which was very active from 1995 to 2003, and sort of half-active from 2003 to 2007.
Now it is gone.
The Tiki Bar Review Pages site was replaced by the book Tiki Road Trip in 2003 - the second edition of which (2007) is available NOW.
This is an archive - these pages are no longer updated!
Some information will be out of date. Some of this writing goes back to 1995.
See Tiki Road Trip (2007 edition) for the most up-to-date information.
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Tiki Ti
Los Angeles, CA
Full review and history of Tiki Ti
is available in Tiki Road TripNovember, 1999
On Tuesday, September 27, I attmepted to visit Tiki Ti. Excited to visit both a famous Tiki Bar, and a Hollywood hipster landmark, I was disapointed to find a sign on the tiny building informing me that Tiki Ti was only open Wednesday through Saturday.
I stopped back the next night to find Tiki Ti closed, even though it was Wednesday, and when I made a third attempt on Thursday, I was no more lucky. Friday morning arrived, and I left to go on the tour.
Arriving back in Chicago six weeks later, I was reading my Email, and was alarmed to find out the reason the Tiki Ti had been closed: Ray, the owner, died on September 30, the day after the last of my three consecutive unsuccessful visits to his establishment.
Here is some info on Ray and the Tiki Ti courtesy of correspondant Rip Russell: This family-run bar has been open since 1961. The original proprietor, Ray, now in his eighties, still works behind the bar. Ray was the bartender at Don the Beachcomber's in Hollywood from 1947 till it closed in 1961. A pacific islander, Ray has kept many recipes sacred, choosing to mix from a variety of unmarked bottles, leaving the patron bewildered by his mixing magic. As his son and grandson share his zeal, these recipes are sure to remain safe for years to come. The decor of the cozy Tiki-Ti is strictly authentic South Pacific. Hand-carved tikis, backlit with errie orange lights loom over the half dozen booths, while the bar fronts a wall-sized exotically fluorescent waterfall. Martin Denny music often reverberates throughout. I truly believe that the Tiki-Ti comes closest to preserving the authenticty and spirit of the tiki bars as envisioned over fifty years ago.
July, 2000:The Tiki Ti has survived, and Dana Sixty provides a report:
You've gotta keep your eyes peeled for this tiny tiki hole-in-the-wall in the heart of Silverlake, (L.A.'s gay neighbourhood, one of the most eclectic places in the city). If you go, look for the Circuit City, which is across the road - that is, if you don't head out there on the weekend. On Friday and Saturday nights, all you have to do is simply look for the lineup trying to cram themselves into the teeny bar. When we went there, the bartender's elderly (but very cool) mother was at the door checking ID, and steadily getting plastered on mini-bottles of Champagne, which she drank with a straw. After about 40 minutes, we were finally able to jam our way in, where we stood by the bar with the rather eclectic selection of barflies - everyone from pierced, tattooed skinheads, dikes and businessmen, to teachers and, well...us. The drink menu (they serve nothing else, God bless them!) featured 42 types of rum cocktails (such as the Tuba Co-ola, the Never-Say-Die, and the Sumatra Kula), 10 types of vodka cocktails (such as the Princess Pupuli), and a variety of Gin, Tequila, and other mysterious liquor concoctions. All drinks were either $8 or $9 each, except for a couple of nasty concoctions - one of which seems to have spawned the theme song of the place. You see, a one drink is served in a stemmed "mug" of liquors, into which the bartender then, with much pomp and ceremony, drizzles an alarming amount of tequila. The thing is, each Tequila bottle is capped with a bull-head pour spout, so when the bartender begins to pour, the entire bar erupts into a chorus of "Toro, toro, toro!" until the deadly cocktail is complete.
Opening its doors back in 1959, the Tiki Ti is decorated in typical tiki fashion, with rattan stools along the L-shaped bar (which barely seats 12) - above which hangs blowfish lamps, a lamp made out of a turtle, tiki statuettes, and license plates from all over the world, including Guam and Peleliu!) There are 5 small tables in the place, but the rest of the partygoers have to stand. The doors to the washroom are separated by bead curtains, and behind the bar is a lava rock waterfall randomly spray-painted with florescent colours. Smokers will love this place, as it is one of the few bars in L.A. where smoking is legally permitted due to the fact that it is owner-operated. This place is definitely worth the wait in line. But if you don't have the patience to wait, at least stick your head in the door and listen to a drunken, happy chorus of "Toro, toro!" as you pass by.
Just a few blocks from Tiki Ti, I found the Tiki Theatre, a nasty looking strip club. Since there were ladies in the car, I didn't go in, but the $8.00 cover charge would have scared me away even if it was just the guys that night. Besides, Aloha Gloria's was so scary, it would take some real Tiki Magic to get me into another of these Exotic Exotica places. If some intrepid soul wants to check it out, I am interested in a full report, but I'm not holding my breath!
Shaun Shariff writes: After many years of seeing it, and being quite curious about what was inside, I finally decided to go to the Tiki Theatre. I used to see it on the way to Michelle's Donuts, which is east of there on Santa Monica. I could never convince anyone to go with me. I went to Michelle's for the first time in a while, and mentioned the Tiki Theatre to a friend, and it turned out that she had always wondered what it was like as well, so we decided to check it out.
A few days before, I did a search to see if there was anything about it on the internet, found your page, and was proud to be the 'intrepid soul' who would check it out.
We ventured there on a Friday night, thinking we'd check it out when it was in full swing. We approached the man at the window, ready to pay our eight dollars, when he broke the news to us: Movie only. Despite the fact that it says Live Nude Girls, and perhaps Live Naked Girls as well, there were no live girls to be had. It is simply (at least at this point) a porno theater.
