half the salad off the bill, this would be one star. read more

Kaya - Rainbow salad ... beautiful looking! - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Well we made it back to Pittsburgh and once again found ourselves here. The atmosphere and food make this place a must stop when in the area. The service was great and the food was delicious. read more

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This place was great! My partner and I stopped in for dinner and it was packed but we were able to squeeze in at the bar. The bartender was great and very on top of things even though she was definitely slammed. We had the pineapple mango salsa to start which was delicious. I had the Original Cuban and my partner had the Grilled Jerk Chicken Torta. Both were excellent and the waffle fries were also excellent. Looking at some of the other dishes around us... everything looked good. Can't wait to go back! read more

Kaya - Original Cuban Sandwich - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Kaya continues to be a favorite of ours. Sometimes we get takeout, sometimes we eat there. Sometimes just for food, sometimes for cocktails as well. I do recommend making a reservation, especially if you are going during high traffic times. Often you could walk in and get a table or seats at the bar but I wouldn't count on it. We showed up just a few minutes before our reservation and were seated promptly. Though it was a bit hard walking past the bar. There was definitely a bit of a "rowdy" and loud crowd at the bar and a few of them were standing and blocking the path to walk. We did glance at the menu, though we were fairly sure of what we were going to order. We definitely have our favorites, but have tried some different dishes lately. We start with the corn and lentil beignets which came out nice and hot. They are crispy and flavorful but what really makes them is the green curry dipping sauce, which we usually order an extra of. On a few orders they have forgotten the extra or given us the wrong sauce so we try to double check on takeout orders now but when we got the complete wrong sauce Kaya did make it right. We also split the crispy tofu appetizer. This time the dish ate a bit dry, which isn't typical. This comes with a soy based sauce and then like a spicy aioli. There is definitely some spice to it, especially when you get a larger chunk of the peppers but it is well balanced in flavor. We also had the carrot and Brussels sprouts paella, which is the current vegetarian paella but they rotate the vegetables. It was delicious as always but we both wished there was more Brussels in it, especially as they had nice color and texture to them. We were stuffed so passed on dessert. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. Overall Kaya is a great place to grab dinner or some drinks and appetizers. They have a unique menu with many vegetarian and vegan options. They also have some great cocktails and have brought back some happy hour specials on them. read more

Kaya - Corn and Lentil Beignets (Vegan) - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Made my much anticipated return to Kaya this evening! Started with the queso appetizer that everyone at the table enjoyed! (look at that cheese pull!!) I had the mussels as my meal. Others enjoyed the tropical paella and fish tacos! Will definitely be back again. My only complaint would be that our server seemed pretty uninterested in being our server, but I can overlook that for the food! read more

Kaya - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great spot for a date night! Dim lighting, delicious food, full bar. We tried a few dishes: -Rainbow Salad: This was so colorful! Salads can sometimes be boring at restaurants or provoke a "ha, why would you get a salad when you're dining out?" reaction but this is far from boring. It's colorful, healthy, and delicious. Good even without a protein added. -Tropical Paella: Full of seafood and super delicious! -Jerked Half Chicken: Flavored really well, not too spicy. Chicken was cooked perfectly. Comes with avocado, plantains and tomatoes. Everything was really tasty and the ingredients were fresh. Service was great too. Prices are a little on the higher side so it's good for a special night out. read more

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Kaya has such a warm and inviting atmosphere with beautiful night out lighting. My boyfriend and I didn't know much about Caribbean food, but our waitress was incredibly kind and knowledgeable. She walked us through the menu and helped us choose the perfect dishes. The food was full of bold, fresh flavors and felt like such a great dining experience. We left already talking about when we'd come back. read more

Kaya - Queso Chorizo Fundito - Caribbean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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This place was on my must eat places the moment I started planning my weekend trip to Pittsburgh, but I was let down a little. I made a reservation , but decided to go earlier than expected and the hostess was so amazing and accommodating to work make us a table. Service was amazing. Regarding the food, I was a little overwhelmed by how much spices were used. The flavor was good, but as a person who does eat a little on the more softer-palate side, strong dry spice flavor wasn't best suited for my taste. I ordered: 1. Birria Cuban: the meat was dry, and the consommé was spicy but not flavorful. Definitely had better birria and consommé elsewhere 2. Tropical Paella: tasted a little burnt, but comes with lots of different seafood items. Didn't come out how I imagined but defined recommended sharing because it was a large portion of just paella 3. Conch and lentil beignet: enjoyed it, came with a green avocado like sauce? Pretty nice overall 4. Mussels (tropas) : really really enjoyed this! 5/5 would order again 5. Adobo marinated flank steak: it was okay, price to value was not that worth it. 6. Kaya juice was a nice addition read more

Oh gosh, I don't think 5 stars is enough. The front desk person at our hotel recommended this place to us and she was spot on! We went in for Sunday brunch and the place was packed but we only had about a 20 minute wait. The restaurant is bigger than it looks. It was a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere even with it being so busy. Our waiter was very friendly and also just... chill. I was looking forward to a bloody mary and this is one of the best I've had in a long time- even living in Los Angeles. It was spicy in the best way. Ha! After that, really it was all just gilding the lily but it was very gilded. Our food was delicious- we both ordered from the brunch menu. Even though we wanted to try at least half the menu! I wish I lived closer so I could try it all. I will definitely return if I am in the area again. Highly recommend! read more

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It's been a few years since I've gone to kaya & I Loved having it lunch today. The steak tacos were phenomenal & it's only been a few hours and I want more. The shrimp were so fresh in the entree. Can't wait to go back. Great service, great lighting! read more

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