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    Chief’s Da Tiki Bar

    4.3 (88 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    Chief’s Da Tiki Bar Photos

    CHIEF’S DA TIKI BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Chief’s Da Tiki Bar

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    Mussels with crab
    Tiffany P.

    10/10! I've been a loyal customer to JJ's Island Grindz and finally made my way over to Chiefs Tiki bar/da crab shack. I really only go to JJ's if I'm craving Chamorro food, and I love supporting local small businesses. The staff are always so friendly, the food is good, and at Chiefs--the DRINKS ARE GOOD (Foreal). This time, my party and I ordered some sushi rolls, teriyaki chicken wings, garlic noodles with crab, edamame, and the Chamorro empanadas. Everything was delicious and fresh tasting. I ordered the Typhoon warning (white rum, Agricola, pineapple, watermelon, and lime). Also, Sundays are karaoke Sundays, so pull up if you wanna have a good time!

    Megan D.

    Live music, amazing cocktails & amazing service! I had such a nice time here. This place was very warm and cozy too! The only thing I was not a fan of...was the S&P wings, they were greasy, fatty & Difficult to eat - so I had to send it back, but the server was very cool about it. Which I appreciated. The Chicken Katsu, macaroni salad and miso soup were on point! So good! Cant wait to come back!

    Dulce R.

    It's still one of our favorite places, especially coming back from Hawaii and missing the islander vibes. Search no more you have arrived!!! This place is connected to JJ Island Grindz and is an amazing twist on your tropical island drinks! Careful, they are strong and sneak up on you. Coming with a group, check out their drink bowls! Service is always amazing, and servers are on their game here. Have never had an issue with food or service, as we bring our friends and family here! Sports? They show it. Food? You can order it as long as JJs kitchen is open! Music? They got you covered. Live music? They got that, too! There are so many amazing drinks. Try them all - not at once, though!

    Chicken katsu curry
    Elizabeth V.

    JJ Island Grinds aka Chief's Da Tikki Bar located in Bonita in a shopping center so parking is easy. I typically DO NOT eat at restaurants that serve Chamorro food cause it is always a disappointment...this place unfortunately proved my point! We ordered: Islander sampler - empanada filling was too loose as if they used cream of wheat and lacking chicken meat as well as tasteless, sauce for the teriyaki chicken was chunky like gravy...not a fan, lumpia was good as well as the sweet n sour sauce, shrimp patties has too much filler with the imitation crab meat and lacked shrimp flavor. Empanadas - filling is too loose and lacks flavor Fried calamari - delish Baked mussels - too much filler with imitation crab meat and didn't care for their mayo sauce. Beef kelaguen - beef wasn't the best quality, it was very tough and too fatty. Lemon juice needs to be increased and a touch of salt. Chicken katsu curry plate - ok Chicken Karage plate w/potato salad - red rice was flavorless and too wet. Potato salad was too loose and lacked flavor. Karage itself was over cooked and too dry inside. Chicken kelaguen plate w/mac salad - kelaguen was too dry and flavorless. Mac salad was flavorless. Red rice was flavorless and too wet. Beef yakisoba noodles - noodles were cooked perfectly but the flavor was overpowered with ginger. We spent over $200 in just eats. We doctored up what we could but the majority of it went to the trash. Maybe they are known for their drinks and entertainment. I would not recommend coming here for Chamorro food as it is a sad representation of it!!!

    Jennica S.

    First and foremost, I love a good tiki bar. How did I not know Chief's Da Tiki Bar existed? Especially considering how much I enjoy JJ's Island Grindz (though my sister and I always order their food via UberEats, so we need to dine inside.) The tiki bar is very islander -- from the artwork and bamboo, to the decor (specifically the couch). I am Filipino, so I enjoyed the Filipino touches, which is also a theme with the drinks and their names. The drinks that I tried were all delicious, and as any good tiki bar, they are served in decorative cups. It was slightly busy when I went with the group of people I was with, and the space is small, so I could tell the workers were a bit overwhelmed. Two things that I wanted to point out: 1.) My sister ordered food to go from the JJ's menu through the bartender/waitress, but I guess the menu at the tiki bar (though the same food) is $1 more expensive. Not a big price point, but still a surprise to us. 2.) I asked for the Maui Mule, which has muddled strawberries in it (per the menu), but I didn't have any in my drink. When I pointed it out to the worker, she said I had to specify which mule I wanted. There wasn't a regular Moscow mule on the menu and it did not taste as such (more so strawberry flavor than ginger beer), so I imagined she just forgot the strawberries. Another person from my party ordered the same drink and stated the full name (Jewel's Maui Mule) and his was made just as mine (with no strawberries). Moscow mules ARE my favorite drink... Regardless, the bartender/waitress that was working was sweet and it was no issue for my group to pay separately. Drinks are tasty, and I'm sure after a few, I would forgot about any strawberries in my drink. The music definitely adds to the vibes of the place. I will be coming back!

