Nice variety in menu, convenient, and a pretty standard spot on OKI to eat esp on summer nights.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Drew Hatcher
Get the fish tacos, you won't regret it
Food: 5
Service: 5
Benny D
All these great reviews are clearly tourists who are predisposed to overspend bc they are on vacation. Lived here for quite a while and all I’ve seen is the portion size go down (I’m looking at you, quesadilla) and the prices go way up. Food is still tasty, I won’t lie about that. But sorry, they’ve bought into their own hype and just isn’t worth the money or long waits anymore
Food: 2
Service: 1
Katie Marshin
Where do I even begin?! The customer service was HORRIBLE the cook must’ve undercooked something because my kid is severely sick! I’m calling health services tomorrow to report this, all I had was a north shore and I also feel very sick? Maybe the cook isn’t serve safe qualified? Very disappointed won’t be coming here again
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Rodger Caswell
For one I’ve lived here my whole life and not one time have I been to this restaurant greeted kindly. Absolutely disappointed when I came by the other day and the man at the window was very disrespectful and ignored me for over 10 minutes. The food is not even mediocre it’s plain and no taste or either overly salty, I thought this was a Mexican restaurant not American.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Kinslee Furr
Went to try something new, food was honestly inedible. Very hard to chew and the presentation of the food looked like it was threw together
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
Selina Slotter
Food is good when you can get it but it seems like their hours are not exactly what's posted anywhere. I dont know how many times I've gone by here during their posted hours to find that it's closed, even placed an online order during 'open' hours and it was closed when I came to pick it up.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Steve Chizmar
I frequent this place an awful lot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adam QK
A unique island experience, a must treat for yourself.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Preston Juvenal
It’s an out door food truck experience. I Had the fish tacos and she had the shrimp tacos. Fish was bland and cold, but throughly cooked. Cilantro lime sauce is great. Shrimp was tasty warm and well seasoned. The slaw on each was a positive addition. The tortilla was cold. Cold flour tortillas should not legal to serve and still call it a taco, it’s a wrap at that point. Dudes, let those tortillas hit the grill for at least 30 seconds per side, two flips, get puffy, then you got something tasty. We’ll try again.
Disappointed and Won’t Be Returning
I used to love Kai Joe’s. I discovered it three years ago and it quickly became a must-visit spot every time I came to Oak Island (which is often, since I have family nearby). Sadly, that’s no longer the case.
Over the past few visits, the quality has dropped significantly. The last two times I’ve eaten there, the food has been incredibly disappointing. The meat is watery, soggy, and has the texture and taste of something you’d get out of a crock pot. It wasn’t even hot—just lukewarm at best—and so runny that it soaked right through the cardboard takeout box. that shouldn't be the case for two tacos.
On top of that, the atmosphere just doesn’t make up for the food anymore. It’s not worth it to sit outside and battle flies just to eat room temperature crock pot meat. You’d think at the very least they’d install air conditioning in the bathrooms or set up fans to help keep the flies away. But nothing.
They’ve also changed their ordering process—now you’re required to order two tacos instead of just one, and they don’t tell you that until after you’ve already ordered.
I genuinely used to rave about this place, but after repeated letdowns, I won’t be back. I really hate that it’s come to this, but it’s no longer the Kai Joe’s I once looked forward to.
Tamra Laughter
Wonderful food, great service been coming for years always perfect
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burrito, Mel's Shrimp Nachos
Julie Lopez
Food is so good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burrito
Lauren Gustafson
Wow! We loved our food here so much. A real OKI gem. The Big Mamma steak burrito was amazing and my husband says his fish tacos were his favorite in NC! The perfect beach day lunch spot. Can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burrito
R K
UPDATED to 1 star following the owner's rude review below. In reply....I only leave negative reviews when they're deserved. My wife and I were trying your establishment for the first time tonight. We walked up to your counter and after the cashier removed her beatsbydre, we placed an order for two chicken quesadillas. One of the cooks then yelled to her "no more chicken or cheese". Little surprising a taco restaurant was out of cheese and chicken.
