We only went here for drinks after dinner but will definitely be back! We're big rum fans and were excited to see a 'rum bar' in downtown.
Affordable prices with a large selection! We had the Boo Loo Drink for Two that came in a pineapple. Delicious and fun.
If you're looking for a casual, affordable, and fun place to go- this the place for you!
This is my boyfriend & mine's favorite place to escape to! The staff is amazing, the owners (Robyn & Jason) are just the best, most attentive people around! I always feel welcomed there, like I'm at my own special secret island hideaway.
Beyond the awesome atmosphere, there is the food & drinks.
First the food: I have not been so impressed by a new restaurant in many, many, MANY years! Everything is so fresh & just cooked to perfection. Everything I've tried on their menu was a mouthwatering masterpiece!
Now what you really want to know about is their stellar rum selection & exotic mixed drinks: Last count had them at 120 something different rums from all over the world. I personally am a fan of STROH (mainly in the STROH-KILLER). Jason handcrafts each drink, so meticulously, that you know the finished product be the best drink you've ever had!
If you are looking for cheap, crappy, generic well drinks- it would be best to go somewhere else. If you are looking for the best drink ever- than this is the place dreams are made of!
I went here on a date couple weeks ago. It was our first time and are constantly seeking out places that don't suck in Tacoma (it's getting kind of hard now). We started off with a drink served in a pineapple..polynesian paralysis..18$ was a bit much but it was good. We got a pina colada and a painkiller and ended the night with the curry fried rice and the ribs. The flavor was there, the portions were lackluster, especially for the price. The only big complaint I had was the sever was completely clueless about the menu..and the fact it claimed it was a tiki bar.
Bottom line, the ambiance is nice and I'll def be back for drinks, not food.
Ok, now, looking back, I do want to give 4 or 4.5 stars, but I know I am just picky so fine. 5 stars it is.
This place is cutely decorated with nice dark lighting and fun island themes, though some unfortunately obnoxious epileptic disco lights in the back room where we were.
There was also a 30 minute wait (that the waitress kindly told us about) for every order, so we doubled up on our drink order. Worth noting, there is also 20% added gratuity for groups over SIX, which seems a bit excessive to me but hey. We always tip at least 20 anyway. Another one of the girls was pretty put out over it, but she was kind of a fussy princess anyway and nobody felt sorry for her.
Ahem. We got the $8 pupu platter, which comes with two of everything and is delicious. Very nice little snack, with sliders (my favorite part), some moist and delicious chicken skewers, sweet and delicious meatballs, and I think one other thing. Came with "peanut sauce" which just isn't. It's crushed peanuts in some sort of rum pineapple sauce. The peanuts almost seem an after thought and are too big to actually cling to anything, so mostly it's just a rum pineapple juice. Still good.
We also got chips and guac, both of which were very decent.
We got a 2 person drink called uhm.. Paralysis? Came in a pineapple. Delicious. $15 seems a bit steep but it was pretty strong and, hey. Tiny umbrellas.
We also got a pineappley coconut thing called Painkiller which was way stronger and equally delicious, at a more reasonable $9.
My friend KK (haha, I can't spell your name) got a piña colada which, while okay, was pretty bland and coulda used both more piña and more coconuty goodness. And maybe some lime.
Anyway, we bought two drinks for friends, plus our two drinks and the platter and chips, and with gratuity it ended up being $60. Which is pricey but we did all have fun, and the drinks were strong and the food good.
All in all, I would absolutely return--- but hopefully next time they're not so painfully understaffed.
I am completely flabbergasted by the amount of good reviews this place has. I have been here twice and both times I have been completely disappointed. I gave it another chance, hoping my first experience was just a fluke. The ambiance is ok, service was good--however that's the only nice things I can say regarding this establishment. The food (I ordered fried rice) was extremely salty and tasted like it was from a box. The spam was smaller than a size of a pea and the only saving grace was the fried egg on top- but who could mess that up? The drinks were ok, nothing great just ok.
The bartender who wore a weird hat lacked personality and friendliness. I will definitely never return and tell everyone about this horrible place! Tacoma Cabana is a disgrace to the Hawaiian culture they try to imitate.
I live in California and wish the Tacoma cabana was my local hangout!!! The food was AMAZING!!!! I tried my friends dishes and they were unbelievably delish as well. Now onto the drinks, they will blow your mind. I honestly can't decide which I like better, the food or the drink. Which is why I wish they were here in Cali... I'll just have to wait till I go back to Washington. This will def be a "must do" on my list when I come home!!!
Review Source:Loved the atmosphere and drinks here! The tiki bar was awesome and the Mai tai got me tipsy! The menu is pretty small, but maybe once the place has been open longer they'll add more variety. I think they should add some more authentic hawaiian food, like kalua pork and cabbage. Also, the loco moco gravy was pretty bland. We will be back for sure. Hopefully they won't be out of the fried rice next time!
