Kaya Street Kitchen

I got the Beef UP Signature bowl– it’s Thai Beef in a yummy coconut curry sauce in a bowl over your choice of different flavored rices including coconut lime flavored rice or a salad. I got my bowl over a kale salad with a tasty cucumber/​onion condiment in a peanut dressing. It was really good and was about $ 8.80 for the bowl. Decent price for how big the bowl was. It felt like I was eating healthy but the beef in the Thai sauce was far from healthy but so good. They also had other choices one of them I was contemplating against was a shrimp and pork meatball bowl and another was the California bowl which had avocado in it. So many tasty options and the guy behind the counter seemed to know the food well enough to give good options to the people coming in. They also have a tasty hot Sambal Olek sauce you should get on the side to add to your bowl for some heat– really tasty stuff.

I Use to love this place (use to get take out 4 – 5 times a week). They had the best tofu and as a vegetarian it is really hard to find good tasting tofu. I use to love the the tofu but they recently changed it and made it creamy and it just doesn’t taste right anymore:/ will once again be a forever customer of they bring it back. Would also be cool if they brought corn tortillas for all us gluten free people.

Stopped by on the road back to san diego. Their lychee tea shaved really bad and no taste. I would not have paid for that tea because I could make it better from my kitchen with some simple sugar and fresh lychee syrup.
Their superbowl just some corn and no taste as well. No recommended. Also one Asian waitress was really rude to me. She asked me «no tip ?» — C’on America-​siannnnn!

Pretty great for street style food. Fast and hit the spot. Service at night was excellent. Answered questions knowledgeably and accommodated needs.
For what the place is, it was good.

Kaya has been bookmarked for quite a while, and after going to LACMA nearby, I finally decided to check it out. Parking is street parking (but watch for restrictions via street signs!) and if it’s after hours, at the nearby Wells Fargo bank. The restaurant is small and there are a bunch of small tables along the side and back of the restaurant.
We ordered the «Chicken This Out» and the «Meat Ballin.» My verdict for the food is… aside from the meatball, it just tastes like a large portion of stuff put together in a bowl, and the flavors didn’t mix well at all… but that’s just my opinion. I will say though, that the service was great– the staff greeted us when we entered and helped explain the dishes/​ingredients to us! The price was affordable too. I don’t want to steer anybody away from this restaurant since it has a lot of things going for it, but it just wasn’t our cuppa tea!

After trying ShopHouse, which is basically Chipotle’s answer to this sort of fusion cuisine, I was looking forward to see what Kaya had in store.
Walking in, it looked a lot like many of the other «fast casual» restaurants. Parking can be a bit of an issue, depending on the time of day, but I found a meter spot not too far away on a Sunday. The seating layout can nicely fit about 15 – 20 people (inside and out). There was no restroom accessible to customers, which is a bit strange and unacceptable for a restaurant.
The food was ok. Nothing exceptional. The flavors weren’t as strong as I was expecting, which might be a good thing for some people, but I personally prefer some of the stronger tastes you get with traditional Thai or Vietnamese food.
Overall, I gave it three stars because it was pretty average. Not a bad place, from my experience, but nothing exceptional.

I found a long piece of hair in my food :/
A lot of people are comparing Kaya street kitchen to Chipotle. I can see the similarities but Kaya is a lot different. Everything on the menu is packed with flavors. I decided to customize my bowl with green tea noodles, chicken, meatballs, corn, and salsa. There are vegetarian options as well, although I found the tofu to be too salty. The bowl looked small but was surprisingly very filling. You can choose up to two protein options (it’s extra if you want a third). I highly recommend the meatballs! I will definitely come back for the meatballs alone. However, the guy serving me seemed annoyed when I was asking him basic questions about the menu. There was no one behind me so I don’t know why he wasn’t very friendly. I asked about the free tote bag with check in and he reluctantly gave me one after giving me some attitude.
Besides that and finding hair in my food, I would still come in again just to compare my experiences. It’s good and relatively cheap food near the Grove.

