The wait is over for fans of Fort Lauderdale’s historic Mai-Kai restaurant. With the restaurant’s reopening on Thursday, November 21, the heat is back on at Mai-Kai. The Polynesian restaurant and dinner theater, which had been closed for four years, underwent a $20 million glow-up. Complete with tropical gardens, Mai-Kai returns with its immersive experience and the magic of Polynesian culture and cuisine intact.
Ready to welcome guests to an unforgettable experience is the managing partner, Bill Fuller, who stated, “It’s a place where not only do you get lost in the environment of the place, but you also get lost in the place of time. So you’ve gone to a totally different world.”
About Mai-Kai
Originally opened in 1956, Mai-Kai was founded by brothers Bob and Jack Thornton, who spent $350,000 on the restaurant, making it America’s most expensive project of that year. The Thornton brothers’ goal was to bring Polynesian culture and cuisine to a quiet farmland area near Fort Lauderdale Beach, a goal that paid off as Mai-Kai became an instant hit. This nationally historic landmark helped put South Florida’s dining scene on the map well before the area’s current restaurant growth.
“We are not a tiki bar and don’t consider ourselves a tiki bar. We are a Polynesian venue,” says Fuller. “Our goal has been to honor and preserve the rich culture and traditions that the Mai-Kai has celebrated over the last 70 years. Every detail is authentic and tells a story that is respectful and appreciative of these traditions.”
With twice-nightly performances featuring exciting songs and dances, Mai-Kai works with cultural arts and entertainment director Teuruhei Buchin to celebrate, rather than appropriate, Pacific Island traditions. The venue’s performances highlight traditional music and dance that tell stories from various island cultures and include performers representing Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Reservations are required for shows.
A Tasty Menu
Beyond captivating performances, guests can enjoy Mai-Kai’s Polynesian menu, which blends longtime favorites with new dishes inspired by Southeast Asian flavors. Highlights include tasty appetizers such as the classic Mai-Kai Pupu Platter, pork belly buns, Thai coconut curry soup, and crispy garlic shrimp. Mai-Kai’s entrée selections include Chinese roast duck, hulu hulu barbecue chicken, and an American wagyu strip steak, which was inspired by the restaurant’s former beef and broccoli dish.
When you’re ready for something sweet, Mai-Kai’s desserts highlight tropical influences, with menu options including an Asian pear upside-down cake with Vietnamese coffee ice cream, Mauna Loa macadamia nut pie, and the Angry Tiki Tower.
Looking to take your taste experience to another level? At the Molokai Bar, Mai-Kai’s cocktail menu has been reinvigorated by bartender Cory Starr, previously from Chicago’s Three Dots and a Dash. Starr drew inspiration from the restaurant’s original bartender and a protégé of tiki legend Donn the Beachcomber, Mariano Licudine. Mai-Kai’s menu of 57 drinks features classics, like the Mai Tai and Black Magic, and new creations from Starr to match the nautical-themed bar.
A $20 Million Restoration
Mai-Kai was forced to close in October 2020 due to plumbing issues. While the restaurant remained intact over the decades prior, with much of its 1950s relics still in place before Mai-Kai’s closure, Fuller took the closure as an opportunity to partner with the Thornton family. Together, they assembled a team of theme park veterans to modernize the space while preserving its history, ultimately restoring the eight dining rooms and theming each after a different Pacific island with artifacts from its namesake region.
“Each guest that walks through the door will feel the energy that Bob and Jack Thornton originally created,” says Fuller.