Review Source:Loved this place! We will be making return visits. Trying to describe this place is near impossible. Fun and cute just don't do it justice. Â The drinks, though, those things are spectacular....The names make you think of warm sunny places....and as soon as you take your first sip, you feel all warm and sunny on the inside. I was told that all their mixers and "special" alcohols are made by hand, in house. While the service is not lightening fast it's not super slow either, but, hey - you're suppose to be on island time. At first glance the drinks look a little on the high side, pricewise....until you taste one. You get what you pay for, and you know there is definatly booze in your drink....you will need a taxi to take you home if you are not careful. Definately a place to check out!
Review Source:My wife's friend recommended this place. We decided to check it out on a Thursday evening. Not busy, about 15-20 people in the joint, between the bar and back dining area. We sat at the bar and were promptly greeted by Jason (the owner) and handed menus. Deciding on pupu's and drinks we scanned the drink and dinner menus. Ordering was a challenge as everything sounded good, drinks and food. We settled on the Pupu platter, Avocado boat and the Caprese salad, a Surf Room Mai Ti and a Painkiller rounded out our meal. The drinks were big, fast, and strong so they disappeared way to fast. Â The Avocado boat sailed in at the same time our drinks were ready, great guacamole and chips to start. Then came the Pupu plater and Caprese salad, both very good with a nod to the sliders and meatballs. Round two of the drinks brought us a Golden Shellback and another Mai Ti that was so good I can't remember the name, wink, wink. On a whim we ordered another plate of meatballs, just as good as the first batch.
It's as if you just found your favorite tiki bar right off the beach. The decor is very tropical, thatched roofs, surfboards, fish tank and of course tikis everywhere. Then came the painful exit to the rainy Tacoma night, oh well it give us that much more of a reason to return, and return we will.
This is my #1 spot to chill at. Â Paradise atmosphere, excellent, handcrafted specialty drinks made with love! Â The food is amazing too!! Try the (Rumaki) Â bacon wrapped pineapple, pupu platter and the loco moco. Â Highly recommended!!! 5 stars! Â Staff is amazing too!!! Â Kids welcome until 10pm.
Review Source:Great place! There's a wide variety of island drinks made with bartender-concocted secret ingredients to choose from, all of which are tasty. Watch out, they're also strong! The food is fantastic and reasonably priced, especially during happy hour. Service is very friendly and top notch. The front section offers some casual seating as well as dining tables and, or course, the bar.
Review Source:This place will get you drunk. They have strong ass rum drinks with names like Zombie, Painkiller and Blackout that will get your ass drunk. They even had drinks where they core out a pineapple. Those were pricey but really good and strong as hell. Did I mention that this place will get you drunk?
As for food, I ordered the loco moco which is a Hawaiian favorite. The gravy and eggs were prepared nicely, but the ground beef was overcooked. I had to order extra gravy because the meat was too dry, but it was seasoned pretty well. Next time, I might ask them to cook the meat less and try it that way.
Overall a good place to hangout, but keep in mind this place runs on Island time. It takes a while to get anything here. Don't go here if you're in a rush.
Great atmosphere, fantastic drinks and food! While making my Mai Tai the bartender pulled out an eye dropper and added half a dozen drops of something mysterious. I asked what it was and he said they don't like to talk about it.
Woke up the next morning on a Parks bench wearing a grass skirt. Highly recommended!
As someone who does work for the Trader Vic's in Portland (which is the nicest, most awesome Trader Vic's I've seen by a wide margin), I've become a huge tiki bar fan.
Tacoma Cabana places a premium on the drinks and these would make The Trader proud. Lovingly hand-crafted, freshly squeezed juices and made with the attention to detail he demanded.
I only had time for one drink and went for a high end Mai Tai. The recipe was a slight variation on the original Trader Vic's recipe and was quite possibly the best Mai Tai I've ever had (I need to spend more time there to confirm).
I didn't try the food, but it looked fine. Honestly, it would need to be downright terrible for me to think any less of the place.
The decor is also nice. Not as over the top as many classic tiki bars, but good enough to provide the escapism that is part of the reason people love this kind of place.
The music was tiki bar appropriate, which is important.
The only thing I'm not crazy about is the name. Makes no difference to me, but it doesn't really conjure up the image of a tropical oasis and I wonder if that will make it less of a draw to people who aren't sure what it  is.
Robyn and Jason have created what will surely be a hot gathering spot for Tacomans. Â I work late and appreciate a menu that isn't the same old bar food. Â We had the jerk chicken. Â It was simply prepared--moist and delicious. The sauce was just spicey enough and the fruit kabobs were a nice touch. We wanted to chat so we sat in the back. Â Great vibe--feels like you are outside. Â If you want more action there is music and laughter in the front of the house. Â Great service and stellar attention to detail. Â Can't wait to go back and check out other menu items. Â Fabulous decor--will be a welcome oasis in the middle of our long grey and rainy winters!
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