Kota Kai in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

Really great food and the service was excellenf too. The laksa and massaman curry were particularly good.

We've been here maybe ten times It never disappoints. The flavours are beautifully balanced, the portion sizes just right, the waiting staff are lovely and the prices are right. Jude K has pitched it so right. Why am i telling you this? I live locally and don't want to have to be told there's a waiting list to get in to eat here in by bigging the place up to visitors. To be honest though, this is lovely food.

Lovely position and harbour view Enjoyed what food we had but service very slow - seemed to seat a lot of diners at same time Would return

Excellent food and service, couldn’t fault it. Reasonable prices and lovely views of Porthleven harbour. A real treat, would definitely recommend

My partner and friend spent over £150 for lunch. Took a very well behaved cocapoo dog along So we decided to book for for 5.30pm for an early birthday dinner. Which we did the day before online. Spent the whole day looking forward to our visit. I had especially travelled down from Staffordshire to experience this fantastic dining experience We walked up into the dining room only to be told we DONT ACCEPT DOGS ON AN EVENING!! To feel disappointed was an understatement! Discrimination! What difference does it make to be able to be accepted 2 hrs before with your fur baby. Can we leave the dog somewhere! So you can take another £200 that we probably would of spent! Dreadful experience! Disappointed! The place wasn't even busy and had the same wooden flooring it had at lunch time!!

Kota kai is beautiful, friendly professional staff. Lovely welcoming atmosphere and AMAZING FOOD!! 🤩🤩 This restaurant is right on the harbour with stunning views of Porthleven across the village and harbour. We arrived a little early which wasn't a problem, we were greated with a friendly smile and shown to our table. With a welcoming word and smile from the head chef from there open plan kitchen. We waited no longer than 10 minutes for the staff to take our drink orders. Once delivered, our food orders were taken and we were eating our beautiful starters within half an hour of arriving. Once finished I requested the bill and both myself and my wife couldn't believe how cheap the 3 courses plus drinks had been, considering the quality of the food served and the no expense spaired atmosphere. Kota kai is definitely a place we will be visiting again and again!!!

Lovely food and lived up to a reputation of full on taste. However although the staff were really lovely the service was incredibly slow. Sadly this has put off a return visit. We waited nearly an hour for mains and had to ask where they were at which point we were told " they were busy" ok l get it but been to busier places where service was spot on. Decided to have desert which was lovely when it eventually came ( had to ask once again). Recommend for the food which was devine but won't return due to the tardiness sorry Kota Kai but needs addressing 🙄

Booking is essential usually. Very efficient. Menu is constantly changing around similar far-eastern/Thai themes. Starters: Baked aubergine, scallops and squid were our choices Mains: Steak and wasabi sauce with fries and veg Pork belly with coconut with jasmine rice were the choices. Delicious, well cooked to preference and superbly presented. Wine list is quite extensive. Malbec and Rioja were our choices. Table service by Carol was efficient, professional & courteous. Super view over a fairy lit harbour if you face outwards.

Lovely restaurant in the pretty village of Porthlevin. The food has asian influences and is absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. Great value too. Don't miss this gem, you won't be disappointed. We also met the chef/owner Jude Kereame, a lovely man.

Our favourite place! Absolutely amazing food & fantastic service. We feel so looked after, always receive a warm welcome, and leave very full!

Superb food very flavoursome great service and a lift for my wheelchair too tjanx guys

Great food great staff fabulous venue.

Visited tonight and so glad we did! We visit West Cornwall from Essex often as have family nearby and decided to try this place after reading great reviews. Lovely relaxed atmosphere, brilliant staff and the food was amazing!! We had the smaller plates and every single one was incredible, so tasty. The orange crème brûlée was just gorgeous too. Great value too, would 100% recommend!

Food was exceptional no matter what you had. We were a decent sized group eating early and tried a large variety from the menu. All dishes were great and cooked well with nice attention to detail. If there was any fault it was to be found in the quirkiness of the server, little slow on attentiveness and trying on a couple of occasions to talk us out of having a few things, also no “goodbye” on the way out. This is the only thing between a 4 and a 5.

