Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Lost Inferno

    4.4 (394 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    Waitlist - The Lost Inferno

    Waitlist closed

    The restaurant is not taking waitlist parties right now

    The Lost Inferno Reservations

    The Lost Inferno Photos

    THE LOST INFERNO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Touristy
    Trendy

    You might also consider

    More like The Lost Inferno

    Recommended Reviews - The Lost Inferno

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Great fun mugs!
    Emmanuel T.

    We tried this place over the weekend while in San Clemente & we loved the ambiance which was fun making you feel like you were part of The Goonies! We had just gone for drinks & ordered the One Eye Willy which was soo good & refreshing! Also comes in a big awesome mug! The service was good & friendly. I would totally come back when in the area!

    Menu
    Marisa T.

    Made reservations way in advance since we were coming from Palm Springs area. We arrived about 8 minutes early & waited outside. I requested to sit in the grotto area but unfortunately we didn't get to. The slightly moldy smell in the air hits you as soon as you walk in. Is it intentional? Not sure. Maybe it's just coming from the waterfall area. Service was friendly & fast. We didn't try the food as we had just eaten. We came for a drink & both got the One Eyed Willy. It was deliciously light & refreshing. Couldn't hear the music playing as it was quite loud with people talking. I'd return when in the area.

    Inside
    MinHee Y.

    Good prices and small bites! I enjoyed their fruity drinks and super hot onion rings. Partner liked the soft shell crab. Shu mai wasn't worth. Definitely a wait on weekends but ambiance was great

    Bahama Mama and Mustang something
    Peter H.

    Had a hardy har har good time at The Lost Inferno. The theme is an awesome transformation from pirate's galley to a cave complete with skull and bones water fountain and pirates treasure. Loved it and the drinks were delicious. It is located in an unassuming Japanese restaurant lobby which was so cool. Like a portal to another time and place in the South seas. San Clemente has a true treasure here and I'll be back for more. Service was excellent.

    S'mores margarita if I remember correctly.  I just wished it had a bit more marshmallows.
    Betty F.

    What a pleasant surprise to end up in this speakeasy. The Goonies decor took me back to my childhood. The drinks are no child's play. They were delicious and the food was finger licking great!!! Staff was so friendly and efficient. Such a fun place to come and unwind after a week of work. We will definitely stop by the next time we're in town.

    Decorated door
    Doug B.

