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    Chicken In A Barrel BBQ-Kapaa

    4.4 (1.6k reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque, Salad, Burgers
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:30 pm

    Chicken In A Barrel BBQ-Kapaa Photos

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    CHICKEN IN A BARREL BBQ-KAPAA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Chicken In A Barrel BBQ-Kapaa

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    $32 for this trash, I will never come back and not recommend for anyone
    Henry V.

    Price not worth it , overpriced Taste bland and even my dog doesn't like it Only for tourists and they absolutely not coming back so they don't really care about how terrible the food was made

    John G.

    This experience was underwhelming. I ordered a portion of pulled beef for a little over $17 and I was handed a small container (for which I was charged extra for take out) and in it a smaller aluminum foil container which had the pulled beef. My jaw dropped and I almost went for a refund. The taste was good though, but the portion for the price definitely not worth it. I later visited another location near by and they listed the same menu item for $2 cheaper.

    Delicious BBQ. I recommend getting the chicken and ribs, so good.
    Lannie T.

    The BBQ was delicious. Great place to grab a bite, because you can taste the love that goes into making this food. Thank you so much to the owner and we appreciate your craft. This is a must visit in Kauai.

    Katherine K.

    Our food came out incredibly fast and didn't taste fresh even though we were the only ones there. I got the #2 Sampler to try everything and I really liked the rib and the chicken (although it was a bit dry). The pulled beef was okay and definitely needed the bbq sauce. The pulled pork was a wet mess with no flavor and soggy texture. The chili I got was mehh since they overdid it with the tomatoes and that's all you could taste. My friend got the Burrito with coleslaw on the side. He said it wasn't bad. The coleslaw was not enjoyable. He also got a side of the Macaroni Salad, which was pretty good.

    Bbq
    Paige K.

    Not really sure about the raving ratings on this one. It was fine but nothing to write about. We got the quarter chicken and the bbq plate with sweet potato fries. The chicken was fine and the fries but the bbq meat was really dry. Fine but for the prices, Wouldn't get again.

    Bryan C.

    Whenever we visit Kauai, we make sure to visit Chicken In A Barrel. Their BBQ chicken is absolutely delicious! The staff is super friendly and funny, and we had a great time chatting with them about dinner spots in Princeville and Lihue. Our food arrived quickly, and the BBQ ribs and chicken were cooked to perfection! We will be back!

    Food was fresh, each meat was tender and flavorful! Slaw was my favorite, went back for seconds!

    Ryan A.

    Incredible BBQ. Hit the sampler plate and was amazing. Chicken was moist with a strong smokey flavor. Also recommend the ribs and pulled pork. 10/10.

    chicken and rib combo: 1/4 piece chicken and 2 barrel-smoked baby back ribs with a side of rice & chili beans.
    Joyce D.

    Ordered the chicken and rib combo: 1/4 piece chicken and 2 barrel-smoked baby back ribs with a side of rice & chili beans. All seating is outside. Parking can be a bit rough but there's some on the side. The meat had a great smoke to it. Chicken is well seasoned to a rotisserie. The ribs were a bit dry and tough. Chili was interesting. It had a slight sweetness to it.

    Pork platter
    Allison H.

    The service was wonderful! Very family oriented and loved to talk story with their customers! A cute location!

    The sign in front of restaurant
    Dale K.

    I had an amazing experience at chicken in a barrel the food was good I recommend the tacos they have the best sauce. There service was amazing. Food came out very quickly. Also, you can squirt the chickens chickens with water guns to get free candy. The deck was clean no food crumbs. And there's really cool things in the deck

    Outside
    Michael M.

    Hands down the best Chicken In A Barrel. The other two in Kauai seem inconsistent. We ordered the sampler platter and four extra ribs. Everything was well seasoned, moist, and just plain delicious. It's the grungiest of the three we've been to in Kauai, but still the best. It's right on the main road, so it is noisy. Important to know, they have a hand washing station!

