Bar Acuda

One of the best dining experiences on the island! The lamb chops were absolutely exquisite, and the broccoli was incredibly flavorful and perfectly cooked. The service was warm and attentive, and the atmosphere made the meal even better.

We came here for the AMEX/Resy deal, and it was totally worth it! The patatas bravas were absolutely amazing, and so was the braised short rib! We also got olives and mixed greens. If you like tapas, this is the place for you. If you want to get a spot, make sure you make a reservation on Resy.

Don't read the bad reviews, they don't represent what truly goes on here. Mad about long wait time as a walk in? Yeah it's a very busy and popular restaurant. We got out reservation and we're seated as soon as they opened with no issues. The food quality was excellent! Some plates were simple, but that's the beauty of it. Why over do it and get lost in the flavors? Locally sourced ingredients and house made. Miguel our server was exceptional. Great personality, great recommendations. We had a great time sitting outside! Cool rain breeze broke up the hot sun. It was perfect. Loved every dish, took the time to taste each thing and enjoy it for what it is, good food. My partner and I would totally come back if we ever visit this little island again.

Wonderful experience. Food was delicious and the service was excellent as well. Reservations are required and become available a month in advance however, walk-ins are allowed and seated in the bar area. Walk-ins cue up an hour before they open.

BEST DINING IN KAUA’I! My partner and I arrived as the restaurant was opening at 5:30pm with no reservation on a Saturday night. We got a spot at the bar (all tables were reserved) and were treated amazingly well by bartender Louie! The food was absolutely spectacular, and the service was exceptional. It’s all small plates, which made the experience more fun. We especially loved the cheese and honeycomb plate but everything we got was perfect - the freshly caught tuna, the filet mignon, the brioche, the drinks, and the coffee pot de creme. It was easily the best meal we had the entire vacation. Would definitely return!

This could be the best food on the island. Everything was fantastic, excellent cocktails, great food, awesome service. Our server Chris was very professional, had amazing knowledge, and was very attentive. We feel lucky we were able to get in, the word is out, make your reservations early.

Excellent food and service. The portion is bigger than a typical tapas, but I'm not complaining :). The highlight was the chili crisp prawns.

Pricey but worth it for the unique dishes and food quality. We didn’t get a reso, so we got there at about 5:10 and got a seat at the bar pretty easily (but definitely recommend arriving early- there was a big line by 5:30!!). The cucumber avocado salad was very good. We also had the lamb and seared ahi and they happily offered alternatives for my lactose intolerance. The papas ajo was also a great side dish. Highly recommend for a fun date one night if you can swing it!!

This restaurant is an Icon Every dish is made with thoughtfulness around the interactions between certain yummies. The staff is super professional and at the same time warm, friendly welcoming and loving. If you are new to the island or here for a visit, do not miss it. I promise you'll fall in love.

We haven't been to Kauai in over a decade and the food scene has just exploded! In searching on yelp, I came across this restaurant and somehow managed to snag a reservation for the same night. My husband was feeling a little bit lazy about going so I went back on to see if I could get a different date during our visit and the next available date was a whole one month later. That told us we had to make the effort and go. And we are so glad we did! This turned out to be the best meal we had on the island. They will tell you that the average amount of plates for this tapas restaurant is between 3 to 6 per person. Even though it's expected to be shared. Having eaten tapas in Spain and other parts of Europe, I was expecting truly small plates. These were some very substantial portions. Cucumber salad, this one gets rave reviews on yelp. And this was probably the most underwhelming and one dimensional. dish. The portion size was huge and there's no way that I would've ordered this, had I known how much they were going to serve us. Yes I'm making it sound like too much food is a problem. But it is at a tapas restaurant ;) and I wanted to be able to try six different dishes. Bruschetta was solid. Nothing really to write home about, but I appreciate that the bread did not get soggy. The star of the meal, hands-down and something that I could've eaten three of was the sea scallop. My husband is a real seafood snob, and he said that this is possibly the best scallop he's ever had in his life. The braised rib with mushroom risotto was another superstar dish. Absolutely delicious, loved the texture of the meat in contrast to the risotto. The tarragon puree was exceptional. We really wanted to try dessert, but unfortunately, we were so full from all the food. Next time- scallop x3! The waitress was attentive without being overbearing. She checked on us just the right amount of times. Honestly, I just don't know how I managed to snag a reservation on the same day because this restaurant books out at least a month in advance. And rightfully so. The food is exceptional! This will become our number one go to restaurant every time we visit Kauai. And hopefully it won't be a decade before we go back :-)

