Salt Fish Restaurant and Tiki Bar

My first time in this restaurant and I must say, I loved every single thing about it! The food was amazing, the drinks were spot on and the entire SF family was incredible! I forgot to post when I came down to visit in July for my birthday, but I left this awesome place full and happy! I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone. The decor inside was very tastefully done and you can tell everyone working genuinely loves what they do, and how to keep customers happy! Keep up the very amazing job ladies!

Amazing little spot! The food was wonderful, and the drinks were nothing short of that as well! The 2 women who worked up front were on point with keeping up with everyone the entire time. Our new go to spot when in town now! Make reservations as the place is small and fills up quick.

All 8 of us loved this place. Cute, unique atmosphere. We all loved our dishes. Highly recommend the half pineapple, scallops, Saigon noodles, and snapper fish. The drinks were great too and served in unique tiki themed cups. We definitely hope to come back next year!

We are local, and this is hands down our favorite restaurant in Carolina Beach! Very small but cool vibe and atmosphere. Almost everything we've had on their menu is absolutely amazing, and consistently cooked perfectly. If your looking for a "foodie" place to eat in CB, this is the spot to go. Highly recommend making reservations, as it is a very small place, and it fills up quickly.

They have both meal and drink specials weekly, that are absolutely out of this world.

Service is also amazing, always feel the staff is extremely attentive to us when dining in.

Highly recommend!

This little spot is amazing the food is GREAT the Dirt Candy Bowl is DELICIOUS and the Saigon Noodles just melt in your mouth…a must if you are looking for good local food…. Please try the Pain Killer is really really good… KUDOS to the staff who are delightful and professional

Fresh, local fare made/served to course--not just slung across the table in chaos (think Metallica stadium show mosh pit). The Laotian duck app is INCREDIBLE! Cucumber kimchi lacks balance, but the Maduro (fried plantain) is a treat! Saigon noodles are reminiscent of steam carts slogging against cobblestone serving hungry patrons across market square blocks. The coconut rice is like clouds slippery from the sweet oils. It's just a great opportunity to be present and dig in. If you're a diva or a serial complainer about portions or anything related to servers... not your scene. If you appreciate effort and artistic license, come on. What're you waiting for?

4 of us dined at Salt Fish for the first time on Wednesday. Loved everything!
Food was fantastic, wine 1/2 price, and service excellent. We will definitely go back. Owner came to our table to ensure we were happy with our food. Best kept secret at the beach❤

Delicious! A creative menu with great sharable options and tasty, unique entrees. The margarita was awesome too! Highly recommend the brussel sprouts.

Really fresh fish! had the fresh catch of the day with coconut rice & perfectly cooked veg - oh yeah! So good!

What a gem! It's a quirky, small restaurant with an interesting and varied menu - the lamb app and candied jalapeños ("cowboy candy") were particularly flavorful! All food was fresh and much of it was locally sourced. Definitely worth a visit, just call ahead - we got lucky and snagged the only open seats at the bar, but this place seems to prefer reservations due to its small size (part of the charm!)

Awesome little seafood restaurant by the beach. It's a little small and so is the menu, but you can taste the love in every bite. You might want to get a reservation during the summer season, it fills up fast. The crab cake over grilled portobello mushroom is a great choice and the atmosphere is fun and relaxed. On my way out I dance with a couple getting down in the parking lot who were listening to the band across the street. Very chill spot.

This was by far our best meal of vacation! Everything was delicious, service was excellent, and the atmosphere was eclectic, funky, and unique. Recommend the Blue Ring Octopus cocktail, Lettuce Wraps appetizer, Half Pineapple or Seafood Tom Kha entree, and the raspberry cheesecake dessert! 10/10!

Very small place, not a lot of parking. There is parking in the back, we parked in the front. Very tight!

Inside is a kind of random decor. Weren't sure what KIND of food based on atmosphere. We had a starter, a shrimp dish with mango and plaintains. We weren't big fans of that dish. BUT, the rest of the meal was 💯. We had pork sliders (amazing!) and a shrimp/sausage combo inside a pineapple. That was delicious! I had a coconut beer that was fantastic. Our server Andrew was really great and knowledge. And friendly.