    James V.

    What an amazing addition to the area! Chief's is an expertly executed tiki bar concept next to JJ's Island Grindz. The interior is a total mood. Tropical island. Your slice of Hawaii on the mainland. Shout out Marco for taking awesome care of us. Perfect spot to grab a drink - there's an extensive menu and awesome glassware - and watch the game. Or just catch up with friends. The full food menu from JJ's next door is available as well. The misubi sampler included spam, teriyaki chicken, and katsu. The portion was ridicilpusly large. Can't edit to return.

    BJ shots for the Bride to be!
    Jennifer P.

    Found this hidden gem while celebrating my bachelorette!! The bar tenders were amazing, and the people were the best! They definitely showed us how great people in SD are

    Pain killer and aloha juice
    Cecilia P.

    Over the past months, I've been recommended to try out Cheif's Da Tiki Bar. I was able to see what the hype was about and was greatly surprised by my experience. Drinks were very good alongside happy hour. Although I didn't try the food that was served it has been on my mind ever since I left. Live music, great drinks, and great atmosphere... what more could one ask for?

    Justin time painkiller
    Mya T.

    This spot has been on my list to try for a while and after hearing about some artists I listen to were going to perform last friday, I had to go. The place is nicely decorated with that island feel. I had the chicken kelaguen with red rice and mac salad and my goodness were the portions worth it. I also tried their spin on the painkiller and was impressed how well balanced the drink was. Safe to say, I am looking forward to the next time.

    Marisol A.

    Beautiful drinks that taste amazing & food that tastes great! I'm a patron of JJs Island Grindz so when they opened a tiki bar I had to give it a try!! The tiki bar has a great vibe to it, loved the decor and the staff were super nice! Service was fast and the drinks did not disappoint!! Love this new spot and will definitely be back!!

    LapuLapu
    Jared C.

    Hafa Adai!! (Greetings in our native Chamorro language) Upon opening the door it's like you step out from California and in to the islands with the amazing decor, music, and ambiance. With this being my wife's and I's first visit , it definitely won't be our last. The food and service was amazing and delicious. We started off with the Aloha Juice for my wife (whom has a particular taste for fruity, sweet, and liquor tasting free cocktails) which she loved and for me being native Chamorro, I couldn't help but get the Hafa Dude (which had the taste of the bourbon but no burn at all) this cocktail was also deliciously sweet. I ended up finishing up with the LapuLapu which was another tasting cocktail. Food wise we ordered the sampler platter and everything on the plate was to die for, especially the shrimp Patties and empanadas. The shrimp Patties were and are better than the ones I can find from home, with a crunchy exterior and soft moist flavorful interior (sorry mom and grandma.)

    Interior of Chief's DaTiki Bar

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    10 months ago

    Good food & drinks and very friendly staff oh and love the live music. Only go when Bside players and Izzy are playing.

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    8 months ago

    I love this place! Food is good, monies worth. Great service! Lots of parking. Good music on weekends. I will be back!

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    1 year ago

    Great ambiance, the beef lumping was great. The chicken and beef bowls were great as well

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    Small, but good drinks, usually has live music, friendly staff. If you can catch happy hour, you will save a few bucks

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Chief’s Da Tiki Bar

    What are the hours of the tiki bar? Is it the same hours as Jj's?

    Almost same hours for JJs, they are open a little bit later than the restaurant on the weekends. No hours posted though.

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    Tender Hooligan

    Tender Hooligan

    4.0(87 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $

    Cozy pit stop with sandwiches for $7?! Yes please…read more Food: 5/5 We came in here to check out the vinyls, and when we saw the sandwich for $5.99, we HAD to get one. We got everything in it, and added avocado for $1. The peperoncini was free to add on the side. The sandwich was yum, but for $7, it is the best I've ever eaten. Service: 4.5/5 The person who took our order was so kind, offering us water when we didn't order any drinks and making sure we needed nothing else while we ate. Atmosphere: 4.5/5 It's so so cozy in here! I think it turns into a bar after dark, and the place is the right ambiance for both AM and PM. It was decently packed, and there are games to borrow! I would recommend this place for a casual lunch, a coffee run, or a third-space hang out. Amazing, no notes. Final rating: 4.67/5 (rounding up to 5 on Yelp)

    My best friend and I were walking by this place on our way to dinner and couldn't help but stop by…read more The place has relaxed, chill vibe with a wall of records against one wall and multiple seating areas. They serve coffee during the day and alcohol at night. Since we came at night, we tried their cocktails. I was impressed with the variety of alcohol choices from sake, soju, wine and mixed cocktails. I chose So Fresh and So Clean, which exactly was the taste when I sipped this drink. The garnishing was minimal, so I was a little disappointed that the presentation wasn't that great. I ordered Just like candy and I loved the candy garnish as this was a fun twist to this drink. I did want the cocktails be a little more alcohol forward since I didn't feel it very much. Service was okay as we had to flag someone down to place another drink order. This place will reopen again soon and I'll try the cocktails again. Nice place to relax and unwind before or after dinner or in the morning with your coffee.

