Tag: Tacoma

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The Devil’s Reef Remains SEATAC’s Stellar Tiki Experience

The main draw for Mrs. Mai Tai’s inclusion on our Tacoma weekend was to finally visit Devil’s Reef, which she’d missed through a series of circumstances in the past. The tiki bar and restaurant remains a stellar representative of the genre, featuring a dark theme, superb music, and amazing cocktails.

Over the course of two evenings, we opened the bar and got to experience some amazing drinks. The cocktail program is the brainchild of co-owner Jason Alexander who was on hand overseeing the shift both nights. We were honored to receive a special Mai Tai prepared by Alexander himself featuring Rare Cane Jamaican Rum and perfectly balanced with some funky 68% ABV rum, shooting straight to the top of our running Best Mai Tai of the Year list.

The cocktails at Devil’s Reef have a bit of variety but are mostly rum-based and served on crushed ice. We really loved the Gilman House Special, featuring berries and pineapple rum, and the delightful grog variant called Red Right Returning with passionfruit, cinnamon, and Mister Fogg Navy Rum. Julie tried some that I’d loved before including Captain Obed’s Grog that includes spices and maple syrup, plus the coffee-forward Eldritch Cartographer. We also loved the Serannian Sling, a gin cocktail with spices and Cassis.

We must salute the bartenders who work so fast but deliver consistent quality. Generally, you have got to bar to order drinks that will be delivered to your table, and we found the turnaround to be unexpectedly quick even after it started to get busy. We enjoyed sitting at the bar for a portion of our visit, though the booths are more conducive to conversation with locals who we met up with. Be sure to check out the drink mixer for a little memento of our visit, place there by the staff.

Like we always say, the best tiki bar in Seattle is in Tacoma.

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Tiki Bar and Mai Tais at Da Tiki Hut

There’s a small tiki bar in the back of Da Tiki Hut in Tacoma that opens a little after the restaurant does. After our lunch we went over to Gig Harbor for more beachcombing and then swung by Da Tiki Hut to sample some cocktails on our way back to the hotel. The bar opens around 1:00 on Saturdays and features three booths and a few stools.

The menu at Da Tiki Hut features many classics, including two Mai Tais. There’s also a smaller classic cocktail menu that’s only available if you’re drinking in the bar itself, such as the Zombie and Shrunken Skull. There’s a pretty nice selection of rums and other spirits on the back bar and the staff were super friendly and accommodating.

There are two Mai Tais on the menu, starting with the Classic featuring Smith & Cross Jamaica rum and Rhum Clement from Martinique. Mrs. Mai Tai found this cocktail to be too dry and the rums to be too assertive, so keep in mind if you aren’t a fan of funky and grassy rums. We also want to highlight the creative presentation of the traditional “island and palm tree” garnish that was unlike any other Mai Tai I’ve seen.

The Okole’ Maluna Mai Tai is a version that was developed by Jason Alexander and served at the now-shuttered Tacoma Cabana bar years ago. This features both lemon and lime, plus light rums and Jamaican rums and is overall better balanced and more palatable than the classic.

Nonetheless, both Mai Tais were pretty good considering the venue’s scope and we do think Da Tiki Hut is a worthy destination for tiki tourists.

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Return to Tacoma’s Da Tiki Hut

Mrs Mai Tai and I spent Saturday morning beachcombing at various beaches in Tacoma, thanks to a respite from the rain. We saw marine animals, ferry boats, and all sort of finds along the beach. After a few hours it was time for lunch so we drove over to Da Tiki Hut for a Hawaiian lunch.



I enjoyed my visit here last year and this year’s lunch was similar with focus on plate lunch options and a pretty nice Loco Moco (I ordered gravy on the side). Julie thought the Chicken Katsu was just okay but I really liked it.

The interior of Da Tiki Hut remains a surprising gem, far more elaborate than you’d expect from a smallish local restaurant. The decor is so relaxing, as was the Hawaiian music that was playing.

