I have long heard about this place and when the opportunity to go there presented itself I was eager to go.
First impression of the restaurant was the host (or manager even) who hurriedly told us it would be an hour and half wait for a table inside since we didn't have a reservation... Â I was confused though because as I looked around the dining room it looked to be only about 40% occupied.
We opted to be seated outside and our table was basically on top of Smallman St ...
The menu looked exciting and we ordered sangria, so things looked on the up and up. But... when we started eating all of our food was sort of just "alright" and very one note.
Don't know if I'll go back.
I love coming to Kaya, but it has never been quite as good as the first time.
We went yesterday and they appear to either have a new chef since we were here last summer or whoever does lunch does things a big differently.
The corn and lentil beignets looked mostly like battled fritters of whole corn kernels which is not how I remember them.
I ordered two entrees because I was worried by favorite dish might disappoint and I wanted to try something new and not reget it. So, to hedge my bets, I got both my favorite Jamaican Green Curry and a new item, Seasonal Vegetable Paella. Both were good, but the JGC is better. I wasn't wowed like I was the first time, but it was still very good.
I really liked this place. My husband and I went there on New Year's Eve, so it was a little crazy for that reason. The food was great though and pretty unique. The only problem I had was that the server hassled me about using a coupon that was completely valid, but her manager eventually signed off on it. I would definitely go back (preferably not on a holiday). The Big Burrito restaurant group always seems to be a safe bet, and this place exceeded my expectations.
Review Source:Wow, what a great restaurant. Â I live in Manhattan, so naturally I never thought I'd be raving about a restaurant in Pittsburgh. Â Veg paella was out of this world. Only $10, which wouldn't cover the tip on an equivalent meal in NYC. Â Outstanding service (but I came at an off hour). Indoor and outdoor seating were equally popular. Â Large selection of vegetarian entrees. Â No complaints.
Review Source:The staff inside of the restaurant was very nice. Smiling and saying hello as I passed through to meet my friend who was seating outside. The waitress at our table was probably one of the worst I've ever had, though.
I had my mixed drink and water within minutes of ordering it, which was great. (The mixed drink was basically entirely alcohol and I couldn't manage more than a few sips, so without me even asking, the waitress did remove it from my check at the end of the meal, which I did like/appreciate.)
I ordered a sprite to try to wash taste of the mixed drink from my mouth. About 25 minutes after ordering, I finally stopped the waitress while she was walking away from helping another table, to ask for the sprite again. I finally received it about 6 minutes after that.
My friend and I ordered an appetizer but we both only had a few bites as it was pretty horrible. (If I remember correctly, I believe it was three types of hummus and pita bread.) Everything on the platter was bitter while at the same time, tasted the way I imagine cardboard would taste. It was strange.
Our meals arrived about 15 minutes after ordering them, which was lovely. At that time, there were three of us and I think we were all pleased with our main meals. I ordered a burger with waffle fries. (I highly recommend the waffle fries.)
The burger was massive and I couldn't finish even half of it so I asked for a to-go package. The waitress took the plate and brought our check about 10 minutes later, without the packaged burger. I had to stop and grab her again on her way back from helping another table to ask her if the burger had been packaged. She brought it out and sort of tossed it into the table.
I don't think I will ever be eating there again. Well, maybe to order some waffle fries to go. (They were that good.)
I hear from friends all the time about how amazing Kaya is. It's difficult to get specifics out them or have them put it into words though. There's just something about the place as a whole that they are infatuated with. This could speak well for Kaya. Maybe they have the whole package??? My numerous experiences there over the years haven't impressed me the same. It is a fun spot to go to. There's something about saying you're going to Kaya that sparks up a little excitement in you. I'm not sure what that comes from. The food I think is way over priced. I've had their fish tacos, some kind of pork they swear by, and a quesadilla. Everything was good each time I've been there, but nothing to write home about. The interior is unique and a cool spot to hang out with friends for appetizers and some drinks. Maybe that's the source of the Kaya-love?
Review Source:On my epic voyage to Pittsburgh we had had friends take us via car (fancy) to a little district called the Strip. It's a unique, thriving little area that has definitely developed over the past few years. My sister says it was a completely different place ten years ago. You'll see vendors with fresh produce, breads, meats, cheeses, flowers, etc. Free samples from restaurants. Antiquing galore. I was digging it. Then we stopped in this restaurant to regroup everyone together for a drink and lunch.