    Chicken, Rice, and Beans
    Josh S.

    Overall, it's a pretty decent place to eat. Nice little roadside bbq joint with those island vibes. Their chicken is always moist and the skin is a crispy little herb chip. If only they just served chicken skins with their bbq sauce I would fly to Kauai just for that meal!!! That said, their ribs and beans leave a lot to be desired. The pulled pork is okay, super moist, but pretty flavourless, unless drenched in some sauce. The service is always good and the food is ready with the quickness. 5 stars- Chicken, bbq sauce, price, & portion size. 3 star - shredded pork, beans, & rice 1 star - ribs & nachos

    Chicken plate

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    7 months ago

    The food here is great I got a number 1 cooked to perfection and the guys behind the counter was super friendly and nice highly recommend!!

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    Wailua Drive In

    Wailua Drive In

    4.2
    (843 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    Wailua Drive In is a popular Hawaiian restaurant in Kapa'a, Hawaii, known for its fresh, local…read morecomfort food like plate lunches, burgers, and katsu. Popular menu items include ahi katsu 10/10, chili pepper chicken 9/10, and Hawaii's own- loco moco (not a huge fan in general). They offer a variety of other options, including poke, ramen, and sandwiches, with convenient takeout and delivery available. It's definitely a local favorite due to its generous portions, authentic Hawaiian cuisine and friendly service. We ordered the fried chicken and poke combo with wonton chips and the ahi katsu (my absolute fav). The ahi was fried to perfection- crispy on the outside while rare and tender on the inside. The sauce on the katsu was absolutely fire!!! So good! Macaroni salad was creamy and delicious. And the rice was perfect. Obviously, you cannot visit Hawaii without having some of their poke- always fresh and delightfully tasty. The marinade was savory and packed with flavor.

    First time to Kaua'i and I'm looking for some local eats. From the reviews I've read, this seems to…read morebe a popular place. GETTING THERE: It was extremely easy to find. Its right off a main road and you cannot miss it. Parking lot was a bit small, but there was plenty of parking. AMBIANCE: When I went there was plenty of seating. A bit dead, but I also did go pretty early. There were a bunch of decor of older American pop culture like Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, etc. But also Hawaiian themed decor (obviously). SERVICE: You gotta walk up to the front to order. I was approached almost immediately as soon as I walked up to the menu on the screen. The girl working was super friendly and welcoming. I made my order and she gave me a pager for when my food was ready. FOOD: I ordered the chili pepper chicken, which was recommended from the girl at the counter. My friend ordered the ahi katsu. The chili pepper chicken was good! It was crispy and extremely flavorful. It was slightly too salty for my taste, but luckily the rice does help balance it out. Some of the crispness was sacrificed for the sauce, but it was overall still pretty crispy. I loved that they used boneless chicken thigh. I was expecting bones or lots of breading but it actually had a perfect ratio. I wasn't much a fan of the mac salad. It was like a mix of mac and potato salad, but more like a potato salad. I'm not big on potato salad, so that makes sense. My friend's ahi katsu was alright in my opinion. The sauce that's on it was good and enjoyed all the flavors. The tuna was just a bit overcooked to my liking, but idk how else one would make a katsu without overlooking it too much. Maybe bread the fish and freeze it before frying? Idk man, I'm not a chef lol but the tuna would definitely be better if it was less cooked. OVERALL: Honestly, I would still come here again. I still enjoyed the meal and the service was pretty quick. Both items were both worth trying. All the flavors were there and the little things I didn't like were just personal preferences. Its a great place to pick up a lunch plate and enjoy it at the beach.

