After hiking Kalalau (18 miles... yeah), we were beyond hungry -- the kind of hungry where you'd eat your own backpack if it had sauce on it. So we pulled up to Chicken In A Barrel BBQ around 6:30 PM on a Thursday, and honestly... it hit the spot in the best way. We ordered the 1/2 Chicken, the #3 Baby Back Rib Plate, plus a full order of fries and a side of ranch. Total came out to about $50, which felt totally fair for the amount of food and how filling it was. The ribs were my favorite part -- smoky, meaty, and not dry at all. They had that real BBQ vibe without being drowned in sauce. The chicken had a solid char on the outside and stayed juicy inside (which is not easy after a long day when you're eating fast and don't want to mess around). Fries were crispy and salty -- exactly what you want after a hike like that. This place is simple, casual, no fancy nonsense -- just good BBQ that makes you feel human again. If you're on Kauai and you've been hiking all day (or even if you haven't), this spot is absolutely worth it. We left full, happy, and already talking about coming back again. read more

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I got the 1/4 chicken plate, which came with chili. I substituted the rice for slaw - Chicken was generously sized and had a nicely balanced smoky flavour without being overpowering. The dark meat was juicy and tender, but the white meat could be juicier - Coleslaw had some nice fruit bits I believe. It wasn't heavy on mayo so it was nice and refreshing - Chili was more on the watery side and could use a bit more salt, but it had a generous mix of ground beef chunks and beans. I did really like how it had a bit of a kick to it -Self serve BBQ and hot BBQ sauce which paired with the chicken well. The hot BBQ sauce wasn't spicy though. In fact the chili was spicier read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - #1 Chicken Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

I've been chasing the memory of the Huli Huli chicken I had off the side of the road on the Big Island so finding another spot in Kauai was a MUST. We ended up at Chicken in a Barrel and honestly... super good and super flavorful. I think I kept unfairly comparing it to that fresh-off-the-grill roadside chicken experience in my head, but this place still absolutely delivered. The chicken and ribs were both really yummy and definitely worth the stop. Also loved the service here. I had asked for dark meat but got white meat instead and was totally fine with it, but the guy came back out like, "Oh no man, you wanted dark meat huh?" and insisted on fixing it even after I said it was okay That kind of service always stands out to me. Only thing missing for me was a good hot/spicy sauce option because I LOVE heat But overall, definitely recommend read more

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Went back on day two, and this time, they hadn't run out of chicken and ribs yet, so we took advantage of the full menu! Ate too fast and forgot to post pics. The loaded french fries are worth it, but you can do a half order. Which I recommend. If you're eating there, all the chickens and roosters outside will stare at you, with every french fry you bite into. Bbq sauce was addictive. Most dishes come with Chili, which has pork in it, but you can substitute for onion rings - which were much better. I would always do that, if I were you. Fortunately, on this visit, the staff was engaging and helpful. The previous day was some little kid who didn't know anything about the menu. But hey, family members help out in a pinch, I guess. You're in Kauai after all, so yes, we had a torrential downpour while eating. Luckily, we were under their non-leaky outdoor dining area. Added to the Kauai vibe. Only downside was listening to the teenagers who work at the shave ice place, vent as loudly as possible, about one of them is already at a crossroads in life. Geez, "slow yourself down", kid. And lower the volume. read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Chicken plate, running away. - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Fabulous chicken, super moist and flavorful. Sweet potato fries great as well...perfectly crispy. Huge portions. Zero complaints, definitely recommend! read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Chicken in a Barrel - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Perfect lunch spot after a day in the beach! You'll know this spot before you see it, the sweet scent of bbq fills the air, creating an irresistible venture to chicken in a barrel. Service is super quick making the enjoyment of a great chicken or pork bbq right at your fingertips (literally). Taste was phenomenal, pairing of bbq with house chili and rice was a great whole food meal to keep the energy high for more hours at the beach! read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Chicken bbq w/ chili and rice - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Soooo yummy! Quick and easy to order and they have a nice outdoor seating area. Super funny but they have spray bottles you can use in case the chickens get too close to your food read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Chicken, pork, beef, Mac and cheese, corn beard - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Pretty good bbq, I ordered to go so the food lost a bit of its freshness by the time I ate it, but I thought everything was tasty. The chicken was my fav, super flavorful and a huge portion. The ribs were alright, but didn't have much meat. The sweet potato fries were good, a bit soggy by the time I arrived home, but after putting in their fryer for 5 min they were crispy again. The chili was not great, but at least it was included. Pretty solid option for a bbq moment. read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Wouldn't recommend this place if you're planning to eat here. The chicken itself is decent, but the place is dirty - there wasn't a single table or chair that didn't have bird droppings on it. Service was good, no complaints about it. Not very appetizing, unfortunately. read more