One of my favorite restaurants. Period.
I work in Santa Clarita and live in the valley so it’s tough to get myself some Kaya Street Kitchen but whenever I drive by Los Angeles I do my best to get some of it. Their service is really on point and the food tastes so good!
Top three things I love:
1. Their portions — they’re not stingy with the portions.
2. Tastes fantastic! The assortment of veggies along with the juicy choices of meats… just awesome.
3. The meatball. Amazing!
Please open one up in the valley! Northridge/​Porter Ranch/​Santa Clarita!

Touted as the superior Asian-​style Chipotle, Kaya Street Kitchen has been bookmarked for a while. Stopped by for a casual dinner before heading to The Grove (only a few minutes away!). Not a huge fan of the décor… when you first walk in the place just seems like another fast food restaurant and the tables and chairs are boring and uncomfortable. The workers here were super friendly though and even let me sample the beef since I was having a hard time choosing my protein.
How it works: choose your base (white rice, brown rice, salad, or green tea soba noodles), protein (beef, tofu, shrimp and pork meatballs, chicken) then as many toppings and sauces you want. So the flavors definitely get a bit confusing because all of the proteins are heavily flavored and sauced then there are a ton of topping offerings which all have their own sauces and flavors. Since the toppings are unlimited you inevitably want to try them all (or at least I did…) and then you get such a crazy amalgamation of flavors that each bite tastes different and you’re not sure exactly what flavors you are eating haha. However, the ingredients all tasted pretty fresh and were individually delicious. I want to come back and try to make a more cohesively flavored bowl next time. The pork and shrimp meatballs were super unique and delicious. Chicken was very well cooked and the least overpowering in regards to sauce. The sauce for the beef was really rich and yummy (almost reminds me of Indian curry) but the actual beef itself was a bit tougher than I prefer. The portion is on the bigger side so it’s a good deal!

I would not discourage anyone from eating here, but it’s not a place I would return to.
I just did not like the taste of the food that much.
The red meat and rice were subpar.
Give it a try though, it may satisfy your palate better than mine.
Basically $ 10 per person.
No public bathroom in this restaurant.
Staff are nice folks.
They are not responsive to dirty tables. All were dirty with few customers in the restaurant Sunday night and no one cleaned them our entire meal. We wiped off our own.
You stand to order and subway style you pay at the end of the assembly line.
Not a date place unless you are in high school.
Park at meters.
It’s across from the Price is Right entrance at CBS studios.

I have to admit I love places like this where you can build your own meal! I choose the ginger green tea noodles as a base with lemongrass beef and other toppings.
The noodles were great really delicious! I didn’t enjoy the beef as much as the noodles, don’t get me wrong it’s good but the noodles were great!
They definitely need though either to hire more people or for the current staff to work a little faster… Other than that it’s good place for a quick healthy bite!

I have been eyeing Kaya for months and was really excited to finally have a day off to stop by and try it. Sadly, I was left wanting a little more.
The restaurant itself is small and has maybe 3 or 4 tables, bar seating and some outdoor tables, like a quick stop or a to-​go spot. Perhaps I caught the staff on an off day (Sunday?), but they seemed rushed and uninterested. I let them know it was my first time there and didn’t receive any feedback about how to interpret the menu, but that’s fine.
To be fair, my experience may also be based on possible bad pairing since they have quite a few options for both bases, proteins and toppings. I tried the meatballs with coconut rice and really wished there was more of a flavorful sauce to tie it all together. I wasn’t a big fan of the salsa and slaw toppings since they clashed in flavor, but I did like their garlic kale and corn toppings.
I was also really excited to try the lychee mint lemonade after reading about it online, but was disappointed to see that it wasn’t fresh (they had it pre-​made in a fridge and didn’t add any ice) and it was just okay.
The positives are that you get a large portion for the price ($ 7 – 9 depending on protein choice) but I would recommend those seeking similar Asian fusion to try out Komodo instead.

