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Got Mai Tai?

Had to head out to Oakland to celebrate the Mai Tai becoming the official cocktail of the city, popping into a bustling Kon-Tiki in mid-evening. The crew has decorated the venue for Halloween using a variety of retro looking decorations including some nice pumpkin lanterns hanging over the bar. There was quite the crowd too, with lively music that made Tuesday seem like a Friday.

I’ve been pretty transparent about trying to get Kon-Tiki to the top of my Best Mai Tai of 2024 list, but for months it has been stuck at number 2, a fab Mai Tai with Hamilton Pot Still Blonde, and couldn’t beat the excellent Mai Tai I had at The Sinking Ship at Tiki-Ko. I’ve tried a number of exotic rums in Mai Tais at The Kon-Tiki over the past few months, including their upscale $44 Samaroli Mai Tai. But none of them could do it and as much as I want Kon-Tiki at number one for sentimental reasons I’ve also got to keep it real and base the ranking on merit.

As I scanned the shelves I saw an old favorite that I had wasn’t really considering all this time but at the moment made perfect sense. So, I asked Carlos to make an Appleton 12 Jamaica rum Mai Tai and it was absolutely fantastic. So much bold flavor even from a 43% ABV rum that still presented the orange and almond flavors the Mai Tai is famous for, not overly limey and perfectly balanced. It’s my new number one of the year, all the more appropriate given the occasion.

There’s no need to keep continually trying to top the Mai Tai at Kon-Tiki for now, so we closed the evening with the Pop Star cocktail, delightfully blending juices, watermelon, Aperol, and hibiscus. So delicious, and quite the treat.

Pop Star
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Oakland Resolution Officially Designates the Mai Tai as the Official Cocktail of the City

History was made today, October 1st 2024, when Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan put forth a resolution to designate the Mai Tai as Oakland’s official city cocktail. The measure appeared to be non-controversial and passed unanimously, including two absent members, after two citizens spoke tangentially about the topic during public comment.

A memo from Kaplan stated the rationale by saying “Oakland is a thriving, diverse, and creative community that deserves recognition as the Birthplace of the Mai Tai. As the Oakland City Council Member At-large, I wish to honor its creation, and the history of innovation and hospitality in Oakland, and designate it the cocktail of the City of Oakland.” The ceremonial item passed through the Rules Committee on September 19.

Kaplan was involved with the 2009 effort led by Michael Thanos from Conga Lounge/Forbidden Island to officially designate the cocktail. That measure didn’t pass but Kaplan was able to declare August 30, 2009 as Mai Tai Day in the City of Oakland, a date that was subsequently picked up by Trader Vic’s and other tiki bars as a day to celebrate the cocktail.

The Mai Tai was created at the original Trader Vic’s location at 65th and San Pablo Ave in the summer of 1944. That location closed in 1972, replaced by the restaurant group’s current flagship location in Emeryville. Oakland currently has two tiki bars that pay homage to the city being the birthplace of the cocktail. The Kon-Tiki on 14th and Webster currently features a standard Mai Tai as well as a $44 version with rare Caribbean rum. The Kona Club on Piedmont Ave recently added a 1944 Mai Tai to their cocktail menu that also includes the venue’s long-standing Kona Mai Tai.

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The Hula Hula Room: Torrance’s Stellar Neighborhood Tiki Bar

We took the opportunity to check out a tiki bar was new to all of us and ventured over to The Hula Hula Room last Sunday night. The bar is located in a Torrance strip mall but the bright logo assures you that there is quality inside, including an all-new interior featuring tikis, neon lights, tropical wallpaper, and some Hawaiian touches. Music leaned retro and Hawaiian, very much to our delight.

The staff was super friendly, though with the question about my Tiki Ti shirt still learning about the genre and other tiki bars. Nonetheless, our drinks were well-prepared and the team showed interest in our visit (“How’d you hear about us?” “Uh, we’re tiki people…”). The bar wasn’t busy, with a few groups coming in and out during our visit.

The cocktail menu features a number of classics, including a pretty reasonable Mai Tai and an inspired Three Dots & a Dash that uses Kuleana Hawaiian Agricole rather than Martinique Agricole. I enjoyed the Aloha-Rita, which is a Margarita with Prickly Pear Syrup and Black Lava Salt. Mrs. Mai Tai loved the Tropical Espresso Martini and a Ube-forward frozen cocktail. The Pali Highway Sunset is a Lychee liqueur cocktail with Aperol and Orgeat that our entire table loved.

