Salt Fish Restaurant and Tiki Bar

This was hands down the best food we had all weekend, and after chatting with some locals the best restaurant in CB! 10/10 recommend making a reservation at Salt Fish when you’re in the area 🙌

Pictures do not do it justice, it looks and tastes amazing, you cannot go wrong with anything on that menu, totally loved it. Worth every penny! (Reservation is likely needed, though my husband and I got lucky because someone canceled)

Do yourself a favor and make a reservation (you need one) at Salt Fish! Hands down, best meal we had all week at the beach- actually best meal at a restaurant in a very long time! Every single thing we ordered was delicious! The Cucumber Kimchi & half pineapple with shrimp were SO good!

We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Saltfish! Brianne was our server and she was absolutely delightful! It’s tiny, so be sure you make a reservation!

I’ve loved Saltfish on CB for years, but the new owners have really kicked it up to a whole new level. I hate to make it more difficult to get a reservation in this cute little tiki bar, but I gotta sing their praises. The service and food have gone from ‘really good’ to ‘omg I’m gonna dream about this meal forever’. I’m currently obsessed with their scallops- they’re served with a stunning curry sauce, fragrant rice, fresh citrus slaw, and Maduros. It’s a beautiful meal and perfectly executed every time. Last night we got the coconut shrimp app, the scallops and their chicken katsu, and then finished it off with their homemade rum cake with candied pineapple and fresh whipped cream. Everything was just incredible. They’re staffed better than they used to be- service is quick and friendly. Expansive menu of tiki drinks. Definitely recommend reservations even in the off season- it’s a tiny spot with limited seating. 10000/10 definitely recommend this little gem.

I'm Thai who's very picky about food. This place is beyond my expectations. Great food with great service. The server & bartender was so friendly. The food was phenomenal!! I like that the chefs add some Thai things in their unique food. Delicious 🤤

First time and will definitely be back! Love the vibe of the place! From the moment we stepped in, we were greeted with nothing but welcome friendly faces. Then the drinks and meal. Omg still drooling and left with plenty leftovers.

Small but mighty! rsvp is a must but worth it. The food was amazing, the drinks were perfectly done and the key lime pie was to die for! Highly recommend this spot.

Food and service were phenomenal. The restaurant is small and you have to have a reservation. If you are in the area, give this place a try. Everything we had from cocktails, appetizers, side dishes and entrees were top notch. We are not dessert people so that is the one thing I cannot attest to. We tried to go a second night but they were fully booked.

This is a rare gem of a place. The tiki drinks are delicious. The food is incredible. The service is fantastic, and the owner came around to check on each party during their meal. It's a small restaurant, so definitely make reservations. I cannot stress this enough - the food is absolutely spectacular.

We planned to go to a different restaurant, but ended up here. What a happy mistake! The atmosphere is casual and relaxed with an old school diner/tiki bar vibe. The service was great; friendly and fast. The food was excellent, especially the Brussels sprouts, which were probably the best I've ever eaten. They don't have an extensive menu, but what they offer is unique and each dish was bursting with flavor. Salt Fish is definitely a hidden gem in Kure Beach!

I recently visited The Salt Fish Restaurant and Tiki Bar at Carolina Beach, and it was an OK experience. The atmosphere was great, and the tiki bar added to the tropical vibes. We had the marinated steak, and it was dry, not cooked medium rare (as requested) and it included microwaved rice. Pretty disappointing. The Saigon noodles were a pleasant surprise. They were a flavorful fusion and had a unique twist that made them stand out. Overall, it is a beachy, relaxed atmosphere and within walking distance to the beach. They do have free parking available as well, so that's a plus!

Salt Fish is such a hidden gem in Carolina Beach. It's across from the Lazy Pirate which is very very packed all the time, so maybe people haven't noticed it? Either way, lucky me! I took a group of friends here for one friend's birthday, and we had a blast! It's not a big restaurant so either come early or call ahead for a table. We tried a bunch of different items and some fun drinks! They all came in different fun glasses! Everything was delicious!!

This place rocks!!! The food is SO GOOD and the waitstaff/owners were so welcoming. Everyone seems to genuinely like working here, and confident in the food they serve for good reason. Plus the decor was so cute. Make a stop here!

Fantastic meal! The place is small but cozy. I ordered the black bean and coconut rice with blackened fish - so delicious! Everything was seasoned just right and the plantains were amazing! Highly recommend the Blue Ring Octopus tiki drink, it was very tasty. Excellent service, everyone was super efficient and friendly.