Went to Kota Kai recently for a meal with my partner. Food was excellent and atmosphere was lovely. We were also served by Molly who was welcoming, kind, and attentive. Would absolutely recommend and can only hope that Molly and the rest of the staff receive the recognition that they deserve! :)

Amazing food. Great atmosphere. Some points: - Food was astonishingly good. - I was recommended to have 3 smaller plates by someone who had been before - 2 would have been enough but they were amazing - especially the bao bun in the picture. - There was an error in our order which is why the service was 3 star - 2 of our party of 6 had to wait for corrections which meant we did not all get to eat together. - Error was caused, I think, by their being similar sounding items on menu and the order being taken from the opposite end of the table making hearing difficult. - Overall loved it and would go again.

Booked for combined Birthday treat. Hoped it would be good but it was better it was great. Usually for a meal out we both had all three courses. Very tasty starters and we completely cleared the mains. Puddings to finish. The room was warm and had a view over the harbour or the busy kitchen. Staff polite friendly and attentive. The main pork belly was so good as was the steak. The starter bao bun was so tasty as was the fried chicken. The creme brulee was one of the best. A nice touch was to be asked if we were ok with the %10 service charge. We were and complimented food / staff and left with a cheery wave from the chef. It was a treat we can’t afford often but it was such a good evening. We shall return.

Really nice meal on a blustery Saturday evening

We were on holiday In Porthleven, a place we have been visiting for probably 30 years and love to pieces. Having had Sunday lunch at Kota Kai before we knew we were in for a treat and were not disappointed. Amazing food, attentive service and a truly relaxed atmosphere made for a really special visit. We were due to leave on Friday and decided to visit again on Thursday. We rang to book and were told it was a special Asian menu night. Set menu. Fusion Japanese and Korean. Oh my word! What an absolute unexpected joy and sense bud overload. Even better, we looked over to see Jude was cooking and had a great chat with him. Such an amazing evening and indeed week. Thanks so much to you all. I have a big birthday in the New Year and am hoping to get back to beautiful Porthleven and amazing Kota Kai for this occasion.

We had a fabulous lunch , amazing flavours , staff super friendly and helpful . Definitely recommend can't wait to return 😊

Very nice food. Very relaxed atmosphere. Clean, spacious seating. Helpful staff. Food presentation good. Very well cooked. Loved it.

The food is always 100 per cent the staff are always really nice .Helpful but not on top of you .The drinks are always so fresh .I would recommend the cocktails they are all lovely I have tried them all Sunday you can get a three course dinner for £33.00 who says that is not a bargain thankyou to Jude and all of your staff I love your restaurant.I would recommend it to everyone💯❤️

Really like the new look since we were last in Porthleven. For superb asian inspired food this is the place to go. The seafood Laksa and Thai chicken thighs were superb. An absolute must- go if visiting Porthleven

A fantastic experience! Lovely views of the harbour with a very modern and fresh interior. We had two small plates plus one main, which were all served nice and quick. The Kai Fried Chicken was delicious with lots of sauce, the Pork Belly Bao Bun had a tasty char-grilled flavour and finally the Crab Roll was fresh and full of flavour. The coffee was also well presented and of a high quality. Super friendly and accommodating staff rounded the experience off perfectly, highly recommended!

Wow! Went to the Asian Night (Thai/Vietnamese) last night. The place was buzzing, excellent, helpful staff, wonderful food cooked by Jude Kareama and his amazing team, fantastic cocktails and great background music. The vegetarian red curry and the beef pho noodles were favourites (the whole meal was delicious!). Thank you.

Just what a little bear needs (except for alcohol, that was for Nikos) for his fish fix. A few anchovies, followed by local oysters. Get in. Nice touch with the refreshing seaweed. By the way, their food that was going out to the tables looked amazing. Great views, happy vibes. Would love to return when back.

Went for lunch as we have a dog and they are allowed at lunchtimes. Could have drunk the curry sauce out of the bowl. Food was fantastic. Will try and go every time we are in the area.

Jude Kereama is a really good chef and has worked hard to raise his profile with appearances on Great British menu. I hear nothing but praise for his flagship restaurant Kota. It is a shame, therefore, that his nearby cafe should be letting the side down with fairly indifferent food and service. It was ok, but my mussel dish was bland and full of broken mussel shells (never ok), the waiting staff looked bored and there was no loo paper in the ladies! Sorry, but a bit disappointing.