Phenomenal meal for our honeymoon! We didn't have a reservation but showed up 30 minutes prior to open and were fourth in line. Seated right at open at a cocktail table for two by the bar. Service 5/5, our server had wonderful suggestions and didn't miss on one. Great wine pairing suggestions too. Coursed out our meal well. Food 4.75/5 I mean wow they really know what they are doing. The Ono tar tar and the sea scallop were our absolute favorites. I would go back tomorrow for these if we weren't leaving. Cucumber salad was refreshing and a great balance. Beef was wonderfully flavorful if only slightly tough but I ate it all happily. The Lilikoi cheesecake was impeccable. They nailed the fresh passion fruit flavor Ambiance 4.5/5 not too loud but felt like there was a buzz of excitement and good conversation. People dressed up slightly but nothing too fancy. Lighting was low which made for a romantic date night. Looked light the larger tables inside were better lit for a group environment and the outside tables I would guess were much quieter. Totally worth the wait and we will happily be back. Best dinner in Hanalei hands down!!

They hit the mark on every dish. Each local we asked about this place raved about it and it didn't miss! For a table for two at the bar, we waited an hour, passing the time at AMA's bar which is also great. The cheese plate and the sea scallop were perfection. They do a great job of mixing in various textures and complimentary flavors in their dishes. Cannot wait to come back just for this. The next reservation available was a month away, so either reserve early or be prepared for the wait .

5 stars for the cucumber salad alone (seriously, how is it so good??) a difficult reservation to secure, bar acuda lived up to its reputation. we ordered a bunch of different things and they were all excellent. apart from the salad which i'm still thinking about, we particularly loved the green goddess pizzeta, the blackened fish, and the special of the night which was a calabrian chili and sausage carbonara. also i loved that they served a giant bowl of olives when i was expecting a much smaller portion, i love olives so that really worked out for me. great date night vibes and friendly service, we definitely will make an effort to come back again on our next visit.

Bar Acuda was good food. It was just severely overpriced for what you get. I understand this is Hawaii, but it still did seem a bit outrageous for small servings. We had 2 adults and 2 young children, and I believe our bill was about $300 (only including 1 drink each). In particular, the Scallops were delicious, but also pretty crazy high priced for 3 small scallops. The short ribs were good, and the butter that came with the rolls was very tasty. The Pizza was not as good as other flat breads that we have had on the island, and the papas ajo were mediocre. The Ono special was good, but honestly not much better than other sashimi that we have had elsewhere on the island. Unfortunately, i should also note that we also found a cockroach in the restroom, which wasn't too exciting to see running around. Especially since our table was located very close to the restroom. If I was back in the north side of the island, i don't think that I would eat here again. I'm glad that we tried it out, but wouldn't stop by again.

The food is wonderful it's worth the price and travel. The honey comb appetizer is wonderful.

This establishment is overrated. Definitely not worth the money or energy wasted on securing a reservation. Brioche rolls lukewarm and nothing special. Filet was drowning in marinade and glaze that the grilled meat was lost and sadly polenta was beyond bland unless you skimmed the cheese on top. The Braised short rib was even worse with its overpowering red wine and onions that filled the dish. Best thing on the menu was the cucumber salad even though it was overdressed. Sadly there are not many choices in the area. But don't spend the money. Try another place.

We were able to snag a reservation to Bar Acuda. The ratings and menu was the perfect way to start our first night in Kauai. A tapas style dinner is always fun plus the local ingredients were attractive. This restaurant is in an unassuming shopping plaza. We parked in the back lot that was flooded and smelled of sewage. We were trying to dodge the rain and avoid puddles. There's another popular restaurant in the same vicinity and we almost went there instead, oops. We got to the Bar Acuda and were seated right away to the covered patio area near the entrance. The restaurant is small and there was a long waitlist for diners waiting their turn. Eventually, people were being turned away. When seated, I was immediately attacked by mosquitos so be aware and prepare. My long dress did not protect me from those sneaky bites. Speaking of bites, we stared with cocktails and the house bread. My favorite was the Smoke and Ginger but with mezcal. It was the perfect way to get things going. Things were a little backed up at the bar and kitchen but everything came out quickly once our ticket hit the kitchen. Service was wonderful and kind. Everyone stuck around for a quick chat. It was a nice and personable vibe. We ordered the local cucumber salad, spiced lentils, and the seared Hawaiian fish. My absolute favorite of the night was the salad. I know, you don't hear that often. This salad was crazy, crunch, and cool! It didn't look pretty and honestly underwhelming with the ingredients but the taste was intense. How can cucumber and chickpeas taste so good? Cucumber salad tip: Do not skip this item and you'll want your own. The lentils were tasty but not a standout item. The seared fish was cooked to perfection. The rich sauce was a nice addition to this beautiful dish. If you can grab a reservation, do it. You'll have a great meal.

I don't know how, but a 6pm reservation opened up for us last minute. We had the Seared Ahi, Cucumber salad, Pizzetta & potatoes. Such a great selection of plates that didn't disappoint. So good!

Fantastic food, fantastic service, fantastic setting. Always a great experience. Our go-to in Hanalei

A truly wonderful place! I have been many times and always enjoy the amazing food and excellent service! They always treat my guests and me like old friends. PCD

Food is great! Michael took great care of us making recommendations and pairing all perfectly! Highly recommend!

This is a MUST when in the area! We couldn't get a reservation so we did walkin. They said it would be 45 min but about 30 min later we got a text and were seated. When I said this is one of the best meals I've ever had in my life, I'm not being dramatic. We are major foodies, and this was seriously a FANTASTIC experience. My husband even said it rivaled his meal at the French laundry!! The experience from start to finish was perfect. The host was friendly, we had a beautiful table, our waiter was lovely, and every course was delicious. We got the cucumber salad (delish), the broccoli (perfection), the scallops (I don't like scallops and I liked these- like butter), the short rib (so yummy and actually pretty light), and the pasta special which was a lemon carbonara that night. Dessert was the special mango panna cotta. Husband also had a couple cocktails and said they were sooo good. Wow. Wow. Wow. There aren't enough letters in the alphabet to express how much we loved this! Do yourself a favor and go! Expensive but one of those places that's actually worth it.

So this ain't the end, I saw you again, today I had to turn my heart away Smiled like the sun, kisses for everyone And tales, it never fails -- Heart, Barracuda I thought that I had written this review, I guess I hadn't. This was one of our favorite meals last year in Kauai. Like too many people getting a reservation was futile. So, we joined the line about 30 minutes prior to opening and we received probably the best seat, at the bar with a great view of the kitchen. I really wouldn't want to sit anywhere else. We purposely were hungry so we could order everything. Service was top notch, decent and thoughtful wine list although I brought a special bottle with corkage at $30. Favorite dishes include the roasted potatoes, lamb, steak, scallops, house bread, veggies. Everything was outstanding although we were underwhelmed with the house salad. Worth the splurge, it is pricey although not as expensive as the Japanese restaurant overlooking Hanalei bay (which is also an outstanding restaurant). Let's hope Kauai can stay Kauai and not turn into Maui. Highly recommended.

Haven't been to Bar Acuda post-COVID so was excited to return. I was a bit nervous when I learned that it had changed hands. But it was all good when we got there... The service is still warm and friendly but not smothering. The setting remains casually elegant. But the food... It's still the best on the island!

The food so good, the atmosphere, and the drinks were sooo good I forgot to take pictures. (that's how good it is) It's $$$... BUT DO NOT let that stop you. Avoid the $$$ at "The Dolphin" down the street and come to Bar Acuda. That's where your money should be spent vs the over-hyped sushi you'll get at The Dolphin. Bar Acuda is a culinary masterpiece, excellent cuisine and fine dining (while wearing shorts) on a small island! Small, shareable dishes. It's a Hawaiian take on traditional tapas. Great bar menu and a beautiful atmosphere. A must-stop destination for sure. Note: MAKE RESERVATIONS before you get to Hawaii! (they take them 30 days in advance)

We were fortunate enough to get a reservation at 8pm. Almost cancelled but decided to go and so glad we did. The food is amazing! Now remember this is a tapas restaurant and portions are not huge but each bite is worth it. I'll list our choices from best to still yummy. Scallops, braised short ribs, lentils, rolls and broccoli. The best dish was the scallops which I would just order them. Wow The 2 desserts we got were fantastic as well but I have a feeling all of them would be a treat. So with that said, plan to drop a few dollars. Our bill was $300 for four people. Not bad but if you're not used to spending that on a night out, definitely plan for it.

We went off a recommendation from a person we met at one of our excursions. He highly recommended the place so we decided to try on our last day on the island. We didn't have reservations (highly recommended), but we didn't mind. We walked around for an hour or so before we were seated (dinner at 830pm). We sat near the bar. Even though the place was packed, the noise level was not bad at all. We ordered six tapas. All were delicious. My fav was the rack of lamb. The lamb was cooked perfectly. Tender with no gamey taste. The scallops and the fish of the day were fresh and so good!

Even if Bar Acuda looks to be full, you've not made reservations, and you look like you just stumbled in from a day of swimming and sunning worry not: the best seat in the house awaits you. I was all of the above when I approached the hostess stand and got offered a seat at the bar (from which I could eat and drink). While I waited for that seat I was offered a standing spot, across from the bar, a mere foot or two away from where food was being prepped. It was a great spot from which to get one's salivary glands functioning. The bartenders here (who were also my food servers) are the best; they seem like they enjoy both their job and their customers. Bar Acuda, despite its Hanalei location, holds some serious San Francisco lineage which might account for my appreciation of what they were offering. The cocktails and the food (small plates and yes, it gets quite pricey quite fast) were a throwback to the (previous) owner of Bar Acuda: he was also the founding chef/owner of San Francisco's Slow Club (RIP, but it was a place I adored) and 42 Degrees. From cocktails to small plates to ambiance and service, Bar Acuda is a winner and a real standout for Kauai. Don't miss it.

Very nice place, absurdly difficult to book a table. I think it's the biggest issue with the restaurant. If you're not local you can just about forget trying to get a table at a reasonable time. Food was very good (if very expensive). Don't even bother with the $52 filet mignon. Ridiculous price for a tiny portion. That said, the other dishes we had: olives, goat cheese pizzetta, bruschetta, dal, were all good to excellent and decent portion sizes. Our red wines, a Sangiovese and a Tempranillo, were both very food exemplars. French press coffee was from Hanalei Roasters and was excellent. Service great, both the greeter and our waiter and we were instantly seated, having arrived exactly on time for our 8:30 reservation. Spendy, but the best food on the North End of the island. Highly recommend it. Come with a kind attitude and ai think that will be reflected in the staff's interactions with you.

Best restaurant on the island. Reservations can be tricky but it's worth it. Otherwise get there an hour before opening and wait it out.

Food was delicious!!! Must try the Hawai'i fish and filet Mignon hands down the best dish there!!! The lamb and short ribs was good too and pizza was filling There sauce on each dish was unique and highlight each dish. Tips this place get pack quick so it's best to make reservations beforehand. Walk in expect to wait Service was good our server Dylon was awesome and friendly. Ambiance was really sociable and lively. The only downside was each dish was bit on the smaller size and the a little more on the pricy side But the taste will justify on the why

Ah if I could eat here every night I probably would! Bar Acuda does such a wonderful job. The flavors were so flavorful and delicious. Apparently you need to make reservations 30 days out at midnight when the time slots open to snag a table so do that!! The only other way is to show up early before opening and get in the line for first come first serve bar seats which is also very fun to watch the action in the kitchen. Highly recommend visiting Bar Acuda! Service was also top notch!

I have heard great things about Bar Acuda , me and my boyfriend decided to walk in with no reservation upon opening. We got sat no problem at a bar high top. I cannot speak highly enough of how incredible these cocktails are. Their signature cocktails are amazing , but they kill it with classic cocktails. We got an espresso martini and old fashion. Both the best we have EVER HAD. The tapas style meal is perfect , I love being able to try different items. We got the cucumber salad, bruschetta , pizzeta and papas. I recommend every single one , all 10/10 delicious. Bar Acuda really wowed us in amazing service and incredible food.