Nice variety in menu, convenient, and a pretty standard spot on OKI to eat esp on summer nights.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Get the fish tacos, you won't regret it
Food: 5
Service: 5
All these great reviews are clearly tourists who are predisposed to overspend bc they are on vacation. Lived here for quite a while and all I’ve seen is the portion size go down (I’m looking at you, quesadilla) and the prices go way up. Food is still tasty, I won’t lie about that. But sorry, they’ve bought into their own hype and just isn’t worth the money or long waits anymore
Food: 2
Service: 1
Where do I even begin?! The customer service was HORRIBLE the cook must’ve undercooked something because my kid is severely sick! I’m calling health services tomorrow to report this, all I had was a north shore and I also feel very sick? Maybe the cook isn’t serve safe qualified? Very disappointed won’t be coming here again
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
For one I’ve lived here my whole life and not one time have I been to this restaurant greeted kindly. Absolutely disappointed when I came by the other day and the man at the window was very disrespectful and ignored me for over 10 minutes. The food is not even mediocre it’s plain and no taste or either overly salty, I thought this was a Mexican restaurant not American.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Went to try something new, food was honestly inedible. Very hard to chew and the presentation of the food looked like it was threw together
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
Food is good when you can get it but it seems like their hours are not exactly what's posted anywhere. I dont know how many times I've gone by here during their posted hours to find that it's closed, even placed an online order during 'open' hours and it was closed when I came to pick it up.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
I frequent this place an awful lot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A unique island experience, a must treat for yourself.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It’s an out door food truck experience. I Had the fish tacos and she had the shrimp tacos. Fish was bland and cold, but throughly cooked. Cilantro lime sauce is great. Shrimp was tasty warm and well seasoned. The slaw on each was a positive addition. The tortilla was cold. Cold flour tortillas should not legal to serve and still call it a taco, it’s a wrap at that point. Dudes, let those tortillas hit the grill for at least 30 seconds per side, two flips, get puffy, then you got something tasty. We’ll try again.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Disappointed and Won’t Be Returning I used to love Kai Joe’s. I discovered it three years ago and it quickly became a must-visit spot every time I came to Oak Island (which is often, since I have family nearby). Sadly, that’s no longer the case. Over the past few visits, the quality has dropped significantly. The last two times I’ve eaten there, the food has been incredibly disappointing. The meat is watery, soggy, and has the texture and taste of something you’d get out of a crock pot. It wasn’t even hot—just lukewarm at best—and so runny that it soaked right through the cardboard takeout box. that shouldn't be the case for two tacos. On top of that, the atmosphere just doesn’t make up for the food anymore. It’s not worth it to sit outside and battle flies just to eat room temperature crock pot meat. You’d think at the very least they’d install air conditioning in the bathrooms or set up fans to help keep the flies away. But nothing. They’ve also changed their ordering process—now you’re required to order two tacos instead of just one, and they don’t tell you that until after you’ve already ordered. I genuinely used to rave about this place, but after repeated letdowns, I won’t be back. I really hate that it’s come to this, but it’s no longer the Kai Joe’s I once looked forward to.
Wonderful food, great service been coming for years always perfect
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burrito, Mel's Shrimp Nachos
Food is so good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burrito
Wow! We loved our food here so much. A real OKI gem. The Big Mamma steak burrito was amazing and my husband says his fish tacos were his favorite in NC! The perfect beach day lunch spot. Can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burrito
UPDATED to 1 star following the owner's rude review below. In reply....I only leave negative reviews when they're deserved. My wife and I were trying your establishment for the first time tonight. We walked up to your counter and after the cashier removed her beatsbydre, we placed an order for two chicken quesadillas. One of the cooks then yelled to her "no more chicken or cheese". Little surprising a taco restaurant was out of cheese and chicken.
But thanks for the offer.
Shredded cheese found on aisle 12
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