    Photos
    Tender Hooligan - Coffee bar

    Coffee bar

    Tender Hooligan
    Tender Hooligan - Kingston and chai

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    Kingston and chai

    Kalaveras - Lomo Saltado with steak

    Kalaveras

    3.9(403 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    We went to Kalaveras for Happy Hour and we really enjoyed it! This was the Chula Vista location on…read more3rd Avenue, used to be the old Fudruckers. Parking shouldn't be an issue, they have spots in the front but then there's the big garage right behind it, and it's free. There's also street parking but you might have to pay. The place itself is very spacious and clean. They also have an outdoor patio for dogs. I do know later in the evening it gets louder and more like a club vibe, but it's not bad. Service was perfectly fine. I had no issues at all. Staff greeted us with a smile when we walked in. They were always checking up on us when we needed things. No issues at all. I thought everyone was doing their jobs. Happy hour is so worth it here. $1.99 tacos! I had the carne asada, birria and Chicharonnes tacos! While the meat portions look small, y'all need to realize this is happy hour street tacos! Adding some salsa from the self serve bar, it was so worth the price. We had 11 tacos, cheese nachos, 2 beers and 1 margarita and it was about $50! So worth it! I highly recommend Kalaveras for Mexican food. Great vibes. Great happy hour prices. I think this place is good for large groups also. It may not be kid friendly later into the night but it's very worth it!

    Was visiting San Diego for the weekend and my friend recommended Kalaveras for Sunday Brunch…read more They opened at 10, and we were one of the first to get there. The brunch buffet is definitely worth the price. The food was excellent, the service was attentive and fast and the music and indoor area was cool. I can't wait to be back in San Diego to have brunch at Kalaveras again. Authentic Mexican food, friendly service and great vibe.

    Photos
    Kalaveras - Kalaveras Chula Vista has the best Sunday Brunch in town from 10am-2:30pm

    Kalaveras Chula Vista has the best Sunday Brunch in town from 10am-2:30pm

    Kalaveras - Ceviche Sunday Brunch at Kalaveras Cantina Urbana in Chula Vista, CA.

    Ceviche Sunday Brunch at Kalaveras Cantina Urbana in Chula Vista, CA.

    Kalaveras - 12/6/2025 - San Diego Water & Sex on the Beach

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    12/6/2025 - San Diego Water & Sex on the Beach

    Casa Nori Sushi Bar & Grill - Jumbo shrimp and stuffed jalapeño

    Casa Nori Sushi Bar & Grill

    4.1(434 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Happy hour specials

    Alfonso took excellent care of us as always. He kept our drinks full and checked on us frequently…read morewithout being overbearing. Our party of three ordered the spicy garlic edamame (the BEST by far), tuna carpaccio, lemon cilantro roll, caterpillar roll and crusader roll. We also ordered the chicken fried rice for the first time. We like to pour the leftover garlic sauce from the edamame onto rice. Delicious.. recommend. We rarely have any complaints, but this time the a/c seemed not to be working too well. It was warm. But not enough to take off a star. The tuna carpaccio is delicious with a slice of mango, avocado and generous portion of seaweed salad in each bite. Plenty of cucumbers too. The restaurant was busy as usual and other than the a/c not working well, we enjoyed our meal very much!

    If you like a good Happy Hour, come to this restaurant. Food & service are great! Today our waiter…read morewas Ernesto. We had the stuffed jalapeños, Drop it Like It's hot roll, Crispy rice burgers & Creamy tuna tacos and a Lychee Martini. I really liked the Drop it like it's hot roll and the crispy rice burgers. There's lots of TVs around the restaurant to be able to watch the games. Plenty of parking and surprisingly not busy.

    Photos
    Casa Nori Sushi Bar & Grill
    Casa Nori Sushi Bar & Grill - Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini, Moscow Mule, Calamari and Pork Gyoza

    Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini, Moscow Mule, Calamari and Pork Gyoza

    Casa Nori Sushi Bar & Grill - Casa Nori Sushi Bar & Grill has All Day Happy Hour Monday-Wednesday and Thursday-Sunday from 1pm-6pm.

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    Casa Nori Sushi Bar & Grill has All Day Happy Hour Monday-Wednesday and Thursday-Sunday from 1pm-6pm.

