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Interior - Kaya, Pittsburgh, PA

Kaya

4.8 (2847)
$30 and under
Caribbean
2000 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Make a reservation

A photo of Kaya restaurant

Kaya

4.8
$30 and under
Caribbean
Downtown

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 14 times today

About this restaurant

  • Vegetarian-friendly
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
Located in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, Kaya is a casual, island-inspired restaurant with colorful mosaics, tribal art and exposed brick walls that whisks customers away to exotic shores as they walk through the door. Kaya serves both traditional island dishes and American favorites with an island twist. Tropas (tropical tapas) sandwiches and entrees are all made with local ingredients and bold flavors. And with its classic preparations paired with exciting seasonal offerings, Kaya’s tropical cocktail list is like a vacation in a glass.

Reservations are available up to 30 days in advance; we look forward to serving you!

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Caribbean, Latin American, Jamaican
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30 am–10:00 pm Sat 11:30 am–11:00 pm Brunch Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Fri 11:30 am–11:00 pm Sun 2:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Thomas Wilson
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    20th Street
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Kaya.

4.8

4.8
(2847)
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Pittsburgh / Western PA

    Healthy

  • Pittsburgh

    Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Kaya offers an eclectic dining experience with "excellent service" and "delicious food." Guests love the "creative cocktails" and "wonderful vegetarian options," especially the rainbow salad and fried chicken specials. The lively atmosphere and attentive staff, like servers Bryan and Tom, consistently enhance the dining experience, making it a favorite spot for many.
2,847 Reviews
  1. Stephanie Gold

    Pittsburgh36 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We tried three different entrees and desserts. All were flavorful and filling. We also ordered the First Thursday Fried Chicken special. Wow, was it great! The chicken was tender and the breading was done just right with a tiny kick of spice. Hadn't been here in almost 10 years, but this will get us back again soon.

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  2. Dustin

    Pittsburgh3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Have to go back to try more menu items! Jerk wings were great!

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  3. Annette Gold

    Pittsburgh18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding food and service !! Ordered the rainbow salad with jerk chicken!! Sooo delicious

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  4. Meghan

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Third time at Kaya and it has become one of my favorite restaurants. Great ambiance and service coupled with excellent cocktails and even better food. Every menu item I have had has been a winner. Cannot recommend enough.

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  5. Stephanie

    Pittsburgh1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 28, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    We love the veg dinner! We only wish they would offer it more regularly. It was delicious as always!

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  6. Sam

    Pittsburgh1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 28, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    I've been going to Kaya since it opened over 25 years ago and the food and service is always outstanding. Kudos to the chef who last night prepared a creative and delicious 5 course vegetarian dinner using a bounty of local farm fresh fall vegetables.

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  7. Christine

    Pittsburgh6 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 26, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The Veg Fest meal was delicious. I appreciated the each course had a choice and vegan options were excellent.

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  8. Dale

    Columbus24 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 21, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I haven't been in years because of relocation. It was as good as I remember.

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  9. Robert

    Pittsburgh1 review

    3.0

    Dined on October 17, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Overall, the experience was underwhelming. The service was perfectly reasonable, but the food was mediocre at best. The corn and lentil beignets were essentially hush puppies, certainly not beignets. The paella was an odd combination of chicken, chorizo, and seafood. I appreciate creative interpretations of classic dishes, but this one was strange and disappointing. The fried tofu was unremarkable. Nothing was outright terrible, but nothing stood out either. The food was simply “meh,” and I left disappointed.

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  10. Ana Gold

    New York City10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 12, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent service. The food was quite good, good tune mix, a little loud, but still able to talk. The beignets were amazing, even though they were really fritters. Grapefruit marg was so good!

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Caribbean, Latin American, Jamaican
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30 am–10:00 pm Sat 11:30 am–11:00 pm Brunch Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Fri 11:30 am–11:00 pm Sun 2:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Thomas Wilson
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    20th Street
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Gift card

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FAQs

Yes, Kaya is recommended for date nights, with guests praising Valentine’s dinners, cozy back tables for two, and solid first-date experiences.

Yes, Kaya offers outdoor seating: guests report sitting outside on the patio/sidewalk and enjoying shaded, al fresco meals.

Kaya tends to be calmer in the late-afternoon happy‑hour window, several guests reported arriving around 4:30 and finding the place basically empty; Sunday brunch (11:00 am–2:00 pm) is another pleasant daytime option, while some weeknights (for example Monday) can be very busy.

Sunday brunch at Kaya (11:00 am–2:00 pm) is a guest favorite, reviewers specifically praise the brunch menu and Sunday Chicken Sandwich.

Yes, Kaya is family‑friendly in practice: guests report relaxed birthday brunches and visits with children and teens, so families can expect a casual, welcoming atmosphere.

Kaya brings a tropical, island-inspired vibe, colorful mosaics, tribal art and exposed brick create a warm, cozy spot that guests describe as lively, inviting, and full of Caribbean flair.

Casual dress, comfortable, relaxed clothing is appropriate for a visit to Kaya.

Portions at Kaya are often described as generous or hearty, guests frequently note large, shareable plates and leave comfortably full.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Pittsburgh / Western PA
  4. Pittsburgh
  5. Downtown

Make a reservation

A photo of Kaya restaurant

Kaya

4.8
$30 and under
Caribbean
Downtown

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 14 times today
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