We recently visited the Bamboo Club for the first time…read more
They have their own parking lot, but it is small and was full when we arrived. I got lucky and found a spot right out front on Anaheim Street. It shouldn't be too hard to find parking on nearby side streets.
We visited on a weekday at 5pm and took advantage of their great happy hour, which runs all night on Monday and Tuesday, and from 3pm to 6pm Wednesday through Friday. Happy hour includes quite a few food specials, and $2 off tiki cocktails. They also have a tiki marketplace in the parking lot on the first Saturday of every month.
We sat at the bar since we enjoy talking to the bartenders. Other seating options include a dining area in front with high top tables, and tiki hut booths behind the bar. The booth cushions are pretty beat up. They also have an open air patio out back with a lot of tables. There is another dining room between the patio and the front of the house that has minimal décor and mainly has murals on the walls. The overall tiki décor is somewhere between ok and good. The atmosphere feels like a neighborhood tiki bar with dive bar undertones.
We started out with a few appetizers. The veggie egg rolls ($6 during happy hour) were good, and the sauce had a slight heat. We also had the shishito peppers ($8) which were a generous portion and had a very good unami sauce on them.
I started out with the Fluffy Banana cocktail (White Rum, Cinnamon, Lemon, Coconut, Banana Liqueur, Bitters, $13 minus $2 happy hour discount). It had a great foam top rising above the edge of the glass. It was balanced with a light to medium sweetness, with coconut up front and banana underneath.
She started out with the Bye Bye Ladies (Pineapple, Coconut Cream, Lemon, Tito's Vodka, Trader Vic's Macadamia Nut Liqueur, Shaved Macadamia Nut, $14 minus $2 happy hour discount). This was balanced, but on the much sweeter side with coconut and pineapple up front, with a little macadamia in the background.
We ordered more food, and I had the Bamboo Classic Burger ($10 during happy hour). This was a solid tasty burger, and came with a healthy portion of french fries. She had the BBQ pulled jackfruit sandwich ($18). It is nice that they have some vegetarian options on the menu, and she enjoyed it. The Shoyu BBQ sauce had a little spiciness, and the coconut chili slaw definitely had some heat.
Next, I had the Fire Walker (Del Maguey Mezcal, Lime, Pineapple, Passion Fruit, Falernum, Habanero Bitters, $14 minus $2 happy hour discount). The mezcal was a little bolder than I usually like, but it was good with light passion fruit flavor, and a nice kick from the habanero bitters.
Her second drink was the Monkey Pod (Ron Del Barrilto Rum, Lime, Tamarind, Coconut, $13 minus $2 happy hour discount). It was balanced with tamarind and lime up front with coconut in the background.
We had one last round and I got the Dr. Bamboo (Dr. Bird Jamaican Rum, 151 Rum, All-Spice, Prickly Pear, Cinnamon, $16). This one was my favorite. It is a little boozy, but balanced and lush with good allspice and pear flavor. It also feels like a generous pour.
Her last cocktail was the Jungle Bird (Caruba Dark Jamaican Rum, Lime, Pineapple, Coconut Washed Campari, $14 minus $2 happy hour discount). This was also very good, and their version isn't as bitter as most.
Our bartender Steph was awesome. He was very friendly, had great knowledge of the cocktail menu, and provided great service. He even let us try a little sample of one of his drink concoctions he was working on.
Our evening here during happy hour was an absolute bargain. We had two appetizers, two entrees, and six cocktails, and the bill was just a bit over $100.
One negative is that the men's room behind the bar is kind of gross and feels very inconsistent with the rest of the bar. It's very punk with stickers all over and it stinks.
The bottom line is that the food and drinks are pretty good, and they're an excellent value during happy hour. Service was great, and the atmosphere is ok. We would definitely return during happy hour.