We sat at the bar. We did smell the bathroom while sitting there......they did have a diffuser in there to help, but just wanted to say. We were the seats closest to the bathroom, so understandable. Still giving 5 stars because you can tell the owners are doing everything they can to make this a great experience!

After a few nights in Carolina Beach, we finally found where the best food is. This little spot is an absolute GEM, and has creations and flavors that are truly inspired.

To start off, we had the ceviche of the day (langostine) and tuna poke. There was SO much langostine meat... and it was perfectly tender and delicious.

The tuna poke is BY FAR the freshest and most delicious tuna you will find in CB. Hands down. Bet my wallet on it. Portion size was easily shared by 2, but could certainly be am appetizer for a larger group without a doubt.

For entrees we had the Polynesian Chicken and the Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice.

The chicken was super crisp, with a very flavorful breading. Perfectly cooked, and served with two sauces and a side. Opted for the Mac N Cheese and it did not disappoint.

The Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice was incredible. Photos online drew me to it, and someone from across the bar asked "hey, is that as good as it looks?" Better. So many subtle flavors and textures, all perfectly balanced.

This place was SO good, we made a reservation to go back tomorrow night to try more things off the menu - AND to have some tuna poke again. That's worth the return trip alone.

Rebecca was fantastic, and took the time to answer questions we had about the menu and the history of the restaurant.

I cannot believe this place didn't have a line out the door at all times. It's small, and open limited hours, but hands down is authentic, flavorful island food. You will not be disappointed!

Places like this deserve a special sixth star to sent them apart from other 5 star reviews.

Don't be fooled by the exterior. It's not much to look at on the outside, but the food and drinks inside are delicious. It's a small place, so reservations are vital. It may have felt tight for others, but we were at a nice bar-side table.

The poke was delicious, as was the yellow fin tuna special. My wife wasn't thrilled with the Two Beaches, though it was fine, but we loved the Emerald Isle Martini. The Pineapple Fosters dessert was yummy. The one low point was the crabcakes, as they fell short of what we'd expect from there.

Chefs table meets Carolina Beach. One of the best meals we’ve ever had the pleasure to enjoy! Greeted at door by warm, efficient and fun staff. Ambiance is fun and elegant yet casual. The food divine. The fish of the day Mahi Mahi maybe the best fish dish we’ve ever had. Great pours & unique cocktails! Cheese cake dessert yummy and tropical. Make a reservation. This is a phenomenal eating experience. Small and very special! Thank you for making our birthday celebration one we will treasure!

One of the best meals I have ever had! We walked into a 10 bar-seating, 3 table restaurant, surprised at the small size. The waitress told us the tables were all booked at seven, so we had an hour to eat, which we said was fine. From the amazing passion fruit mojito to the catch of the day halibut with fried yucca and mango salsa, to the half pineapple shrimp fried rice with Chinese sausage, and a desert of Pineapple Foster, everything was just incredible. Cuban-fused with Asian worked perfectly in every dish we tried. (The wasabi crema sauce, OMG!). Go early or make a reservation so you do not miss this experience.

I didn't take a picture, but the food presentation was great. I had the half pineapple, which was loaded with grilled shrimp and fried rice, a pinot noir, and cheesecake wonton for dessert. Everything was delicious. There is not much seating, but it was not crowded on a Thursday in early November. This is a hidden gem!

The food was very good!! I’m a hard critic in this economy, but I will say the appetizers were a very good portion and more than enough for 4 people, we even had leftovers of appetizers. I was skeptical because I feel as though newer restaurants with “creative” dishes usually under deliver and don’t give enough food at all. This place definitely have a healthy portion of tasty, good food. The cocktails are also great and the bartender/waitress was amazing and was able to make our drinks to our taste and give her recommendations. Will definitely eat here again next time we’re in Carolina beach. Great date night spot.

Amazing food and excellent service. The staff gave great recommendations and were very friendly. The place has a chill vibe. Definitely make a reservation for weekends, it’s a small place and in pretty popular area. I will definitely eat here every time I come to Carolina Beach. It’s a new favorite.