Two brothers founded this joint in 1958 after they were inspired by a trip to Tonga. It opened in 1958 when the tiki scene was . But the Tonga Hut brought plenty of innovative traditions of its own to the bar genre. Like a lot of the better things in Los Angeles, you'd probably miss the Tonga Hut if you weren't looking. Home; Locations. Falafel, Middle Eastern see review. Mexican NoHo Menu - Oldest Tiki Bar in LA since 1958 . There are tiki bars and then there are tiki bars. Top 7 Best Tiki Bars in the World Now that I'm officially 1/3 through the infamous ". From bars that date back to tikis founding fathers, to those from second-wave acolytes, to brand new establishments, heres your guide to L.A.s tiki landscape. After discovering the Hut more than a decade ago, he dragged Reyes to the bar and swore one day he would own it. 25K Followers, 466 Following, 1,495 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from LA's Oldest Tiki Bar (@tongahut) The back of the mug reads "Tonga Hut" in vertical letters . Owned and lovingly restored by Jeremy Fleener, guitarist for SX-10 (and formerly for Cyprus Hill) who fell in love with the Tonga Hut the first time he visited it back in the 90's. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Its more of a restoration than anything else, Fleener says. Two brothers founded this joint in 1958 after they were inspired by a trip to Tonga. Disney theatrics, like the, , which goes off everytime someone orders the Krakatoa Punch, are even more entertaining with a belly full of rum and fruity mixers, and Enchanted Tiki decorations like the, There are only a handful of bars on Catalina, so if youve been bar hopping on the isle, chances are youve already crossed paths with this tiki party bar, home of the infamous Wiki Wacker, a light rum and brandy concoction that comes with either a bumper sticker or ridiculous straw hat (if you choose the sticker, youre doing life wrong). But this one is different in two respects. 68.178.171.254 But the. For years the Tonga Hut served a loyal crowd in North Hollywood before finally living on the verge of becoming a dive. The food menu is devoted to steaks and barbecue, but the bar is famous for their. North Hollywood. In the corner of North Hollywood tiki bar Tonga Hut, you'll find a fountain with a little tiki statue carved from volcanic rock, water dribbling out of its smiling mouth. 12808 VICTORY BLVD, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91606, UNITED STATES, The Best Tequila for a Paloma, According to Bartenders. Love it here anytime of day. Dan Yergs is drinking a 805 by Firestone Walker Brewing Company at Tonga Hut, James Ward is drinking a Feather It In by Frogtown Brewery at Tonga Hut, Kris Lamon is drinking a Winter Lager (Retired Version) by Samuel Adams at Tonga Hut, Kris Lamon is drinking a Three Sheets Rum & Ginger by Ballast Point Brewing Company at Tonga Hut, kelly mcdougall is drinking a Three Sheets Rum & Ginger by Ballast Point Brewing Company at Tonga Hut, Andres Smithe is drinking a Three Sheets Rum & Ginger by Ballast Point Brewing Company at Tonga Hut, Patrick Cooper is drinking an OctoberFest by Samuel Adams at Tonga Hut. In the 70s and 80s, when the Tiki aesthetic fell out of fashion, the Tonga Hut continued to prosper as a neighborhood watering hole. 2808 Victory Blvd Profile|Dashboard mytiki.life/ Tiki Mugs The Drooling Bastard - Xmas Edition 2022 - by Eekum Bookum - for Tonga Hut North Hollywood in 1 collection This is a mug shaped the Drooling Bastard (a crude Tiki made of volcanic rock, holding a bowl, with water trickling out of his mouth and into the bowl). 35,257 were here. NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Oldest Tiki Bar in LA since 1958 Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. Top Reviews of Tonga Hut. $$ Backyard luaus were a regular occurrence as people donned Hawaiian-print shirts and leis. This LAX-adjacent bar is a bit of a trek (unless youre coming straight from the airport), but it still attracts tiki geeks from far and wide, who gather for custom rum drinks served in signature purple tiki mugs. Earned the Bar Explorer (Level 29) badge! Tonga Hut North Hollywood, CA 91606 - Menu, 175 Reviews and 50 Photos If Tonga Hut and other tiki locales of the 1970s represent tikis second wave, then Pacific Seas is definitely third wave. Craft Breweries (Level 21) badge! And now its also in your inbox! While every tiki bar promises exotic escape, L.A.s specific breed offers paradises of every sort. Check out Tonga Hut Tiki Bars website and Tonga Hut Tiki Bars Facebook page. In the early 1980s her husband passed away and in remembrance of him Dottie continued to come to the Tonga Hut EVERY weekday at 4pm and order her usual: a well Scotch and Soda with a lemon twist and a water back. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. The Tonga Hut is located at 12808 Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood, CA. 12808 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606 (818) 769-0708 (818) 769-0708. 12808 Victory Blvd North Hollywood, CA 91606. The 10-seater overflows with kitsch, while the expansive menu overflows with over 80 libationsmeaning youd have to team up with the entire bar in order to drink through all of the offerings. Its been almost 85 years since Ernest Gantt opened Don the Beachcomber just off Hollywood Boulevard, but the tropical cocktail movement is still alive and well in Los Angeles. And Fleener, a guitarist who toured and recorded with the band, has always liked dive bars. Its one of the best nostalgic spots in Southern California. The Second-Wave Stunner: Tonga Hut, North Hollywood Some 20 years after Trader Vic and Don the Beachcomber blew tropical breezes down Sunset, a second wave of tiki bars began popping up. Like a lot of the better things in Los Angeles, youd probably miss the Tonga Hut if you werent looking. It was sculpted by Kirby and manufactured by Taboo Island. SEERESTAURANT STRANDBLICK, Gunzenhausen - Tripadvisor Enter through the rear parking lot and pass by the glass mug case where Hut regulars store their personal Tiki mugs for use when they stop by for a cocktail. LA's Oldest Tiki Bar (@tongahut) Instagram photos and videos All members delighted with their choices. Yes, Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge has outdoor seating. Small bar in the middle of the San Fernando Valley with some absolutely fantastic tiki decor, with a bamboo-ridged drop ceiling, lovely green booths and some great carvings but currently overcoming many years of decline as a generic dive bar (and not th. On occasion there are various tiki events that happen here, art shows, certain parties, initiating new Bastards into t. is my all time fave mixologist and she's usually slinging poisons most nights between the hours of 8-2. If youre looking for the best nostalgic spots in Southern California, Tonga Hut Tiki Bar is the place for you. Virgin Galactic just launched commercial flights. Weve tried to create an environment where anyone from 21 to 101 -- hipsters, old people, tiki enthusiasts -- can come and enjoy the mellow atmosphere., Where: 12808 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, Contact: (818) 769-0708, www.tongahut.com. Happy Hour in North Hollywood at Laurel Tavern First up is a gastropub nearby called Laurel Tavern. Walk ins welcome! Seestrasse 19, 91710 Gunzenhausen, Bavaria Germany +49 9831 8848369 + Add website. The decor is some of the best understated tiki we've seen, the drinks are heavy on the alcohol, the people are fun and the place is simply amazing. Hangzhou Qiandaohu Beer Co. (Cheerday Brewery - ). Mahalo! TONGA HUT TIKI LOUNGE - 533 Photos & 705 Reviews - 12808 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, California - Lounges - Phone Number - Yelp Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge 705 reviews Claimed $$ Lounges, Tiki Bars Edit Closed 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM (Next day) See hours See all 540 photos Nightlife Bars Lounges Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge Write a review Add photo Menu Find out what's popular at Tonga Hut in North Hollywood, CA in real-time and see activity. North Hollywood, CA 91606, US Get directions Employees at Tonga Hut Terry Kiminta Bar Manager at Serious Food and Drink . Thai, American, Vegetarian, Vegan, Had a superb meal with family Sunday evening. Tonga Hut in North Hollywood, CA | Critiki CONTACT - Oldest Tiki Bar in LA since 1958 663 reviews of Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge "If you took Tiki Ti's and mashed it up with a place like The Chimney Sweep, you'd end up with something pretty close to The Tonga Hut. But dont fear, the Tonga Hut North Hollywood has still managed to retain its neighborhood feel. All rights reserved. 