The Kon Tiki is an iconic tiki bar in Tucson and has been open since the mid-60's! My husband and I try to go with friends at least twice a year because the atmosphere, tropical drinks, dark lighting, beautiful fish tank, Polynesian masks, and retro vibe are all so fun! Recently, we decided to go in because I wanted to purchase their new tiki glass collectible. It's the first time they've come out with a glass in decades! Saguaro themed! I love it! We sat at the bar and immediately ordered a few tropical drinks and a sampler plate. It was definitely bar food but, still tasty. The biggest surprise was their ribs! They were seasoned well, the sauce was flavorful, and the meat was cooked perfectly. It hit the spot! Service was great, and the best part was the people watching. It was busy on the Saturday evening we went in and the energy was lively. We're looking forward to heading back in for one of their themed events. read more

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Catching up on some reviews from earlier this year. We went to the legendary Kon Tiki on a Sunday because it was advertised on the website and their front door as vintage tiki music and vibes from 4-11 every Sunday (image attached). Nope. Modern soft alternative playing (if that's even a thing). Some of our AZ tiki friends had told us that they have had both the best mai tai they've ever had here - and the worst mai tai they've ever had here. I ordered a mai tai hoping for the former, but received the latter. While the interior is still cool - the iconic sign is in disrepair and it feels like they're just phoning in a half-hearted attempt at keeping the bar alive - instead trading on its history. A disappointing total miss. 3 stars for the classic interior - but not much else. read more

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First visit. Sonora restaurant week coaxed us in. Coconut Shrimp served on fried wontons dusted with sugar and cinnamon. Crack! Too addictive. Bulgogi beef with rice and all the fixings was a huge portion with half to take home. The chicken pasta feature was tender and worth trying again. Once more we took half home. Great experience in a land from long ago. Mid century modern Tiki! read more

I hadn't been here since college 20 years ago, but was still as I remember it from back then. The decor was still giving the tiki vibes. They still make their giant shareable drinks too. My friend and I sat at the bar this time. The bartenders were friendly and helpful. They were able to recommend and modify a drink to accommodate my dairy allergy. I ended up with the piña colada. It was creamy and sweet. I also ordered their loko moko meatloaf. For bar food, it was pretty good. The rice was cooked well, the meatloaf seasoned and moist. We went earlier on a Saturday so it wasn't yet super crowded. We could easily talk without straining. read more

Kon Tiki Restaurant & Lounge - Piña colada - American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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From the moment you walk in, the tiki décor really stands out. From the glass floats and thatched accents to the giant tiki statue and even a cool little bridge you cross when entering from outside, the theming is fun and immersive. Inside it's dark, cozy, and colorful with a laid-back, relaxed vibe that feels very on-brand for a tiki spot. We were told to seat ourselves and quickly picked a table, but shortly after, a large party came in and seemed to be taken care of first, which was a bit confusing. Not a huge issue, but noticeable. We came specifically for Taco Tuesday and were happy with the food. The tacos were piled high and really tasty. We ordered the mahi and spam tacos, which were only $3 each. There are also more "fancy" taco options if you're willing to spend a little extra. One thing to note: the tiki drinks aren't part of the happy hour specials--it's mostly discounted food and beers. I also noticed the Scorpion fruit lunch being served and it looked fantastic--definitely something I'll have to try on my next visit. Overall, a fun spot with great atmosphere and solid food, just a few small service hiccups keeping it from a full five stars. read more

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Horrible, horrible service!!! We walked in and the sign said to seat yourself, so we did. We saw 3 different wait staff walk by us and no one bothered to hand us menus or even acknowledge our presence. People say down around us and were, at least, handed menus. After 10 minutes, we decided to leave. Before walking out, I went to the bar, where 2 bartenders and one waitress were standing, and explained to them about our experience. They couldn't care less, and I mean, COULDN'T CARE LESS!!!!! I have never been treated so poorly at any restaurant in Tucson!!!!! read more

