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    Bar Acuda

    4.3 (2k reviews)
    PriceyTapas Bars
    Closed Closed

    Bar Acuda Photos

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    BAR ACUDA ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Bar Acuda

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    Reviews With Photos

    Bananas Foster Bread pudding

    We came here based on Yelp reviews, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. We didn't have reservations, and the hostess let us know the wait would be about an hour and a half. She was incredibly sweet, kept checking on us, and we were actually seated in about an hour and fifteen minutes. While we waited, she offered us a spot by the bar overlooking the chef, which was a great touch. We decided to hold off on drinks until we were seated since we were only planning on having one--but her attentiveness really stood out. Now for the food... outstanding. We started with the Mediterranean olives and cocktails (Smoke & Ginger and Bee-Keeper). From there, we had the brioche rolls, pan-roasted broccoli, papas ajo, grilled filet mignon, and braised short ribs, and finished with the bananas foster bread pudding. The meats were incredible--decadent, buttery soft, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Every side dish was just as impressive and perfectly executed. On top of that, every staff member we interacted with was genuinely warm and welcoming, and the service was smooth and efficient throughout. We had an amazing experience and are already looking forward to coming back. I forgot to take photos of most of the food--but luckily remembered before diving into dessert!

    Brussels Sprouts
    Lori R.

    First time in Kauai and dined at Bar Acuda! We sat on the patio and had an amazing dinner! The rolls, cheese plate, Brussels sprouts, short rib, dessert, wine, expresso martini, all so yummy! Great service too! Highly recommend if you're in Kauai!

    Entry and host station
    Jerry O.

    Highly recommend! We live in another side of the island but had to check this venue out! It's fabulous! If you are a foodie, and who isn't, this is the place for you! We had a wonderful leisurely dinner! We started with their lovely filtered water, not chilled and Mediterranean olives. We love water. Island water is great, and here filtered and room temperature you get the beautiful flavor of the water of Kaua'i! The olives were also great. Delicious with olive oil and seasonings. Next our entrees. She got the fresh fish catch - Mahi Mahi. Wow. What a delicious bowl!! This is definitely one to come back for, and we will. Topped with a tasty puree, preserved lemons, sunflower sprouts and salad in place of the cannellini beans! Wow! I had an evening special: house made pasta, brown butter, pecorino, preserved lemons and parsley. A first entree of this kind for me. And I have had many varieties, since my wife is 2nd generation 100% Italian and makes me her house made pasta once a week. And we have had several trips to Italy and Sicily, where regional pastas rule. Yum. We finished with the house salad. Local greens, goat cheese, walnuts, mint dressed simply with oil and vinegar. Ahh!! Thank you Bar Acuda!!

    Tablescape
    Summer S.

    I don't even know where to start with this review because I was truly blown away with Bar Acuda. The food, atmosphere, and service were amazing and I can't say enough about this place. Bar Acuda is mainly reservation only but they do have about 6 bar seats and a standing chefs table for walk ins which is how we got so lucky. They book out 30 days in advance so if you are a planner, make sure to go on their website well before your visit to ensure your table. My husband, myself, and my best friend walked in on a Tuesday night around 6:30pm and were super lucky to wait 20min at the chefs table and then get a table! We were so stoked! The chefs table was also amazing. Loved watching everyone working together and how beautiful all of the dishes are. Our server was wonderful. Super knowledgeable and paced our dishes out perfectly. I don't know if I can choose which dish was our favorite but the lamb ribletts, Kauai shrimp, and Lilikoi cheesecake were for sure stand outs! I am so grateful we were able to experience Bar Acuda and cannot wait to be back!

    Green bean sauce
    Nikita K.

