Aloha and Welcome to the
Mai-Kai Restaurant & Polynesian Show
Escape to one of the most unique dining and entertainment places in all of South Florida.
From the moment you drive over the wooden plank bridge entrance, you will feel as though you’ve journeyed to the South Seas. Since 1956, we have captivated people with our warmth and magical aura. The Mai-Kai brings Polynesia to you, complete with a thatch roof and ancient museum quality artifacts.
Our diverse menu offers something for everyone. Our unique Chinese oven is the key to preparing our USDA prime steaks, ducks, and rack of lamb. We also serve fresh seafood and exotic Asian cuisine that will satisfy the most discriminating palate. The award winning cuisine includes specialties like Peking Duck, Crispy Whole Snapper and Lobster Bora Bora. A vegetarian menu and children’s menu is also available.
More about the experience
The Mai-Kai boosts 8 dining rooms. Each reflects a different region of Polynesia. Have a special evening planned? Enjoy our award winning menu without the show in our secluded dining rooms of Tahiti, Samoa and Lanai overlooking lagoons and waterfalls. A perfect venue for intimate dining.
Or for a truly romantic evening, request a table in Lanai, our outdoor dining area.
When you enter the Molokai Bar you will instantly be transported to a historical nautical vessel in the eye of a hurricane. Complete with antique artifacts, decorations, and water cascading down the windows, this is the perfect setting to enjoy an appetizer while sipping on one of over 50 specialty tropical drinks, your favorite cocktail or fine wine from our extensive wine list served by our sarong clad maidens. Happy hour Tuesday – Sunday from opening – 7 pm. Nightly drink specials are also available.
The Mai-Kai is proud to be the home of the longest running Polynesian Show in the United States (including Hawaii). We seat you for dinner before the show begins to give you ample time to order from our award winning cuisine. The roaring drums sound the beginning of the exciting Mai-Kai Islanders Revue. You will be enticed by the romantic Hawaiian wedding song and the thrilling Samoan fire knife dance performed by our native Polynesian dancers. The revue is a favorite of all ages. Our very popular Kid’s Islanders Revue runs every Sunday from June until November, children from family members of the Mai-Kai owners, friends and employees, join the professional dance troupe in the fast-paced show.
No visit to Mai-Kai is complete without a tour of the gardens. Stroll by giant hand carved tiki sculptures standing guard over a dwindling walkway amidst flaming tiki torches, lush foliage, orchids, waterfalls and lagoons.
Our Mai-Kai trading post and gift shop give you a chance to bring home your favorite memories of the Mai-Kai. With Hawaiian shirts, Polynesian jewelry, your favorite tiki mugs and everything in between, you’ll find your treasure here.
Since the Mai-Kai opened in 1956 the restaurant has received considerable acclaim including Best Dining Entertainment, Best Unique Dining Experience and recognized by Restaurants and Institutions as one of Americas Top 100 Independent Restaurants. In November of 2014 Mai-Kai was added to the National Register of Historic Places. We also received National attention a few years ago when we were nominated in Cintas Americas best restroom contest and placed on the top 10 list.
We offer the following packages:
Dinner and Show packages for up to 300
Luncheons and Daytime Receptions
Private Cocktail & Appetizer Parties
Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Birthday parties, Special Occasions
Off Premise Catering with or without the show.
Throughout the years the Mai-Kai has received considerable acclaim:
ACCOLADES & AWARDS
Upcoming Events at The Mai-Kai
The Hukilau 2022 Tickets Are On Sale!
Plan your escape now! Set sail for a Polynesian Paradise and leave your worries behind. Paddle, swim, or parachute in for four days of Tiki adventure happening at the Beachcomber Hotel & Resort, just 15 minutes east of the Mai-Kai.
Our Story
Mai-Kai History
The Mai-Kai was created by Bob and Jack Thornton. The brothers visited Don the Beachcomber’s in Chicago, as children, and even at that young age said they wanted to open a similar place.
Their original design cost 300 thousand dollars; it was the most expensive restaurant built in 1956. In its first year it earned over one million dollars, becoming one of the most successful restaurants of its time and for many years it sold more rum than any location in the United States.
Mai-Kai in The News
Fort Lauderdale Magazine: Keeping the Rum Flowing
The word “institution” can get thrown around freely, but the Mai-Kai definitely is one. It’s also a place capable of changing when change is required. Click here to read more >
Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale makes adjustments to sushi buffet to help protect against COVID-19
Click for the video and article by 7 Miami News >
#2 in Fort Lauderdale’s 12 Best Happy Hour Spots
This Polynesian-themed landmark has been serving up tropical tiki drinks since 1956. The Molokai Bar, outfitted to look like a turn-of-the-century seaport saloon, features 51 specialty drinks, wine and beer, all served to patrons by lovely maidens. There’s a daily...