Mai-Kai Restaurant

Mai-Kai Restaurant is a Polynesian restaurant and tiki bar in Oakland Park featuring eight dining rooms decorated with nautical artifacts, tropical gardens, and waterfalls. A bar constructed from actual surfboards anchors the space, creating a cohesive environment built around the Pacific theme.

Brothers Bob and Jack Thornton founded the restaurant in 1956 as an ambitious and costly project that became the most expensive restaurant built in the United States that year. The ambitious investment reflected the owners' vision for an immersive Pacific experience.

The name draws from Polynesian tradition, which shows throughout the space in hand-painted murals and dance performances that keep cultural practices alive. Visitors experience a genuine commitment to Pacific heritage through the care taken in every detail and performance.

Advance reservations are essential as the restaurant draws steady interest and has limited seating. Plan for a multi-hour dinner experience where food service flows alongside live entertainment throughout the evening.

The restaurant houses Pacific artifacts including pieces over 100 years old, with these objects integrated into the décor throughout the space. This combination of genuine historical items with the theme creates layers of authenticity visitors notice upon closer inspection.

Location: Oakland Park

Inception: 1956

Architects: Charles Foster McKirahan

Address: 3599 North Federal Highway

Opening Hours: 16:00+; Saturday,Sunday 15:00+

Phone: +19545633272

Website: https://maikai.com

GPS coordinates: 26.17247,-80.11998

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:01