90 min seating, walk ups and reservations welcome!. Join us on our outdoor lanai. The crown jewel of the space is a full-sized vintage speed boat jutting out from the bar. What days are Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge open? 0.00 miles, Numero Uno ($$) (Level 4) badge! The Tonga Hut Rum Rhum Club meets regularly in North Hollywood and is dedicated to the experience of tasting new and vintage rums from around the world. Tiki Mug: The Drooling Bastard - Xmas Edition 2022 - by | mytiki.life The Tonga Hut first opened its doors in 1958 by brothers Ace & Ed Libby. It still exists?". Paul Rapp), they created a menu of 16 signature tiki drinks including the powerful Tonga Lei made with creme de banana, coconut nectar, rum and Falernum, a clove liqueur from Barbados. Menu. How to make traveling through LAX more bearable this summer, Mexican Mafia member who ran county jail rackets is killed in prison, Column: Heres how the billionaire owner of the Oakland As is planning to rip off two cities at once, Huntington Beach lifeguard, a former water polo standout, suffers spinal injury on duty, Santa Monicas Headspace Health laid off dozens of therapists. The Drooling Bastard - Light Blue - for Tonga Hut Tonga Hut ($$) Tonga Hut Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. The first official record Fleener could find was an L.A. County business license from 1959, but longtime customers swear theyve been coming since 1958. But Tonga Hut beats them all by a few years. Come imbibe Escape to the Hut. Earned the Small Brewery Sunday (2021) badge! . Close as in, it's a dive bar meets a Tiki bar. In 2011 The Tonga Hut North Hollywood again saw an update with mid- century fireplace and more Tikis. Some 20 years after Trader Vic and Don the Beachcomber blew tropical breezes down Sunset, a second wave of tiki bars began popping up. In fact when we announced that we'd just made the video of it, one of our Twitter followers remarked "COOL! Patt Morrison: Is California about to lose its most beautiful train ride? Thankfully, a few old-school oases survive. TONGA HUT TIKI LOUNGE - 533 Photos & 703 Reviews - 12808 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, California - Lounges - Phone Number - Yelp Restaurants Home Services Auto Services Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge 703 reviews Claimed $$ Lounges, Tiki Bars Edit Closed 2:00 PM - 12:00 AM (Next day) See hours See all 540 photos Nightlife Bars Lounges Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge You Wont Believe Your Eyes As Art Comes To Life At This Spectacular Southern California Festival, These Buildings Were Actually Built In Japan, Dismantled, And Brought To Southern California, This Waterfront Restaurant Proves That Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Are Not Just For Kids, Locals Cant Get Enough Of The Artisan Creations At This Tiny Family-Run Bakery In Southern California, Youre Going To Love This Elegant Southern California Restaurant That Was Once A Bank, The Scandinavian Deli In Southern California Where Youll Find All Sorts Of Authentic Eats, The Down-Home Cafe In Southern California That Makes Country-Style Meals That Will Stick To Your Ribs, The Quirky Tiki Bar In Southern California, Tonga Hut, Is A Total Blast From The Past. ts. Enjoy a classic 1934 Zombie created by the Godfather of Tiki, Don the Beachcomber, or split a flaming scorpion bowl with the person of your choice. The 9 Best Tiki Bars in Los Angeles You Need to Visit - Thrillist Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge accepts credit cards. Meow Wolf is ready for Texas. Illuminating the history of this classic Tiki cocktail. On occasion there are various tiki events that happen here, art shows, certain parties, initiating new Bastards into t. is my all time fave mixologist and she's usually slinging poisons most nights between the hours of 8-2. 12808 Victory Blvd North Hollywood, CA . Address: 12808 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606, USA. However, over time, the fountains stopped working and the Polynesian heyday faded into the past. Distance: Since buying the bar, Reyes and Fleener have worked to restore it to a respectable condition. The original Big Mo is the Moai carving just within the front door of the Tonga Hut. Their names are added to the plaque as they finish all of the 80+ exotic cocktail recipes. By 2005, nobody on the staff knew how to make a mai tai. Wonho Frank Lee. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Earned the I Believe in IPA! 0.10 miles, Eat ($$) That sign is for a very special patron who passed in February of 2010. Tonga Hut North Hollywood, CA 91606 - Menu, 175 Reviews and 50 Photos - Restaurantji Tonga Hut 4.2 - 244 votes. Conflicting info whether they are open Wednesdays; are they? Blog; Top Rated; Insiders; Help; Store; Login; Sign Up; Sign In Join Now. This mug was released at the Tonga Hut New Years Eve party on December 31st, 2012. Its relaxed environment is enhanced by the soft dim lighting and red candles throughout the bar, creating a cozy feel that lets the outside world slip away into a distant memory. The Tonga Hut has changed hands over the years but in November of 2005, it was reborn. The great bartender played a joke on me and im playing along. $$ - Moderate ($11-$25) Gasthaus Lehner Zum Storchennest - Tripadvisor Cloudflare Ray ID: 7e41a705ff418595 Tonga Hut Palm Springs. Additionally, Tonga Hut boasts an original menu of exotic cocktails inspired by these classics and customized for its patrons. I came into this place, and it was all old people drinking Busch beer in the afternoon, he says. Earned the Cheers to Independent U.S. I don't believe they check if you sit outside! It opened in 1958 when the tiki scene was still going strong, and though there were a few awkward years in between, new owners took over in 2005 and restored the Tonga Hut to its original glory. For instance, if you manage to drink your way through a special 78-cocktail list within a calendar year, you can join the Loyal Order of the Drooling Bastard and earn your own plaque on the wall (which you get to design yourself). Reclining in the green leather booths, Reyes muses on the mix of clientele her neighborhood bar attracts. $$$$ - Very Pricey (Over $50). Tonga Hut is Los Angeles' oldest tiki bar. tourist carving his name on Romes Colosseum was British visitor, police say, Dream of going to space? Conflicting info whether they are open Wednesdays; are they? Palm Springs, CA 92262, Tongas talented bartenders conjure up classic drinks of the great Tiki bars of long ago, summoning its recipes of fine spirits, rums and freshly-squeezed lime and fruit juices. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. Show More. What inspired Reyes and Fleener, neither of whom had experience bartending or owning a bar, to take on restoring the Hut to its former glory? North Hollywood, Ca 91606 The history of L.A. is littered with the memory of great tiki venues: the Seven Seas in Hollywood, the Luau in Beverly Hills (just reopened by Il Sole restaurateur Andy Hewitt), the Palms in Anaheim and more recently Trader Vics. Stop by the Tonga Hut and enjoy a cold beer with friends or an exotic cocktail bowl for two, lit on fire for the ultimate tropical experience. Palm Springs. The L.A. scene was once dominated by two tiki totem monoliths, Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vics, who duked it out for Polynesian dominance. She was a welcome sight to all the regulars and bartenders. Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge accepts credit cards. And the Tonga Hut is just as dedicated to its customers as they are to it, perhaps best evidenced by the reserved sign the bar team places on a specific bar seat every happy hour for Dottie, a now deceased customer who came for discount tipples every week for 50 years. (Lets not discuss the Beverly Hiltons depressing poolside reincarnation of Vics.) ," I have to revise my original review of Tonga Hut. see review, Every dining experience here has always been top notch. 12808 Victory Blvd North Hollywood, CA 91606. If youve every come into the Tonga Hut during happy hour (4pm 8pm), you may have noticed a reserved sign on the bar. The fountain is. Tiki Mug: The Drooling Bastard - Black & Red North Hollywood Cocktail Menu. The 10-seater overflows with kitsch, while the, overflows with over 80 libationsmeaning youd have to team up with the entire bar in order to drink through all of the offerings. It sits on a nondescript stretch of Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood, tucked . (Level 71) badge! American, Bar Food, Dive Bar, Lounges That goes for the drink menu as well. Tongas talented bartenders conjure up classic drinks of the great Tiki bars of long ago, summoning its recipes of fine spirits, rums and freshly-squeezed lime and fruit juices. Tiki-Ti founder Ray Buhen took all of the wonderful island vibes of Don the Beachcomberwhere he worked before setting off on his ownand crammed it into a tiny, frenetic space on Sunset Boulevard. Earned the Brewery Pioneer (Level 5) badge! The dark wormwood walls have been stripped of the sports memorabilia; the Drooling