    Photos
    Inside seating area
    Inside seating area
    Lau lau plate - delish!
    Lau lau plate - delish!
    Ahi Katsu

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    Ahi Katsu
    Kenji Burger

    Kenji Burger

    4.4
    (1.3k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    After hearing all the buzz and seeing Kenji Burger featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and…read moreDives, we had high expectations--and it absolutely delivered. We started with the Furikake Fries, which were packed with flavor and the perfect way to kick off the meal. For burgers, we ordered the Hapa Burger and the Kenji Burger, and both were outstanding. The ingredients were fresh, the flavors were unique, and every bite lived up to the restaurant's reputation. The food was so good that we ended up ordering a Lobster Burrito as a second round just so we could try more of the menu. It was a great decision and did not disappoint. If you're looking for a spot that combines creative island-inspired flavors with high-quality ingredients, Kenji Burger is a must-visit. It definitely lived up to the hype.

    I ordered the chicken katsu burger, which reminded me a bit of a Nashville-style fried chicken…read moresandwich. The bun was soft and delicious, and the chicken itself was juicy, tender, and full of flavor. The coleslaw on it really tied everything together and added a nice crunch and freshness. We also tried the truffle burger, and that one was the standout. It felt a bit more "fancy" than your typical burger, really rich and flavorful with melted cheese, arugula, etc. That one was easily the best item we had. The fries were crispy, golden, and well-seasoned, rounding out the meal nicely.

    Photos
    Indoor seating
    Indoor seating
    Furikake Fries
    Furikake Fries
    Furikake fries

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    Furikake fries
    Taps and Hops Eatery

    Taps and Hops Eatery

    4.3
    (235 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Just came from back to our room from eating at this place and all I can say is the food was really…read moregreat . We ordered the Kimchi rice , cabbage , wings , pork belly bao and sliders. The cabbage was really surprisingly good ! The Kimchi rice was flavorful , belly bao and sliders were also good . Our server was also very nice , I just cant remember her name. We got there before ethey close and still on time for happy hour and ot was all worth it . Totally will recommend.

    Sounds like a classic Kaua'i find--those "locals-packed" spots are usually where the magic is…read more Taps and Hops Eatery really does have that laid-back island vibe where time slows down a bit--"island time" is real, especially when everything's made fresh. Honestly, the wait is usually a good sign there. Your order lineup hits a nice mix: * Mandu great choice for something shareable and comforting * Korean chicken if it tasted like an ajumma made it, that's basically the highest compliment * Beef sliders can't go wrong, especially when they're "ono" That mix of Korean flavors with a casual, almost random décor (yeah, "Mexican-ish" is oddly accurate for some island spots) is part of what makes places like that memorable--kind of a cultural mashup you only really find in Hawai'i. If you ever go back, people usually rave about their: * Garlic fries * Poke-style dishes * Local beer selection Kaua'i's north shore is full of low-key gems like that, but Taps and Hops is definitely one that sticks with you

    Photos
    Taps and Hops Eatery
    Chicken wings
    Chicken wings
    Wall of whiskey

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    Wall of whiskey
    Napali Brewing

    Napali Brewing

    4.3
    (287 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Really cute place with great food! The hanging plants really…read moremake the interior soothing. The service was quick! But what really got us all excited was how juicy the Kalua pork sliders were; it ends up dribbling on the plate. The chipotle aioli really pairs well with the pork, and it was also delicious on the Brussels sprouts. Parking is shared with neighboring businesses; a little bit tight, but easy to find.