    The Lost Inferno is a tiki bar in San Clemente that is themed around the classic 1980s movie "The Goonies". It is a drinks-only bar for now, so eat before coming. Their website teases that food is coming soon. It is a fairly small place and I would definitely recommend making a reservation on Yelp. If there are no reservations available when you want to visit, they also have a Yelp live waitlist. The building has its own parking lot with about ten spaces and is shared with the sushi speakeasy upstairs. We arrived around 6:30pm on a Sunday night, and luckily there were still quite a few spaces available. A half hour later, the place was packed. The outside of the building is not marked. Enter through the red double doors in front, walk to the right, and the entrance will be easy to spot. Seating options include eight seats at the bar, four high-top tables in the main area that seat four people each, and a slightly raised grotto area with one four-seat table and two two-seat tables. We often like to sit at the bar, but I reserved a table in the grotto so we could get the full experience and I'm glad I did. The interior has great décor with a mix of tiki and pirate ship elements. The walls are wooden plank, with cargo netting, ropes, and tiki lights above. The walls have portraits of Goonies movie characters. Take two steps up to the grotto area, and you are inside of a cave with skulls, shells, and treasures embedded in the cave walls. There is also a small waterfall in the corner. Scan the QR code on the table for the cocktail menu. It is colorful and many of the drinks have names tied to The Goonies. Each drink also has zero, one, or two skulls next to it to indicate the booziness factor. They have quite a few original cocktails as well as classic tiki drinks, a few mocktails, spirits, beer, and wine. I started out with the Ash Landing (Hamilton Pot Still Blonde Rum, Hamilton 86 Demerara Rum, Hamilton Pimento Dram, Angostura Bitters, Pineapple, Lime, Ginger, One Skull booziness, $14). This was definitely a little on the boozy side, with good ginger flavor and the pineapple and lime in the background. She started out with the One-Eyed Willy (Pou Vodka, Lychee, Guava, Coconut, Sweet & Sour, $15, keep the mug for $65). It is rare that a vodka drink is my favorite of the night, but this was both of our favorites. It was very balanced and juicy, and not boozy at all. The guava, coconut, and citrus from the sweet and sour were all there. We bought the mug, and they bring you a new one in original packaging. The purchased mug is colored a little differently (blue instead of black) than the mug the drink is served it, but it still looks great. While walking around taking pictures, I ran into our server and mentioned that it was my girlfriend's birthday. He kindly brought us some shots on the house. He said it was a recipe they had for shots during Halloween, and it tasted like a spin on a kamikaze. It was very good and much appreciated. I have a hard time resisting a cool mug, so for my second drink I ordered the Slick Shoes (Planteray Pineapple Rum, Worthy Park Rum, Bounty Dark Rum, Strawberry, Papaya, Lime Juice, $17). It is served in a cool sneaker mug with a flaming lime half on top. It was nicely balanced and just a tiny bit boozy. It had a nice light fruit flavor, not overly sweet at all. I think it is sometimes served in a regular glass, so if you order it, be sure to ask for the sneaker mug. Her second cocktail was the Never Say Die (Producer Mezcal, Kiwi, Lemon, Mango, Grilled Pineapple, $14). The smokiness of the mezcal was on the hairy edge of being too smoky for me, but she loved it. She could taste the kiwi and mango. We shared one last drink, the Garden of Eden (Papa's Pilar Blonde Rum, Lavender, Lemon, Elderflower, Cucumber Bitters, One Skull booziness, $17). It had an interesting (good) floral flavor profile, and didn't strike me as boozy at all. I could definitely taste the cucumber notes from the bitters. There was good 80s music playing in the background. It's a Goonies themed bar, I get it, but we would have enjoyed a few tiki songs in the mix too. There is one unisex restroom out in the lobby area. It is nice that they also themed it with wooden plank on the walls and ceiling, and some nautical décor. Daniel was our server and was very friendly and provided great service. Thanks again Daniel for the birthday shots! Bartender Felipe also delivered one round of our drinks and was also very friendly. All of the drinks were good and there are definitely more on the menu that we would like to return and try. We had a real fun time, thanks Lost Inferno!

    This giant pirate themed tiki mug is available for purchase.
    Amanda M.

    The Lost Inferno is so much fun! As a tiki bar enthusiast, I've visited this spot many times over the years and they never disappoint. Tucked back in an unassuming tiny strip mall in San Clemente, you wouldn't even know it's there. There's not much parking except a few spots in the lot out front and on the street. I highly recommend reservations if you're planning to visit. This Goonies themed spot transports you to a dark pirate ship with photos of characters from the 80s movie adorning the walls. The drinks are always top notch and the service quick and friendly. No food available so plan accordingly. So much fun to bathe in nostalgia while sipping on a drink that they light on fire right in front of you!

    Felina V.

    Goonies never say die! The Lost Inferno is such a rad spot, perfect for tiki nerds and Goonies-lovers alike. Go for the perfect theming, stay for some seriously well-crafted cocktails. Service was great, even on a busy weekend. And of course the ambiance is like kicking it with One-Eyed Willie himself.

    The bar
    Brett L.

    Love this place! It's a fun tiki bar themed around The Goonies. It's so much fun and I really like that the started serving food. The sliders e had were FANTASTIC! Didn't even get pictures we ate them too fast. Love the drinks and mugs they're served in. Our friends from out of town were so happy we took them here. It was such a fun time!

    Chester Copperpot
    Leonardo W.

    Ambiance: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Food: n/a Drinks: 4/5 Price: 4/5 Parking: 4/5 Friendly, welcoming, and a team who went above and beyond! We visited on a Saturday evening with a reservation. The theming was nostalgic and incredibly on point for die hard "Goonie's" fans. Daniel was primarily who helped us, and he did fantastic. Ryan made us his own creation, and it was so personable for him to bring the drink over and talk about it with us. Only wish there were some small bites on the menu to compliment the strongly crafted cocktails. Loved the experience and can't wait to visit again down the road!