Had a lovely lunch outside today. We sat outside with our 3 dogs ( bob the dog on holiday with his 2 brothers) you can sit inside with dogs at lunchtime but the weather was good and it was lovely to sit outside and we’re also conscious that not everyone might be super keen to be seated inside next to us and our canine family. Service friendly and relaxed and food delicious. We went for the small plates, cauliflower something, the mushroom bao bun and the curried aubergine dish with some chips on the side. we went for 2 halves of offshore pilsner which went really well with the food. Shared a pud, miso chocolate something with green tea ice cream - who knew- historic - scraped the plate so hard the glaze nearly came off! Tap water came without being asked for and toilets super clean. Even though they were busy inside we felt well looked after, just the right balance. Food/drink/service/setting made for a very happy harmonious meal thank you

Lovely tasty food from a menu that was very difficult to choose from. Really friendly staff who were quick and efficient as well. We would definitely visit again to try something different from the lovely menu there.

Lovely cocktails, very helpful waitresses.

We visited for lunch without a reservation on a blustery Thursday to celebrate our wedding anniversary, the staff were having a surprisingly busy service at the end of September. Despite being rushed off their feet with a full restaurant they went out of their way to accommodate us with a friendly smile. We decided to have a drink while we waited for a table and enjoyed the most delicious pineapple & chilli margarita, yum! We were seated in no time and had already decided on our food choices (very difficult as we wanted everything!) We feasted on a selection of small plates, main courses & desserts, all generous portions beautifully presented and absolutely delicious! Fabulous wine list and honestly the most lovely service from the staff who went above and beyond to make our visit special. We even got an anniversary dessert plate which was totally unexpected. Thank you to everyone and special thanks to Maz x

Overpriced, overrated and disappointing for both food and wine. Stop ripping off visitors!

Outstanding. We were a bit hesitant when we were shown to our table, opposite the kitchen. But you can see them working their socks off, one of the chefs looked no more than a boy. Fantastic food. My partner a vegetarian, and delighted with hers.

My food was excellent the other was cold sent back and came back slightly warmer

They cut a few corners here, they could do with a visible manager. Having said that, the food is excellent, Thai influenced. The chef is half Māori and half Asian. Mussels Thai style, Laksa soup topped with Cornish shellfish. Highly recommended.

Delicious vegetarian Katsu curry, side order of steamed greens. Lovely views of the harbour and great service. Thank you to the team at Kota Kai.

I think I picked the wrong food. The pork belly was dry but fatty and served just warm enough, not hot. Salad with the pork belly was amazing though. The eton mess was more cream than strawberry and meringue, but for sure more style over taste. Price 70-80£ for 2 people not worth it.

Two of us with a tiny dog came here on spec for lunch on a weekday in late summer. Outdoor seating is on picnic benches with a view over the harbour. Service was friendly. Food was exquisite, but portions very small and prices high.

Visited here last week and we were pleasantly surprised. The flat iron steak is delicious. Definitely worth a visit.

We had a very enjoyable family meal. Our daughter in law suffers with acute allergies and the care and attention given to her was first class.They prepared a meal especially for our granddaughter which she was delighted with. The staff were attentive and nothing was too much trouble. We will definitely be returning, Thank you for a very satisfying experience.

My first time at kota Kai but attended with family who love visiting. The food was delicious but unfortunately the service wasn’t to the standard we were expecting. Staff were friendly but looked too busy to be attentive and check in on us. Couple of mix ups with our order. Food wait time was longer than expected even though we went early evening before the restaurant was full. Overall, really enjoyed my aubergine katsu curry and cocktail. My family had their usual seafood favourites. The view of porthleven is beautiful. However, definitely expected a more luxury experience for the price.

Food was really fresh and tasty. Great views overlooking the harbour. We had 3 small plates and a massaging curry all of which were really tasty. Would definitely make it a priority to return if we're in the area.

My partner and I decided to go back to Kota Kai recently for a date night, as have had lovely drinks and tasty meals in the past. However, despite the service and drinks being fantastic as we remembered, the food in our opinion really let it down and put a bit of a damper on what was otherwise a nice meal out. The quality of the food was good, however, we have never been had such a disproportionate meal in any restaurant, especially when compared to our previous visits at Kota Kai. Unfortunately, as soon as our meals were served, the kitchen was shutdown and we were both slightly shocked at how small the portions were for the mains. So much so that our server did allow us to order some rice to go alongside our mains, which was free of charge. Of course, this was a lovely gesture (if not a slight admission), however, does not make up for what felt like two main courses which simply served with what was left. Unfortunately, not sure if we’d come back again for food like we have frequently done in the past after this, as has left a bit of a sour taste. Perhaps it’s time to change up our first choice when popping into Porthleven.