Gilligan’s Island on the TV

This isn’t quite a must-see in the Southland, with so many stellar representatives spanning the San Fernando Valley all the way through Orange County. But we’d be so pleased to consider The Hula Hula Room our neighborhood bar and the quality is a step up from dive-leaning tiki bars.

Group photo with tiki
Tropical Espresso Martini
Frozen Ube Cocktail
Pali Highway Sunset
Mai Tai
Aloha-Rita
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Second Summer at Forbidden Island Parking Lot Sale

What a great weekend to visit cool Alameda for the annual Forbidden Island Parking Lot Sale. Lots of good stuff, though we didn’t end up buying anything. Nice to browse, though, and visit with tiki friends also in attendance.

There were a couple cocktails available for walk-in shoppers who attend without a seated reservation. I made a great choice with the Second Summer featuring rums, St. Germain, and Fassionola. Super fruity with hints of spice. Deeelish.

The Parking Lot sale is also open Sunday.

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Penultimate Mai Tai at The Kon-Tiki

We thank bartender Kriss for indulging us with a little experiment, making a great Penultimate Mai Tai on our visit on Wednesday.

Based on the rums available we riffed a little bit but this is still a dark flavorful rum along with a Hawaiian rum. In this case 1½ oz of Diamond Reserve Dark and ½ oz Kō Hana Kea in a standard 1944 Mai Tai. A little less complex than our four-rum Ultimate Mai Tai blend but still really full of flavor.

The Kon-Tiki Burger and a Mai Tai is still my favorite thing in the town. Pretty busy on Wednesday, everyone keep it going and support our friends at The Kon-Tiki.

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Witchy Good Time at The Cauldron 

We enjoyed the ambiance and cocktails at The Cauldron Spirits and Brews, a witch and black cat themed bar and restaurant located across the street from Knott’s Berry Farm. This was a perfect starter before our evening at Knott’s Scary Farm last Saturday, with many of the guests as elaborately dressed as the staff! Wearing black would be a smart choice.

The main room features ornate decor with a few special effects. Not too dark and spooky but plenty nice to get you in the mood. We were seated on the enclosed patio that has conservatory vibes and the music was dark leaning classic modern rock for the most part.

I enjoyed a pumpkin ale and others tried the cocktails with thematically appropriate names. Mrs Mai Tai enjoyed the Knotty Kid Martini that is a lemon drop riff featuring Boysenberry Cotton Candy. The cocktail even featured a ghostly apparition!

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The Lucky Tiki Lives Up to the Hype

The Lucky Tiki is a new tiki bar that has been generating buzz for months so we decided to see if the hype was worth it. It is folks, it is.

Located upstairs from Tail o’ the Pup in West Hollywood and run by 1933 Group (Formosa Cafe, et. al.), this small tiki bar requires reservations that include the instructions on how to enter, speakeasy style. There are a few seats at the bar, several two or four-top tables, and one booth that we were seated in for our party of five.

Mai Tai

Hot Dogs can be ordered from Tail o’ the Pup downstairs, plus a few traditional tiki items, though note that if you want mustard or ketchup that you have to indicate that on the order. I had the Lucky Tiki Pop with a glaze sauce and pineapple that was delicious.

Most cocktails have a unique garnish or presentation, such as the Old Fashioned that’s presented from a smoke-filled box or the Ghost of Jim Morrison where thyme is set on fire. We thought the cocktails were very good, definitely not for hardcore craft cocktail nerds but more than adequate for folks looking for a fun time. Mrs. Mai Tai loved her Elvis in Hawaii that uses Peanut Butter Whiskey and a jelly-like Cabernet float. The Captain’s Inner Circle is their Navy Grog riff.

Elvis in Hawaii

The Mai Tai uses Flor de Cana 15 aged in sea-soaked barrels. We tasted the rum neat and there’s a bold saline flavor that’s just hinted at in the cocktail. It’s perfectly fine for this venue, but I challenged Skipper Christian Diaz (ex-Trader Sam’s) who was working to come up with an “impress me” Mai Tai and he absolutely killed it with an amazing one that used Planteray Fiji and Xaymaca, plus Smith & Cross rum. Mahalo!

Our service throughout was top-notch, very friendly and responsive to our repeated drink orders. Thanks to David and team. The decor and lighting is gorgeous and music is just want you want in a good tiki bar, relaxing and retro. Lucky Tiki has merch available and really lived up to the hype. Check it out.