    Inside the tiki room.
    Bruce C.

    The Lost Inferno is a good neighborhood tiki bar. You have to look to find it. But once you do, it is a small establishment with servers who are happy to help you decide what drinks you might like. We came during a slow season and did not need a reservation at 5:00. My Navy Grog was a bit too citric for my preference, and the server graciously gave me some simple syrup upon my request. While they do not serve food, we were told we could bring in food from other places. Next time, we will probably bring something in from Sonny's which is almost next door. I was impressed with the large number of different rums which they have on site.

    Seven H.

    Loved the pirate goonies vibes! Drinks were great. Would recommend doing a reservation than a walk in!

    Goonies era fans
    Tom Z.

    We had a great time here. We scheduled this in advance (they are pretty booked), so it's not really a last-minute thing, but it was a great visit for some drinks after dinner. It's a little challenging to find it, it's located inside a sushi restaurant. But look for the tikis outside, and you'll know you're at the right place. The bar is creatively decorated in the tiki/goonies style. The QR code menu had plenty of drink choices. Drinks are a bit pricey, but it's kind of a destination rather than a place to go to drink a lot. It would have been nice if they had some dessert options like a slice of cake or something. We would definitely come back next time we are in San Clemente

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ananda Y.
    298
    31
    4

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Betty F.
    39
    72
    116

    15 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 4
    Love this 10
    Oh no 1

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Nancy M.

    Nancy M.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brett L.
    100
    118
    115

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Nancy M.

    Nancy M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tom Z.
    71
    105
    210

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 8
    Love this 13
    Oh no 2

    26 days ago

    Excellent Vibe, Cocktails, Food and Service! Love the Goonies theme! We'll be back soon!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Nancy M.

    Nancy M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jason T.
    145
    37
    10

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Nancy M.

    Nancy M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Asked for my I.D twice to tell me it's fake. When it wasn't. Place was a 5 star but the guy made it a 1 star . Almost made me leave

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - The Lost Inferno

    Do you have any Gluten Free food options or anything that can be modified for those with a Gluten allergy/Celiac?

    Absolutely! Just let your server know and they'll rundown the options for you. We can protein wrap our sliders, the musubi tacos can be made with different sauces, and you'll have options for the shareable as well!

    Where's the best place to sit? I have reservations for the grotto but is there a better place to sit?

    Depends on the experience you are looking for. I haven't sat in the grotto yet, but I imagine it's like sitting in the caves the Goonies went through. I think it's a nice experience no matter where you sit.

    Do you have mocktails?

    Yes and the menu is growing!

    Do you guys have happy hours?

    Yup! Wednesday to Friday from open until 6PM.

    Is it 21+? Or can a 20 yr old enter without drinking?

    Hi! We are currently 21+ only at this time.

    Are children allowed?

    Hi! Not at the moment, but once we have our kitchen up and running we are looking to allow children for the day time on weekends!

    Are dogs allowed?

    I don't know for absolute certain but I'm pretty sure the answer is no.

    We have reservations in the grotto, can we order food there also?

    I don't believe they have added food to their menu yet. Plan to eat somewhere else before or after.

    Is there any food here?

    We have food upstairs at our speakeasy - Momoku No Usagi. We are almost ready to serve food, but not quite yet. You're most welcome to bring food in. We recommend Sonny's or Pizza Port nearby.

    View All 10 Questions

    You might also consider

    Stowaway

    Stowaway

    4.5
    (814 reviews)
    24.3 mi
    $$

    Definitely recommend reservations and parking can be tight. I recommend parking behind the…read morebuilding. (Update: the staff was very nice and let me know that the other side might tow on weekends!) Even though I don't drink alcohol, I thought it was very cool with the Hawaiian themes and there were so many cool cocktails. Apparently there's a speakeasy in this bar too. The food was very good as we got burgers, sandwiches, onion rings and ice cream. Our servers were very nice and attentive. Food came out quickly and it wasn't too loud. No complaints and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a nice to place to eat and drink.