A 100gr steak for £27, is very over priced. Food was nice but small portions meant poor value for money. A shame as we were looking forward to visiting this restaurant.

The food and front of house service was good...except.... when I ordered a medium glass of white wine ( I asked for a house wine, saying that I would like something like a sauvigon blanc/ pinot grigio or similar...which in the majority of licensed establishments, would be considered a 'bog standard', ' run of the mill' house plonk) ....I wasn't steered towards the wine list at any point, or to be told that the wine I was choosing, was ridiculously exhorbitant!! Certainly not a house wine! The fact that the wine was not properly chilled, tasted mediocre and not served in the finest of glass, only cemented my thoughts of it being an okayish house plonk! Needless to say, that when the bill arrived, I was aghast and completely shocked at the price of the glasses of wine...£13.50 per medium glass! If, as I subsequently learned from receiving the wine list, I may well have considered a rethink... (hindsight is a wonderful thing I know!)... and having a member of staff to steer me towards said wine list would have been more than beneficial to my mood and bank balance! Not impressed!! I have had the pleasure of eating fine meals in some great places near and far and I have to say, that £13.50 is by far and away the most I've ever paid for this size glass of wine. If nothing else, please train your staff to inform customers that they may well get a shock if they don't look at the wine list before innocently ordering.... it's certainly been an expensive lesson on my behalf and one I will never repeat!!

Very good Asian-style cuisine, warm and friendly staff, fair prices for the quality of the cuisine, I highly recommend 👍

Nice mussels outside at the harbour.

Excellent food and service, lovely atmosphere, decent value, highly recommended.

Very good food; very loud location; Service a bit inattentive

We love Kota Kai! Everything about it is fantastic. Jude Kereama is a highly talented chef, owning this restaurant and Kota just down the road. Highly recommended.

Been going here for 15 years now. We normally go twice during our annual weeks trip to Porthleven and Kota Kai has always been our favourite. This year it seems to have gone downhill. The Crispy Squid portions are absolutely tiny and a third the size of the harbour inn and no more tasty. The flat iron steak was very small and chewy. The Thai chicken thighs portion was also tiny, especially at £23.50 and felt like a rip off. The Pork Belly, and the Noodle soup were however very nice and decently sized. We never fed back at the time as we were never even asked how our meal was at any point. We just felt very underwhelmed and will not be going back any more which is a real shame.

Interesting and brilliant food, everything really put together nicely. Great service. Highly recommended.

Very good dishes that are out of the ordinary English. Staff very attentive to customers. Book in advance during busy periods.

Really excellent service with a smile. Food superb! Great views of harbour 😀

Great night, Lobster with garlic butter amazing!!

Mussels with Thai sauce were amazing and good value

Amazing service, so attentive and sincere. We will come back on our next visit. Clearly passionate and professional in their work.

Just amazing. Never thought I'd go to an Asian fusion restaurant while.in Cornwall but we loved it so muchnwe went twice. Great food and drinks, friendly service, lovely atmosphere, amazing views!

If you are visiting the area, we would absolutely recommend you pop in to Kota Kai. The food is exceptional (everyone in our group loved their meals- clean dishes all round!) the menu is exciting and diverse and the food is not only beautifully presented, but balanced and exceptionally tasty! The service and ambience were also brilliant as well as the views of the harbour.

Delicious Food!!!! Best noodle soup ever!

Fantastic spot for dinner- the food is amazing and the staff are incredibly lovely and helpful!

KK used to be our ‘go to’ restaurant in Porthleven, however since the refurb and menu change that’s not the case. Reduced choice - removal of the Massaman is a major crime! and higher prices for food and drink makes it less ‘go to’. It’s a shame as the service and views are still great…..

Lovely food, great service and for those concerned who are Covid conscious and concerned about immunity and infection the air quality is excellent.

Very nice place. Food was delicious. Staff friendly and efficient. For the quality of the food the cost was very reasonable.

We arrived a little early to sit & have a drink, not over enamoured with the wine list & no Prosecco! We ordered scallops, squid, croquettes, smoked mackerel pate & cauliflower pakora. The scallops were a little over done but everything else was delicious! Our main courses were pork belly but the fat was not rendered so not great, the hake, kare lomen curry noodle soup & Kai laksa soup were fabulous! The burger was just average! Whilst the staff were lovely they were a little lacking in training. We would go back though!