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Right off the bat my husband ordered WAY too much for our family of 4.. like we have two small kids who eat like birds so this felt like an intentional meal prep because we did end up saving this and eating chicken later the next day This spot is a classic for us when in the area, love how crispy yet tender the meat is. Kids devour that Mac salad each time and they are a non profit so just incredible work they are doing. It's a must if you haven't ever tried it, especially post hike/swim and need to refuel. Everyone is so friendly, and food does come out quick. I love the vibes here. Super hot spot for shopping and plenty of seating with shade. Find yourself in a relaxing state of mind post grub and go walk it off by treating yourself or others to souvenirs nearby. read more

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Food was great - a little pricy. Service was super chill and friendly. Lots of chickens everywhere lol read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Hats - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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We tried the combo plate with smoked chicken, ribs, pulled pork, and pulled beef, served with brown rice and chili. The ribs were okay, but the smoked chicken was excellent -- juicy, tender, and full of smoky flavor. I also had a garden salad, which wasn't anything special, but it did provide a nice balance to an otherwise very meaty meal. Overall, a solid spot for smoked meats in Hanalei, with the chicken being the clear highlight. read more

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best chicken i've ever had ever. also had the same name as the workers there and they were really cool.

I suppose it's good bbq if it's the only option. Chicken was okay, for the fatty hormone injected rapid growth type. Similar to the precooked Costco chicken level. Pulled pork and pulled beef are just wrong. It's a box of slop. Salads are tiny. Prices are okay because they serve low grade, possibly the lowest grade meat. If you're not a picky eater and looking to fill up on the cheap, this is a good spot! read more

Man, why do Americans always bring their fatty fast food into the tropical paradise? We had to go to this place because everything else was either closed at 5pm, or have insane prices, or too far away. I have finished my beef because it was soaked in the oil. Yikes. read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Cole slaw with beef - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Delicious comfort food in Hanalei Bay! It gets pretty busy here but the wait is never too long. My husband and I split the combo which was chicken, beef, pork and ribs. We added a side of loaded fries. Equally all delicious. The kids got chicken nuggets and fries. Love that the chicken is real chicken and not that fast food kind of chicken. Everything is a la carte: sides and drinks as well, so your bill does add up, but it's worth it. There's some cute shops around for when you're done eating. read more

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The place here is pretty busy. The wait here wasn't too long. Smoked chicken was great! Excellent flavor and very juicy. My kids liked it, and it was a plus that it was gluten free for my child with Celiac. It's got good vibes and they print John3:16 on their boxes. I guess it's a Christian business. They have limited seating and some additional outdoor seating areas. I also tried the pulled pork, and it was good too! I didn't try any of the BBQ sauce because it's usually loaded with sugar, but my family liked that too. read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Half chicken smoked - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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I came here on a Friday afternoon, and had a lovely experience. Service was fast and friendly, and there was plenty of seating. The sample platter was delicious, everything was smokey and tasted fresh. I would come back again for sure! read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Sample Platter - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Okay okay okay. Grain of salt. We came here about an hour before closing. They didn't have a few things on the menu, but that really didn't affect or stop us. My friend and I ordered the meal for 2, which included 1/2 a smoked/bbq'ed chicken. two scoops of rice, and some Hawaiian chili. We brought it back to our hotel room and went to town on the whole thing. The brown rice was...exactly how brown rice should be, which is to say kind of boring. Even adding the chili on top felt a little bland. The chili was very underseasoned and not as tomatoey as I would have liked. It offered a little bit of pizazz to an otherwise bland side, but I honestly could have done without both. The chicken itself...that's a whole different story! I don't know exactly how the barrel works, but the chicken was certainly in it! Smoky flavors give way to juicy chicken, and the seasoning was super light. I appreciated that, because I wanted that chicken to shine. This might have been one of the best chicken breasts I've ever had. It wasn't dry at all, and with the provided bbq sauce, it was delicious! Next time I'm back in Hawaii, I think I'll have to come back, but before closing! read more