    Lime in the Coconut - Scorpion Drink (3 people minimum)

    Lime in the Coconut

    3.9(247 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    My wife and I came here for dinner on a Friday night and had a really solid experience. It wasn't…read moretoo busy, which made for a relaxed atmosphere. The inside has a nice jungle/plant vibe -- warm, inviting decor that feels intentional without being overdone. Service stood out right away. Our waiter was attentive and checked in often without hovering. I ordered the Pupu Platter during happy hour, and it's a smart move if you want variety. It's just enough food for one and gives you a sampling of different menu items. The Korean-style wings had good flavor and just the right level of spice, though I wish they were a little crispier. The sliders were straightforward -- nothing groundbreaking -- but well made and satisfying. Fries came out crispy, which I always appreciate. My wife had the poke nachos, and those were the sleeper hit. I was skeptical about the pico at first, but it actually added depth and balance. The sauce tied everything together nicely. We also ordered a mocktail and one of their signature drinks, and both were well crafted. Overall, a great dinner with good energy, solid execution, and attentive service. A few small tweaks could push it to five stars, but we'd definitely come back.

    We visited Lime in the Coconut for the first time to celebrate a birthday, and unfortunately the…read moreexperience was very disappointing. From the start, our server was inattentive and seemed completely dismissive when we mentioned we were celebrating a birthday. There was no acknowledgment at all, which made the occasion feel overlooked. To make matters worse, on a Friday night they were out of all draft beer, which was surprising for a restaurant and bar that promotes its tropical cocktails and lively atmosphere. Dessert was the biggest letdown. The mango sticky rice was honestly one of the worst versions we've ever had--poorly prepared and lacking flavor. The chocolate cake was so dry that it was practically inedible. The tropical décor and hidden tiki speakeasy "X" are interesting concepts, but the poor service and disappointing food overshadowed what should have been a special birthday celebration. We left feeling let down and will not return.

    Photos
    Lime in the Coconut - Christmas decor (Dec 2025)

    Christmas decor (Dec 2025)

    Lime in the Coconut - Fried Masubi Balls

    Fried Masubi Balls

    Lime in the Coconut - Coconut shrimp

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    Coconut shrimp

    False Idol - Isn't it gorgeous?!

    False Idol

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    8.7 miLittle Italy
    $$

    Went here with advance knowledge of the place during our PHX to SD whirlwind vacation to see Bob…read moreDylan at the Rady Shell. Had to put in our names, as there is only so much space on an early Saturday evening. Took all of 10 minutes before entry was granted. Led inside to a standing room-only table. Lady friend got the Saturn, myself the 151 Swizzle. I probably did the wrong thing and didn't allow the ice packed on top of the swizzle to melt thoroughly enough into the drink to dilute the 151 overproof black Demerara's rum. Nae worries, brah. It was delicious. Affordable tiki-theme cocktails, decor(!) and atmosphere is why this place will remain popular and a must visit when in Sandy Eggo. Top notch!

    What a fun nightlife spot! If you're looking for a fun place to grab cocktails, this is definitely…read morea spot worth checking out! **Located inside Craft & Commerce Walking into False Idol honestly feels like you've been transported somewhere else. It's hidden behind Craft & Commerce, and once you step inside, the immersive tiki atmosphere really sets the mood. The decor, lighting, and sound effects all come together to make the experience feel fun and memorable. Just know, if you are hoping to sit down, good luck! A lot of reservations are made in advance. However, at the bar, if you see a reservation sign and they're not there yet, staff will let you sit down once it's time to get up for the reserved party. DRINKS: 9/10 The cocktails were creative, well crafted, and definitely strong enough to make you feel like you were getting your money's worth. I also loved how much attention they put into the presentation. Every drink looked like a piece of art and added to the whole tiki experience. SERVICE: 9/10 The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. They took the time to answer questions and made great recommendations without making us feel rushed. AMBIANCE: 10/10 This is easily the highlight of the experience. The entire space is beautifully designed, and every little detail makes it feel like you've escaped into a hidden tropical bar. It's cozy, intimate, and unlike any other place I've been to in San Diego. Reservations are definitely worth making since the space is on the smaller side and fills up quickly. The only reason I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars is that, while the experience and ambiance were amazing, the drinks are definitely on the pricier side. I understand you're paying for the craftsmanship and atmosphere, but it's probably not somewhere I'd visit regularly because of that. It's common for tiki bars to be pricey so it was to be expected. Overall, I'm really glad I finally got to experience False Idol. If you're in San Diego and enjoy creative cocktails in a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, I'd definitely recommend checking it out at least once!

    Photos
    False Idol - Tiki themed decor

    Tiki themed decor

    False Idol - Rum barrel

    Rum barrel

    False Idol - Back bar rum selection

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    Back bar rum selection

    Chief’s Da Tiki Bar - tikibars - Updated July 2026

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