Overview
Chicken in a Barrel BBQ at Coconut Marketplace is a casual barbecue stop in Kapaa on Kauai’s Coconut Coast. The Google Places record and the restaurant’s own location page agree on the Coconut Marketplace address, phone number, and active operation status, so this appears to be a current, open location rather than a stale listing. (chickeninabarrel.com)
For travelers, the main appeal is simple: smoked barbecue in a walk-up, low-formality setting that works well for a quick lunch, an easy dinner, or takeout near the east side resort corridor. It is not trying to be fine dining; it is a practical barbecue stop with a local chain feel and a strong emphasis on chicken and ribs. (chickeninabarrel.com)
Cuisine & Specialties
The menu lane is straightforward barbecue with an island-friendly, casual presentation: smoked chicken, ribs, pulled pork, beef, chili, sides, and combo plates. The brand’s own site highlights “smoked BBQ chicken, ribs, chili and more,” and TripAdvisor reviews repeatedly describe sampler plates, half-chicken plates, ribs, pulled pork, chili, and fries. (chickeninabarrel.com)
Notable items that show up repeatedly in traveler feedback include the barbecue chicken, ribs, sampler plates, pulled pork, chili, slaw, fries, and homemade desserts. Reviewers most often single out the chicken and ribs as the core draw, while side dishes get mixed but sometimes positive mention; one 2025 review specifically called out the homemade desserts and self-serve beer taps, which suggests the Coconut Marketplace branch has a more casual, slightly expanded dine-in setup than a barebones takeout shack. (tripadvisor.com)
- Overall menu style: casual barbecue plates and combos; smoked meats, sides, and some dessert/drink options. (chickeninabarrel.com)
- Notable specialties: smoked barbecue chicken, ribs, chili, pulled pork, fries, slaw, sampler plates, and combo platters. (chickeninabarrel.com)
- Traveler spend expectation: Google marks it as moderate-priced, and reviewer comments often frame it as good value for a quick meal, though some feel the portions or quality do not always match the price. (chickeninabarrel.com)
- Dietary usefulness / limits: useful for meat eaters, especially travelers seeking barbecue; there is no strong evidence here of a broad vegetarian, vegan, or health-focused menu. Chili, slaw, fries, and sides may help create a workable meal for mixed groups, but this is clearly a meat-forward restaurant. (tripadvisor.com)
Notable Features & Ambiance
The setting is an open-air, casual restaurant in the Coconut Marketplace complex, with covered outdoor seating mentioned in reviews and the general feel of a convenient retail-center stop rather than a destination dining room. Several reviews mention the smell of barbecue drawing people in, and at least one recent review noted a wall of self-serve beer taps. (tripadvisor.com)
- Service model and seating: walk-up / counter-service feel, with outdoor or covered outdoor seating; order and pickup are likely the default experience. Online ordering is also offered through the company site. (chickeninabarrel.com)
- Atmosphere and decor: casual, family-friendly, beach-town retail-center atmosphere; open-air, unpretentious, barbecue-forward. (tripadvisor.com)
- Practical features: ordering ahead is supported on the company site, and the Coconut Marketplace branch lists daily hours from 11 AM to 7 PM on the ordering page. (chickeninabarrel.com)
- Best fit: a quick lunch, easy dinner, or takeout stop for travelers staying on the east side of Kauai. (tripadvisor.com)
- Weaker fit: travelers seeking polished service, a quiet indoor dining room, or a very broad menu; some reviews also suggest the experience can be uneven when the place is busy or understaffed. (tripadvisor.com)
History & Background
Chicken in a Barrel presents itself as a family-run concept built around a barrel-smoking method, with the company history page saying founder Mike Pierce opened the business in 2010 and that the style reflects more than 45 years of experience. The site also says the business has expanded to multiple locations across Hawaii and beyond, which helps explain why this Coconut Marketplace branch feels like part of a local mini-chain rather than a one-off neighborhood grill. (chickeninabarrel.com)
Review Sentiment Snapshot
What People Love
Travelers who like this place usually praise the smoked chicken and ribs, the ease of getting a quick meal, and the casual setting. Positive reviews for the Coconut Marketplace branch often mention good barbecue flavor, fast service, covered outdoor seating, and the convenience of eating nearby or taking food to the ocean-side area. (tripadvisor.com)
Common Gripes
The recurring complaints are about inconsistency: some visitors report dry, tough, or burnt ribs; underwhelming pulled pork or brisket; and occasional lapses in service or available condiments. These issues are not universal, but they are repeated often enough across recent reviews to count as a real caution rather than a one-off complaint. (tripadvisor.com)
Practical Visitor Tips
- Hours: the company’s ordering page lists the Coconut Marketplace branch as open every day from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM; the Google record also shows daily 11 AM–8 PM hours, so hours should be double-checked close to visit time if dinner timing matters. (chickeninabarrel.com)
- Ordering ahead: online ordering is available, which may help avoid a line. (chickeninabarrel.com)
- Best timing: earlier in the day may be safer if you want full availability; one reviewer noted items can sell out later, especially chicken and ribs. (tripadvisor.com)
- Seating: expect open-air or covered outdoor seating rather than a traditional enclosed dining room. (tripadvisor.com)
- Parking/location: it is inside Coconut Marketplace on Kuhio Highway in Kapaa, so it is convenient for Coconut Coast travelers and people already in the shopping area. (chickeninabarrel.com)
- What to order if undecided: the sampler plate or chicken-and-ribs combinations are the most information-rich way to judge the kitchen, while loyal fans seem most confident about the barbecue chicken and ribs. (tripadvisor.com)
Verification Notes
- Official location page lists Coconut Marketplace, 4-484 Kuhio Highway, Kapaa 96746, (808) 320-7228; this matches the Google Places record. (chickeninabarrel.com)
- The business is shown as operational on Google, and the company site also lists the Coconut Marketplace branch as an active location. (chickeninabarrel.com)
- There is some hours drift between sources: Google shows daily 11 AM–8 PM, while the company order page shows daily 11 AM–7 PM for Coconut Marketplace. This is worth treating as a real-world timing caveat. (chickeninabarrel.com)
- No major identity conflict found; this appears to be the Coconut Marketplace branch of Chicken in a Barrel BBQ, not the separate Kapaa location on Kuhio Hwy. (chickeninabarrel.com)
Sources
- Chicken In A Barrel official home page —
https://chickeninabarrel.com/— retrieved 2026-04-03. Useful for the restaurant’s own description of the BBQ style, menu emphasis, and online-ordering posture. - Chicken In A Barrel official history page —
https://chickeninabarrel.com/history/— retrieved 2026-04-03. Useful for founder/background context and the brand’s own origin story. - Chicken In A Barrel official locations page —
https://chickeninabarrel.com/locations/— retrieved 2026-04-03. Useful for confirming the Coconut Marketplace branch, address, and phone number. - Chicken In A Barrel official order-online page —
https://chickeninabarrel.com/order-online/— retrieved 2026-04-03. Useful for branch hours, online ordering, and confirmation that the Coconut Marketplace location is active. - Tripadvisor restaurant page for Chicken in a Barrel BBQ-Coconut Marketplace —
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60616-d15759609-Reviews-Chicken_in_a_Barrel_BBQ_Coconut_Marketplace-Kapaa_Kauai_Hawaii.html— retrieved 2026-04-03. Useful for recurring traveler sentiment, setting, service style, and common complaints. - Tripadvisor Kapaa BBQ listings page —
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g60616-c6-Kapaa_Kauai_Hawaii.html— retrieved 2026-04-03. Useful for cross-checking that the Coconut Marketplace branch is separately listed and currently active.
