Kai Japanese Roots

3.8 (26)

$31 to $50

Japanese

542 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

About this restaurant

Romantic
Innovative
Neighborhood gem

Kai Japanese Roots offers a Elevated Izakaya dining experience, and only the highest quality sushi grade fish. Featuring Sushi, Robata and a creative Japanese tapas, we pay homage to classic sushi and innovate with an extensive and changing chef's menu of cooked dishes. Kai Japanese Roots is located in the Historic Core of Downtown LA , offering a beautiful setting, and a menu perfect for a date night or hangout spot. Full bar along with extensive Japanese Whisky and sake list.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese, Izakaya, Sushi
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(213) 232-4900
Website
http://www.kaijapaneseroots.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Jake Kim
Private party facilities
We have a private mezzanine with seating for up to 30, perfect for private or corporate events. For parties of 12 or more, please send us a message and we'll be glad to talk to you about it.

Location
542 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Neighborhood
Downtown
Cross street
Between 5th & 6th on Broadway (Spring Arcade Building)
Parking details
Available on Adjacent Sprint Street
Public transit
Next to Perishing Square Station off the Metro Red LineParking Available on Street, or parking lots on Spring St between 5th &; 6th.Use the FreeBird App (Android or iOS) for a $5 ride credit each way when dining at Kai!
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, High Tea, Kosher, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Bluefin Tuna
- Cut Roll$10.00
- Hand Roll$7.00
Yellowtail
- Cut Roll$9.00
- Hand Roll$7.00
Japanese Scallop
- Cut Roll$10.00
- Hand Roll$7.00
Spicy Tuna
- Cut Roll$8.00
- Hand Roll$6.00
Yellowtail Cilantro
- Cut Roll$9.00
- Hand Roll$7.00
Spicy Scallop
- Cut Roll$11.00
- Hand Roll$8.00
Salmon & Avocado
- Cut Roll$8.00
- Hand Roll$6.00
Spicy Yellowtail
- Cut Roll$9.00
- Hand Roll$7.00
Eel & Avocado
- Cut Roll$10.00
- Hand Roll$7.00
Spicy Salmon
- Cut Roll$8.00
- Hand Roll$6.00
Cucumber
- Cut Roll$6.00
- Hand Roll$5.00
Crispy Shrimp
- Cut Roll$12.00
- Hand Roll$8.00
Philly
- Cut Roll$11.00
- Hand Roll$8.00
Avocado
- Cut Roll$8.00
- Hand Roll$6.00
California
- Cut Roll$7.00
- Hand Roll$5.00
Salmon Skin
- Cut Roll$7.00
- Hand Roll$5.00
Veggie
- Cut Roll$6.00
- Hand Roll$5.00
Blue Crab
- Cut Roll$9.00
- Hand Roll$7.00
Sea Urchin
Available in Cut Roll
- Hand Roll$14.00

Nigiri & Sashimi

Nigiri 2Pc | Sashimi 3Pc

Bluefin / Hon Maguro
- Nigiri$10.00
- Sashimi$14.00
Halibut / Hirame
- Nigiri$7.00
- Sashimi$9.00
Japanese Scallop / Iwate
- Nigiri$8.00
- Sashimi$10.00
Yellowtail / Hamachi
- Nigiri$7.00
- Sashimi$9.00
Black Snapper / Kurodai
- Nigiri$7.00
- Sashimi$9.00
Japanese Oyster / Kaki
Available in Nigiri / Sashimi - MP
Hamachi Toro
- Nigiri$8.00
- Sashimi$10.00
Red Snapper / Madai
- Nigiri$8.00
- Sashimi$10.00
Sea Urchin / Uni
- Nigiri$14.00
- Sashimi$21.00
Salmon / Sake
- Nigiri$5.00
- Sashimi$7.00
Smelt Roe / Masago
Available in Sashimi
- Nigiri$4.00
Octopus / Tako
- Nigiri$5.00
- Sashimi$7.00
Sake Toro
- Nigiri$7.00
- Sashimi$9.00
Flying Fish Roe / Tobiko
Available in Sashimi
- Nigiri$7.00
Shrimp / Ebi
- Nigiri$6.00
- Sashimi$8.00
Albacore / Shiro Maguro
- Nigiri$6.00
- Sashimi$8.00
Salmon Roe / Ikura
Available in Sashimi
- Nigiri$8.00
Freshwater Eel / Unagi
- Nigiri$7.00
- Sashimi$9.00
Mackerel / Saba
- Nigiri$5.00
- Sashimi$7.00
Ikura + Quail Yolk
Available in Sashimi
- Nigiri$9.00
Black Cod / Gindara
Available in Sashimi
- Nigiri$8.00
Horse Mackerel / Aji
- Nigiri$7.00
- Sashimi$9.00
Egg / Tamago
- Nigiri$5.00
- Sashimi$7.00
Filet / Wagyu
Available in Sashimi
- Nigiri$8.00

