Don the Beachcomber – Huntington Beach, CA

Posted by The Tiki Chick in Bar & Restaurant Reviews and tagged with Don the Beachcomber, Huntington Beach, restaurant revi, Tiki Bars May 17, 2009

This is really a part two of my previous post about the Tiki Magazine Release Party, as the event was held at Don the Beachcomber, formerly Kona (and before that, Sam’s Seafood), in Huntington Beach.

But I took oh so many pics of the restaurant that night that they’re going in a little photo essay here.

A bar in the “Hidden Village” area of the restaurant. This place is ginormous! There are several different rooms that transport you to a Polynesian-esque paradise.

A tiki presiding over a fountain in the back of the room.

An idyllic island mural in the main dining room.

A tiki presides over a fountain in there, too!

Yet another part of the main dining room, where we were seated. I told ya this place was big!

We had dinner there, but Don the Beachcomber had just re-opened and was completely slammed because of the event. I think the menu may also be in transition, so I’ll hold my judgment until I can make a few more trips. Sunday Luau Champagne Brunch, anyone? (Editor’s note: Check out my recap of their awesome happy hour to hear about the food.)

The tiki bar area of the restaurant, my favorite section of the resto, I believe.

Karaoke seems to be popular, though whether that’s a pro or a con depends on your sensibilities on the subject. Me? Not much of a fan. Though, I hear Mr. Baseball sings a mean “Golden Girls” theme song.

Don the Beachcomber
16278 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
562-592-1321

Tiki Magazine Release Party

Posted by The Tiki Chick in Events and tagged with Don the Beachcomber, Events, Tiki Magazine May 13, 2009

About a month ago there was a big shindig at the “new” Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach, which used to be called Kona. Mr. Baseball was kind enough to accompany me, and he even wore a Hawaiian shirt! Sadly, I didn’t think to get photographic evidence of this.

As if there needed to be a special reason to party and guzzle Mai Tais, the event also marked the release of the spring issue of Tiki Magazine.

By the way, my pineapple purse made its debut and was well-received.

The tiki folks were out in full force!

And it wouldn’t be a true tiki event without…stuff to buy! I was able to resist the temptation, though, and only came away with my issue of the mag.

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The Tikiyaki Orchestra performed Exotica tunes, and there was even a dress like the Don the Beachcomber contest.

Eric October (who you may remember as the maker of the Easter Island Egg) constructed this impressive get-up. Mr. Baseball and I had left before the judging, but apparently it wasn’t enough to take home the win. Shenanigans?

Mister Tiki Mai Tai Lounge – San Diego, CA

Posted by The Tiki Chick in Bar & Restaurant Reviews and tagged with mai tai, Mr. Mai Tai Tiki Lounge, restaurant review, San Diego May 7, 2009

I headed down to San Diego (home of the much-maligned new tourism slogan ‘Happy Happens‘) to see the lovely Rachel (and her also lovely boyfriend), and they were kind enough to indulge my tiki-phile tastes so we ventured out to Mister Tiki Mai Tai Lounge in the Gaslamp District.

The last time we came here there was some kind of special where we ended up drinking carafes, yes, indeed, carafes, of Mai Tais. Happy hour has changed a bit since then and now they offer five sushi rolls, appetizers and drinks for $5 each until 7 p.m.

Even better, happy hour is available not just in the bar but in the entire restaurant. I enjoy the lanterns in the dining room, but I think it’s more interesting to sit in the bar where the giant Moai with the neon nose ring presides.

Preserved pufferfish lamps are popular fixtures at tiki places (like Luau, for one), so I thought these blown-glass blowfish were a nice take on that design theme.

We sipped a “haole” mai tai and the coconut kiss cocktail. (The former features an interesting naming choice…) Both were absolutely delicious, but more like desserts than drinks, and also quite dangerous to our tolerance for that very reason.

Out of focus calamari fries with sweet and sour sauce. I think the chef must have captured the giant squid from “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” to make these. They were ok, I guess I prefer my fried squid in either bite-sized ring or tentacle-y form.

I love the shiitake and goat cheese wontons with garlic ponzu sauce. I could eat a million of these!

So-Cal artist Bosko created the tikis found in the restaurant—more than thirty carvings—according to his site.

Mister Tiki Mai Tai Lounge
801 Fifth Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101
619-233-1183

Update 6/29/10: I’m very bummed to report that Mister Tiki Mai Tai Lounge closed a few months ago, and in its place will go yet another burger joint. The Cohn Restaurant Group gets no points for creativity.