I wasn't particularly starving so opted to split a dish with my sister. It was a vegetable Paella and it was most def. pretty delicious. There were chunks of fresh zucchini, pineapple, peas, carrots and melded well together. If I were more hungry I would have totally got this SUPER DELICIOUS looking slow cooked pork sandwich with banana! The guy across from me was eating it and he looked like he was creaming his pants over it. He said the banana and pork just melted together. A few people got the non-vegetarian paella, which looked better but more filling: chorizo, chicken, mussels, shrimp, scallops. A full freaking meal. They enjoyed it. Someone else had fish tacos and they looked supreme.
Drinks were pretty tasty too. I had a fancy mango mai tai. Only complaint is really the price for their cocktails is a little up there. $10 for a drink that was exceptionally fruity and not very strong is very New York. I was hoping for something very Pittsburgh. Second complaint is that the bathroom was a little way too dark. I almost couldn't find the toilet paper after coming in from the glaring sun to a low red lit bathroom. But that's not a biggie. This is a solid restaurant.
Planned on lunch there after reading the great reviews. Â We started with the black bean dip. Â When I noticed it was microwaved, we quickly paid our tab and went elsewhere to eat. Â This is a neat little place with a cool Jamaican atmosphere, but the really have to lose the microwave. Â I can make microwave dinners at home.
Review Source:Love the fish tacos here. They give you 3 tacos in a corn tortilla filled with crispy fish and cabbage slaw, avocado, and cilantro. The tortillas are apparently Reyna's tortillas which is the taco stand down the street which means they're freshly made corn tortillas. The tacos are a bit on the pricey end for the size of the tacos. $17 for three fish tacos.
The burger is probably worth more the price of $12. It's topped with all my favorite condiments: pickles, sunnyside up egg, avocado, tomato, and bacon. Also comes with Kaya chips which seems to be a mixture of potato chips and plantain chips.
My only complaint is the way they handle seating and reservations. It's pretty hard to come here without a reservation. Even if the restaurant is empty you might not be able to get in without a reservation.
They did accommodate us this one time when we had an extra person than what we originally said when we made a reservation. They seated us at a larger table but told us we had to finish within an hour or so. That was enough time and it was nice of them to allow us to switch tables rather than turn us away.
Pros:
- Strategic location right in the strip district
- Nice outdoor seating section
- Awesome beer list
- Very unique and inviting decor
- Sweet potato fries were the bomb diggity
Cons:
- Very disinterested / lackluster service
- Skimpy sandwich portions (all bread and no meat)
I ended up trying the Cuban sandwich based on a friend's recommendation and while the bread was amazing, the sandwich was really lacking due to the non-ideal ratio of bread to meat. Â There was a few small pieces of turkey/ham and a big ol' ciabatta roll. Â To me, the hallmark of a great sandwich is to have an ideal ratio of bread to meat. Â
Man law: no talking to another dude's girlfriend
Man law: a decent sandwich must have a 1:1 ratio of meat to bread.
Kaya desecrated that proven man law, as the sandwich was 95% bread.
I am a big cuban sandwich fan and I've tried quite a few of them over the years, but this one ranked very low on my list. Â
It wasn't really something I would order again. Â Even though it was a bit of a downer, I would still give this place another shot sometime. Â Next time, though, I will stay away from the sandwiches and go for something like chicken/steak.
Ah, one of my favorite sandwich combos in the burgh...
Pork and banana sandwich, with conch chowder and sweet potato fries. Â The combination of savory and sweet in all three make for one of those addictive meals that you inhale before you even have a change to realize what happened. Â The fiancee and I also periodically venture down for the standard Big Burrito brunch fare, which my eggs benedict didn't disappoint.
Great bar and a decent draft selection that's worth checking out every once in awhile.
I stopped by Kaya in my search for an amazing burger in Pittsburgh (spoiler: Winghart's won by a mile). Â The Kaya burger looked unique and delicious, so I set out across town to try one.
Maybe it was the beef (which did arrive cooked perfectly), or maybe it was just that the kaya sauce just didn't jive with the fried egg, pickles, and avocado. Â Whatever it was, while I enjoyed the burger (great bun, and delicious fries), it didn't WOW me like I had hoped it would.
The interior is super cute, and the service was good though the kitchen was slow. Â That gave me more time to drink, which is always fine, though Kaya's bar was a little on the light side for worthwhile beers.
3.5 stars, rounded down, but I will without question be stopping by Kaya next time I'm through Pittsburgh to try some of their other menu items. Â I expect great things.
Kaya has one of the very best happy hours in town, and the space inside is nice. Â
Pros:
Good happy hour
I will knife fight you for the last glob of the bean dip, it is THAT good.
