Little Kiki Katsu & More, a compact new project from the team behind Harumama and Blue Ocean, quietly soft-opened Monday in Carlsbad. Tucked into a 25 to 30 seat space at 2958 Madison Street, the restaurant is starting with dinner service and is slated to add lunch with a July 1 grand opening. The menu leans into in-person dining, with a small outdoor patio and a tight lineup built around high-quality proteins and a short, dialed-in dessert list.
What To Order
The heart of the menu is katsu, the panko-crusted cutlets that show up here in premium form. Diners will see options like Berkshire Kurobuta pork, Jidori chicken, salmon, scallops and dry-aged Pacific cod, along with a lunch tonkatsu sandwich on housemade bread. Dessert keeps things streamlined, with yuzu cheesecake, matcha crème brûlée and mango/yuzu mochi ice cream.
Dinner service tacks on grilled-stone dishes built for sharing, while the bar highlights a curated selection of premium sakes alongside beer and cocktails. Designer Yoojin Jang describes the room as warm and modern, with olive green, cream and flashes of orange set against Japanese-style wood slats, and the name "Little Kiki" nods to co-owner Jenny Pyo's cat, according to San Diego Magazine.
Local Team, Familiar Names
The concept comes from local restaurateurs Jenny and James Pyo, whose portfolio already includes Harumama and Blue Ocean Robata & Sushi. Executive chef James Pyo is also listed as a co-owner at Little Kiki. The Pyo family's restaurant group has been gradually expanding across San Diego County over the past several years, and this katsu-focused spot is the latest addition to that footprint, as previously reported by Eater San Diego.
Hours, Seating And How To Visit
Inside, Little Kiki seats about 25 to 30 guests, with space for a handful more on a compact patio. The restaurant initially opened for dinner only, with regular lunch hours set to roll out at the July 1 grand opening.
Posted hours list Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11:30 AM to 3 PM for lunch and 5 PM to 9:30 PM for dinner. On Friday and Saturday, dinner is extended to 10 p.m. The restaurant will be closed on Tuesdays. The team has also stated that it will not use third-party delivery apps, preferring that guests come in to eat on site, according to San Diego Magazine.
Buildout And Official Paper Trail
City permit documents show a 2025 tenant-improvement permit for "LITTLE KIKI" at 2958 Madison Street, Suite 101, filed under the Pyo Family Trust and listing MBL Construction as the contractor. The paperwork details items, including a kitchen exhaust hood installation and other TI work, and indicates that the group has been preparing the site since at least April 2025, per City of Carlsbad permit records.
With tight seating and a focused menu, reservations are expected to be a smart move once the grand opening nears. Little Kiki is likely to draw fans of well-executed comfort food and regulars of the Pyo group's other local spots.