Thank you to the Kota Kai team! We were running a bit late, but a quick call to the restaurant left us assured that our table would be kept for us. A beautiful Saturday lunch menu, very welcoming staff who were friendly and attentive to the end. I had the special of the day, mackerel, which looked stunning when it arrived at the table and fell apart perfectly - as you can see from the picture, there was nothing left! If you're in that part of the world, like incredible food with a beautiful view, I'd absolutely recommend Kota Kai!

Excellent meal. Had to eat dinner outside as we had our dog with us (dogs are allowed inside at lunch time) but staff were really friendly, helpful and efficient. Every dish we had was delicious. The Gaspacho and crab, a stand out. Definitely recommend.

One of our very favourite restaurants. A really relaxing and fun atmosphere with the most delicious cocktails! The food is incredible and you have lots of choices. I would recommend visiting here as a regular, or if just on holiday

Amazing food and cocktails in a lovely setting.

Amazing food and drinks for both meat eaters and vegetarians - I even got a little birthday treat at the end! Super friendly and calm staff and the view is wonderful too!

Wonderful , innovative, delicious food, great drinks selection. Excellent staff.

Absolutely thrilled to have eaten at the delightful restaurant. The staff were attentive, knowledgeable and offered good advice. The decor was clean and nicely decorated. The food was,as it should be, the star of the show. Delicious flavour combinations beautifully presented. Cooked with love and care.

Fake good food, real bad music, soulless place

First time at KK. Unaware of the significant changes to menu etc. Therefore, this review reflects my first and only experience. Offered seating outside, looked uninspiring, uncomfortable and very public; not part of the establishment? Service from more experienced waiting staff and senior staff welcoming throughout visit. Food: starters, small plates, sides. How do they differ? Price too high for amount, a family of four need to be catered for. Staff need to be forthcoming and explain and sell the menu. On reflection, this lack of communication could indicate staff are unhappy with what is being offered at present. Main course, under seasoned and burnt meat. Chips not robust enough to complement a steak. Puddings; Son was shocked at there being no brownie in the ice cream brownie. Is this hard to accomplish? No I don’t think so. If it were my business I would be upset to think £250.00 for 4 people (only two beers) had been spent on this expensive lack lustre of a meal.

Lovely restaurant, and Jude and his staff made us feel so welcome. And the devil's on horseback starter was a revelation. And you must try the Korean fried cauliflower. Highly recommended and looking forward to going back soon 👌

A visit during the Food Festival possibly not the best time to visit … but! It’s a lively restaurant made so much livelier (deafening) this weekend by the ‘music’ tent usually located in a (too wet) field nearby being relocated dead opposite. Tapas style for the weekend probably made the experience a bit random. Food ok, beer as flat as water. Apparently sometimes the IPA is delivered flat and sometimes the pint can have a fizz and a head on it! I don’t think so!

We recently had our wedding reception at Kota Kai. Considering it was also the Food Festival weekend, we felt very fortunate they said yes to accepting our booking. Jenna was great, tailoring the menu to what we needed and the array of small plates we had were all absolutely delicious and everyone went away happy, full and content. And I left with a determination of making my own chimmichurri at home!

Have been to Kota but first visit to Kota Kai and thoroughly recommend. Glorious sunny day so lovely views over the Harbour. Staff were very friendly and informative, meal amazing. I had the mussels which were exceptional and my Husband had the pork belly which he really enjoyed. The pineapple carpaccio for dessert was incredible.

Wasn't expecting the fresh and upmarket decor from the unassuming exterior and Cornish harbour location - this place wouldn't be out of place in a busy city centre downtown. Great selection of posh "snacks" and tapas sized small plates, all very well presented and exceptionally tasty. Cocktails also very adventurous - e.g. pineapple and chilli margaritas, lemongrass mojitos, etc. - and as tasty as they sound. Very enjoyable evening.

Love this place - really fresh food. Informal, relaxed and top food.

We’ve visited a few times over past years and it’s as good as ever. The food is excellent, but the service matches it. Welcoming, friendly and ‘on it’ with attention to detail but also informality. Mackerel pate, pakoras, mussels and scallops are stand out, but to be fair everything we had was excellent. Also great cocktails.

Delicious food! We especially loved the mussels in coconut sauce.