Cons:
The service is iffy and the staff can be rude. Â Dont try going there without a reservaton and expect to be seated at a table without the hostess letting you know she is BOTHERED
The food is just ok. Â It is not great. Â In my opinion, this is the weakest of the Big Burrito's restaurants. Â I ordered Paella the last time I was there and it was so pungently fishy it was inedible and I had to send it back
If you dine here, stick to the appetizers and enjoy some good cocktails. Â I'll go here again, but this is not my favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh.
3.5, rounded up to 4 because CORN AND LENTIL BEIGNETS.
The main entrees didn't really impress us (Mahi mahi sandwich was a bit too dry for me, quesadillas were ok; disclaimer that we're from California?), but the corn and lentil beignets definitely did. I'm a big fan of cilantro, & that was pretty strong in the green curry sauce. I could rave (and eat) all day.
Friend & I joked about making a list about reasons to come back to visit Pittsburgh. Bottom line: beignets make the list.
The other Big Burrito restaurants are some of the pricier restaurants in town and I usually don't mind paying the extra money because the food is well worth it. Kaya has a lower price range but I still don't think the food is worth the amount they charge here. I had the conch chowder, which was fantastic, and the crispy fish tacos. The tacos were huge - I will give them that - but they were mostly packed with cabbage and impossible to eat without making a mess. I am a very experienced taco-eater and know some taco-eating tricks, but I tried just about everything including using silverware, and was quite unsuccessful. I was also bummed that they took the coconut milk cocktail off the menu - that was my favorite summertime cocktail in all of Pittsburgh. Oh well!
Review Source:I love Kaya. Absolutley love it! It's always on the list for options when we consider going out to dinner or brunch. It's that good. Â Been going here for years and have pretty much had everything on the menu and there is NOTHING I wouldn't order again! That good. Service is always superb (well, we had one visit when it was subpar but Monika the General Manager showed how much customer service means to them and took care of things for us! She's amazing!).
Starters for us always include the spicy bean dip or the lentil and corn beignets. Amazing. The greeny curry sauce for the beignets is the perfect complement to a superb dish! The conch fritters are not something you see elsewhere in the Burgh and worth a try! Entrees are spectacular and range from  crispy fish tacos with cabbage slaw (Highly recommended!) to jerk pulled pork quesadillas with that yummy jerked flavor, to specials like barramundi (which might have been the best fish dish I've had in years!) and skirt steak so tender it melts in your mouth.
And with all the burger talk in the city, don't sell Kaya short in that category! Oh no! The Kaya burger may be the best burger offering out there!! The juicy, perfectly cooked burger topped with fresh avocado, fried egg, Kaya sauce and whatever mystical ingredients they supplement it with is enough to make me dream of burgers! I've even ordered it for brunch! Yeah, I know - so good. The salmon eggs benedict for brunch is killer. KILLER!
And let's talk about alcohol, shall we? Happy hour cocktails and beer are half off. Cocktails are imaginative and super tasty. And the draft beer selection is among the best around! Huge selection of craft beers that rotate frequently. May be in the top two happy hours I've ever been too.
Love the atmosphere, the food, and the beer. I will keep coming back. And with a freee entree on my birthdays, here's hoping I'll be there for a long, long time!!
Every month a large group of friends (10-14) of us get together for dinner at a Restaurant unique to Pittsburgh. Â It's often times a slow and long dinner process because there are so many of us, but the service was great at Kaya, and I didn't notice that it took much longer for our large group to eat, than many of the smaller groups there. Â
We all started off with drinks, and all of the cocktails I tasted were delicious and high end (causing the prices to be high). Â Their Dark and Stormy was amazing, and something totally unique. Â
The food was also amazing, I had the jerked pork quesadillas, and not only were they delicious, but they were huge! Â Often times, when you order quesadillas at a restaurant, you have to get an appetizer to supplement your meal, but this was definitely not the case at Kaya. Â On a side note, their chips are heavenly, and while probably not the healthiest, they really didn't seem all that greasy and gross. Â
We were all too full to get dessert, but I would love to go back and try some sometime. Â
The majority of the meals were under $20, and even the more expensive meat options were under $30, so I would say a good price for the quality of food you're eating. Â
I would definitely recommend Kaya to anybody
Sooo that was a pretty fantastic sandwich...
Let me explain the pork and banana sandwich for you from bun to bun:
Slice: fluffy baguette
red onion
cilantro mayo
lime
slow cooked pulled pork
sliced plantains
Slice: fluffy baguette
**if you're one who enjoys the dynamic duo of savory and sweet - this dandy is for you!
According to our Pittsburgh hostess with the mostess, Rachel C, we HAD to order the sweet potato fries as they were some of the best in the city - and, she added, that they paired nicely with an order of the cilantro mayo. True and true! From the sidewalk looking in this place is extremely unsuspecting - I didn't even realize there was anything there until she swung the door open. Inside sits a Caribbean oasis tucked away in the heart of the Strip District. Warm lighting with a long bar that boasts tiki-style bar chairs and colorful walls. By ordering the "Todo en Uno" portion size I was able to have a smaller version of the sandwich with a side.