Bastard, a Tiki god fountain that sits in the back corner, now drools but no longer leaks; and the 7-foot-tall replica of a moai, or Easter Island statue, that was once used as a dartboard has been restored to a place of honor. Click to reveal Enjoy a classic 1934 Zombie created by the. 14 reviews #26 of 28 Restaurants in Gunzenhausen $$ - $$$ German. Not sure about indoors. The 20 Best Cocktail Bars in Los Angeles - Eater LA 0.10 miles, Brick & Flour ($) Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge is open Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun. Earned the Bar Explorer (Level 59) badge! The LODB is a special group of patrons who have completed every cocktail in the famous Tiki drink book, The Grog Log, by Beachbum Berry. But this weekend marks a milestone: L.A.s apparently oldest yet perhaps least known tiki bar will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Ripped straight from Adventureland in the Anaheim park and plopped into Downtown Disney, Trader Sams takes the G-rated Enchanted Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise attractions and drives them straight into R-rated grown-up fun. Tonga Hut - North Hollywood, CA - Untappd . They have a truly awesome bar, great bartenders, nifty jukebox, and they host . And then there is the Tonga Hut! EVERY DAY: 4 P.M. - 2 A.M. 818.769.0708 | WEBSITE. Dottie could tell you anything about the Tonga Hut and all its customers through the years as well as its changes. Price Point . The Tonga Hut is located at 12808 Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood, CA. Incorrect Information? Gasthaus Lehner Zum Storchennest, Gunzenhausen: See 136 unbiased reviews of Gasthaus Lehner Zum Storchennest, rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #1 of 39 restaurants in Gunzenhausen. Online Menu of Tonga Hut, North Hollywood, CA Earned the Middle of the Road (Level 8) badge! Established in 1937, just four years after Don the Beachcomber set up shop in Hollywood, this Glendale, was doing tiki before the genre was even properly defined. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Distance: Earned the Wheel of Styles (Level 3) badge! And he's doing it right. In February of 2010 Dottie passed at age 87. The Tonga Hut first opened its doors in 1958 by brothers Ace & Ed Libby. Visit The Guide for more night-life coverage, including picks, reader reviews and a look at next weeks Halloween parties. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Tiki-Ti founder Ray Buhen took all of the wonderful island vibes of Don the Beachcomberwhere he worked before setting off on his ownand crammed it into a tiny, frenetic space on Sunset Boulevard. Dottie and her husband made their first venture to the Tonga Hut in 1961. Tonga Hut in North Hollywood, California. - YouTube The drinks skew classic, but the quality is on par with other tiki revivalists like, This LAX-adjacent bar is a bit of a trek (unless youre coming straight from the airport), but it still attracts tiki geeks from far and wide, who gather for custom rum drinks served in signature purple tiki mugs. see review, Nice and clean and Friendly Established in 1937, just four years after Don the Beachcomber set up shop in Hollywood, this Glendale steakhouse was doing tiki before the genre was even properly defined. Tonga Hut - PUNCH Experience new and vintage rums from around the world. Reviews on Tonga Hut in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA - Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge, Tiki No, Kahuna Tiki, Kahuna Tiki Tu, Tiki-Ti Cocktail Lounge The Tonga Hut, North Hollywood, CA Opened in 1958 by brothers Ace and Ed Libby, who had traveled to Polynesia and fell in love with the culture. Every day, locals gather for one of the best happy hours in the San Fernando Valley. Save. Bring your own mug if youd like and theyll fill it up with your favorite liquid Exotica! There are only a handful of bars on Catalina, so if youve been bar hopping on the isle, chances are youve already crossed paths with this tiki party bar, home of the infamous Wiki Wacker, a light rum and brandy concoction that comes with either a bumper sticker or ridiculous straw hat (if you choose the sticker, youre doing life wrong). Hale Pele - Portland, Oregon Hale Pele in Portland currently sits at the top of my favorite tiki bars list. There is no better way to end a long workday than with a $3 Cape Cod or $2 PBR while listening to Martin Denny and chatting with local regulars (aka Hut Dwellers).