We weren't really interested in checking out the movie, so we didn't go in. My friend is planning on returning during the day to see if they'll let her check out the decor, so I'll mail you again if it proves to have anything interesting inside.
Thanks for the Tiki pages, that's a whole lotta good stuff!
I visited Damon's on one of the days Tiki Ti was closed (see above). I had been tipped off about Damon's by a reader of these pages who is a fairly reliable contact, but I was also wary because there is a large chain of steakhouses all across the country called Damon's that have nothing to do with Tiki whatsoever.
Located in a strip mall a few feet from the street, Damon's facade is promising, with plenty of thatch and bamboo. The heavy door leads you into a dark entryway, and then into two very large dining rooms. While there is definately a fair amount of Bamboo, as well as floral seat cushions and carpet, plenty of aquariums, and a generally exotic atmoshpere, you'd be hard pressed to find any blowfish or tiki mugs at Damon's. The only actual Tiki I could find was near the hostess stand, and at about 18" tall, it isn't much to write about. There were a few nice vintage prints above the arch leading to the bar area, and the murals on the back wall of the bar area are nice too. They were done in 1987 by Bettina Rakita Byrne. She's no Letig, but they looked good.
My immediate impression was that although there is some Polynesian atmosphere, much of it has been watered down through several renovations. I was partially correct. I was told by the bar manager that Damon's opened at 118 S. Cental Street in 1937, and moved to it's current location in 1990. I was a little puzzled as to why they bothered to keep the Tiki decor at all if they were only going to do a half assed job of recreating the Polynesian flavor of the original location. There is a collage of newspaper clippings about the original location near the solitary Tiki (by the hostess stand). It is notable not only for the information on the original Damon's location, but for some of the great 30's-50's ads preserved alongside the Damon's articles.
The bar manager was a pretty nice guy though (unlike the other bartender who was more like a mean version of Ricardo Mantalban), and he mixed me up a Lava, the house drink. Basically a Mai Tai with a splash of something red that seeps into the drink like (you guessd it) hot lava, it was pretty good, and pretty strong. 'Ricardo' wouldn't stop giving me dirty looks though. I dunno, maybe he's never seen someone scribbling notes about his drinks on a cocktail napkin before...
The Mai Tai was bland but not bad; made with traditinal ingredients, andd garnished with a cherry, a pineapple chunk, and the obligatory umbrella. My pal at the bar told me how all of the drinks are made fresh as his wretched subordinate glared at me further.
The crowd was mostly families and middle-aged couples, and the place definately felt more like a typical modern restaurant than anywhere you'd want to sepnd an evening really hanging out. Steak and potatoes is the fare. My Mai Tai was interrupted not only by the football game on the TV in the bar (which was drowning out the faint traces of exotic music barely audible on the muzak system), but by some freak who spent an hour telling me how to market my Tiki book (yeah, these pages are going to see print sooner or later). He was one of those fellas who publishes motivational books for aspiring real estate agents, and figured he had the moxy to get my book placed on the end of the bar in every Tiki Bar in America. I was just buzzed enough to listen. He 'bought' me a Blue Hawaiian, so I had to listen to him some more and act interested. He split, and left me the check. The Blue Hawaiian sucked.
Greg writes:
Just to let you know the family atmosphere at Damons (Glendale) is quite welcome by my family including my daughter who is now 4, and the 5th generation of our family who loves "The Monkey Resturant." Yea, it's no Tiki Ti (which I've been going to since '82) or Trader Vics, but try getting a four year old into those places. Also the true ambiance of Damons is not found in the bar, but in a booth looking over some of the finest steaks or seafood around. I've got to admit the "union" waitresses are a bit harsh, but after your second Mai Tai, who the hell cares?
I enjoyed your web site and reviews and will recommend them to others.Greg: Good point - there aren't many places where you can get a good Mai Tai and bring the kids. Looks like Damon's is the spot to hit for those of you with families!
This is a Tiki dive bar which features a pair of excellent Easter Island Moai, one each inside and outside. True to its name, there is also a framed map of the kingdom of Tonga on the wall. This Tiki bar features very inexpensive drinks ($5 mai tais), and is a refuge for those who want to smoke (California law forbids smoking in most bars) and a very neighborhood feel. The bar is an L shape, so everyone at the bar can talk to each other (which may, or may not, be a good thing). However, everyone is very good natured, and welcoming. There are also booths. Regulars do not seem to properly appreciate its Tiki distinction. TBRP readers may be the only clientele present wearing Aloha shirts.
UPDATE: Tonga Hut has been sold and fixed up, re-Tikified, and is now quite a fun place to go.
Very classy, rather expensive, and definitely neo-Tiki, serving what is termed "world cuisine". The interior boasts high-back leopard skin booths, peacock feather chandeliers, and starfish on the walls of the men's room. The dining room floor is a giant map of the Pacific Ocean. A courtyard is decked out with a blue tile waterfall, thatch umbrellas, and bamboo furniture. One Tiki (about two feet tall) oversees the entrance to the restaurant.
Their bar, The Tiki Room, captures the beauty and the Tiki quotient of the venerable Trader Vic's and does have its own very fun, Tiki vibe. The Tiki Room is ocnnected to Tahiti via an adjoining outdoor lounge with two mini waterfalls. The Tiki Room' s most extraordinary feature it's Tiki fireplace, which dominates the entire room, and resembles the classic Kahiki in Columbus, Ohio. Tikis are used as cocktail tables and there is a Tiki statute in the entrance walkway and two Tiki busts on the roof. All Tikis are Hawaiian style. The walls are decorated with paintings of huge hibiscus blossoms. There is an excellent drink menu and Tiki-cocktails are served with fresh pineapple. All of the Tiki mugs have already been stolen and replaced with red-lipped Mexican-style glasses.
UPDATE: Tahiti Restaurant has closed.