Rachel informed our crew that Kaya is a great spot for Happy Hours and that in her downtown working days she was a regular;) Next time, Rachel, - you + me + Kaya.
Kaya has great, exotic food. They offer a unique array of dishes and some of the best desserts I've ever had. They're vegetarian friendly. The staff is always very helpful and nice. If they're busy, you can get the full menu at the bar, which is a plus. Although it is a bit expensive, it is worth it for a nice evening out to celebrate!
Review Source:We were in town from Jamaica and decided to try Kaya. Music had a reggae flava with wonderful ambiance and scenery! Sampled 3 apps and the fish tacos entree. The salmon-crab cakes were fresh and delish along with the 3 green salad. The calamari was just ok as the ringlets were small and didn't taste the freshest.
The fish tacos (talapia) were served with soft tortillas and asked for my fish grilled and was filling and tasty.
Service was great, mildy pricy but rewarding. The only negative was the red sangria which wantde to be a real tasty drink but tasted more like enhanced kool-aid! :')
Overall a positive experience and will be back.
Every time we have a reservation for Kaya, I'm super excited and every time I see a friend check in there on Yelp, I'm jealous. Guess you could say I really, really love Kaya.
We've done brunch, dinners & even one of their special theme dinners over the years and I've got to put several of their dishes up there with some of the best food I've ever had: the jumbo lump crab omelette on a Mother's Day Brunch that had more crab than most lump crabmeat dinners & the crab and avocado appetizer served during their Creole themed dinner were standouts I will never forget, ever! Yeah, I really love crab and theirs was fresh and perfect! And silly as it may sound I had coconut grits as a side with a recent brunch that I can't stop thinking about. Who but Kaya could give you a side dish like that?
Delightful standbys as starters include the Yucatan hot bean dip, the ridiculously delicious tofu cracklins (and I'm not even a tofu fan but those converted me) or the lentil and corn beignets.
You can't go wrong ordering any of their lovingly and creatively prepared fish dishes, the fish or jerked tofu tacos or the Jamaican green curry vegetables with the black tiger shrimp. Lots of my family members love both the Kaya burger and the veggie Kaya burger. Personally there are too many other fun things on their menu for me to consider a burger.
Their Happy Hour half priced drink menu is also delightful! The grapefruit basil margarita calls my name regularly!
Service is typically a standout and on the rare occasion (1time) that it wasn't, their manager made sure we felt the Kaya love even more in the way she treated us. Phenomenal!!!!
Im sorry to say that I did not have a great experience here. Â I really wanted to like this place, I really did. Â Perhaps it was what I ordered but all the plates around me looked amazing, mine well.... not so much. Â I had fish tacos and asked them to be grilled instead of fried, perhaps that was the issue. Â They were awful and the portion was paltry. I was NOT impressed and the cost was high for what I got. Â However; I must say again that all the food around me looked really good. Â I will try this place again and order something different and Re-Yelp. Â Also the beautiful sunny day I was there, I sat outside and the service was horrible. Â The tables were not cleaned off and I sat unnoticed for about 10 minutes. Â With all the great reviews I am going to chalk my experience up to Kaya having a bad day or short staffed. Â I am hoping my next visit garners 4 stars.
Review Source:Leaving Yelp's Weeniefest at Franktuary a couple weeks ago, my wife and I slid over to Kaya in the Strip.
Due to Valentine's day the previous week, there was still some overflow in the weekend --- it was Sunday Night, and the hostess told us she was booked. Â We could eat at the bar, if there was room.......after the nice gentleman moved, there was just enough for the two of us.
Kaya is on the small side, with a limited number of tables, and a long bar. Â The bar seats a good 10-12 people, so my experience might not be so isolated. Â They have (18) different beers on tap.
The place is more modern and Caribbean in both flavor and decoration.
Service was fine at the bar, if maybe a little cold.
We had both Lentil & Corn Beignets in green curry and the chips with mango/tomatillo salsa. Â The beignets were very good, although there was a strong floral content in the curry sauce. Â The first thing that popped into my head was that it tasted like I was sucking on a glade plugin. While that was mostly just the first impression, I felt the need to post it. Â It's strong.
The mango tomatillo salsa and chips is a real winner, even at $7.
We had both the fish tacos and paella. Â The fish tacos were great...... and paella was fantastic! Â It had chicken, shrimp, mussels, scallops, chorizo sausage, brown rice al la jambalaya, and finished with pineapple. Â Great balance, the sweetness of the pineapple was nice against the rest of the savory ingredients.