For what it is as a Staple of Tucson. Food was phenomenal! Wow chicken juicy & tender. Presentation tops! I unfortunately wasn't asked if I wanted another drink and I can't remember if my water was refilled. Place wasn't overflowing which was nice. Going back on 12th for 'Hula Haunt & The Furys. Should be a good show. read more

Kon Tiki Restaurant & Lounge - The Furys go on at 6! - American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Kon Tiki never misses, but tonight was next level! Even with the place packed wall-to-wall, Ryan was an absolute pro. Watching him craft cocktails with such precision and grace while keeping up great conversation was the highlight of the night. ​The drink quality was spot on, and dinner was delicious as always. If you're looking for an amazing atmosphere and a bartender who actually cares about the craft, go see Ryan at Kon Tiki! read more

Kon Tiki Restaurant & Lounge - Perfect burger & the sauce was on point! 10/10 mojitos. Crafted with precision and grace at the bar. Delicious dinner & drinks! - American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Taco Tuesday was good I liked the specials that they had. Service was great and ambiance was a little too dark to see inside especially when trying to eat. read more

I came here for dinner on a Monday night and thought the decor was really cute. My friend ordered the grilled Mahi but sent it back because it tasted too fishy. His replacement, the Moa Nui chicken, was overcooked and the sauce was overly sweet. I had the macadamia-crusted Mahi--it was also overcooked, but I did enjoy the relish it came with. The baked potato and veggies on the side were both great. I tried three different drinks, and while they all tasted good, the juice-to-alcohol ratio was way off. I really wish the cocktails were smaller--more in line with a standard pour and alcohol content--or that they doubled the alcohol to match the size of the drink. read more

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Kon Tiki is one of those places that clearly presents itself for what it is. It's fun, it has a big menu, and it's all about the ambiance. You go for the surroundings. It's a tiki bar! And it delivers what a tiki bar should, in my opinion. The music, the decor, and the menu that includes drinks in the style that's appropriate. Fruity, sweet, and tropical, the drink menu also offers a good amount of non-alcoholic options so that there's truly something for everyone. Even the food, which includes things like coconut shrimp, poke, nachos, and ribs, is fun. And there are a ton of food options so again, if you're there with a group there is likely going to be something for each person in your party. Go with the theme and immerse yourself in the feel of this fun atmosphere! read more

Went here on the 30th last month for my fiancés birthday dinner. service was great, food even better!

my first stop on my 21st birthday, got a scorpion with my friends and there was a roach floating at the top. super grimey vibes just total sloppy place. read more

Kon Tiki Restaurant & Lounge - bug in the drink - American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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What a fun restaurant. First time back since the 1980's. LOL! The cocktails were delightful. We recommend the daiquiri and scorpion, although the first strawberry daiquiri had a bit too much lime and overpowered the strawberry flavor, hence the 4 stars. The second was much better. The pork ribs and pulled pork was fantastic! The hamburgers are huge too. Came back to Tucson to visit family and we wanted to go to Kon Tiki since we left, so this was our chance. The service was great, very attentive and friendly. It was nice and quiet with some classic rock in the background. So, we loved this place as kids, and we still enjoy it. We're glad they are still there. read more

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Had happy hour here this past Tuesday with a large group that seemed to just keep growing and growing! This was my first time at Kon Tiki, but not the last! The inside is so nicely put together to give those island feels, but let's be real, the entrance coming in is also very cute and put together as well, already working on transporting you from your daily stresses to the tropical paradise lol. I was impressed to say the least. I didn't even notice until halfway through my time there that there's a patio as well. I think it was covered but not sure. Inside it was a little dark so give your eyes a second to adjust. The menu has VARIETY!! & at the time I came in particular, they had their normal menu, happy hour, annnd taco Tuesday...Lots to choose from, which I appreciated. I went against my better judgement and instead of ordering the spinach artichoke dip (which I was able to try from someone else at the table and liked), I got the carne asada taco and the summer rolls. Both were okay. I got the Devil's Triangle drink and that was sweet like I like and good! This is a popular spot and got very busy on this Tuesday afternoon. I have to hand it to the staff, who were so accommodating, friendly, and efficient with their service! They really stayed on top of us and kept our needs met. Like I said, I'lm go back again! read more