Nice little spot with good food and service. It's small so make reservations or bar seating is usually available

Picked up a coconut rice bowl to go, and it as decent. The rice was delicious and they had a great balance of fresh (avocados, cabbage salad), warm (rice, beans), sweet (plantains), salty (chicken), and tangy (sauce). However the chicken itself needed more flavor. It tasted like plan frozen chicken that had sauce on top.

We came to Carolina Beach on a weekend getaway and this was such a great find.. very close to our Airbnb and the beach. We were lucky to find the last parking spot in the very small parking lot. Reservations are recommended and you can reserve online. We were seated right away and staff was very friendly and attentive. It is a very cozy and intimate setting. We decided to sit at the bar, otherwise it would've been another 25 minute wait. The bar seating was very comfortable and spacious. I ordered the scallops special which was seared to perfection. The island slaw was crunchy with a sweet taste to it. The plantains were delicious as well as the coconut rice. My husband was very impressed with his marinated steak. Will definitely be back!

Cozy spot with great food. Some things were a bit too salty for me but they had great variety and it all was so fresh. Would recommend for anyone who needs a nicer upscale dinner while in CB!

Have been to the restaurant three times this summer and every time has been fabulous. Chef does a great job and service is top notch.

Very tiny restaurant and you have to make a reservation to eat here! Food was delicious though and would definitely recommend giving it a try!

You'll definitely want a reservation but this is a must visit. Party of four and we all raved about our food. Two scallop specials that were made with a delicious curry. Fresh catch was a great portion, and pineapple rice was fresh, delicious, and a great value. Highly recommend!

Delightful dinner at the bar. Food was delicious. Drinks were good. But the staff was the best! They were welcoming and friendly. Would definitely recommend.

Fabulous scallops! The rice was delish and the star on my plate? Those plantains! Oooohhhh soo good!!!! Service was outstanding! Place is small so make a rez.....incredible hidden gem!

WOOOOOW. I wish I took pictures of our food. Service 10/10. Drinks 10/10 we got the salta-rita's, such a good and balanced marg. Our table got the Saigon Noodles, Cowboy Candy entree, Grouper special and the prime rib. Everybody finished their plates and everything was so fresh, flavorful and I like how simple their menu is too. Highly recommend.

Order the kimchi apple salad. It's amazing. My wife said it was a top ten meal of 2024. I recreated it the next week at home. Small restaurant, cool vibe, good service.

This is phenomenal!!! 1. Food was great 2. service was nice and enjoyable and awesome 3. Mocktails were the best 100/10 would recommend

Wow!! First time dinner and the experience was amazing! Welcomed, amazing food service and desserts! We enjoyed the brussel sprouts, Saigon noodles with shrimp and a scallops special! Nathaniel provided great service and bartending as well. The scallop special included coconut rice, plantains so specially spiced and scallops so fresh and delicious. Did I mention wow!

I wouldn't recommend ordering to-go. From the start, the girl answering the phone didn't seem to want to take my order and put me on hold to see if they were even accepting to-go orders. I ordered fish dip and fish of the day which was mahi mahi. The fish dip was a very small amount and was way too smooth and blended for my liking. It was 90% fried bread pita. For $30 including tax the pictures shows what the mahi-mahi with rice looked like. The coconut rice and zero flavor. It was just regular rice. The mahi-mahi was way over cooked and flavorless. There are much better options in the area. I will not be returning.

A hidden gem! One of the better meals I've had in a while. I didn't know what to expect when I was told to check this place out. From how good they said the food was I thought it was a fine dining kind if place. While you won't need a suit and tie or expect a waiter specifically for bread, you'll still get an amazing meal. We started off with the clam strips which were cooked to perfection. Personally, I ordered the scallops with blue grits, this may have been a special, so I'm not sure if it's on the menu regularly. My date ordered the fried chicken, not something I'd normally get at a seafood spot, but glad she did. Extremely tender and seasoned to perfection. The chef came out and talked to us for a little while, he seemed super passionate about his food. The perfect touch. I'll be coming back any chance I get!

The food was very good. The place is very small. Luckily we were able to sit at the bar. Reservations are highly recommended.

One of the best meals I've had out all year. Drink was large and flavorful and the curry was some of the best I've ever had. A+!!!