This was one of the first places we ate "out" at while in Hanalei. The smell really attracted us as we love anything with the bbq/grilled smell. It wasn't too busy when we got there but there were people already in the outside eating enjoying their food. The menu is simple enough and we all ordered something different and loved our plates. The only complaint we had is the rib plate had little meat on the actual ribs which was a downer seeing how much the food cost. Other than that the staff was cool and it's nice that they offer a handwashing station after you eat so you can wash your hands. They also have a bbq and hot bbq sauce but to me they tasted the same lol Plenty of parking in the lot and surrounding areas so you'll find a spot easily. read more

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I'd eat here again, but I wouldn't go out of the way for it. What we got: My boyfriend and I split the #4 chicken and ribs as an early lunch-time snack before the beach. A few of yall are gonna hate me for this, but it is what it is - we were born and raised where we knew the smell of BBQ before we learned how to walk. Both the chicken and ribs were seasoned beautifully. The ribs were pretty much only bone and dry. The chicken only had a few dry spots. Chili isn't worth mentioning. Not sure if they make their own BBQ sauce, but it was damn good. Atmosphere: A few spots to dine in. A shared patio right outside the doors. Love that they have a customers-only sink. Service: The girl taking our order was so personable and had a pretty smile! read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Chicken & Rib plate (#4) - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

We come to Princeville all the time and we always come to Chicken in a Barrel! We love the loaded fries and their meat is so tasty and juicy! We love it! read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Loaded fries with pork - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Looks like a perfect winning combination (look at the picture), but sorry, the ribs were dry. The chili looks hearty but lack salt and seemed sugary. The rice was good and the service was with a smile. There was also a nice outdoor shaded area to dine. read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Baby Back Rib plate. - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

The food here was so fresh, service was quick and friendly, super chill and casual ambiance set outside among other local restaurants and shops. Open faced pulled pork sandwich with the cole slaw (had a slight pineapple flavor) on the sandwich with some OG bbq sauce was so delicious! read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Open faced pulled pork sandwich with Cole slaw on top and sweet potato fries - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

I forgot to take a picture before eating, it's that good! If you're in the mood for the best chicken of your life, come here. My family got sampler platters and I got the chicken plate. 10/10, juicy and crispy, perfect flavor, amazing Mac salad! I'm not a huge fan of chili, but my brother and dad said it was amazing!! read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Chicken with mac salad instead of rice - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Chicken in a Barrel is a must stop while visiting Kauai. The Chicken and Ribs are the Best. The Chili Beans have a very unique sweet and meaty flavor that is not for everyone. The macaroni salad is the best on the Island from all the other restaurants i tried. read more

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Stopped by on a very rainy afternoon but that didn't mattter !!! This place was packed ! The customer service was excellent! Loved the food! Great chicken And all the fixings ! We ate out on the covered patio and we enjoyed everything about this restaurant! God bless you and your business! Hugs from Michigan.. stopped by in February 2026 read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Rainy day in Hanalai .. - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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The service is really great! Lovely humans behind the cash register and running the place. I just didnt love the food. The chili was too spicy and the ribs were a little too fatty. I thought that the Mac salad and Cole slaw didn't have much flavor so I wouldn't go back for this super pricey mediocre meal. read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ is a total next level experience from the service to the food to the views to the Diet Coke!!! First off, they had a fountain soda machine, which felt like a major treat!! Their brew was actually sooooo good and crisp that my husband and I thought about going back for it. The views are actually WILD from inside, and we could've sat there forever taking those in and drinking DC. The woman working seriously cares about her craft. They cook everything day of, and she did tell us there would be a short wait about 10-15 minutes for certain types of meat since we got there RIGHT when they opened but that it would be worth it, and she was totally right!! The pulled pork was cooked perfectly. I got the slaw on the side since I wasn't sure if I'd like it but ended up really liking it!! The sweet potato fries were great. My husband got the chicken and rib plate with a side of onion rings and white rice. Both meats were amazing, but the chicken was a stand out of the two. Also, the woman working felt the rice wasn't done well enough and offered us a side of fries too. Such kind hospitality! Major recommendations for this place from us!!!! read more