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Wonderful old time (60s) atmosphere. Food was amazing. Bacon wrapped shrimp and grilled mahi mahi! Wife had BBQ ribs...fall off the bone awesome. We will be back. read more

We are new in town and love tiki bars. This place is spot and had the same feel and vibe as Hawaii. Our server Stephen was amazing, the drinks and food were also good. Not sure what the bad reviews were there all I can think of is they were from people that have never even to a true tiki bar. We will definitely be back and bringing out of town guests. read more

Kon Tiki Restaurant & Lounge - American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We like their food. They do not have an ADA accessible rest room. It does not accommodate walkers or wheelchairs.

We had a huge group on Friday night and the server did a fantastic job managing all our orders and getting out everything in a timely fashion. I only had a drink since my dietary restrictions prevent me from eating a lot on their menu. I think I had the pain killer and it was in a tiki glass and very delicious. It was pretty busy for a Friday night but overall would come back for drinks with friends. The kitchen does have a paper that dictates everything that is gluten friendly if you do need order. read more

I love this place. We were back in Tucson and had time for a couple of drinks and chose Kon Tiki. A couple of months ago we discovered this place and had fun. This place has history and is pretty cool looking both inside and out. This time it was nicely decorated for Halloween. While here we had the Ancient Mariner, Pain Killer, Kon Tiki 63 and the Devil's Triangle. Each drink was made expertly by our friendly bartender, Ryan. Next time I'm in Tucson, I'll be sure to stop by again and maybe this time order some food. read more

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Had the best time here! Bartender was great, her suggestions were spot on and the drinks yummy and powerful. The food surprisingly was delicious and fresh. I personally can't wait to go back and create some more good times read more

One of Tucson's hidden gems. Amazing drinks that are mixed as they are intended to be. Not filled with sugar and unnecessary ingredients for show. The food is also amazing. Don't sleep on the ribs. read more

We met up with some friends for dinner. It's been probably about 20 ish years since I've been here. The place could use a little love as many of the decoration and interior are showing wear and age. The inside is dark, dimly lit by colorful orbs. It does have a certain groovy vibe that I actually enjoyed. We arrived and the sign indicates to seat yourself. We sat by the little waterfall which provided some much needed light. We ordered appetizers..the combo plate and the spinach and artichoke dip. Both were decent. The crap puffs were actually pretty tasty. The service and food were a bit slow but it appeared they were unusually busy We ordered a strawberry scorpion for two to share. The drink was decent. For entrees we ordered the Ribeye dinner, which was ordered medium rare, but came out medium. The taste was still pretty good. My husband raved about the onion rings! The beef Bulgaria was tasty and I really enjoyed the lettuce thay comes with it to make wraps! Overall we had a good time and the place gives off a nostalgic feel. Would recommend if you are looking for something different. Just set expectations appropriately. read more

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Vintage place including the dust, could use a good cleaning and an decor update. Food ok, nothing great. Service was good.

We went for Valentine's Day. We had reservations for 6 pm and it had been confirmed but they could not find it on the transposed list. It was found on the original but we were given seats at the kitchen door. Our server was very attentive and didn't hover or forget us. The drinks were delicious. I had a Lava You that was a fabulous strawberry-banana frozen daiquiri made with a cream, yum. Then the Luau platter with many of the starters on it. Very good. I got the steak meal with a side and wasn't told that the loaded potato [offered verbally] was extra, but it was very good. Others at the table got the Blackened Mahi Mahi which they liked and the Teriyaki Chicken which was also delicious. For dessert we got a Scorpion for two and chocolate covered strawberries that were loaded with chocolate. The food was good, service had it's highs and lows but all-in-all it was a fun evening. read more

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More like 3.5 stars. The place is quaint and has a lot of history. I think it's one of the oldest tiki bars in the US? The drinks are always good and the food is good, but the service varies quite a bit. They no longer have a happy hour buffet. I think this was due to the pandemic. read more