I tried the place twice. The first time I felt like I went overboard with different toppings and sauce, it was way too salty. So when I went back the second time, knowing how much seasoning their toppings had, I decided not to have additional sauce. Maybe I’m just not putting right combination of things together, but I just didn’t fully enjoy my meals both times — I had brown rice, meatballs, kale salad, and some crushed peanuts on top. They don’t sound too awful together, do they?
The staff is friendly and usually there is plenty seating area.

Asian Chipotle! Exactly what came to mind when I saw the large menu in front of the line — minus the burrito option. Definitely a great place for people who want a healthier option for asain fusion food without sacrificing the flavor.
FOOD:
You get to choose you own:
1) Carb: asian flavored white or brown rice or a mix of green in a form of a bowl or tacos
2) Protein: satay chicken, coconut lemongrass beef, shrimp and meatball and tofu (for the vegetarians)
3) unlimited asain fusion veggie toppings
Price ranges from $ 7 – 9
SERVICE:
We were greeted upon entrance and after discovering it was our first time here, the server explained the menu and how the chain works. Everyone here was super friendly and we were wished a good night at the end of our meal.
AMBIANCE;
Pretty small interior with window bar table for pairs and singles, tables for small and large groups also located on the outside. Also, drinks are self serve. The only down side to this place is the lack of a bathroom.

«It’s a Small World After All!»
Short Version of this Review:
Go eat here! It’s recommended to me by my new Unilocal friend, Jeff T. of Oakland, CA, who I met on Oahu!
Long Version:
I took my mom to eat shave ice after her birthday lunch. This friendly lady started talking to us and introduced us to her 2 sons. They were all visiting Oahu and wanted to know where they should eat. I mentioned Unilocal,and Jeff T. and I became instant friends! I read his reviews and bookmarked places that sounded interesting.
Fast forward one month — I was vacationing in LA when my friend, Tim C., asked where I wanted to eat. I whipped out my Unilocal app, checked my bookmarks, and replied, «Kaya Street Kitchen». Tim had never heard of it. Somehow, he trusted me, and I had trusted Jeff, so we ended up here! It turned out to be a pleasant surprise!
The reviews state that this place is like an «Asian Chipotle». Since we don’t have Chipotle in Hawaii (yet), I had to look it up! Basically, you get to create your meal in 4 steps:
1. Decide if you want Bowl or Taco style — Bowl for me, please!
2. Add protein — I had the Lemongrass Steak — yum!
3. Choose your veggies — I got the Garlic Kale and corn. Next time, I will get them ALL!
4. Pick your toppings and/​or sauces — Garlic Chips — yes!
We found free street parking, right in front of the restaurant. It was later in the evening and less crowded. The food selections were neatly displayed and the service was helpful and patient. It was a unique and fun dining experience for me, and now that I have a better understanding of the system, I’d be willing to go back for more!
Mahalo for the Great Review, Jeff! Keep on Unilocaling!

I came to Kaya Street Kitchen to try their kaya toast this morning. I have been craving and missing kaya toast and a lot of people have been recommending this place.
It’s not hard to miss this restaurant because their sign is pretty noticeable from the road. There’s street parking but I parked at the Wells Fargo parking lot for a bit. (I did withdraw money so I didn’t feel too bad parking here).
It’s a small restaurant and the atmosphere felt very relaxed. The staff were really nice too so that’s always good. They play some really dope music as well, classic r&b and some smooth jazz in the mix. I know they are known for their rice bowls but I came specifically for the toast (will need to come back to try their actual meals). I ordered the kaya toast and their lychee mint iced tea. All together it was only $ 7 and then some change.
So on to the toast… it was pretty damn good! You get a generous portion in my opinion. The coconut egg jam itself was delicious and not too sweet and the toast was nice and crispy. The lychee mint iced tea was so refreshing in the heat. I could’ve probably ate 5 more of them but I had to restrain myself.
I had a good experience. I will definitely be coming back for more kaya toast as well as to try their rice bowls!

