Kaiya Omakase Sushi + Bar at Lido House is About to Raise the Bar
Newport Beach has a new obsession coming, and it lives inside a lighthouse. Tucked behind the Lido House hotel, a new sushi spot is preparing for its public debut this July, and if the behind-the-scenes details are any indication, the anticipation is entirely warranted. Kaiya Omakase Sushi + Bar isn’t just another restaurant opening; it’s an arrival.
We got a rare, early look before the curtain goes up, and what’s unfolding inside those curved walls is quietly extraordinary.
Twelve Seats, One Counter
Let’s start with the space. Kaiya’s centerpiece is a 12-seat counter inside Lido House’s signature lighthouse, and yes, it’s exactly as cinematic as it sounds. The counter format is intentional, as omakase, by its very nature, is an intimate exchange. The Japanese phrase translates loosely to “I’ll leave it up to you,” a gracious handoff from guest to chef, and Kaiya takes that charge seriously.
With just 12 seats, every detail matters. Every placement, every pour and every slice of fish. The architecture of the space demands it, and the team behind it is more than up to the task.
“We want people to feel at ease when they come into Kaiya, knowing that they don’t have to think for the rest of the evening. We are here to take care of them,” says a representative from Lido House.
For first-time omakase guests, the concept is straightforward: trust the chef. This is an experience where the chef will guide your palate, curating everything specially for you right in front of your eyes.
The Chefs Behind the Counter
Chef-Partner Riley Huddleston isn’t new to building something extraordinary. His culinary fingerprints are all over Lido House’s restaurant program, and with Kaiya, he’s channeling that same precision into a concept that is equal parts artistry and intention. Alongside him is Head Sushi Chef Brian Kim, whose mastery defines the heartbeat of the omakase experience.
In the weeks leading up to opening, the two chefs are deep in the final stages of training, a focused, almost meditative ritual that speaks volumes about the caliber of what’s being built. Omakase demands a kind of culinary muscle memory. Every movement behind the counter is rehearsed with the same seriousness you’d expect from a performance, because that’s exactly what it is.
A Menu You’ll Have to Trust
The thing about omakase is that you don’t get to see the menu in advance. You show up, sit down and surrender. And with ultra-premium seasonal imports arriving ahead of the opening, what Huddleston and Kim are planning sounds like the kind of lineup that will redefine what Newport Beach diners think of when they hear the word “sushi.”
Curate and quality define a true omakase experience: pristine, meticulously sourced ingredients elevated by the kind of technique that only comes from years of dedication. The specific offerings will evolve with the seasons, ensuring that every visit feels different. Ultimately, that’s what sets this experience apart from other sushi spots.
The Detail That Says Everything
If you want to understand how seriously Kaiya Omakase takes the full experience, look no further than the glassware. The bar program comes with its own set of bespoke cocktail glasses that have been chosen with the same intentionality as the fish. It’s a small detail that says a very loud thing: nothing here was an afterthought.
Which brings us to the bar itself. Kaiya isn’t just a sushi counter; it’s also the only omakase restaurant in Newport Beach with a full bar and cocktail program. That combination of high-touch omakase craftsmanship with a genuine, curated bar experience is rare. Whether you’re sipping before the first course or finishing the evening with something beautifully poured, the bar at Kaiya holds its own.
“Pairing a full cocktail program with our omakase concept means that guests will get a fully curated experience,” a Lido House representative explains. “We will curate everything you will experience in the evening, from the flavors you enjoy to the music playing while you take your first bite.” The goal, they say, is for Kaiya to invoke all the senses for the ultimate experience, with a lively, yet intimate atmosphere.
Next Door, Mayor’s Table Is Setting the Scene
While Kaiya gets ready for its close-up, its neighbor at the Lido House is already holding court. The Mayor’s Table Pacific Pub & Kitchen is everything a great coastal restaurant should be and then some.
The space itself tells its story. The eye-catching octopus mural splashed across the wall sets a tone that’s playful and a little wild, the kind of thing you photograph immediately yet somehow caption poorly. The Wall of Mayors is exactly what it sounds like: a tribute to the city’s civic history displayed with the kind of reverence that keeps the room grounded in its roots. Those roots run deep, as the Lido House was built on the site of Newport Beach’s former city hall, a fact that lends the whole place a particular sense of place and purpose.
“The Mayor’s Table is built on storytelling and community building,” says a Lido House representative. That same philosophy extends directly to Kaiya, where everything from the colors to the name to the logo design carries intention and purpose. “For both concepts, the people of Newport Beach inspire us to build unique concepts that also inspire them.”
On the plate, Mayor’s Table leans fully into its coastal setting. Seasonal seafood, thoughtfully prepared fare and a menu that speaks the language of the ocean await. This is where you go when you want something that feels like Newport Beach tastes. It’s also where the community comes to gather and stay a little longer than planned, which is perhaps the highest compliment a restaurant can earn.
The Summer of Soccer
If you needed another reason to plant yourself at Lido House this summer, here it is: Mayor’s Table is hosting the Lido Fan Zone, a dedicated watch-party experience in celebration of the FIFA World Cup. Running June 11 through July 19, the Summer of Soccer is an open invitation to guests and locals alike to pull up a chair, cheer loudly and turn every match into a moment.
Newport Beach isn’t typically associated with full-on sports bar energy, but that’s kind of the point. Mayor’s Table is reimagining what communal sports viewing can look like when the setting is this good. Think delicious food, refreshing drinks and a crowd that shows up dressed for the occasion. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just looking for an excuse to celebrate mid-summer, the Fan Zone is the move.
Newport Beach, Meet Your New Obsession
Lido House has always been a destination, but this summer, it becomes a full culinary ecosystem: A world-class omakase counter where 12 lucky guests will experience something genuinely rare, a bar program that can hold its own, a landmark coastal pub with a rich local story and a fan zone that promises to be the most stylish place to watch a game in Orange County.
Kaiya Omakase Sushi + Bar opens this July. Reservations will be coveted, the counter will be full and the bar will be pouring something you’ll want in your hand throughout all of it. Consider yourself warned and very much invited.
Ever since she was a child, Ashley Ryan knew she wanted to write. After working on her high school newspaper and college magazine, she graduated with a degree in journalism and anthropology, eager to tell the stories of people and places in Orange County and around the world. Her prolific career as a writer, editor and photographer has led her to write about travel, culture, art, home design and so much more. When not working on her latest piece, she enjoys visiting new places, going to concerts, hiking, doing yoga on the beach, reading, cheering on her favorite sports teams and spending time with beloved friends and family.