Overall great experience, and we'll definitely go back again soon!
My first trip to Kaya was out of sheer Monday night dinner desperation. Â Having found that our first two restaurant choices were closed, my boyfriend and I headed aimlessly toward the Strip District. Â We were both getting pretty hungry and frustrated at this point (our fault...should have used the mobile Yelp app to look up restaurant hours!). Â We'd both heard good things about Kaya, so we decided to give it a shot.
We arrived right in time for Happy Hour (5-7pm, Monday thru Friday). Â I promptly ordered a pomegranate martini...good flavor, but I found it to be a little weak. Â My boyfriend and I were able to grab two seats at the bar, so we decided to order our food there as opposed to waiting 30-45 mins for a table. Â I went with the Jamaican Green Curry Vegetables, while my boyfriend ordered the Fish Tacos. Â By this time, the Happy Hour crowd had begun to clear out, and our food arrived quickly.
I really enjoyed my Jamaican green curry. Â It had a much different flavor than the green curry I typically order at Thai restaurants, but was very tasty. Â It was served with some fluffy saffron rice. Â The bf loved his crispy fish tacos, which was great because the portion size was large. Â I tried a bite myself and had a bit of food envy. Â Next time!
I found Kaya to be my favorite of the Big Burrito restaurants that I've been to. Â I can't wait to go back and sample a few more items from the menu. Â Although my boyfriend and I had been tired and frustrated when we first walked in the door, we found that our mood had been greatly improved by our overall experience here. Â Thanks Kaya!
After seeing the ridiculous line at Primanti's we used Yelp to find this cute little Caribbean place. Although tiny inside, the atmosphere was very relaxing. The drink menu had a lot of interesting options on there. We started with the fried conch (excellent). I then had the paella, which was filled with chicken, chorus, mussels, scallops and lots of vegetables and pineapple. The paella was great and it was the perfect size for a lunch portion so that I didn't feel like it was going to waste. Travis L. had the jerked pulled pork quesadilla, which went really well with the spiced slaw on top. The service was excellent and the owner is an incredibly friendly women that makes an effort  to see that all of her patrons are pleased.
Review Source:Kaya is on my "Top 5" list in Pittsburgh for sure. Â Anything I have ever had here has been wonderful. Â My absolute favorite thing here is the fried tofu plate that they have on fried chicken nights now--it's hard to make something like tofu taste this amazing! Â (And probably totally unhealthy as well). Â
I also like the kaya veggie burger, the black bean dip, any fish I've ever eaten here, and don't even get me started on the cocktail menu...it's SO hard to decide! Â Even if you don't think you like Caribbean food or spicy things, give it a shot. Â There's something for everyone and I will come back until I've tried everything, and probably more times after that! Â It's wonderful!!
I was really worried coming here for brunch. It was like seeing a friend after a very long time. You're pretty sure you're still going to like them, but something could go terribly wrong and you'll be disappointed at the hope of a long lasting relationship.
Kaya is my go to joint for happy hour. Hands down they have thee best happy hour in the city. I mean, half off EVERYTHING! Even shots (okay, things get a little crazy when you enter that into the equation). And, of course, if you're drinking it up you also have to get some nourishment. Coming here so much, I've gone down the menu with my meals and not-a-one has let me down! All amazing... Big shout out to the Fish Tacos.
I'd heard how good brunch was, but I really wanted it to live up to the normal Kaya standard. You can see why I'd be nervous. If they ruined something as sacred as brunch, what would be left? Maybe I'm being too dramatic, because you know I'd be back at that bar once it hit 5pm, but still... I was expecting a stellar meal.
I'm happy to report, they delivered, and then some! There were a handful of items that stood out to me, but the Salmon Eggs Benedict was the true winner. I believe the key item being corn bread instead of a biscuit. LOVED. IT. Every bite. The cornbread made the dish, but the hollandaise was a close second (you can't mess with a good sauce!). Eggs were perfect and salmon was smokey. The side dishes held their own with juicy sweet sauteed pineapples and a spicy potato hash. I really wanted to lick my plate clean.
They can do no wrong in my book. Come for brunch, stay for lunch and exit after dinner. You'll probably want to throw up after a full day spent eating and drinking at Kaya, but it will have been worth it, I swear!
In the middle of the previous week, I had yet another concert to attend at Altar Bar. Kaya had been on my brain for months, and I was on a mission of sorts to try them out, but all I knew was that they were on Smallman Street.