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FInally had the invitation to have luncjh here and it was NOT GOOD...maybe it was what I had ordered. Macadamia Crusted Mahi which arrived SWIMMING in a sauce over the OVERCOOKED fish and RAW cauliflower/broccoli ( I DON'T LIKE RAW vegetables) , BLAND dry coleslaw NO FLAVOR to be found.!! $22 wasted....oh well. I packed it up and gave to a homeless an on Grant/Swan so hopefully he enjoyed it. Now, I would go back and order the Pulled Pork that the guy on my left had...looked good. read more

We had a wonderful evening at the Kon Tiki. The vintage Tiki/Hawaiiana decor was on point. Our drinks were delicious and well balanced and the food couldn't have been better. Everything we ordered was fantastic and quite well priced. I had the Moa Nui chicken and I'm still thinking of how good it was. I'd love a copycat recipe to recreate it at home. The menu has quite a few gluten free options which is rare in Tiki restaurants/bars. The steak was tender and cooked as requested and my son loved the Steak Bulgogi Wraps. We are Tiki Bar diehards and have visited well over 30 on the West Coast. I was very happy to finally get to add the Kon Tiki to our list. read more

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All the food was cold - appetizers and entrees. Server was unattentive & slow. And one dinner was completely wrong. Party of six only had one drink each and the bill still reached $180 before tip. Will never come back. read more

Fun, Fun, Fun great for groups, friends or date night. The theme of this restaurant is classic tiki and takes one back in time to the 60's. Great happy hour! The menu selection is huge. Taco Tuesday! Drink selection is huge, arrange a DD and sample several! Even the younger crowd enjoys this place. The service is friendly. I definitely make it a stop when in town. read more

Went to lunch with 3 friends. Haven't been here for close to 30 years. Same dark, Polynesian theme. I had the BBQ pork sandwich. It was very dry. Cole slaw had no taste. Shoestring fries were the frozen kind. Meh! There were only a few people in there and one server/bartender. Food was slow to arrive. I would have liked more BBQ sauce to help the dryness but nobody was around to ask. Friend's burger was good and huge. Other friend had coconut shrimp appetizer. Looked good. I was hoping to make this a regular go to place but that's not happening. Update the furnishings and hire a new cook. Get a little light in there and change the music. read more

This place has been here probably thirty-forty years and hasn't changed one bit. A friend told me about it being a tradition for her & her golfing friends, and on her recommendation, we first visited almost 20 years ago. It's tucked into a shopping strip but is definitely its own little world--the entrance tells you that right away! Perfect classic tiki bar. The inside is amazing--grass huts everywhere! We sat at the bar & enjoyed a rum punch and a mai tai, CHEAP. They have full on pupu -platters, really awesome. We shared some steamed dumplings & our drinks, then went on our way. This dark bar & $8 drinks (some were more, but not the $14-16 I'm seeing so many other places) will make you want to while the afternoon away, on into evening... read more

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Purchased VIP tickets for the Christmas party to give this place a try. Cool atmosphere but dark. Our server was very overwhelmed (heard him also say it to the hostess). We were there for almost 2 hours before our main entrees got there. The pork was missing rice but our server never checked to let him know. We ordered the desserts to go but after 40 min we just left. The Santa's seafood bisque was the highlight of the evening. Disappointed for sure but am willing to give it another try on a night where there aren't any special occasions. read more

Many thanks to the reviewer before me who shared the photo of the Mai Tai. Definitely got my attention. First time in. Blown away with everything this restaurant has to offer. Are you on the fence about vacationing in Hawaii or Carribean? I was, then I found KonTiki restaurant. I'm saving much and applying all that money to their extensive drink & food menu. No sunburn, no standing in line waiting for flights and not contributing to the existing gentrification problem that exists in popular tourist spots. KonTiki is my fav tourist spot! read more