Salt Fish has set the bar insanely high for other restaurants. Fair warning because after dining here you won't want to go anywhere else lol. I made reservations for dinner during a bachelorette trip & all 9 of us agreed that it was some of the best food we've ever had! I got the black beans/coconut rice with grilled mahi, fried plantains, and slaw. Every single bite was beyond delicious - I haven't stopped talking about it since. I had the same dish in the Dominican Republic and loved it, but the version here was 10000x better. The restaurant's interior is very eclectic with lots of colored lights/interesting decor. We all loved the bathroom & booth pillows. The only con was parking as there's 2 spaces in front and a VERY tiny lot in the back. If you arrive while previous diners are still parked you will have to circle the block a few times so get there early unlike us lol. Thank the Lord I already live close enough to eat dinner here or I think I would have to move.

Wow! Great food served by a small kitchen establishment. So much better then those big restaurants. Real food. This place is a local favorite.

What a treasure at Carolina Beach . The food and service absolutely outstanding. One of our favorite restaurants.

A true surprise. It's not in the main touristy area of Carolina Beach and really worth the quick drive. Had pineapple shrimp; crab dish in a Portobello and a dish with cowboy candy. We had our kids with us too and they were so accommodating. Highly recommend this place as a tourist or a local

I came to this place for the first time because someone recommended it and I was satisfied. I drive down that street a lot and never seen it before. It is a very small place and I think it's hard to find because there's cars parked right in front of the restaurant that block it (Parking is tight). The sign on the restaurant building says "Tiki Bar" so I was confused at first if that was the right door so I walked in and had to ask if this was "Salt Fish" (hahaha). They only have 5 tables and a bar and all their tables were already reserved for the day so I was sat at the bar. I enjoyed sitting at the bar very much. The staff are nice and friendly. All the items on the menu that I ordered were very good but the best one was their mahi fish! I highly recommend ordering the mahi. Their tiki drinks do actually come in a tiki glass. They have a random selection of tiki glasses which was cool. I love the ambiance music they were playing - hearing the tropical birds etc. It really felt like we were on a tropical island tiki bar.

This is a small, but quaint little joint. The service was friendly and accommodating. They serve a nice pour of wine, but do not have draft beer. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the diverse array of dishes on the menu. My dad had the Cowboy Candy which was chicken topped with candied jalapeños, that had just enough heat to not overpower the dish. My Mom had the pork bulgogi, which she liked. My sister had the grouper special, I had the Saigon Noodles and my friend had the black beans and coconut rice. Plenty of food. Everyone enjoyed their meals.

This place is small but the food is delicious. Reservations are very necessary but totally worth it! The staff were friendly and everything came out perfect.

The restaurant was tiny but they accommodated our party of 6 no problem. The food was incredible! Everyone enjoyed it, even our kids (ages 8-11). So eclectic and well done. The curry, pineapple dish and ahi tuna salad were favorites. Only trouble was we couldn't try everything on the menu.

The food here is great, and did not disappoint. However, our visit on 6/21 left a number of things to be desired: 1) We ordered a bottle of wine. The server (a man, who was not our main server for the rest of the evening) set the bottle down on the table with three glasses. He did not pour it or offer a taste to ensure it had not spoiled 2) We asked for an ice bucket as it was white wine and a sweltering night. He said "I thought with 3 glasses you won't need one." A bottle is 5. He returned with a bucket, and once again set it on the table without taking the bottle himself and putting it in the bucket for us. 3) We had an 8pm reservation (note an 830 was available as well). At 9:10 we asked for dessert and were told "no, the kitchen is closed." At no point were we told the kitchen would be closing, and on a Friday night, soon after we'd finished our entrees, we expected to still be able to eat dessert. We are locals and for a couple was their first experience, despite the good food they left saying "we probably won't eat here again."

Terrific fresh seafood in a fun and intimate place. Great cocktails, unique dishes, and whimsical decor. With no better place to eat in Carolina Beach, can get crowded, especially on weekends, so chill out and enjoy the true island vibe.

Food was pretty good. It is pretty pricy. Staff is very friendly and it's a cute environment.

We started with the Brussel Sprout appetizer, which was amazing. Then onto the daily special Curry Noodles. I chose the chicken as my protein and my son chose scallops. The curry flavor was excellent. Loved the food, service and the decor.

Wow! What a gem in disguise. Driving by one would not know just how good this place is. The food is fantastic, the decor is eclectic to say the least and the drink presentation was tiki all the way. A must stop for anyone in Carolina Beach. Service was great, friendly and attentive.