    Sign off the main road caught our eye while heading north for a tour, so circled back later for a…read morelate lunch. Maybe we caught them at a bad time, but the food and beer were mediocre at best. I enjoy trying local beers as close to the source as possible, so going to local brewpubs is something my wife and I try to do regularly. It was our third day in Kauai, so made this our lunch choice, and we were hungry after a long tour. There was plenty of parking in the dedicated lot, and it wasn't too busy when we stopped in after 1:30 on a Wednesday. We were greeted promptly and got to choose where we sat, in a picnic table with plenty of space. Chose two house draft beers: Honopu Hefeweizen ($9) which was not good...very weak and watery. But the Hanakoa Cream ale was worse ($9)...chose it because of a local cream ale from Wisconsin that I love. But it tasted more like a glass of lite pilsner, more like a Miller Lite than a cream ale. I had to finish both...should have just ordered one. The food came out a bit later. We wanted to share the local Style Smoke meat plate (sounded promising), which was a plate of pork shoulder ($16). Plenty of it, but it felt like leftover meat, reheated in a sugary sauce...looked and tasted like Tocino (which isn't my favorite), not like pulled pork/kalua pork. It came with a scoop of white rice. I got the spicy Poke ($19) which used good quality raw ahi tuna. It had lots of tasty, spicy mayo and was enjoyable. But the rice was not cooked well (it was mushy), and I had to ask myself: why has the rice been so mediocre for our first two days? (It got better as the trip went on). My wife got the Huli Huli Veg & Rice plate ($25)...not good. Just two pieces of chicken breast meat (coming from frozen) with a very light sauce (flavorless) and the carrots were big chunks, candied, which is not what we expected. Brought most of this back to our hotel (since we had a fridge), but neither one of us touched it for the rest of the trip. Pricing is inconsistent (the chicken plate should have been the cheapest item considering the ingredients and prep work). Payment was done through Toast, and there was a 3% service charge for using credit card.

    Photos
    Poke bowl
    Poke bowl
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Hoppin' on a Thursday night! Great tunes, great brews!

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    Hoppin' on a Thursday night! Great tunes, great brews!
    Lava Lava Beach Club - Kauai

    Lava Lava Beach Club - Kauai

    4.0
    (2.6k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Lava Lava Beach Club, perfect way to end the day. Great food, live music, a laid-back atmosphere…read moreand an incredible oceanfront view. Our waiter, Todd was great and made our dinner enjoyable. Ordered: Drinks - Skinny Dipper and Lava Lava Flow, on the rocks. Appetizer: Fritos Misto, Entrees: Hook, Line and Sinker, LLBC Burger, Dessert: Chocolate Lava Lava Explosion.

    The general manager "Robert" is absolutely HORRIBLE!!! He is extremely rude, disrespectful,…read morearrogant and he called me a b**ch. I would not go here if you have a large party. The customer service is absolutely horrible and I would not go here unless you want to be treated bad. We had a party of 8. He was trying to talk us out being seated the entire time saying it will be an "hour plus plus" of time trying to get us to leave. Our party told him repeatedly we were going to stay and wait until a table was ready to sit us all. As I went to inquiry about our wait time after a 25 min wait, I was told by the manager Robert that there was a party of 11 ahead of us as well as several other parties waiting to be seated, and it would still be an "hour plus plus" of a wait. I said okay and returned to my party. When we checked the app, there were only 3 party's ahead of us. 2 parties of 2 and a party of 6. I returned to the desk and spoke with Robert once again trying to get an understanding on why it would be an "hour plus plus" wait time when only 3 parties were ahead of us. Robert didn't like that I called him out on his lie. Robert proceeded to call me out of my name and say "I will not serve a b*tch, and you can get out of my restaurant". Our family was extremely upset regarding this encounter, and one went to speak with him again. Robert than called me a liar. He must not like the truth being called out on him. Because he didn't indeed call me that haha. Anywho, this manager is completely unacceptable and should be in NO position to be in any hospitality job if he can not handle people or any situations. A managers job is to handle escalations and he does not have the capacity to be able to do so. He is extremely rude to everyone we encounter and we were not the only family who was treated this way. I would 10000% NOT recommend until a new manager is in position here. I will also be filing a corporate complaint with the owners the Luana Hospitality Group as this experience was unacceptable and unprofessional.

    Photos
    Restaurant area
    Restaurant area
    Great Dessert, Kauai Coffee cheesecake - YUm!
    Great Dessert, Kauai Coffee cheesecake - YUm!
    Key lime pie

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    Key lime pie

    Chicken In A Barrel BBQ-Kapaa - bbq - Updated June 2026

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