We visit Kota Kai every year when we holiday in Cornwall. It has a great spot overlooking the harbour. Our son (8yrs) asks to go back every year. It is family friendly with an amazing small team of staff who are very welcoming and cannot do enough for you. It’s great to be able to watch the food being cooked. The menu has something for everyone and is good quality, delicious and presented well. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough.

Something has happened here, is there a change of management? We have been coming here for over 10 years now and although the menu hadn't changed in all that time, the food has always been spectacular. Not today !! We were so excited to sample a new menu...finally ! However it's shocking how expensive has now become, all sides are extra, the steak a whopping £34 not including sides! We came to eat on a Monday night which was surprisingly busy. We sat directly in front of the kitchen and it was painful to watch the chaotic service and the clear tension in the kitchen. Starters came out quickly, ordinary, small portions. We waited over an hour for our mains, we all ordered the same, Indonesian marinated chicken thighs... When it arrives was basically a cold chicken salad with the meat having been shredded within the salad. Bland, tasteless and extremely unworthy of £22 , something my granddaughters could have put together. My 2 stars are for the waitress service alone. Sadly after 10 plus years will not be returning:((

I have been visiting Kota Kai now for five years or so and have always been satisfied with the food and service. Last night I visited Kota with my family for my son's birthday, I noticed the restaurant has had a facelift, new tables and decorations all very nice. Checking the menu I noticed a few new dishes and that the prices had gone up substantially. Starter's arrived, firstly, the portions were meagre and the food was not up to their usual standard. Batter on the squid was barely cooked and the peppers in our other starter were burnt. Onto the main event, my son and I had the burger my wife the Hake and my daughter had the katsu chicken from the kids menu. When the food arrived firstly the presentation was poor and again portions were very small. The burger was an absolute joke, I have honestly had better burgers from McDonald's ! Burger was ordered medium, the patty was burnt to a crisp the meat was disgusting and the fries were oven chips!!! I had one bite and sent the whole lot back. The contempt of Kota Kai towards its customers to serve up oven chips with their burger is quite frankly unbelievable. My wife's Hake was ok likewise with my daughter's chicken, my son and I went home to peanut butter on toast. I will never go back Kota Kai its finished, period.

Newly refurbished in decor and menu Kota Jai remains a firm favourite for our family. Always such a treat for the taste buds.

Nice relaxed restaurant with varied menu and good harbour views. The small plates and Vietnamese style soups were our favourite. In my view the cheeseburger was pretty average. Needed some sort of side on the plate, coleslaw or pickles or a spicy salad.

So here's a question? When did you last feel like you were at home? Kota Kai has made us welcome all through a bit of a rainy Easter week. Every visit has been amazing for three main reasons (in order) 1. The team - Will, Jerry, Jen, Mariann, Ash and everyone else. They do everything right, with a focus on fun and making you feel at home. 2. The atmosphere - super relaxed, super friendly and just a sense of calmness under pressure. 3. Food - always excellent. Very strong menu with a focus on seafood and fantastic staples. We had the roast on Sunday (the best), flat iron steak, crispy squid, oysters, burgers...amazing deserts. 3.5 - amazing cocktails (try the pineapple & chilli margarita). The most fun restaurant in Cornwall.

Fantastic meal out in lovely surroundings. Food was very good, service impeccable and surroundings lovely. Highly recommended!

Not sure what is happening to the restaurants in Porthleven. Visited this place a couple of times before and was happy with everything. Maybe we went at the start of the season but the wait for food was particularly bad. The actual food was mediocre; how can you get soggy French fries?

Faultless. Food is always exceptional, as is the service. I was unsure of the new menu at first as the old menu was so familiar, but it did not disappoint. In fact, I would say it was the best meal we have enjoyed there.

A big thanks for a wonderful Sunday lunch, and for your incredible kindness to our daughter at this very difficult time. The refurb looks great and you are a wonderful team. Ingrid & Simon

Family dinner last night, we are not the easiest family to put up with...lots of kids, dietary requirements etc...the food was absolutely stunning and the service impeccable 👌 I will definitely return.

A very lovely evening and delicious food. The place has had a little facelift and feels lovely inside. Staff were friendly and service very good. Food standards were excellent and we will return.