Happy Hour

Daily 5PM - 7PM | Patio Only 10PM - Close

Food

$1 Off Tempura Tapas
Any item in "Fried"
Kai Sake Bomb!$6.00
$2 Off Cut / $1 Off Hand
Any item in "Classic Rolls"
Aonori French Fries$5.00
steak cut fries dusted with aonori
Potato Korokke$5.00
fried mashed potato croquettes
Poke Bowl$9.00
freshly mixed assortment of fish over sushi rice

Drinks

Glass of Sake$4.00
Ozeki Junmai
Glass of Wine$4.00
House Red or White
Tokyo Mule$7.00
Tito's, Sake & Organic Ginger Syrup
Premium Hot Sake$9.00
Tyku White Carafe
Roots Old Fashioned$10.00
Featuring Iwai Japanese Whiskey
Sake Half Bottle
Ozeki Junmai
- 375ml$11.00
$1 Off Japanese Beers
Bottled Domestic & Imported
Cote de Roses, Bertrand French Rose
- Bottle (375ml)$14.00
$2 Off Select Draft Beer
Ask Server

Teas (Japanese Green & Tisane)

Organic Lemon Balm$6.00
Earthy, Citrus Mint & Soothing
Organic Damiana$4.00
Herbal; Caffeine-Free
Hojicha$4.00
Roasted Green Tea; Low caffeine
Organic Rose Hips$6.00
Tart Fruit, Mild Sweetness
Matcha$6.00
Finely Grounded Green Tea Powder
Genmai$4.00
Roasted Rice & Green Tea Combo
Organic Chamomile$5.00
Light & Soothing; Caffeine-Free
Sencha$5.00
Delicate & Refined Japanese Green Tea
Bancha$4.00
Strong Flavor & Slight Sweetness

What 26 people are saying

Kai Japanese Roots reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

3.8

3.8 based on all time ratings

3.8Food
3.9Service
3.7Ambience
3.5Value

Noise • Moderate

26 Reviews

JL
JLee
Los Angeles17 reviews
5.0
Dined on January 19, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Quality of the food and services are excellent! The value and variety of the dishes offered at Dine LA week are impressive. We have tried many Japanese restaurants, the DineLA menu offered at Kai is unique and memorable. We will be back.
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MH
MichaelH
Los Angeles13 reviews
4.0
Dined on January 19, 2020
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
It was very quiet when we arrived at 5:00 but it became more alive as more people came in. The food (sushi) was presented beautifully and seasoned just right. Pace was just right.
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SC
SoCal
Los Angeles3 reviews
3.0
Dined on August 31, 2019
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Good food and good service. Overpriced drinks - $10-$13 for a pint of beer.
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MD
MrDateNight
Los Angeles1 review
5.0
Dined on August 14, 2019
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I have lived in Downtown LA for few years now and was looking for a nice date spot for my wife and I that was a little bit closer to our home in the Historic Cor by Spring and 5th. I had been to Kai previously , but it has certainly gotten better since my last visit about 8 months ago. They're manager Liz was very gracious and made us feel extremely welcome , she also let us know that they had recently hired a new Head Chef, and from my experience it is definitely working out as the food was fantastic all around. We arrived during their Happy Hour before 7PM, so we started with their Veggie Gyoza which was perfectly crisped and dressed and a couple of hand rolls. They also had a really cool line up of Japanese Beers in bottle , and I'm always a big fan of Hitachino which they had like 5 different kinds of. For Dinner, we opted to explore their assortment of tasting and share items as we were advised by our server. the Chilean Sea Bass skewers and their cooked black cod sushi stood out in particular, the sashimi and nigiri we ordered were great all around. My Wife is tried their cooked salmon hotpot which she refused to share, so I assume that was a sign she enjoyed herself. Throw in a few sips of Nikka , and I must say, it made for a lovely experience through and through. Glad to see Kai getting better, we could definitely use more restaurants like them in the area. I would recommend this place for a date night or a hangout after work because of the chill atmosphere and solid food & drink options.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles10 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 25, 2019
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Such a hidden gem right in the middle of downtown! My friend told me I had to check it out and so glad I did! Their sushi was incredibly fresh, the cocktails and beer selection was excellent and their staff was attentive and friendly- I would 1000% visit again 👌🏻 If you’re a sushi lover, this is the place for you!
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d
diningvisiting
Los Angeles14 reviews
2.0
Dined on May 20, 2019
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Seems better for drinks. Fish wasn’t fresh and service at lunch was slow and disorganized.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles2 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 10, 2019
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Made reservations to celebrate a birthday on a Saturday night. Great ambience and staff. Everyone was very friendly and helpful without feeling too overbearing while we were eating. Staff food recommendations were also top notch as well. Food came rather quickly and was plated pleasantly. Everything looked as good as it tasted. One small knock, would be that they forgot our order of Seasoned Cajun Cauliflower Tempura, but we were a large table (11 guests total) so that's excusable. They brought them right out within about 5 mins of being notified. I'd definitely recommend the Beef Curry, their Tokyo Mules, Aomori Fries, and the Broadway Street Roll. Will definitely be back!
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OT
OpenTable Diner VIP
New York City2 reviews
1.0
Dined on January 21, 2019
1. Overall 1
2. Food 3
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
Reservation was taken but when we got there the server said they were closed.
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CR
CheleR
Los Angeles5 reviews
3.0
Dined on January 20, 2019
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
There were 3 of us, making a total of 7 people in the restaurant. We each ordered a beverage, appy & entree. One appy arrived, followed a few minutes later by 2 entrees, then 1 beverage. We asked about the other appetizers and were told the kitchen was 'slow'. After we had finished the two entrees that had been served, we received the final 2 appys. A full 15 minutes elapsed before we got the final entree. Bizarre and the food wasn't good enough to excuse it. Can't recommend.
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JS
JohannaS
Los Angeles3 reviews
1.0
Dined on January 20, 2019
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
Kai was such a disappointment! Where to start... Restaurant = freezing cold. A restaurant that cold makes you want soup. Miso soup, to be precise. We ordered four miso soups, each came at a different time of the meal, and one basically came as a dessert course. The food was regrettable. A curry with almost no meat. An order of 'chicken teriyaki' that was literally sad pieces of chicken with a side of teriyaki sauce. The service was inconsistent, and non apologetic.
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FAQs