The decor is awesome. It reminded me of restaurants I went to,when I grew up in Los Angeles- low lighting, tropical decor, with "huts" and colorful light fixtures. There was a substantial line at the host station and no host. When someone finally came over to tell us that there would be a wait, she couldn't find our reservation. About five minutes later we were seated by another employee. After that, things moved pretty quickly. The tropical drinks were a little disappointing. We tried a Mai Tai and a Rum Punch. Not sure if there was rum in either drink? The Ahi Poke was a very tasty appetizer. But our entrees were not hot, and while plated beautifully, and very generous portions they were just ok. I had the Bulgogi and my husband had the Grilled Mahi. Our server was somewhat friendly and attentive, though she opted to have us hand her whatever plates or glasses she was removing from the table, instead of coming around and getting them herself. I would definitely return to Kon Tiki if I lived nearby, but it wasn't worth our drive to get there. I'd recommend for those who live or work in the area. They have a decent happy hour food selection, as well as a "Small Plate" menu. read more

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Food was bland. Service was ok. Ambiance was ok. Furniture is outdated. Felt like we were in the 80s.

As usual, I ALWAYS READ OTHER peoples Yelp's before I write mine just to see if I missed anything... I just LAUGHED at so many 'privileged' posts... If you walk in and don't like it, turn around and leave... don't stay, complain, be needy, complain more, then write a Yelp review. ANYWAY.... Last time I stepped foot into Kon Tiki was like 1991 & I don't think they have changed a thing since. Ha! Just teasing. We called to make a reservation. No one answered. We called again, no one answered. We tried again the next day, no one answered. We tried again that evening and we finally got someone to pick up! We made our reservations for the following night- a Saturday. We arrive. Our table is ready- in a perfect spot. Our server was FABULOUS! I mean FABULOUS. She started our drinks... the rest of our table showed up and she got the other half drinks. She let us have a few moments to look over the menu and kindly, patiently took our order. Most of us were separate checks. This lady was always making sure we had what we needed and our visit was completely awesome because of her! Our food was great. We all tried everyone's plate at the table. The ribs, OUTRAGEOUS! The pulled pork, HOLY COW! Just go.... You just gotta go! Thanks Annelise and Kon Tiki for making our night great. read more

Kon Tiki Restaurant & Lounge - Thanks Annelisa! - American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I went there on a slow night late in the evening, it was nice and quiet, I don't even remember what day of the week it was but I do remember that the shrimp appetizer I had and the braised short ribs were superb, tender, flavorful and filling. The bartender was very good and friendly and was very helpful considering it was my first time there. I would highly recommend this as a place to bring a date or friends for something special. The exotic cocktails are excellent also. It should be busier than it is. read more

Terrific happy hour with a delicious assortment of shareable appetizers. We split a poke bowl, short ribs and coconut shrimp. Bartender was very pleasant and the ambiance of the restaurant still as fun as the first time I came here over 25 years ago. I like it when good things stay the same!! read more

Kon Tiki Restaurant & Lounge - Kon Tiki Bar - American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We have been frequenting Kon Tiki for several years now. Our first few visits were extraordinary. Great service, really great food and drinks. For all our visits we find the ambiance really great. However, the experience of our last few visits have been far less than pleasant. Typically we get seated quick, but it has taken far too long to be visited by our server. Our drinks come quickly, as well as any appetizers we order. The wait time after that is terrible. We wait far too long for our dinner to be served. This last visit we noticed a table, that was seated about 20 minutes after we arrived was served their dinner well before we were. The reason given for the wait time, was that a private party was causing delay in the kitchen because of volume. This does not address the fact that other tables, seated well after we were manged to get their dinner before we did. Not acceptable. Now for the food. The Calamari was overcooked and tough to chew. The Kon Tiki Combo plate was not very tasty and the crab puffs lacked an acceptable amount of actual crab filing. The Grilled Mahi was also overcooked and dry . The vegetables were also overcooked. The only saving grace for this visit was the steamed rice, and my Hurricane. (Oh, the chips that came with the calamari were also quite tasty.) Our server (sorry I did not catch her name) was pleasant and professional. We had no issues with her. Suffice to say, we will NOT be visiting Kon Tiki again. Maybe we'll come in and sit at the bar and order Hurricanes, which were phenomenal!! But this was the last time we will spend the considerable amount of money for less than acceptable meals. read more