Wow what an amazing meal; our first time for a Bao bun 😋 😋 😋, I also had the Cauliflower Pakora and my wife had the Kai fried chicken nuggets both incredibly tasty. We sat around the corner from the bar which worked well for us to chat in peace, recommend with anyone or own your own. Great service throughout

We had booked a table for 12noon and when we arrived we were the only diners so plenty of attention from the waiting staff. We ordered five dishes from the small plates menu together with a scallop and an oyster. The food was prepared to order and after 20 minutes or so it arrived. Each dish was a delight to look at and delicious. A real plus is that iced water was served without a fuss and free of charge. The bill came to around £50 which seemed reasonable for such excellent food and service. By the time we left the restaurant had started to fill up although tables were still available for walk ins . Most definitely worth a return visit.

Came here with My family ordered a steak and Fries the steak was Completely overcooked as I ordered medium rare and got well done/Medium well the fries were average and the service and atmosphere was good so I wouldn't come here again.

EDIT: THIS VISIT GAVE ME BAD FOOD POISONIN WHICH I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM! Where to begin. Me and my partner has eaten here before and the first time was absolutly amazing. Everything came quick and fresh and couldn't stop talking about this place. Yesturdays evening was the complete opposite. Service was quite slow, after you order your first drink it takes a while to try flag anyone down to order again, when we did the person said they would bring us a drinks menu then completely forgot about us. We ordered a bunch of starters and that alone took about 30+ mins to come to the table. When it finally arrived, the squid was very tough and stringy. The oysters were good so I will give them that, but it's hard to mess up something you don't have to cook! Our third starter was the ham croquettes. These were absolutely stone cold to the point I thought it was meant as a cold dish till my partner told me it wasn't. I can only assume things were sat at the pass for ages. Another worrying thing that happened was with their newly installed fireplace at the back. There was only one family of 3 sat at the back with us next to this fireplace and at one point it was bellowing out smoke into the back area causing all of us to cough. The smell of smoke was so strong and stayed for a long time, I felt very sorry for the family closest to the fire. The staff did not seem to know how the fire place worked and we're just hoping it fixed itself. Ok back to the review...We put the starters behind us and decided to look forward to the mains, they all sounded absolutely mouth watering! I went for the pork chop and my partner the Malaysian chicken thighs. Once again, from finishing the starters to getting our mains this took around 40mins or more to come out. Now I do not mind waiting if the kitchen is busy and wants to make everything perfect and fresh, however, there were not that many people in the restaurant at the time and what finally came to us was unacceptable at this price point. BOTH dishes again were very cold! My pork chop was quite underwhelming, I could taste the flavours and it went well with the side salad and apple sauce but I was expecting something a bit more special. The same goes for my partner, she liked the flavours in the chicken thigh dish, but it again was entirely cold. At this point we were so hungry we gave up and kept eating. Before we were asked how things were, the table of 3 next to the fire had called over the staff and were having a long discussion pointing to various plates on their table. In the end we managed to catch some of the conversation which turned out to be the same complaints as ours (food was nice but everything was cold and wished it was hot) when they took their plates away I could see quite a lot was left. When we finally managed to speak to somebody and gave them the exact same feedback we was told that "the dish came with side salad so you know, hot and cold together sometimes things get cold" I was a bit shocked by this as my chop was nowhere near my salad and neither was my partners chicken. It felt like she was giving excuses for the kitchen staff instead of acknowledging there was an issue or helping to find a solution (something again you wouldn't expect at the prices they are asking £30-40 a mains) We decided to leave it at that and both of us agreed we would never be returning. It wasn't until the end of our meal a lovely waitress came to clear things and asked again how we was doing and how our meal was. We explained our issues and she just stood and listened and apologised, she then thanked us for bringing it to her attention. After she came back with the bill she explained that she was not happy we had a bad experience and many items were cold so put on a 25% discount telling us that she remembered us from our first visit and didn't want this to be our last and hoped we would come back and give them another go. This was the only saving grace of the entire night for us and because of her we are willing to try Kota Kai again, hopefully when staff & food are up to standard.

Back in Porthleven and following our last review in April 2022 it was a pleasure to return on their reopening day after a winter refurbishment. Greeted by Mary Anne, it is encouraging to see the Maori/Malaysian chef and owner leading from the front in the open kitchen. As before, tap water offered at the outset. Very Aotearoa New Zealand. A range of three "small plates" for me. Two would have been sufficient! Absolutely delicious. A main course which was also of generous portion. Te reka a te kai! Ka kite ano. 🇬🇧🇳🇿