I strolled down Smallman, a road that for the first quarter or so is pure industrial loneliness, particularly after dark. I passed Kelly O's: Closed as was Smallman Street Deli. I almost went into Marty's Market, shiningly new that it is, but  Kaya had me under a spell, whispering to me on a soggy Wednesday night as watery, formless headlights floated towards me, "Before your show, you must come and taste...the Caribbean, boy..."
But I couldn't find her!
Dodging cars, I trudged forward. Knowing that I was getting close to Altar Bar, I was about to settle for another nearby restaurant...until I heard those rhythms, those beats...
It was Kaya, and she was waiting for me.
I opened the door and immediately felt as if I had entered a houngan or shaman's converted urban hideout. Masks of wood and dolls of straw hung in the gloomy, sultry, but lively and welcoming atmosphere. Businessmen dined amongst slackers. Professors and students ate alongside...me, the anomaly.
Autumn, my server, casually approached my table, her eyes smiling, glistening in the brown darkness.
"I looked up the menu online, I already know what I want," I told her.
"Shoot," she replied.
"I want the Cuban Sandwich." I chose it since I didn't see it mentioned or photographed on Yelp yet, and it was cheap.
"Dining alone?" Autumn was perplexed by my solitude.
"Well yeah. I'm meeting friends at a show."
"Wiz Khalifa!" she blurted. Pittsburgh's hip-hop son and lover of Mary Jane was in town that night.
"No, it's Sonata Arctica."
"Who?"
"They're a power metal band from Finland."
"Oh. Ummm, is that your scene?"
"I guess."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"No, it's cool. I'm just not used to it being put that way."
"Metallica changed everything you know?"
"Yes, they did, didn't...they?"
Just as the conversation was getting...awkward (There was a tension between her and I for some reason, initially only. Hipster vs. metalhead?), I requested a side dish of fried plantains. Alas, there was no such thing on the menu that evening, but with a desire to please, Autumn rushed back to the kitchen and brought me two plantain chips.
"These are on the house," she assured. And crispy and sweet they were. Immediately, our dissimilar musical tastes became irrelevant and all that mattered was our shared love of food.
"It's cool that you like plantains," she gushed. "I don't know why we don't sell them. Maybe next time."
That's when she recommended the Conch Chowder to accompany my sandwich, and a fine luncheon foil it was. Not having ever had conch before, I wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised to find that it was akin to a clam that was more "to the teeth" if you dig. The milky broth never coated my tongue enough to miss the conch's oceanic flavors, nor did it allow the subtle nibble of the poblano peppers to go undetected. Sweet potatoes and corn merely disappeared and resurfaced in the pale liquid, frolicking like children in a swimming pool, adding texture and sugar to the warm, solacing, tropical stew, rounding it out if you will.
Guilefully dimidiated on a bias, plated in a manner that creates the illusion of height, and served with a bowl of shocking orange chipotle aioli and some sour pickle chips, Kaya's Cuban Sandwich is street food morphed into haute cuisine through presentation alone. Tastewise, it is genius immaterial of where or how it is served and eaten. The turkey, pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and mustard are stacked in a deliberate sequence between with the flaky cuts of elongated baguettesque bread. I applied the pickles at Autumn's request and dredged each half of the sandwich through the ochreous, spicy cream before every bite, experiencing grains, sugar, salty proteins, dill, sharp cheese, and piquancy as actualized in the most exotic yet humble grinder you're likely to find in Pittsburgh.
Once again looking to my mod, new, platonic acquaintance for guidance, I chose as my dessert (Kaya doesn't list them online for some reason) the Pistachio Pumpkin Pie. Served with a tantalizingly tart cannelle of cream cheese ice cream, a caramel glaze, and shards of pistachio brittle, it was apparent that "pie" was a misnomer. No, upon seeing and tasting this mildly decadent pastry, it seemed more like a dense, raisin-studded muffin in composition. By itself, this pumpkin cake would satisfy a mid-morning hunger with coffee, but when paired with such creative companions in the aforementioned candy and frozen dairy product, it became a stroke of the sublime. With that, my affair in the Lesser Antilles had ended. Kaya, you haunt me...
P.S. Autumn was efficient, accommodating, adorable, and didn't charge me a dime for the chowder. You are groovy, girl.
My husband's and my good friend had his birthday party here last weekend. I was so excited to finally try this restaurant that I've been wanting to try for at least a year or two!
We arrived at 6pm on Friday night and made sure to have a couple drinks before the 5-7pm half off happy hour (Monday-Friday!) was over. I ordered both the Red Sangria and White Sangria, but sadly just got two Red Sangrias. I was tempted to complain but didn't feel like bothering. I enjoyed the drinks and thought it was a good deal for $4 each.