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Wife and aI wanted to grab a quick bite so we decided to hit up this joint. Wish we could have tried their main items, because the Chili Cheese fries and the corn dog (for my kid) were pretty darn good. It was a great overall experience, friendly and quick service. We didn't wait for more than probably 6-7 minutes for our food. Again, small items so who knows how much longer for a main entree. There's seating inside the location plus much more dedicated seating outside of it. So space was not a problem. All in all, good place to eat! read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Chili Cheese Fries and Corn Dog with Fries. - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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BEST FOOD ON THE ISLAND. I got the sampler plate which did not disappoint. The food was very tender & full of flavor. From the chicken, ribs, beef, pork, rice, & mac salad everything was perfect! The food itself is amazing by itself but once you add the bbq sauce, WOW. It just takes the flavor to another level. I would visit Kauai again just to eat here. We came on a busy day. Line was out the door & we were ordering on a kiosk. Despite the restaurant having a line out the door, those employees are quick & approachable!! There is great covered outdoor seating specifically for chicken in a barrel guests which is nice considering there are plenty of shops around the restaurant. I would rate this place 100/10 if I could! read more

There's better places to eat in Hanalei but I'm not sure there's better employees at any of those places. Seriously, the staff I interacted with at Chicken in a Barrel must've aced their hospitality class. Not only did they seem happy and welcoming but they exhibited a can-do spirit when things were hugely busy. So someone is doing something right here and it didn't go unnoticed. Chicken in a Barrel is a casual, order-at-the-register place with equally casual outdoor seating. If you're rolling in, still sandy from Hanalei Bay, you could do worse. I'd say the thing to get here is the chicken which was quite good but after ordering a chicken dinner I noticed that their yelp check-in deal gave me a free pork sandwich and you know what? That was even better than the chicken. The only negative I can report is that the side dishes didn't live up to the proteins. Neither Chili (which came with the BBQ plate) nor Hawaiian Slaw tasted good and the rice (which also accompanied the BBQ plate) was of no interest to me. Stick to the proteins here and you've got a quick, casual meal that'll amply satisfy. read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Chicken Plate #1 includes 1/4 chicken, rice, and chili. - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

A very clean restaurant with a solid menu and ample seating. Food came out quickly and hot. Didn't try the chicken, instead we opted for the 'baby back ribs' plate and an ala carte order of pulled pork and French fries. It was the right choice, the ribs were super soft and flavorful (best ribs I've had in a while), the pulled pork was delicious a little on the Smokey side but just right. And the fries, they had a very nice crispy texture, not McD fries, these were thick and crispy. Hungry in Hanalei? This is the place to go! read more

It's easy to order and there is outside seating available. The serving is large and we should have split it. But it was delicious and I would have it again. read more

We had the sampler platter and it was pretty good! The chicken was definitely the highlight from the sampler. The rest of the meat was not bad. Since we checked in, they gave us a free burger and that was pretty good too. Service was super good and fast! If you're kama'aina, definitely let them know! There were tons of chickens around prying for food, so definitely watch out for that. Other than that, the ambiance was pretty chill and it wasn't too hot! read more

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ - Hanalei - Barbeque Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Food was just...eh. The ribs were REALLY dry, and while the pulled pork and chicken were tasty, overall, just not a place I would want to go to again. Combined with the 20 chickens that roam around the seating area, it just wasn't an enjoyable experience. read more

Pleasant staff, great macaroni salad. I don't recommend the pulled pork- ours was weirdly wet

Delicious rotisserie chicken for two meal! Make sure to add a double order of the slaw! The owner is nice and you can even get a kamaaina discount. Will definitely be coming back! read more

In a city where the restaurant prices are outrageous, Chicken in a Barrel has very good food at very reasonable prices.

Good quality barbecue and very friendly service. Ribs were smoked properly and pulled pork was great. Excellent service, owner was work the register. Sinks for washing hands are a nice touch. Great option in Hanalei for lunch. read more