KI'S Restaurant

What KI'S Restaurant does

KI'S Restaurant is a privately held, family-owned full-service American restaurant founded in 1980 by Catherine "Ki" Holcomb and her son Barry Holcomb in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California. The business operates a single two-story ocean-view location at 2591 S. Coast Highway 101, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a daily happy hour to local residents, beach community visitors, and event clientele. The menu emphasizes health-conscious, locally-sourced American cuisine, and the restaurant is Surfrider Foundation Ocean Friendly Restaurant certified, using biodegradable, compostable, and recycled materials in operations. The business employs approximately 17 staff.

The company operates a horizontally diversified revenue model spanning four streams: (1) dine-in service with a full bar, sunset prix fixe menu ($29.95 for 3 courses), and happy hour programming; (2) online ordering and delivery via ToastTab; (3) private on-site events (20–120 guests) and full-service off-site catering (up to 1,000 guests) across San Diego County venue partners; and (4) wholesale distribution of branded salads, dressings, salsas, and baked goods throughout Southern California via the Ki's Kitchen brand, plus a wholly-owned school lunch subsidiary (Ki's Natural Lunches). Pricing spans $6.50–$38.95 for menu items, $10–$64 per person for catering packages, and $25–$38 per person for hosted bar packages, all on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across the physical storefront and digital channels (website, ToastTab, OpenTable, Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, email newsletter, and SMS). Customer segments are split horizontally between health-conscious local residents, on-the-go professionals, event hosts/party planners, and corporate/business clients. The Holcomb family has maintained full private ownership since inception, with no external funding, M&A activity, or public-market signals. The company has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities and relies on standard third-party restaurant SaaS for its technology stack.

Name

KI'S Restaurant

Legal name

Ki's Restaurant

Website

https://kisrestaurant.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KI'S Restaurant is a family-owned, single-location ocean-view American restaurant in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and catering to local residents, event hosts, and corporate clients throughout Southern California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casual Dining Restaurant

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (722320), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

All-Day Dining Restaurants (THAFACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Casual Dining Restaurants (THAFACAB), Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK), Private Culinary Experiences (Chef’s Table, Home Dining, Market-to-Meal) (THAJALAH)

Keywords

• Casual dining restaurant
• Event catering services
• American cuisine restaurant
• Wholesale food products
• Ocean view dining

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardiff-by-the-Sea

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Restaurant: Full-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner with ocean view dining. Revenue from food and beverage sales during operating hours (8am-8pm Sun-Thu, 8am-8:30pm Fri-Sat)
2. Online Ordering/Takeout: Online ordering through ToastTab platform for takeout and delivery orders
3. Catering Services: Full-service catering including casual catering (sandwiches, wraps, hot lunches), breakfast catering, hot entrees, event catering with custom menus, buffet services, and hosted bar services. Catering available for events from 10-1,000 guests both on-site and off-site
4. Private Events: Hosting private events including holiday parties, weddings, birthdays, showers, retirement parties, corporate functions with venue rental and full catering options
5. Gift Cards: Sale of gift cards through ToastTab platform

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KI'S Restaurant is a family-owned, ocean-view American restaurant in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with health-conscious, locally-sourced cuisine, daily Happy Hour, and a 3-course prix fixe Sunset Menu. The business also offers casual and event catering for groups of 10 to 1,000 guests, on-site private event hosting for 20 to 120 guests, online takeout and delivery ordering through ToastTab, and reservation booking through OpenTable.

