Authentic—that’s the word that popped to mind as I sampled a variety of tapas at the new K’ya Laguna. If the restaurant’s name sounds familiar, it’s because in the 16 years leading up to the pandemic, the original iteration—K’ya Bistro—had become a beloved casual dining spot for Laguna Beach locals and guests staying at the historic La Casa del Camino. Although the hotel’s uber-popular Rooftop Lounge survived the mandatory shutdown, K’ya shuttered in 2020. Then two other restaurants filled the space until K’ya was given new life this past February.
I think what I like most about this place is its no-frills vibe. The dining room is nice but modest, with tables and booth seating for 50 to 60 diners. There’s live entertainment by local artists (musical and otherwise) on most nights, and happy hour specials (two rotating signature tapas priced at $5 each, along with $5 sangria, house wines by the glass, and bottled beers) from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The staff is kind and hospitable—on my visit, Connor played the dual role of bartender and server with aplomb. He answered questions about various food offerings, cocktails, and wine, and made a few suggestions based on our tastes. And then there’s the food. The menu isn’t fussy or pretentious—just good. In “Kitchen Confidential,” Anthony Bourdain wrote that “Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.” That’s what I found here—good, simple food.
Before I continue, here’s a little sidenote about the whole operation. Restaurant veteran Jim Hall, who owned Surf City Ale House and Cafe Tu Tu Tango, took over operations of the hotel and its two restaurants in 2024, following the passing of his good friend and owner Richard Ham. Hall has a keen appreciation for the history of La Casa del Camino—a charming, Spanish-style, 37-room boutique hotel that’s graced the corner of South Coast Highway and Cress Street since 1929. Its Rooftop Lounge boasts one of the most magnificent views of the Laguna Beach coastline and delights guests with an impressive selection of quality cocktails. Hall has plans to improve upon that operation, too.
But let’s get back to K’ya. The menu here is divided into four sections—Handheld Bites, Land & Sea, From the Garden, and Desserts. My husband and I sampled a couple of items from each section, except for From the Garden—but the offerings there were tempting, with an authentic Caesar salad (which means anchovies play a role). You’ll also see caprese skewers, spiced cauliflower bites (cruciferous bits fried with buffalo sauce and served with blue cheese dip), and avocado toast on sourdough with Cotija cheese and almonds. Under Handheld Bites: crispy chicken wings paired with a gorgonzola and blue cheese dressing, and Angus beef sliders with cheese, caramelized onions, and pickles, among other choices.
We started with chipotle chicken skewers, coconut shrimp, and bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese—because I’m a sucker for the crunchy-soft, savory-sweet, and tangy-earthy mishmash of textures and flavors. The chicken morsels on the skewers were tender and flavorful, marinated in a chipotle-lime concoction and served with a cilantro-lime crema. The coconut shrimp was a standout with a mango-habanero chutney and coconut-lime dipping sauce. The plates are made to share, but I could have easily eaten the whole platter myself.
As much as I loved the shrimp, I enjoyed the hibachi salmon bites from the Land & Sea selections even more. Cubes of perfectly seared and seasoned salmon rested in a divine sauce of soy, lemon, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. It was so well balanced. No one flavor stood out from the other—instead, they melded together into one smooth taste experience. I could eat that every day.
Another fave: the Italian sausage and polenta. First, let’s talk about the polenta—it’s one of those things I either love or just like, depending on the preparation. I’m not a fan of the custard or porridge style. But at K’ya, you get a modest portion of polenta, grilled to a delicate crisp to form a light, crusty exterior that, when cut with a fork or knife, gives way to a firm—and in no way dry—interior. It’s placed alongside a sliced cylinder of mild Italian sausage that’s covered in a luscious tomato sauce cooked with peppers and onions. It’s a must-try.
The steak filet bites didn’t disappoint, either. The tender medallions of beef arrived skewered and bathed in a savory-sweet balsamic glaze and accompanied by a horseradish crema. Rounding out the Land & Sea section of the menu are Hawaiian ahi poke, petite crab cakes with wasabi aioli and a spicy mango salsa, crispy calamari, mini meatballs, and a lobster mac-and-cheese. A popular pick among guests, the latter is made with white cheddar and topped with herb breadcrumbs.
The dessert menu on our visit featured two treats—a classic tiramisu made of espresso-soaked ladyfingers and sweet Italian creamed cheese, and a pistachio cake that kind of reminded me of a classic Boston cream pie. The base was a layer of a dense pistachio cream—it was thick enough to hold its shape, and not too sweet or rich. A thin layer of sponge cake separated the pistachio-cream mixture from a layer of sweet ricotta cream, which was topped by another layer of sponge cake, with a generous dusting of powdered sugar to finish the confection. It—like everything else we sampled here—was simply delicious.
Address: 1287 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach
Website: lacasadelcamino.com
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 3 to 10 p.m.
Price Range:
Handheld Bites, $7.45 to $16.95
Land & Sea, $13.95 to $19.95
From the Garden, $6.95 to $14.95
Desserts, $9.95
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