ooooooh, so good! I came here last weekend with a girlfriend and this place is an asian chipotleee! I’ll admit that I was a litttlee overwhelmed because there were SO MANY OPTIONS to choose from, so I wasn’t too sure how to create a «Perfect Kaya Bowl»
FOOD:
Had the Lychee Mint Tea, it was interesting. It was definitely good for a first try, but it wasn’t great where I would want to get it again.
My Kaya Bowl was honestly a complete mix of flavors. but it was good individually! I had the meatballs and the brown basil rice. with a lot of other stuff, don’t recommend my combo: P
LOCATION & PARKING:
It’s on a busy street so you might miss it and have to make a U to get to it depending on which side of the street you’re coming on. Right behind the plaza it said the parking was for ONLY the Nutrition shop. so we didn’t take the chance and found a free spot in the residential area, about a 3 minute walk. Not too bad.
SERVICE:
Very friendly! The guy noticed that this was our first time and walked us through the menu and even allowed us to sample some of the food!
CONDIMENTS:
— Sriracha
— Thai Chili
— Soy Sauce
— Asian Chili Pepper
SEATING:
Two tables outside and a booth like wooden bench against the store for additional seating.
About ten tables inside, and five bar seats looking out the window.

Chipotle, you have competition! Well. not really, but sort of. More so, SHOPHOUSE YOU HAVE COMPETITION!
Kaya street kitchen is known for their southeast asian flavors and dishes. You can either create your own bowl with rice/​salad or have it as tacos. It’s similar to chipotle in that you chose your protein, move to the sauces, and have an assortment of veggies/​toppings.
What I love about Kaya is their bold flavors and eclectic flavors. Their meatballs are to die for! They’re also very generous with the portions. Personally, I would suggest sampling all the different proteins and being selective about the sauces and toppings, it can either mix very well or leave you with a weird assortment of flavors
This is a small joint, so a few tables for sitting. Probably better for takeout. Prices are great, all items under $ 10. The location is not most ideal given that it’s down the street from the grove and parking of fairfax sucks. Other than that, I would totally recommend this place for a quick bite filled with protein, veggies, and carbs (if you dont go with the salad).

Delicious and refreshing! The menu is set up like an Asian Chipotle. You choose either a bowl or tacos, then add a protein, some veggies and toppings. They have some signature combos, if you don’t feel like making your own.
I went with the beef up combo which is a bowl of coconut lime rice, lemongrass coconut steak, asian slaw, garlic kale, sambal corn, and some crispy garlic. I also got the lychee mint tea. The bowl was light and tasted healthy. All the ingredients marinated well together and I really liked everything in my bowl. My drink was too sweet and you couldn’t taste the mint.
I really like how easy it is to order and I think any combo would be great!

Have had this place on my food wish list for awhile, and finally came by for dinner last night. I had planned to get the Super Bowl (bowl with beef, chicken, and meatballs) after doing some «research» on Unilocal but when I got there the beef and chicken didn’t look too appealing so I went with the meatballs and I’m glad I did! I got the meatball bowl with half brown rice and half salad (def recommend to get some carbs, but lighter feeling), and all the salads (big plus for them allowing you to pick all the veggies at no additional cost), with the medium spicy sauce (delish, and it wasn’t spicy). The meatballs were juicy and delicious! Loved all the salads especially the kale and jicama! Loved all the flavors, there was just so much going on-​in a good way! BF got the Super Bowl so I got to try the chicken and beef but meatball was def my fave so I’m happy I stuck with my gut.
I was not a fan of the lychee mint tea, it was too sweet for my taste and wasn’t the iced tea I was expecting. I could barely taste the mint. It was much better after I mixed in a bunch of water and ice, but I won’t be ordering this next time.
Great service, everyone was super nice and explained everything to us first timers!

Very fresh and tasteful food. Asian improved Chipotle is the best way to describe this place. Do not miss the shrimp meatballs, at leat ask for a free sample!