Product overview

KI'S Restaurant is a single-location, ocean-view American restaurant in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California. The core offering is dine-in restaurant service serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with health-conscious, locally-sourced cuisine. Supporting products include online ordering through Toasttab for pickup and delivery, casual and event catering services (for groups of 10 to 1,000), private event venue rental (20-120 guests), daily happy hour specials, gift cards, and live music/events programming. The restaurant is privately owned by the Holcomb family and has operated since 1980.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dine-In Restaurant Service Full-service ocean-view restaurant in Cardiff-by-the-Sea serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily with locally-sourced, health-conscious American cuisine, open Sunday-Thursday 8am-8pm and Friday-Saturday 8am-8:30pm. Accepts walk-ins and reservations via OpenTable.
• Online Ordering for Takeout and Delivery Direct online ordering for pickup and delivery through the ToastTab platform, available for individual meals.
• Casual Catering Pickup or delivery catering service featuring sandwiches, wraps, hot lunches, and breakfast options in disposable containers for events of 10 or more people. Casual catering sandwiches and wraps are priced at $17.95 per person, hot lunches at $18.95 per person, and continental breakfast at $10.00 per person.
• Event Catering Full-service catering for formal events including custom menus, buffet or plated options, private in-home chef dinners, bartender services, and rentals coordination. Sunset Party Buffet at $54.00 per person and Pacific Coast Buffet at $64.00 per person. Capable of accommodating up to 1,000 guests.
• Private Events and Parties On-site venue hosting at the Cardiff-by-the-Sea restaurant for birthday parties, office functions, showers, retirement parties, weddings, and other special occasions. Capacity ranges from 20 to 120 people on-site.
• Happy Hour and Sunset Menu Specials Daily Happy Hour from 3:30-6pm with discounted well drink prices and appetizer specials, plus a 3-course prix fixe Sunset Menu for $29.95 available 4:30-6pm daily except holidays, and all night on Tuesdays. Wine Wednesday offers 25% off bottles and carafes all evening.
• Gift Cards Gift card purchases available through ToastTab for redemption at Ki's Restaurant.
• Live Music and Events Programming Regularly scheduled live music performances, wine pairing events, and paint parties hosted at the restaurant venue as part of its entertainment programming.
• Ki's Wholesale Food Products Wholesale distribution of Ki's salads, dressings, salsas, and baked goods throughout Southern California, operated under the Ki's Kitchen brand via kis-kitchen.com.
• Ki's Natural Lunches (School Lunch Program)

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully operated for over 40 years with family ownership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ToastTabcoreTechnology or IntegrationToastTab provides online ordering platform for dine-in, takeout, and catering orders, as well as gift card sales. Integral to restaurant's digital commerce operations.
• OpenTablecoreTechnology or IntegrationOpenTable provides restaurant reservation system allowing customers to book tables online. Key channel for driving dine-in reservations.
• Surfrider FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurfrider Foundation certified Ki's as an Ocean Friendly Restaurant, recognizing their environmental practices including recycling, compostable containers, and sustainable materials usage.
• San Elijo Lagoon ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal environmental organization that Ki's supports through community involvement and environmental awareness initiatives.
• The Thursday ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue in Point Loma where Ki's has provided catering services for events.
• Rancho Santa Fe Garden ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue where Ki's has provided catering services for events.
• The Powerhouse Del MarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent venue in Del Mar where Ki's has provided catering services.
• La Jolla Cove Bridge ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue where Ki's has provided catering services for events.
• San Diego Botanical GardensminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWedding venue in Encinitas where Ki's has provided catering services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Casa de Bandini: Long-running SoCal family-owned Mexican restaurant with catering services for large private events. Comparable family-owned casual full-service restaurant plus catering business model.
• Jake's Del Mar: Coastal casual dining and event venue in Del Mar offering ocean-view brunch, lunch, and dinner with private event space. Comparable full-service coastal dining and private events model.
• Poseidon Restaurant: Ocean-view American restaurant in Del Mar offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, happy hour and private events on the SoCal coast. Directly comparable premium-location casual dining and event-hosting model.
• Swami's Cafe: Multi-location health-focused breakfast and lunch cafe headquartered in Encinitas with locations throughout coastal North County San Diego. Comparable health-conscious, family-owned casual dining concept with similar menu positioning.
• 23rd Street Cafe & Catering: Family-owned casual cafe and full-service caterer in San Diego offering casual drop-off catering plus large-scale event catering. Directly comparable family-operated cafe + catering business model.
• Las Olas Restaurant: Long-standing, family-run Mexican/casual restaurant located steps away on South Coast Highway 101 in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Comparable single-location coastal dining, similar community orientation, and similar scale/customer base.
• The Fish House Vera Cruz: Casual seafood-focused family restaurant in Solana Beach (adjacent coastal community) with lunch and dinner service. Compares on casual full-service dining, SoCal coastal community, and family-owned positioning.
• Vigilucci's Restaurant Group: Family-operated coastal North County Italian restaurant group based in Encinitas offering full-service dining and off-site catering. Comparable family-owned SoCal restaurant with catering operations.

Broad incumbents

• Specialty Restaurants Corporation: Established SoCal operator of premium scenic-view full-service restaurants (e.g., The Summit House, Castaway) with large-scale private event and catering operations. Comparable ocean/scenic dining plus event catering capabilities but at substantially larger scale.

Regional players

• Behind the Scenes Catering & Events: San Diego-based full-service event caterer and event production company serving corporate and private events from 50 to 1,000+ guests. Comparable large-scale off-site event catering with curated menus similar to Ki's $54–$64 buffet tiers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KisRestaurant
• Facebookfacebook.com/209767928713
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ki's-restaurant

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KI'S Restaurant