My girlfriend and I came here on a whim while vacationing at Kune Beach. What a great call on our part! The food was such an eclectic style of origin and presented well. The flavors blended perfectly and there were layers of taste that continued on with every moment. The greatest joy came from our server Phillip. Phillip was polite and made us feel very welcomed. He explained to us the specials of the day and steered us in the absolute perfect direction of what to try. Let's put it this way, after the appetizers and before the main course, we were making reservations to come back prior to us ending our vacation. It's THAT good folks.

This is a hidden gem! This food was so fresh and a healthy kind of filling. The staff was also very polite and helpful. This is a very small place and only reason we were seated was because we came exactly when they opened. So I advise to make reservations so you aren't turned away. Definitely worth the try.

This place is so fucking good. Me and my old lady went to a lot of places in the area and I don't thing anything even touched this place. It's on a whole other level. It's like a place you would see Bourdain go. We were lucky enough to sit next to the owner who gave us the run down of the menu and what her favorite items were. Our server was attentive and stylish and the food was the best meal I've had all year. I'd make a sacrifice to the chef if I had an altar because he is truly a god. I really love this place and I hope to comeback next time we get the chance to be in town.

Amazing specials & service! The cocktails are so fun. Great overall atmosphere. It's a hole in the wall so get reservations ahead of time. We had a group of 8 & were easily accommodated. We will be back next time we visit Carolina Beach!

Would love to have reviewed the food but apparently they only seat with reservation, which is not mentioned anywhere. No offer at all to Wait. So wish I could give it a good review but the host didn't give us the time of day, just "no reservation your out of luck". Felt like a very local place and they want to keep it that way.

I've dined here before and had a wonderful experience, so I chose to dine here on my birthday this year. I completed the reservation request online and noted in the comment field, "celebration of birthday." We arrived a few minutes early and saw two empty tables. We were told to wait a few moments. The party that came in after us was seated before us. My partner and daughter ordered the Saigon Noodles. I ordered the black beans and coconut rice with chicken added. The presentation of food was excellent-- very colorful and inviting. However, the flavors were just not there. The chicken I had added to my dish looked to be the same plain chicken breast that was added to the noodle dish. The coconut rice was ok, the black beans were ok. I did notice that there was cheese in my beans-- and I do not eat cheese. I am meticulous about communicating no cheese in my ordering and I did forget to mention it. My bad. I politely asked the server if I could have a small side of beans with no cheese. He was not happy at all and made a comment that cheese was most definitely noted on the menu. Ouch! When we had finished our dinner, the server asked if we wanted dessert. I politely said no thank you, we have a birthday cake at home. No comment. Perfect opportunity to ask who's birthday, provide well wishes, etc. Another missed opportunity in my opinion. When the check was paid, the server said, "happy birthday to whoever's birthday it is!" Food and service was lacking. I considered Salt Fish one of the top dining experiences on the island--sadly, I was disappointed.

I never yelp, but this place is straight fire ‍. The scallops melted in the mouth like heavenly butter. The noodles were cooked perfectly Al dente. The poke bowl was the most orgasmic blend of sweet and savory, spicy and tangy. To say I was surprised by the deliciousness of this meal would be an understatement. I was astounded, shocked, shook to my core. 11/10 highly reccomened. Yumyumyumyum

Great food. Great service! We were visiting the area for a brief get away and enjoyed a wonderful meal here.

Wow... the food here was top notch. With Caribbean flare everything we had was amazing. We ordered the half pineapple fried rice and the monkish (fish special) and there was not one thing we would change. We also ordered the yucca fries and the sweet potato cheesecake. If you're in the area, definitely make a reservation through their website!

Got their signature half grilled pineapple. The edamame was still in the shell and mixed in with the rice - very nasty trying to pull beans out of a shell which is clearly inedible. Waitress said the new supplier no longer provided shelled edamame. Very small place. Generous wine pours. Wear a jacket - freezing cold .

One of the best seafood restaurants that I've been to. A relaxed mood with great service. The staff had a chill vibe but we're on top of everything. The food is incredible. I had the shrimp wraps and Blackened Mahi, clean and subtle taste that hits you every bite. A perfect balance of spices, never overpowering. Finish this all off with Sweet potato cheesecake!? An absolute work of art.

Wonderful dinner with a quaint local Carolina Beach feel. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable and welcoming. Looking forward to our next visit!