    Great food, service, and ambiance! We ordered the Braised Short Rib, Grilled Filet Mignon, Cucumber Salad, Brioche Roll, and for dessert, the warm flourless chocolate cake. The Braised Short Rib was incredibly tender and well-seasoned--it melted in your mouth. It was cooked perfectly, and the sauce was amazing. Even the boiled onions that came with it were the best I've ever eaten.,I could eat a whole plate of those onions. The Grilled Filet Mignon was even better. It was a perfect medium rare--so juicy and tender. The seasoning gave it an incredible flavor,The side of green beans was also excellent, cooked just right in a delicious sauce that's also a dipping sauce for the meat. The Cucumber Salad was very unique, with fresh greens, good cheese, and some really interesting crunchy chips. The dressing was excellent as well. The warm flourless chocolate cake was amazing--you could come here just for dessert! The chocolate was super rich and creamy, the cake was soft, and the ice cream on top was delicious. The service was great--really kind and attentive--and the ambiance was super cozy. I loved the dimmed lighting, the comfortable tables, and the fact that it wasn't too noisy.

    Victoria L.

    There's a lot of buzz around Bar Acuda, and we were curious to see what all the hype was about. Reservations fill up quickly, so if you don't snag one, you'll need to line up about 30 minutes before opening to have a chance at a walk-in seat. We managed to get in and were excited to experience it. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to expectations. The menu offerings were fine, and the portions for the shareable plates were reasonable, but we ran into issues with the temperature of the food -- most dishes arrived warm at best, not hot. It gave the impression that several of the sides or components were pre-prepped earlier rather than freshly plated. Service was fine, and presentation of the dishes was well done. However, one of our plates (the lamb) was listed as $38 on the menu, but our bill reflected $50. We later learned it was due to an additional piece being added, though that wasn't mentioned at the time of ordering nor was the piece count noted on the menu. Overall, Bar Acuda has a nice atmosphere and solid presentation, but for the price point and the anticipation it builds, the experience fell short. Not a place I'll be rushing to anytime soon.

    Barbara S.

    Like many others, we could not get a reservation here on short notice. So this year I made a reservation 30 days in advance. I highly recommend dining here while on the North Shore in Hanalei. We sat at a nice table for 2, out of the way from all the noise and high energy of this great restaurant. Our server was great, friendly and on point the entire meal. The food is delicious. My Ono Hawaiian fish dish was the best fish I had during this trip (we visit North Shore annually). The green salad was big enough for two to share and very fresh. Hubby said he had the best lamb he had tasted in years. Oh and don't forget to order the potato dish, it's wonderful, we even had leftovers! The ice cream pie was rich, sinful and not to be missed as well!

    Banana bread pudding
    Catherine E.

    Food was incredible, sat on the patio for our anniversary while on our trip. Each dish we had was great and they even brought out a small dessert for our anniversary which was so thoughtful. Cucumber salad was insanely good as was the lamb short ribs. Our server was attentive and kind. When we come back to Kauai this will always be on our list!

    Mule. Jalapeño!
    Tom S.

    Great dinner! Sublime food, attentive and friendly service. We got a table on the west side patio away from the hub-bub. Peaceful. We've attempted to eat here many times in the past but never had the presence of mind to reserve a table 30 days in advance. And those reservations fill up fast! So if you want to eat here, log onto to Resy exactly 30 days before your desired dinner date. We ate: green salad with lots of fixin's, Ono Hawaiian fish, lamb riblets, garlic fried potatoes and lilikoi cheesecake. All delicious, 5 Yelp stars worthy. Acuda here probably makes the best food in Hanalei town. Dress up for the occasion. Enjoy!

    Papas ajo (patatas bravas)
    Elaine V.

    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.

    Filet
    Bob S.

    Several locals told us Bar Acuda is the best restaurant in Kauai, and as a result, one of the toughest to get a reservation. I had read some diners arrived before the 5:30pm opening to snag some of the open seats in the bar. So we arrived at 4:45pm on a Saturday and were the first in line. The restaurant is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025. It is now led by a couple who worked at the restaurant for many years. First and foremost, Bar Acuda is a Tapas restaurant with a Mediterranean-inspired menu that stresses locally sourced food and traditional preparation. Our experience last night reminded us how the wait staff can be a difference maker. Gabbe, who has been a server for 12 years, was a rockstar working our table. Beyond her exemplary knowledge of the menu, she knows how to resolve a problem. I ordered Ahi for the Hawaiian Fish and expected it to come out lightly seared. When I discovered it was over-cooked, she took it to the kitchen to show the Chef. Because they had exhausted their supply of Ahi, they wrote off the fish and allow me to savor some Mahi-Mahi on the house. The restaurant had three specials and the one that caught our eye was the Green Bean Fries. Unfortunately, they had only five servings available and we missed the cut. The Corn & Chorizo Croquetas were a nice substitute, but certainly not as interesting as the Green Bean Fries. The Cucumber Salad was incredibly delicious. It's the number one recommended menu item on Yelp and worthy of the recognition. My wife's Grilled Filet Mignon was super flavorful and prepared perfectly. At first it seemed to be over-salted, but as we cut further in the filet, it was seemed well balanced. The Coconut Sorbet was the perfect finish for an perfect evening. Of the two house specialty drinks I ordered, I loved the Hanalei Mule. It packs some heat. What an amazing meal!

    Filet mignon
    Nikki R.

    If you want an elevated Kauai food experience you must visit Bar Acuda. Definitely make reservations at least one month in advance. We were in the need of some veggie heavy dishes so we ordered the cucumber salad and lentils to start. Highly recommend both. To finish, we ordered the filet mignon with a demi-glacé sauce coupled with the green bean side that reminded me of a healthier version of green bean casserole. I'm a steak girly, and this steak cooked at, of course, medium rare, was one of the BEST I've ever had. Highly recommend it if you want to take a break from the amazing poke on the island. Dimly lit, beautiful inside/outside type seating and the best vibes.

    Cucumber salad

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    29 days ago

    Food was great as well as the service. Make reservations or go early. Ambiance is cool as well.

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    10 days ago

    Food always wonderful. Only problem getting in is hard. Reservations must be made way in advanced

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    Bar Acuda Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bar Acuda

    How does anyone get a reservation to this restaurant? I have checked on line periodically for several years hoping to get a reservation but can never find any openings.

    I was visiting for vacation and with the time difference I didn't catch any when they opened up but I asked to be notified of cancellations and was able to grab one that posted a day before!

    How do I cancel a reservation?

    I think you can call or cancel from the reservation app if you used it like OpenTable?

    How many plates are recommended per person?

    It's very much a sharing menu. We had 4 people and eight plates which we all shared. 2-3 per person and as the waiter recommendation.

    Do they have gluten free options?

    There are a few tapas and deserts that are gluten-free. See the tapas menu at… Read more

    I can't eat gluten or dairy. Are there many options for people like me? Thank you

    They open reservations one day at a time. What time does the next day's reservation open?

    30 days before, starting at midnight Hawaii time. Often booked solid for Friday and Saturday well before 7 am Hawaii time 30 days before. But if two people line up at 5 pm (opens at 5:30) you will probably get in

    Do they have Vegan options or able to accommodate?

    I am pretty sure they do. They have so many options. And they are all tapa size so its fun to order a few things to try.

    How do you get on the waitlist?

    On their website you will go to yelp, and if the time you want is booked you can check the box to be in the waitlist. They do not respond to email or voicemail

    Do they take walk-ins?

    Only after 8:30. Much better options actually on the beach in Hanalei

    View All 13 Questions

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    Ama

    Ama

    4.1(1k reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    We had reservations, were seated immediately. The setting is stunningly beautiful (even though low…read morelying misty clouds covered a lot of the mountain) - we were seated under the open air porch. We shared the large green papaya salad - fresh crunchy and delicious - and the chicken satay bowl (roasted Jidori chicken thighs, bok choy, soft egg*, scallions, sweet peppers, chili crisp broccoli and a peanut, coconut, satay sauce) - both were fabulous. We also had the sake flight - unique and fun to try. Highly recommend!

