Kai Asian Fusion Eatery Debuts Sushi And Grilled Meats in Plano

Kai, a new upscale Asian food eatery, will open at Legacy West next week.

The new elegant restaurant space at 7301 Windrose Ave C200 will reflect an Asian theme from the decor to the food. The eatery is split between a dining room, cocktail lounge, patio, and private event space that seats 250 guests total. A sushi bar and robata grill are focal points of the interior. Granite, marble, wood, and brass were used in the interior design in the pursuit of creating a “serene, zen-like environment,” according to Robert Clayton, chief operating officer of the parent company Lombardi Family Concepts, which also operates Taverna and Toulouse at Legacy West. “We were inspired by Asian design and used organic materials,” he says. Guests can expect a restaurant filled with plentiful natural light and pops of color.

As far as food is concerned, Kai’s menu will reflect a mashup of Asian cultures — Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Malay and more with a French twist, according to executive chef King Dey, as well as sushi and dishes cooked over hot coals on the robata grill, (which of course is Japanese). Dey worked in dining establishments in New York, London, Dubai, Tokyo, Bangkok, and Mumbai, before moving to Dallas to join Lombardi almost two years ago. “I used my experience living and working all over Asia — Japan, China and Thailand — to create a culinary journey that will transfer our guests to the Far East,” he says. Standout dishes include soft shell crab served with baby gem lettuce, sweet chili, and sesame; miso bronzed black cod; and chilean sea bass, served with black bean, ponzu butter, and hajikami ginger.

Kai officially opens to the public on Monday, October 8, and will operate Monday through Wednesday 5 to 12 a.m.; Thursday through Saturday 5 to 1:30 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4 to 10 p.m.

• New Japanese Restaurant Kai Will Open Late Summer in Plano [EDFW]