The Naughty Rooster Irish Pub — Restaurant in Kauai

This place is going down fast. This was our fourth and last visit, ever!

Our first time at this restaurant was excellent. It was during their first week of opening.

Since we had great service the first time around, we invited a friend to dine with us the following week. Our second visit was okay, but not as good as our first visit.

Third visit, the pickled red cabbage did not have the Gorgonzola cream. It had a different cheese with different texture. Wasn't creamy at all. The waitress gave some excuse that the brand was different and there was a new chef/cook. Already?!

Today, from the menu:

1. They had no soup, no steamed clams, no jalapeño poppers.
2. The pickled red cabbage was totally different. It had no Gorgonzola cream, whatsoever, and no romaine lettuce.
3. There was no mushy peas plated with the Fish and Chips and the triple cooked fries were lukewarm and not crispy.
4. The potatoes in the Steak & Guinness Cottage Pie were not cooked through.
5. The waiter came and stood at our table telling us the total of our bill. I had to ask for an itemized receipt. I also paid with cash and asked for change back. He agreed, but never returned with the change. So, he ended up with an extra $5 on top of the 20% that I already included with the bill, which honestly, he didn't deserve. We were done, didn't want to wait any longer and wasn't about to argue over $5. Obviously, he needed it more than we did.

Goodbye...

Disappointing Experience — Not Worth the Price

We were really looking forward to trying this place, but unfortunately, it missed the mark on nearly every level.

Service was a 2 at best. The bartender, who appeared to be doubling as a server, took our food order from our table but was hard to flag down for anything — whether it was ordering drinks, placing our food order, or just getting the check.

As for the food, also a 2. We ordered the "Spiced Bag" appetizer, which was described as chicken fingers but came out as nuggets — not what was advertised. The mozzarella sticks were a mess, literally melted into a pile of cheese, and the "3x cooked fries" were soft, soggy, and far from crunchy.

My husband ordered the Nashville Spicy Chicken Sandwich with the fries. The chicken wasn’t remotely spicy — it tasted oddly sweet, like it had been marinated in sugar. Even the pickled cabbage couldn’t save it. He found it inedible. The only bright spot of the meal was the Steak & Guinness Cottage Pie, which the bartender mentioned is the only thing he ever eats there — and now we understand why.

Our total came out to over $100, and it was honestly difficult to pay that much given the disappointing experience.

10/10 would not recommend or return. Hopefully things improve, but for now, it was a...

If you want to venture away from the more touristy spots and experience something truly local, The Naughty Rooster is a hidden gem we stumbled upon—and ended up absolutely loving. It’s tucked just behind Kalapaki Beach in a small strip mall, and it’s owned by the sweetest couple, Josh and Molly. My husband and I went there a few times and genuinely felt like regulars by the end of our trip. We hit it off with Josh and Molly right away, and by the time we were leaving Kauai, we even hugged them goodbye. It felt like saying farewell to old friends.

The vibe is super chill—funny, a little cheeky, and full of heart. It’s got that true Irish pub feel, but island-style. No one’s in a rush, and it’s definitely not the place to be picky or impatient. It’s the kind of place where you grab a drink, settle in, and just let the good vibes roll. The food is solid, the drinks are cold, and there’s always a story or a laugh to be shared. It’s casual, welcoming, and honestly one of those spots that makes you feel like you belong the moment...