    We love coming here, we make a reservation every time we are in town. They used to have beautiful…read morecocktails (I still have photos on my phone!) but they've changed their menu and now they are all on the rocks. My server suggested that the bartender could easily make my requested drink as it is a full service bar, but when I went up to the bartender he seemed so pissed that I would even ask for something off menu! I get that he didn't want to make a drink with egg whites (why?? they are so good, and a good sour is a classic cocktail). But it was his tone and attitude that just seemed so off.. I've never met a bartender who didn't like engaging with a customer (maybe sub in condensed coconut milk if you don't want to use egg whites?). All in all, that completely changed the tone of my night. I felt embarrassed for even asking, and that never should have been the case.

    Photos
    Ama
    Ama - Brussels sprouts

    Brussels sprouts

    Ama - Mocktails- Brazilian limeade & AMA P.O.G

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    Welina Terrace

    Welina Terrace

    4.0(214 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Welima terrace is all about the Hanalei Bay views. SInce it is insidew the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay,…read moreWelima Terrace is super expensive. My order: Veggie Roll Crispy Rice Black Sesame Mochi Cake MAHINA MELE Loved my food! The vegiie roll was like a veggie california roll with a mix of Cucumber, Avocado, Asparagus, and Shiso Leaves. The highlight was the crispy rice. Golden fried , sumptuopus riceand it was delicious! To top it off , they gave us a candle to separate our special occasion over a black sesame mochi caked. Cocktails were great with local spirits. I would recommend booking a table in advance, show up early and the best time would be 30 mins before sunset, so I showed up at 6PM. The views were a killer. The resturant also has a DJ and is open late in the night but after sunset the views become really dark.

    I got lucky to spend my birthday here; our plan was to explore our options at the hotel and settle…read moreon whatever mood struck. This was our first and last spot. We were seated promptly at a cozy table inside with couches; we didn't want to wait for an outside table (tip: make a reservation). The cocktails were not only beautiful, but absolutely delicious and fresh. We loved each dish we ordered and the menu is big - and has something for almost everyone who enjoys Japanese cuisine. The views are incredible - especially at the outside tables. However we were able to enjoy a beautiful sunset where we were inside. Service was excellent - considering how busy it was. You wouldn't know it by how attentive and professional our server was. Excellent evening here and we'll be back. Mahalo to the Welina Terrace team.

    Photos
    Welina Terrace - Sunset View

    Sunset View

    Welina Terrace - Sushi and a view

    Sushi and a view

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    Kauai tai

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    The Tasting Room

    4.7(236 reviews)
    20.7 mi
    $$

    Kauai is my favorite island, but the fine-food scene is tiny. The Tasting Room doesn't need to be…read moreas good as it is--but it is. The menu changes often, and when we return every year, we are always happy with our meal, wine and great service. All give a very European vibe. My kids are older now, but we still have one teen-aged picky eater. She always finds something she likes i.e. salmon, fries, steak, and the wine list and shop are diverse and fun. You could find this cozy wine bar in a foodie city like Houston, New York or Los Angeles and it would be a favorite. We are so lucky they decided to land in beautiful Kauai.

    Has a lovely meal here last night. We got the charcuterie…read moreboard, a Caesar salad, flat bread, and three entrees: the steak board, rack of lamb, and pasta with n mahi mahi. The charcuterie board had a nice array of cheeses and meats. It needed more crostini...but I feel like every charcuterie board I've ever had needed more bread! The Cesar salad was great. The flatbread was tasty, with home made tomato sauce and loaded with prosciutto, but it was overly salty. The lamb was excellent, the polenta that went with it was a little dry. The fish had a pesto coating. It was nice but nothing special. The steak was cooked perfectly with a nice crust while the inside was medium rare, and came with delicious mushrooms, potatoes and asparagus. Overall we were very happy. we debated rating this a three or four. It was a bit pricey for what we got, but everything in Kauai is!

    Photos
    The Tasting Room - View from patio seating

    View from patio seating

    The Tasting Room - Charcuterie

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    Taps and Hops Eatery - kimchi fried rice

    Taps and Hops Eatery

    4.3(231 reviews)
    14.9 mi
    $$

    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

    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.

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    Taps and Hops Eatery
    Taps and Hops Eatery - Chicken wings

    Chicken wings

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    Bar Acuda - tapas - Updated May 2026

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