Kai Japanese Roots offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (213) 232-4900.

Kai Japanese Roots is rated 3.8 stars by 26 OpenTable diners.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

542 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Additional information

Cross street
Between 5th & 6th on Broadway (Spring Arcade Building)
Neighborhood
Downtown
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese, Izakaya, Sushi
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Available on Adjacent Sprint Street
Public transit
Next to Perishing Square Station off the Metro Red LineParking Available on Street, or parking lots on Spring St between 5th &; 6th.Use the FreeBird App (Android or iOS) for a $5 ride credit each way when dining at Kai!
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Jake Kim
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, High Tea, Kosher, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.kaijapaneseroots.com/
Phone number
(213) 232-4900
Private party facilities
We have a private mezzanine with seating for up to 30, perfect for private or corporate events. For parties of 12 or more, please send us a message and we'll be glad to talk to you about it.

Kai Japanese Roots

About this restaurant

Permanently Closed

There’s more to explore

Additional information

Classic Rolls

Bluefin Tuna

Yellowtail

Japanese Scallop

Spicy Tuna

Yellowtail Cilantro

Spicy Scallop

Salmon & Avocado

Spicy Yellowtail

Eel & Avocado

Spicy Salmon

Cucumber

Crispy Shrimp

Philly

Avocado

California

Salmon Skin

Veggie

Blue Crab

Sea Urchin

Nigiri & Sashimi

Bluefin / Hon Maguro

Halibut / Hirame

Japanese Scallop / Iwate

Yellowtail / Hamachi

Black Snapper / Kurodai

Japanese Oyster / Kaki

Hamachi Toro

Red Snapper / Madai

Sea Urchin / Uni

Salmon / Sake

Smelt Roe / Masago

Octopus / Tako

Sake Toro

Flying Fish Roe / Tobiko

Shrimp / Ebi

Albacore / Shiro Maguro

Salmon Roe / Ikura

Freshwater Eel / Unagi

Mackerel / Saba

Ikura + Quail Yolk

Black Cod / Gindara

Horse Mackerel / Aji

Egg / Tamago

Filet / Wagyu

Happy Hour

Food

$1 Off Tempura Tapas

Kai Sake Bomb!$6.00

$2 Off Cut / $1 Off Hand

Aonori French Fries$5.00

Potato Korokke$5.00

Poke Bowl$9.00

Drinks

Glass of Sake$4.00

Glass of Wine$4.00

Tokyo Mule$7.00

Premium Hot Sake$9.00

Roots Old Fashioned$10.00

Sake Half Bottle

$1 Off Japanese Beers

Cote de Roses, Bertrand French Rose

$2 Off Select Draft Beer

Teas (Japanese Green & Tisane)

Organic Lemon Balm$6.00

Organic Damiana$4.00

Hojicha$4.00

Organic Rose Hips$6.00

Matcha$6.00

Genmai$4.00

Organic Chamomile$5.00

Sencha$5.00

Bancha$4.00

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs