Koko Cabana

Really cute little place. Service was good and the food was decent overall. The firecracker shrimp were the biggest hit for me. Since I don’t like a lot of sauce on things, I asked for the bacon jam on the side instead of on my scallops. The jam is actually really good, just not “my jam” on the scallops lol. Taking off the jam inevitably left the scallops under seasoned. They were still good regardless, but in the future could use a better sear. Side choices are very limited. My coffee martini hit the spot. My significant other got a tuna poke bowl, which he raved about and said was one of the best he has had. My children had shrimp, one fried and one normal. They both seemed to enjoy those.

This is the perfect little beach dive if you’re looking to have some drinks right on the beach. I’ve been there twice now once by myself and the other time I took my family. Overall, the service was great and the views are great. The price is a little high, but that’s probably because of the view. I had the burger last time I was there. It was just OK. Nothing bad about it but nothing to write home about. So far my favorite thing I’ve tried is the shrimp nachos, which is almost 20 bucks! So it’s easy to go here and spend 20 to 50 bucks just on yourself especially if you have some drinks. Like I said, it’s about the ambience the service and the view and the food is still very good. Don’t give me wrong. I just think it’s a little overpriced.

We had a lovely experience at Koko! The food was delicious and the atmosphere was great! We got firecracker shrimp and coconut shrimp to start both were very good! I got the mahi entree and it was a little dry but still very good! The only downfall was the flies. There was an insane amount of flies and we couldn’t really eat because we were constantly batting those suckers away. Our server Nick was funny and made a joke about being Mr Meeagi. Overall great dining experience and a fun place to eat at the beach! 4/5 🌟

Let me preface this review by stating we visited Koko Cabana on Labor Day Sunday night for an early dinner. We waited over an hour for a table, then about 30 to 40 minutes for our appetizers to be brought out (soon after ordering it after arriving at the table). Our meal was brought to us about an hour after being seated. Interestingly, three large tables were being ‘held’ (which led to the long wait time). The waiter was attentive, though the staff seemed a bit understaffed and overwhelmed. The space was filled with patrons and very loud to the point we had difficulty hearing one another.

Delicious food! We ordered Fried Green tomato tacos and the ahi poke bowl. The flavors were fresh and amazing! Beautiful view of the beach from our table too!

This place isn’t worth the time or money. “Fish & Tartar”- tartar what? Sauce? Why is that even “AND” tartar? Makes no sense. Thanks for the fish that’s hard as a rock. Honestly, I hope the cook has to eat that same fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The fries and coleslaw were fine. As for the “Cocktail Captain”… More like a sober sailor - basically Sprite with a splash of pineapple syrup/juice.

Phenomenal date night spot! My husband and I sat at the outdoor bar and enjoyed our meal and cocktails- and especially the view. The coconut shrimp and scallops were delicious, and the drinks were amazing.

This place will remain in my heart for a long time. The coconut shrimp tacos and Thai chili sauce were remarkable, bursting with flavor. This was probably one of the top 3 meals I've ever had. The atmosphere was excellent. We sat outside overlooking the ocean and then as we sat down, a live band started up. R&R played some covers that were so well done. The atmosphere was lively, energetic, and a high level of service. I want to go back tomorrow and do it all again!!!

A young man named Aidan was my server and the food was amazing. I hope I get the same server every time.

Fish tacos were great! Service was excellent! Water view restaurant with gorgeous views!

What a difference a few years makes! Koko Cabana has always had excellent service and a stellar location, but I had been disappointed with the quality of the foodstuffs and libations. While I cannot speak for improved libations this time around, since I only drank water, the food is greatly improved. Lunching with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday, each and every one of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals. There are limited gluten free options - salads and bowls, primarily - but those options are delicious. I loved the island bowl with poke tuna, rice, edamame, pineapple salsa, kimchi cucumbers, wasabi and pickled ginger. The portions are ample enough to share, if desired. Other standout dishes include the shrimp quesadilla and the Southwest burger and fries. Service remains a cut above, and it's hard to beat the views.

Right on the beach on Ocean Drive. Has some picnic tables with live music in the front. An indoor seating area, an outdoor seating area on a deck, and a small 8 person outdoor bar. Directly on the beach so I'd sit outside can see/hear all the beach things. They are connected to the fishing pier. Sat in outdoor bar as wait for table was an hour plus. This place gets super busy. Ordered two drinks - Cadillac Margarita and a strawberry jalapeño margarita. Both just okay. They do have several cocktails on their menu, as well as several frozen drinks. Ordered a burger and fries and an Island Bowl with tuna. Burger was super fantastic! Great flavor. Fries missed the mark. The Island Bowl is beautiful, but lacked flavor. Overall, a good experience. The employees are super friendly and attentive. I would go again just for the convenience of their location.

Koko K is a great casual oak Island restaurant that's in the Chef Tuna family of restaurants (think Rubys coffeehouse, Kai Joes and cafe Koa) and it delivers on the coastal vibe in atmosphere, service and food along with pretty reasonable price point for most of the menu items. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal from drinks through entrees and our server Zach was both friendly and helpful. For drinks we got the key lime martini, strawberry daiquiri, old fashioned with fruit and a strawberry jalapeno margarita. All were very good but I think the standout was the margarita - strawberry with a kick of tequila and a hint of spice. Key lime martini was smooth and not too sweet but light on alcohol. Old fashioned felt a little tame as well. Appetizers Based on other reviews we got the coconut shrimp and they lived up to the hype. Crispy and sweet with the Thai chili sauce. The fish bites were also fried well with a nice crust that was not too greasy and we also really likened the fried green tomatoes bc of the light crust, but the toppings of pico, goat cheese and agave made it stand out from your average FGT app. For entrees we enjoyed the local fish special of mahi, the fish tacos, the ahi tuna nachos, blackened Mahi and a custom made plantain dish with mahi added to it. The local fish dish with Mahi had a light citrus glaze and fresh island salsa which was a perfect beachside meal. The fish tacos are a great pick for a lighter entree and the ahi nachos were a feast fit for a giant. The mahi was blackened perfectly and my custom plantain dish was a perfect combination of fresh fish with a touch of plantain sweetness and fresh pineapple salsa with corn and black beans to round out the island flavors. Loved our evening out and felt it was money well spent. Well paced as well which was amazing given how busy it is in the summer especially over Fourth of July week. Always a good idea to go on the early side for dinner pretty much anywhere on the island to avoid a massive long wait and snag some decent parking.

Fabulous beach spot for lunch or dinner. We were on the island for a vacation getaway from TN. I ordered the tuna bowl and it was incredibly fresh! It had ginger-glazed tuna, edamame, kimchi cucumbers, pickled onions, and more over a bed of white rice. My husband ordered the fish sandwich and the fish was larger than the bun! It came out hot and tasty! Thank you for the excellent food, great service and fun location! We'll definitely be back. Kudos to you.

This was our first visit to Oak Island and the day we arrived, we stumbled upon KoKo Cabana hungry and parched after a long drive. There was indoor and outdoor seating, and it was busy on an early Saturday evening a bit before sunset. We asked for a table outside and were immediately seated. Service was prompt, our server was friendly and efficient. We sat on the rail overlooking the beach and pier, and it was a gorgeous evening. I ordered the Island Bowl with Grilled Chicken, and it was scrumptious! So flavorful and vibrant that my mouth was twitching with excitement with each bite. My husband enjoyed the Fish Tacos and announced they were some of the best he'd ever had. Drinks were refilled promptly, the bar was lively and we had a fabulous evening. Highly recommend if you're in Oak Island.

Solid place to eat if you're in the Southport / Oak Island area. The seafood tasted fresh. We did not make a reservation but they were able to see us as a party of three however, the place was about 85 to 90% packed so I would suggest the reservation. Our waitress was very personable. She told us the specials of the day and also gave us some of her personal recommendations. Overall, the food was delicious. I would give it an 8 out of 10. The scallops were my favorite. Coconut shrimp had a great texture. Definitely didn't taste frozen

Had a great time at KoKo Cabana. The fire cracker shrimp was a hit! This place a great place to grab a drink and snack after a Long Beach day. There's inside and outside seating and the view is absolutely beautiful. Don't forgot your ID tho they are very strict here (I forgot mine one night). Overall, so much fun really nice wait staff.

We were looking for a casual lunch spot with a beach view and found KoKo Cabana. We can definitely see why they have good reviews! There were open seats at the bar so we sat with a view of the pier which was fun. The other patrons were friendly, the service was good and the food was even better than expected. My coconut shrimp tacos were outstanding. We will definitely be back!

Oak Island ... I'm back but this is my first time eating.. Koko Cabana was suggested .... Dope atmosphere .. the smell of seafood was marvelous .... I ordered at Long Beach that's a Long Island with cranberry instead of coke ... for my apace ordered thd firecracker shrimp and crab stuffed hush puppies .. man ole man the crab stuffed hush puppies was amazing ... I had to cut one open and the amount crab meat was exceptional Achie dipping sauce was so plus ... fried perfect and seasoned perfectly .. the fire cracker shrimp were equally amazing ... the shrimp were huge and not over cooked ... and before forget ... our server Corine was DOPE..... lots of personality ... and made sure we got our food expeditiously ... I can't wait to come baccz

Decent amount of parking available for customers! Inside is a bit small but they offer outdoor seating as well. The food is great and fresh plus there's lots of unique options and flavors. However, I wouldn't go back here on a super hot day because the inside was HOT like made it hard to eat dinner.. but definitely a great option on a cooler day. I also enjoyed their berry mule!

You have got to try the Fish Sandwich - it is incredible!! It's not your ordinary sandwich, it is an oversized piece of fresh flounder twice the size of the bun with some delightful bacon jam spread on it. The absolute best sandwich I've ever eaten!! Do yourself a favor and give it a try!

My favorite restaurant on OKI! I always get the island bowl with shrimp and sub the sesame ginger glaze for firecracker sauce. This dish is so unique and fresh and a very large portion size! While I get the same thing every time my husband likes to try out their seasonal specials and they have always been delicious as well. The restaurant itself couldn't be in a more perfect location right on the ocean with beautiful views. 10/10 recommend eating here!

Kind service, killer view, and large servings. Family friendly and easy 2 hour free parking. Loved every bit of it!

We came to koko cabana because of the great reviews and a previous experience. When we got there we were told the wait for 5 and a baby would be 45 mins so we took a free walk on the pier and our table was ready in no time, much faster than their projected time. The atmosphere was great minus the rowdy wealthy bunch we were sat near. They may have been over served and we were over them. The food was excellent and fresh. I got the shrimp nachos which were cooked perfectly, well seasoned, and weren't too heavy on the stomach. Other party members got the tuna bowl which looked phenomenal and my wife got the burger which she was able to eat even with her pregnancy food aversions. The view and location are awesome with it being on the oak island pier. Thumbs up from me

Our server Nick, was awesome. We got there at 4PM as a group of 8 so we wouldn't have to wait and it worked out. We ordered a ton of food and not one thing was less than delicious. Stand outs were definitely the tuna bowl, the flounder, and the firecracker shrimp. Take a walk on the pier after and it's the perfect night!

We had fried oysters and coconut shrimp. Great food and the view of the ocean was great.

For someone who can't eat most seafood and not a fan of the rest of it there weren't many choices to pick from on the menu. However, that is not a negative. I'm a picky eater and I know that going in. The staff was sweet and on the ball with getting us seated and taking our orders. My fella got the fried shrimp (he loves his shrimps) and I got the chicken entree. Oh My Goodness!!!!!! YUMM-O!!!! The fried chicken breast fried so perfectly it's not greasy AND the chicken is juicy tender. It was topped with pineapple salsa and Asian BBQ sauce. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Served with a side of some very scrumptious mashed potatoes and a veg. I kept eating even after my tummy screamed for me to stop. Had myself a Koko Loco (4 rums and koko juice) and it was better than I expected. Enjoyed this place so very incredibly much!

Most places in this beach town close early, and most aren't anything special in terms of ambiance. KKC is on brand with both. What they did have was an amazing platter of fresh fried shrimp, and my wife's asian bbq chicken with pineapple salsa was even better!

Service was great! The outside seating was a nice place to have lunch. Food was alright. The pretzel was good with good mustard.

Great food, great drinks and great atmosphere! Fun to sip their awesome strawberry jalapeño margarita and munch on their amazing coconut shrimp and giant soft pretzel while watching the views on the pier. A great way to start our beach vacation!

Great location, food, and service! My friends and I came here on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and we were immediately seated. The restaurant has a very paradise chill type of vibe to it. Staff was friendly and exuded southern hospitality! I ordered the coconut shrimp tacos and it did NOT dissapoint. The shrimp was extremely flavorful and they put it in a flour shell taco. The taco dish comes with two tacos, chips, and salsa. It was delicious! They also have corn tortillas available for gluten free customers. The restaurant is in a great location near the pier, where you can explore afterwards. I would come back!

Let me start by saying everybody here is very pleasant and helpful, but especially our server, who's name I unfortunately can't remember. The 4.25 of us arrived at 5:30pm and waited less than 15 minutes to be seated, not bad for a Saturday. We had a nice table by a window. Cocktails were tasty but seemed a bit watered down, the Tuna Nachos while delicious seemed to be lacking enough chips. The Fish Tacos were excellent, but the Coconut Shrimp platter was the star of the meal. These had to be some of the most moist and tasty shrimp we've had. It came accompanied with Slaw and Fries. The Tuna Bowl outstanding with large chucks of fresh tuna. Overall, Koko Cabana is a very good beachside restaurant and place I will definitely revisit.

Great location and atmosphere. Right on the water at the pier. That was the best part. We visited on a Monday night, no wait for a table. Hostess was less than enthusiastic about her job. Never understand why those in charge allow the first contact and experience w the business to be w someone who doesn't want to be there. Large menu w plenty of options. Pina Colada and margaritas were good. First tacos were very good. The rest of the crew was less enthusiastic about their meals. Fish sandwich was huge and tasted pretty good. The plantains dish was ok, probably Should have added protein. Lastly, the waitress was meh . Not very attentive at all. We had four former servers at the table, all very empathetic and forgiving and none of them thought she did a good job either. Slow, and disinterested, similar to the hostess. Worth a try but we won't return.

If there is no other option for a night out, here's your place. Not impressed. The food choices aren't very good and changed a lot through the years. Maybe too much.

Amazing location. Servers were phenomenal even though they were slammed. My son said it was the best burger he has ever had and even tried to get one more for take out on the way off the island - but they were way too busy for us to wait - not a bad thing - but he holds all other burgers now up to that one.

Seafood, tacos, bowls, and nachos at a beach front bar. Family friendly from the beginning. Put your name on the list, grab a drink and wait out side to play corn hole. Or walk down the pier and enjoy the views before a text message alerts your ready table. The staff is kind, the views are easy to find inside or out, and the ambience is beach modern. The drink menu matches the vibes and food. The food menu is full of fresh seafood like tuna and crab. If you are on Oak Island and want beach front dining, this is a solid restaurant.

Indoor and outdoor seating options. Outdoor option allowed for view of the pier and beach. Service was great and quick.

Food was exceptional! Very flavorful and delicious! I can't stop raving! Our server Lindsay H was great, friendly and personable! We sat outside, beautiful view of the beach. Highly recommend!!

We came in for an early dinner. There was a wait but it went by quickly. We got to sit outside with a beach view. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. Our table ordered a variety of items and everyone enjoyed their dinner. They even modified some menu items as sides for the kids meals. So glad we were able to stop by!

What a great little place, right on the water. Premium prices, but that's part of what you're paying for. Well-balanced cocktails and delicious food (upscale but not fussily presented). Crunchy, toasty coconut shrimp tacos (YUM) and perfectly seared scallops. Friendly, upbeat service as well. Ask for one of Jo's or Page's tables - best servers on the beach. We went there twice while on vacation and wished we could have gone again. These people get it!

S-U-P-E-R FRESH Ahi bowl; I've been dreaming about it, it was that delicious! Service was great and the view can't be beat

Waited with a party of 6, told 45 minutes waited 2 hours. Party's of two and 3 that got there before us sat down way before us. Place was packed and not worth the food or drinks either. Basic generic food. Should've just went to McDonald's

Great food and service. Our waiter (Sean? The mgr) was lovely. Surprisingly good food. Poke bowl, fresh flavorful. Fish of the day, Red Snapper, perfectly seasoned and cooked. Juicy! And of course the amazing view.

Ate dinner here one night on our vacation and it didn't disappoint! The firecracker shrimp is a MUST! I loved the coconut shrimp and my mother said the KoKo burger was one of the best burgers she's tasted! We loved that it was overlooking the ocean and close to the pier. Our waitress and other staff were very friendly!

Great Service, always nearby. Welcoming staff. Quick service and a reasonable Value. Indoor and Outdoor Seating options. Some outdoor is covered as well. Berry Mule was good but they should consider muddled berries. Blackened Mahi Mahi in the Salad was absolutely what I needed. Would get again.

KoKo Cabana is my favorite "nice" place to eat on Oak Island. I love dining on the covered area by the bar out front, enjoying the beautiful views of the pier and the ocean. The service has always been excellent, and the food is equally delicious! I usually order the fish and chips, but other dishes are equally good, such as the hamburger.

So far, our favorite place in the island. Excellent food and right on the beach connected to Ruby's (coffee & healthier b-fast options) and Oak Island Pier. Nice option to walk the pier with your coffee (Americano for me).

The bar tender outside wasn't super friendly and didn't get the vibe she wanted to help me. I went for a quick bite to eat on my break. I got the Cadillac margarita, it was good. I got the fish tacos and subbed the salsa for queso with the chips. The chips were painfully stale. The taco was fine, not sure what kind of fish it was (???) but it was genuinely the only thing I liked on the menu. I would go back for drinks because of the view but I wouldn't go for the food.

Views were great. Fun casual vibe. No issues with service. Food was hot or miss. Kids got solid kids plates with quesadillas and good fries. Coconut shrimp was decent, if a tad overcooked. The fish tacos were just well, basic. Felt like everything was store bought and just repackaged. Not much flavor. Cold, store bought tortillas with no char or attention. Served with a brown rice that had a comical amount of black pepper. I couldn't tell if this was supposed to be a recipe or a kitchen error but it was inedible. Wife got a poke bowl but the raw tuna came out mushy and warm, and the presentation was poor, runny juices and smeared guac all over the plate edges upon serving. Not much flavor. Concept for this place is a good beachy vibe but food is not worth it IMO. We were going to visit Kai joes later this week but decided against it.

Koko's was just about the perfect little restaurant / pub on the beach. Right on the beach at the pier The food was affordable, especially for on the beach My wife and I had the ahi fish tacos - Touch of salt and they were perfect Pretzel appetizer was good shareable size, crispy outside and light on the inside.

Amazing views, friendly service and good food! What else could you ask for? We got the grillled shrimp and grilled scallops. Nice sized portions, fresh and yummy! I didn't think of it but I should have had mine blackened for an extra kick, I will try that next time.

The food wasn't great. I had grilled scallops that were not cooked great and had a bitter flavor. The others had a mediocre cheeseburger. Someone else had peal and eat shrimp which was not seasoned well. Another had fried shrimp and it was ok but not great. The view is fantastic and despite being busy we didn't wait too long The ford was not $20-$30 value. At $15-$20 I might not have complained as much.

Great service, great drinks, great view - horrible quality. For the price and the wait it was NOT worth it! We waited over an hour for a party of 6. Earlier this week we tried to come here as well and the wait was almost 2 hours so we expected it to be great. The fish was criminally overcooked, the nachos had barely a drizzle of cheese over them, everything that came out of the frier was burnt. I'm surprised they were satisfied enough with their job to serve the entrees they gave us.

This is an interesting place on the water! A trendy vibe with healthy food options with an Asian flair. Not the place if you are looking for comfort food!

Ended up trying this restaurant after finding our original choice closed. Seated promptly even though the restaurant was busy. Ordered the fish - grilled. It came out blackened so much so it was terrible. The waiter was not very attentive so I didn't even try to request a correction to what I ordered. The cocktail was watered down and not frozen. The other members of my party liked their dishes well enough thus the two stars but agreed it wasn't the greatest meal or service. Overall this was a really expensive bad meal. On the way out we overheard another diner complaining about their meal to their server. Not somewhere I would recommend or return to.

I always try to eat here while visiting oak island. I love the catch of the day or the scallops. The food is always amazing. The staff is friendly and service is great. It gets pretty busy so go early if you don't want to wait. I'd definitely recommend.

Service at the bar outside was dismissive and rude. Host staff sat 2 people at a 6 top, with an open 2 top next to them, all while parties of 4-6 are waiting for over an hour. Food was cold when it arrived. Food expeditor was not pleasant and just basically dropped the food on the table. Prices are too high for bad service and bad food, plus an hour wait at 5 pm. We have had some good times here, so we keep trying- but it's not worth it. The bright spot was our waitress, she was sweet and attentive.