We started with the Mushroom Saute. Wow! Delicioso! I could've eaten a huge bowl of this stuff. I absolutely love mushrooms and plantains, and the amazing, hearty sauce on this saute was to die for. Next, we split the Tropical Paella entree. The kitchen split our meal onto two different plates, which I thought was really nice. The portion size was enormous considering we both had a nice amount after splitting it in half. The paella was good, but personally, it had too much Caribbean spice for my taste. I definitely prefer a less spicy paella, like the dish you would get at nearby Mallorca in the South Side.
After an amazing appetizer and good dinner, we ordered the Chocolate Bread Pudding and were blown away! It was the perfect dessert after a hearty, Caribbean-style meal. The bread pudding was a great, bread-like (not mushy) texture and had the perfect balance of chocolate and bread.
I had a great time at Kaya and was not disappointed, even after waiting a couple years to finally try the restaurant. I look forward to going back very soon!
Ok I've been to Kaya a few times, my review comes about 40 minutes from leaving there. First off
1.BEST MOJITOS IN TOWN.... its hard to find a bar in these parts familiar with the Mo, let alone that it should be served with fresh mint, muddled with simple syrup and the right kind of Rum. Kaya does not fail here.
2. Jerk chicken wings, pulled pork Quesadilla, and calamari are lovely, I am not overly familiar with this cuisine. But I feel like they hit the right mix of flavors here a little spice, a little peanut, sometimes coconut mixed in. Nothing overly done. I've also tried the Jerk tofu tacos, nice and still flavorful for the vegan or vegetarian.
3. Best Customer Service, so I ate there with a friend tonight, who can be picky. She first asked for the jerk tofu done as jerk chicken tacos, A dish not on their menu but they accommodated. The chicken in the tacos was blackened, as Jerk meat often is she did not care for it. She asked for the wings, they came back and she again felt they were burnt although she began eating them anyway, when the waitress asked how were they? I promptly ordered another drink thinking I was settling in for a long night. My friend replied she felt they were burn but i could see the meat was tender, and why would she eat one if they were burnt?
Again the kitchen and wait staff accommodated and brought her a dish of her choice, she went with creme brulee. Then out of the blue the manager who had already once rushed to her unsatisfied side, said they would be picking up our tab. This was not necessary as we told them we were happy with the rest of the food we ordered and we would be back. We put our cash together for a tip for the waitress and thanked them again.
I feel guilty for my free meal i completely enjoyed and would have paid for, Kaya I will be back and not just for your fabulous Mojitos and excellent customer service.
I went to Kaya hoping to have a nice relaxed evening. The blue mussels were bland, the black bean dip was tasteless (until our efforts, see below), and the tofu cracklins were soft and soggy.
Ah, but I must say that the waitstaff did their best. Unfortunately they can't make up for the failings of the kitchen. Â After getting the tasteless black bean dip, we were determined to have something edible, as it was too late to head elsewhere. So we gave the waitress our requests, and she soon returned with chopped cilantro, chopped onion, salt, pepper, and chopped hot pepper. After mixing those in the appropriate amounts, we finally had something edible.... though I'm giving the restaurant no points for the work we did.
... a shame too, because we've visited before and the food was quite enjoyable.
Enjoyed a Tuesday evening dinner while our daughter and friends attended the J Biebs concert.
 Tried the Crispy Calamari  which was terrific. Awesome taste combination with the apple, peanut, coconut and vinaigrette. We also had the Cuban sandwich  and  the Jamaican Green Curry Vegetables. I really enjoyed the Cuban sandwich but my wife was not a big fan of her veggie dish.
 We were also there in time to partake in the drink happy hour which we were ALL fans of!
 Great place and very friendly staff. Stop and check it out when you find yourself in the Strip!
Been here several times for happy hour with people from out of town. During that time the drinks are very reasonably priced, so that you'll end up pretty happy. They all tend to be tropical and interesting, not your usual cocktails.
I can only recomend for this purpose, although i have heard that the food is not bad, either. Will have to test that!
Kaya has long been a staple in Pittsburgh, back when the strip district was hopping with clubs like Metropol and Rosebud. Sadly those days are over, the clubs have gone, a hotel is up, and the vestiges of local flavor known as the Strip are slowly fading into something more homogenized. Â But Kaya remains true.
Who would have thought a west indian restaurant would even have a chance in pittsburgh, but that's a testament to Big Burrito company. While some of their other places (like Mad Mex in Mt Lebanon) have gone downhill, Kaya is still top notch.
They change their menu around, but have kept the classics. Conch fritters are stupid delicious and have been since the late 90's. Â Black bean dip varies in hotness but is always great. We ordered a bunch of tapas last time and they were all good, minus the beignets which were a little too al dente on the inside.