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Da Tiki Hut, Tacoma’s Locals-Only Tiki Bar

Da Tiki Hut is a Hawaiian restaurant and tiki bar located in a quiet neighborhood in central Tacoma. I visited for lunch on a Saturday and enjoyed a very nice Korean chicken plate lunch with some Gyoza pot stickers and Dole Whip soft serve for desert. This was just the pick-me-up I was looking for after a night of heavy drinking at Devil’s Reef the night before.

The restaurant entrance is set up for to-go orders, but there are a few booths in the back and there’s even a sort-of speakeasy entrance to this portion of the venue. This room features Hawaiian and nautical decor, tikis, and even a nice picture window display. Music was a mellow mix of Jawaiian and other tropical tunes.

There’s also a tiki lounge all the way in the back of the venue with three booths and five stools at the bar. Cocktail service doesn’t open until 1 pm on Saturday so I missed sampling, but there’s a pretty reasonable selection of spirits on the back bar. Locals tell me the cocktails are just okay and that the venue has been working on improvements over time, though with mixed results depending on the bartender. The cocktail menu has most of your favorite tropical cocktails including a 1944 style Mai Tai, plus beer and mocktails.

If you’re doing the tiki tourist thing in Tacoma, Da Tiki Hut isn’t your highest priority but at the same time surely is a great option for locals.

Lobby Counter
Tiki Lounge
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Devil’s Reef Remains one of the Best Tiki Bars in America

Last year I was scheduled to do a Tiki with Ray Live interview at Devil’s Reef in Tacoma. That event was cancelled when I got COVID, so I made sure to visit on my recent trip. We arrived at opening on a Friday.

The venue remains largely the same as my last visit several years back. This is a dark immersive space, with nautical elements combined with tiki and horror. There’s a large bar along with several large booths and tables in the rear. Dark mood lighting and exotic mood music are in full effect. It is very relaxing inside and you’ll totally forget the rain or whatever is happening outside in downtown Tacoma.

Fun times in Tacoma

The bar program is led by co-owner Jason Alexander, and incredibly leans on just a few Planteray rum expressions for nearly every cocktail. We were considering our order when Jason popped in unexpectedly, as he wasn’t scheduled for that shift. We caught up for a bit and when I asked about the relatively new Ferrand Dry Curacao Yuzu he immediately whipped up an incredible Yuzu Daiquiri that totally blew me away.

After Jason departed we were left in the capable hands of Gamaliel Giron who prepped great cocktails for our party. I thought that the Devil’s Reef’s Officer’s Mai Tai was fine but it didn’t blow me away. This cocktail isn’t beloved by Jason Alexander and I guess they’ve bowed to pressure to include it on the menu, but I give a wide berth considering how fantastic all the original cocktails I’ve had here are. I truly loved the Special Dry Planter’s Punch featuring Jamaica rum, falernum, and grenadine.

We didn’t try the food but we’ve heard good things, and there’s a set of non-alcoholic cocktail options on the menu as well. The Friday crowd was going pretty good by the time that we left around 7:00, so its great to see that one of the best tiki bars in America is still doing everything right. This place is a gem and to paraphrase the old Herb Caen line about Trader Vic’s (“the best restaurant in San Francisco is in Oakland”) we agree that the best tiki bar in Seattle is Devil’s Reef in Tacoma.

Yuzi Daiquiri
Officer’s Mai Tai
Dry Planter’s Punch
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Tacoma’s Old Hangout is a Mixed Bag

Popped into this tiki bar on the lower level of the McMenamins Elk Temple in Tacoma. I love the decor in the Old Hangout and indeed it is a wonderful place to hang. There’s a really interesting set of decor pieces that come from different places and styles. Music can be all over the place.

I wish I could be as effusive about the Mai Tai, which had a strange taste from the orgeat and rums that aren’t particularly assertive. Locals tell me you’ll have better luck when working with a bartender in off menu cocktails.

Entrance Doors