Kai Ramen Santa Monica
729 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
How the BiteKarma score works
Each routine inspection starts at 100 and loses 7 points for every critical violation and 2 for every other one, half again as much when the same problem was cited at one of the two inspections before. A failed inspection counts as 69 at most. The score averages the five newest routine inspections, with the most recent counting most, and stays below 70 for 90 days after a fail unless the restaurant passes again. 90 and up is excellent, 80s good, 70s fair, and below 70 poor.
At a glance
- Passed 3 of 3 graded inspections since 2024.
- Last inspected Nov 5, 2025: passed with 12 violations, 2 critical. That was over a year ago, so things may have changed.
- Keeps coming up: Food-contact surfaces: clean and sanitized, cited 2 times, plus 8 other repeat issues.
- #14 in Santa Monica's Hall of Shame, among the lowest BiteKarma scores in the city.
- 5 critical violations in the last two years.
Inspection history 3 visits
- 2025
- Passed Nov 5
Owner Requested Reinspection
12 violations, 2 critical
- Critical Food-contact surfaces: clean and sanitized
- Critical Food in good condition, safe and unadulterated
- Minor Impoundment/voluntary condemn and dispose (VC&D)/sampling
- Minor Premises; personal/cleaning items; vermin-proofing
- Minor Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
- Minor Plumbing: fixtures, backflow device, drainage
- Minor Thermometers provided and accurate
- Minor Equipment/utensils approved: installed; good repair; capacity
- Minor Multiple major critical violations /increased risk to public health
- Minor Food separated and protected
- Minor Adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas, use
- Minor Food safety certification
- Passed Oct 22
Routine Inspection
15 violations, 3 critical
- Critical Food-contact surfaces: clean and sanitized
- Critical Food in good condition, safe and unadulterated
- Critical Proper hot and cold holding temperatures
- Minor Adequate handwashing facilities; supplied and accessible
- Minor Premises; personal/cleaning items; vermin-proofing
- Minor Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, cleaned
- Minor Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
- Minor Adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas, use
- Minor Equipment, utensils and linens: storage and use
- Minor Multiple major critical violations /increased risk to public health
- Minor Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained; used; test equipment
- Minor Equipment/utensils approved: installed; good repair; capacity
- Minor Floors, walls and ceilings properly built, maintained and clean
- Minor Impoundment/voluntary condemn and dispose (VC&D)/sampling
- Minor Food safety certification
- 2024
- Passed Apr 16
Routine Inspection
6 violations
- Minor Adequate handwashing facilities supplied and accessible
- Minor Floors, walls and ceilings: properly built, maintained in good repair and clean
- Minor Equipment, utensils and linens: storage and use
- Minor Equipment/utensils - approved; installed; clean; good repair, capacity
- Minor Permits available
- Minor Nonfood-contact surfaces clean and in good repair
Nearby
BiteKarma scores around Kai Ramen Santa Monica, which is the dark pin. Zoom in to see the dots' scores, and tap a pin marked + to see everything at that address.