Author: Kevin Crossman

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Tiki’s Grill and Bar

We missed this family-style tiki restaurant on our last trip so we ventured over for dinner just past sunset. Tiki’s is a very large restaurant with a large interior space that is mostly closed for refurbishment, along with a very large patio. We were seated right away and enjoyed some live music playing and some second floor views of Waikiki beach. Our service was very good.

Our food was moderately priced and a good value for the quality and portion. Less kind things can be said about the “1944 Mai Tai” which is served with a heaping portion of passion fruit foam, along with tourist-friendly Cruzan Light rum and Bacardi Dark rum. Far too sweet, even without any pineapple or orange juice. A plus of sort is that you can keep the plastic glass.

The interior portion that is visible is very nicely decorated with a lava rock and red paint theme that I think looks great. Lots of Shag artwork and other nods to Hawaiian and tiki culture. So, not bad at all.

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Tipsy Tiki

This is the former Myna Bird Tiki Bar location in the food court at the International Marketplace. There was an ownership change for the food court and this bar was rebranded as being part of the La Pina Cantina next door. So I was surprised to see a new name here and also a new menu.

And, friends, I’m here to tell you that Tipsy Tiki is fantastic. Our bartender Lee told us his Mai Tai is made from fresh ingredients and while I’m no Island Mai Tai fanatic, this one was pretty great. One of the best I’ve ever had. Mahalo Lee!

Mrs Mai Tai had the Cool n Fresh with Tequila, lavender syrup, cucumber syrup, lime, and coconut water and it was really amazing. We will return to try more of the menu.

This venue may not scratch the itch for the hardcore tikiphile, but I’m always ready to welcome a new tiki place when the cocktails are outstanding. Check it out in Waikiki!

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Princess Mai Tai

We’re staying at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and stopped by the Splash Bar for lunch. I enjoyed my beef skewers but felt the Mai Tai was just so-so.

Plenty of tikis on the grounds and we enjoy the central Waikiki location. At least we can see the ocean peeking over the Moana across the street.

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Monkeypod Mai Tai

We ventured across the street from Aulani for dinner at Monkeypod Kitchen. Their Mai Tai has honey-lilikoi foam, as well as Kula silver and dark rums, Macadamia Nut Orgeat, and Bots Orange Curacao. When I tried this in 2019 I didn’t love it, but I have to say that this time it was a better experience. The foam overlowed everywhere, like lava from a Hawaiian volcano, but once we mixed the foam and rum float together with everything then this was a pretty good cocktail.

Even better for me was the Fifty-Foot Pole, with Ko Hana Kea Hawaiian rum, Smith & Cross Jamaican rum, Joto Yuzu, Mango Shrub, and Ango. One of the best cocktails I’ve had in a while. Meanwhile, Mrs. Mai Tai loved Gin/coconut cocktail White Walker again, and then tried Ai’ono with Bourbon, pineapple, and cinnamon syrup. It was a good cocktail night.

And dinner was even better, since the Mahi fish sandwich I had was probably the best fish sandwich I’ve ever had. Julie’s Macadamia crusted Mai Tai was also excellent. The Strawberry Cream Pie was delightful. We had a slight issue with the meal, but our server went overboard to address it, with our appreciation. We really had a great time.

Monkeypod Mai Tai
Fifty-Foot Pole
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Disney’s Aulani Resort

Mrs Mai Tai and I landed in Honolulu and made our way over to Disney’s Aulani Resort for a one night stay. We love the grounds and atmosphere but it is so pricey it doesn’t warrant a long stay. We enjoyed the lazy river, pools, and even a quick dip in the ocean.

The Tropical Mai Tai (Hawaiian Mai Tai 1) was nothing special but I liked the Tropical Itch a lot better.

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Happy 1st Birthday Trader Vic’s SJC

The world’s best airport bar is celebrating its first birthday today. It was a long time coming but Trader Vic’s San Jose Airport has been slinging cocktails for one year now. We didn’t plan on being here specially for this but it was a happy accident with our flight to Hawai’i leaving at 7:30 and we still had time for breakfast.

Breakfast Mai Tai? Absolutely. It is 6:15 am somewhere, right?

Mrs Mai Tai had a Shirley Temple and we both had the Island Parfait. So good.

For those scoring at home this does NOT count for the Hawaiian Mai Tai contest.

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Sunday Supper at Dr. Funk

Dr. Funk is now serving food on Sundays and Mondays, which previously were sans-kitchen. So, Mrs. Mai Tai and I had a great meal along with some drinks. I had the burger and Julie had the mushroom curry, both quite good. The cocktail for me was the Planter’s Punch, but I also had a pour of Koloa Gold rum to get me in the mood for our trip to Hawai’i starting on Wednesday (we’ll be in Kauai down the street from Koloa starting on the 14th). Music was mellow and leaning toward exotica, a welcome touch we always like to highlight.

And the venue is now open at Noon on Friday-Sunday, so there’s even more opportunity to try the specialty cocktails and excellent selection of rums and other spirits. If you like the early opportunity to do the tiki thing in the afternoon, I’d suggest patronizing and giving the team the feedback and economic incentive to continue opening early.

We’ve been told a special brunch menu is in the works, which would help for those early openings on the weekends when there is considerably less foot traffic in downtown San Jose.