Unique offerings. Small plates. Recommend the cucumber avocado and honeycomb Beautifully oresented and Fun and different.

We've been wanting to try Bar Acuda for years now, and finally scored a reservation. Food was excellent. Love the round tables in the dining room. The highlights for me were the cucumber salad (amazing) and steak but everything was excellent. Great wine selection and service. Definitely make this restaurant a priority if you want great food while visiting Kauai!

Amazing food, service and ambiance. Great indoor/outdoor setting. You won't regret it!

Well worth the time. Great service and food. Had a nice table on the porch so was able to enjoy the Kauai evening.

This was not only my favorite restaurant on the island, but top favorite I've been to. Everything we tried was incredible! The workers are nice and the setting is so perfect for a date night. I highly highly recommend. We loved it so much we went back the next night just for desert and drinks. Only thing is you definitely should make a reservation, especially during summer!

Excellent Hawaiian tapas restaurant. A true neighborhood and island gem not to be missed. Great, innovative food with excellent service.

I put a reminder on my calendar and made a reservation a month in advance, which I highly recommend you do! The food and service are amazing!!! Hubby & I, are pescatarians and lean more towards vegetarian or vegan as much as possible. The food is served tapas style, so we ordered 4 dishes. We had the scallops which were succulent. We also had the pan roasted broccoli, bruschetta, and a carrot dish that was not on the menu. Every dish was delicious. All the hype is real. I should have made reservations for multiple nights. It's that good!!!

Make reservations 6 weeks in advance if you want to experience excellent Tapas The food profile Amazing ! I would definitely return every time I come to Kauai The scallops cooked to perfection Excellent service ! Highly recommend but .be prepared to spend a pretty penny -worth it ! YOLO

Bar Acuda is the best restaurant in Hanalei. The hostess? Friendly. Bartenders? Friendly. Wait staff? You guessed it - friendly. Not to mention the entire reason we came here - THE FOOD. For a family of 7, some of who have not experienced a tapas-style dining experience, this was a real treat. Highly recommend everything on the menu.

Food was amazing !! The drinks were real cocktails crafted and perfected . We sat at the bar and service was incredible very accommodating. Chase and Dylan the guys at the bar were the dynamic duo , worked in perfect sync, their attention to detail was superb . They gave us great options and opinions on the dishes. This place gets packed and over booked but they do take walk ins . Just a little wait but worth every minute and every penny . The scallops were to die for .

Make a reservation! Always a pleasure @ Bar Acuda. My family always has at least 1 dinner here when we visit. It's a favorite birthday spot for us! Food is great and the setting is unbeatable. I love the outdoor seating (as well as indoor).

Loved this experience! The service was impressive and the food was delicious. We will come back every time we visit Kauai!

Not the best... We enjoyed our food. However, we were followed out of the restaurant by the hostess and confronted in the parking lot about our tip amount...(we left a solid tip for the service received). We would have felt much better about our experience if not for the attitude given by the host after we had already left the restaurant... It was uncomfortable and ruined the overall experience. Not to mention, we had made a reservation a month prior and still got seated over 15 minutes after the reservation time. Overall poor performance from staff.

Best meal we had during our week in Kauai! 10/10 recommend, a must eat during any Kauai trip if looking for a nice dinner out! This was on par with some of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles where we live. Cocktails- 10/10. My vodka mule with jalapeño syrup and lilikoi was the best drink we got. Still dreaming about this drink. Food- cucumber salad, 10/10, so fresh with delicious dressing. Moorish lentils- 8/10, creamy and delicious Lamb chops- 8/10, so tender and good Fish- 7/10- good but not as amazing as the lamb Lilikoi cheesecake- 9/10, so delicious!