Wine list is pretty good, too.
The service-- especially from Chaz (name?) is the way service should be: attentive without being obnoxious, honest and friendly.
The only complaint is with most restaurants these days: über loud. That and the fact they no longer serve BBQ alligator which was a real treat back in the day.
Oh and be sure to make a reservation, as you'll need one .
You mix the lime and the coconut, you shake it all up...
Alright this is the wrong song but the food here was fantastic. Â I had some folks in town and decided to adventure the Strip District. Â I picked the wrong time (after 6pm). Â Â I quickly accessed my Yelp 911 app on my phone and found Kaya a few steps away.
We walked in and were met by the Hostess. Â She explained the place was completely booked for the evening with reservations. Â She did mention we could eat at the bar. Â There were just enough spots for our group.
I knew this was going to be a long night so I was wearling my big boy pants and was ready for some festivities. Â I ordered our group some drinks and appetizers. Â
I am used to beer and wine flights. Â Kaya offers Rum flights. Â Â I boarded this pupply and went on the smokey flight while my friends went on the sweet and traditional flight. Â We had a great pairing of appetizers (corn and lentil beignets, mango salsa, and calamari).
The dinner  - I ordered the Flank Steak (recommended by the bartender).  It was marinated for 2 days!  The steak was very tender and the meal was awesome.
Atmosphere: Â Very trendy with lots of people. Â Awesome atmosphere
Price; Â Price can run you for an entree anywhere from $15-25 on average
Food: Â Great , wow, yummy ...
I strongly recommend this place. Â I hope you like it as much as I did. Â (Please note that this owned by a restaurant group (Big Burrito) who own Eleven, Casbah, etc...)
I have no idea why I never got around to reviewing Kaya seeing as it's been a staple in my Pittsburgh restaurant rotation since I moved here. In fact, it was the first "nice" meal I had in Pittsburgh, before I even made my official move...I celebrated my 21st birthday here! Although it's not one of my very very favorite spots in the 'burgh, the food is consistently good and the Carribean-inspired fare is something that I normally wouldn't gravitate toward, so it's nice when I want something a bit different than the standard "New American."
I mostly come here for their brunch, and one of the big reasons is that it's served until 3pm! The only thing is, make sure you show up at least 15 minutes before that...the "brunch kitchen" closes at 3 o'clock sharp, unlike sister restaurant Casbah, which seats for brunch until 2pm but won't rush your ordering. Anyway...my favorite thing on the brunch menu is the roasted pork benedict with grilled pineapple. The Chilaquiles (basically, breakfast nachos) are also delicious, weird as they may sound. And the Kaya Burger is always a safe choice.
The dinner menu changes, so I've never ordered the same thing twice here. But everything I have had has been great. One of my favorite apps is the corn and lentil beignets--if you like spicy, get them! They also have a pretty large and super fun (read: girly) cocktail menu, and since they are tropical in nature, it's totally okay to imbibe at any time of the day! That's how that works, right? Riiight...?
They have a fried chicken night on Thursdays that a lot of people like. Kinda makes me wish I liked fried chicken so I could try it but I'm weird like that!
3.5 stars.
"Pittsburgh Magazine" listed Kaya as one of the top 25 restaurants of 2011, so I was really looking forward to our lunch there. Â Maybe we visited on an off day, but overall, I thought the food was pretty bland.
It was nice to sit outside and people-watch on the Strip, tho, and the White Sangria was excellent with fresh orange juice and bits of crisp green apple. Â The service was top-notch, too. Â When our first batch of Corn and Lentil Fritters came out with sticky, liquefied batter still in the middle, our server was most apologetic. Â And the manager herself came over to apologize as well and let us know the appetizer would be removed from the bill. Â Wonderful. Â I would have been happier if the fritters had more zing, tho. Â The green curry sauce that accompanied them was phenomenal and completely outshone them.
Speaking of green curry sauce, I ended up dousing my Jerked Tofu Tacos with the remainder of it. Â When I hear "jerk" I think of that puckery vinegar tang and that punch-you-in-the-mouth Scotch bonnet heat. Â I think "FLAVOR." Â Kaya's tacos were pretty tame and unremarkable. Â And before you go all pooh-poohing and saying something about how tasteless tofu is, what did I expect? -- I've had some mighty flavorful tofu dishes in my time! Â Husband had the Pulled Pork and Banana Sandwich, an interesting pairing which he seemed to enjoy. Â However, the accompanying sweet potato fries were flaccid. Â Don't you just hate a flaccid fry?
With so many fabulous restaurants in Pittsburgh and so little time each visit, I don't feel tempted to return to Kaya. Â Big ups for the great service, tho.
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