Fabulous meal - and I don't say that lightly. We didn't have reservations so I showed up really early to be first in line for walk-ins. The cute hostess (maybe restaurant manager?) was a gem and got us a table outside. Kris was our server and he was perfect. Knowledgeable, quick to give the important information about the food but knows how to not hover or be overbearing. Many of my old managers from my fine dining days would have been proud of him. The food was beautiful. Both salads were stunning. The scallops were wonderful. The mahi mahi was great, and I think the short ribs were as well but we were pretty full by that point. This place is a gem. Hanalei is lucky to have such good food. We will be back !! Oh and the cheesecake. Yum!

Best restaurant on north shore, sounds like nothing but get the cucumber salad! Everything here is delicious

I have no issue planning in advance to dine at the Bar Acuda. The outdoor/covered seating and service at top notch. The Bee-Keeper cocktail is my go to while my wife enjoys the Lighthouse. The Tapas are fresh and delicious. Our favorites are the braised short rib, seared sea scallop, cucumber salad and papas ajo. The atmosphere is always upbeat and electric. Don't miss the coconut ice cream!

My husband and I had dinner with our little girl during our vacation in the north shore of Kauai. We seated at the bar because we didn't make any reservation, but it was comfortable. Because the restaurant makes tapas, portions are small even though the prices are very high (like normal portion). We ordered the North Shore Honeycomb- with Humboldt Fog goat cheese, crisp Fuji apple, ciabatta bread and then Seared Hawaiian Fish - truffled pearl couscous, roasted cherry tomato, pea and onion puree, sunflower sprouts. We had also a glass of wine. We enjoyed everything, but I think they need to reduce the prices. The ambience was nice with good music in the background.

This is one of the best restaurants in all the islands...trust me, we know. Tucked away in a cool spot in Hanalei town, the kitchen has produced magic for years now. Every single tapas and entree is truly a culinary delight. Enhanced by the very chill vibe and the excellent personal service by the wait staff. We particularly enjoy Chris and his attention to detail. If you are on the North Shore, have dinner here. It will be one of the highlights of your trip.

Enjoyed a delicious delicious multi-course tapas dinner at the quite popular (as in, yeah -- reservations strongly recommended) Bar Acuda based on a recommendation by our niece. The queue was the clue: a line at the door waiting for the restaurant to open (some with resers, some without) was a sign that we were in for a good dining experience. Food was a tad on the pricier side (ex: the scallops were $29... for two scallops. I dunno - maybe the included mashed potatoes were extra special. Speaking of potatoes, a deep fried version was offered up at $15 -- but they WERE tasty). Prices aside, everything we ordered was very tasty -- no one was disappointed with the selections. Service was pretty decent but a little quirky in the timing / sequence of some plates were not paired up well -- the (quite tasty) lentils showed up long after we polished off the (delicious) lamb riblets. The pizzetta showed up alongside the lentils -- not my idea of a pairing. Tip: We realized afterwards that we over-ordered at the outset, basing it on the 2-3 plates per person recommended by our waiter, particularly since we started feeling full as the "early" plates were enjoyed. Suggest starting out ordering just 1 to 1 1/2 plates per person and then add more as you please. This will help mitigate gastronomic excess but will facilitate your orders coming out in a more logical manner.

Food was absolutely incredible. We sat at the bar and had such lovely service. Everything we ate was incredible, cucumber salad was a favorite.

I have been a customer for over two decades, and Bar Acuda will always be my top recommendation for anyone who wants great food, a wonderful atmosphere, and quality service! From the amazing hostess to the chefs, servers, and bartenders, consistency is what always brings me back.

We enjoyed our meal at Bar Acuda on our honeymoon. What we ordered: - cucumber salad: it's the worth the hype and was our favorite dish of the evening. It's bright and refreshing and was the perfect start to our meal. - potatoes: would recommend, a good salty side - fish: would skip, nothing unique and a bit underwhelming - Moroccan lentils: would skip, warm flavors but lacked seasoning - filet: would recommend, the only thing that was disappointing is that our dish came lukewarm

This place is good but I think just is a kinda specific restauraunt so not maybe my ideal situation. We left a bit hungry after the portion sizes and tapas set up wasn't super filling. Just based on the cost, I would probably say the value wasn't there for me. The food and service itself was really good, everyone was super friendly and the quality of the food was really good. Cocktails were excellent also. Would recommend depending on the person!!