    Stowaway has the near perfect blend of high end tiki mixed with what I call the "brewers dive bar"…read more Disguised in a dumpy looking strip mall is one of the better tiki experiences I have had. Is it as high end and bougie as Strong Water? No. Does it tickle your fancy and offer a wonderful experience that even your kids can enjoy? Absolutely! Kids- yes they are welcome. In fact mine had the time of their life. Just don't be those parents and bring them after 7. It is a tiki bar after all and unless they follow the rules of Arrested Development then let them chill at home with grandma and grandpa or maybe their weird Uncle Joe. Drink- Delightful. Very fun themed glassware. Presentations were beautiful and well thought out. Our server did a great job at recommending drinks that built on top of the previous one. Food- the weakest part of the experience. While certainly not bad however when compared to the rest of the experience it just was a bit lacking. The Loco Moco looked very nice. The patty was quite dry though. Yes there's gravy but that's not an excuse for a dry patty. Mac salad was very nice. Stowaway fries were fun and tasty. It is smothered in gravy so be prepared to lose the crispy fries about halfway into the dish. All in all I (and my wife and kids(before7) and weird Uncle Joe) will be back.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Pokebombs
    Pokebombs
    Stowaway Fries $17

    See all

    Stowaway Fries $17
    Hapa J's

    Hapa J's

    4.1
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Was in town for a wedding and decided to give this place a try…read more If I could give more stars I would. Delicious! I've never had a Spam tempura and now that's all I want from now on! The bar area was cute and TV's playing sports games. We were seated quick, our food came just as quick and left with full happy bellies. Will comeback when craving a Spam Musubi and in the area!

    Went here for date night last week- it has a lot more seating inside than I had expected!…read more Good service- 5/5 The ambience - 3.5/5 - the ambience wasn't my favorite, maybe it's a little better in their main restaurant area but we were seated to the left when you walk in and while there are a few booths in that area it was mostly outdoor chairs and tables and sort of odd lighting. Just very very casual and not totally comfortable. Food- 3.4/4 out of 5 - I got the Luau plate and LOVED the chicken!! Everyone else was right- that chicken thigh deserves its own plate. I also really enjoyed the coconut pudding/jello thing that came with it and the sausage link. The pulled pork was just okay, not very well seasoned but not bad. The side of "dressed greens" was just some lettuce without dressing on it, and I thought the macaroni salad was fine. The last thing that really disappointed me were the sautéed veggies :/ they were just soo oily and had no seasoning to them at all. I didn't eat any of them or the un-dressed 'salad'. My husband got the chicken katsu plate, he said the chicken katsu was fine but the fries on the side were cold and not crispy, they were kind of chalky in the mouth and didn't taste fresh. Some parts were definitely a 3/5 but my chicken thigh was so good and the portions are *huge* so I feel like they deserve a 4/5? All in all, I think I'd come back if I wanted to go out with someone but save some money and we'd split one of the plates (the portions really are huge).

    Photos
    DA BIG MIXED PLATE
    DA BIG MIXED PLATE
    Feeling the Aloha at Hapa J's
    Feeling the Aloha at Hapa J's
    OLD SCHOOL MAITAI

    See all

    OLD SCHOOL MAITAI
    Belly of the Beast

    Belly of the Beast

    4.4
    (160 reviews)
    24.3 mi

    Love this place. Nice service, nice food, very interesting…read moredrinks. But they had not fix the Lorem ipsum text on menu =p

    (Drank/Snacked 06/27/2026 SA @ 10:00pm): This was a monstro feat as we all ended up in a beast of a…read morewhale's belly for drinks! After our party of six chatted over cocktails and preyed on pupus, we moved to a "secret" room tucked in the back of Stowaway and walked into a Belly Of The Beast. The founders and co-owners of Stowaway, Leonard Chan and Dominic Iapello, created this extension to the tiki bar with a wildly interesting Pinocchio theme and the famed encounter with Monstro the whale all the while serving the same offerings in Stowaway but with also an exclusive limited menu just for this adventure. With its proximity to Disneyland and its Enchanted Tiki Room, with the very niche underground-like society of tiki culture they found a consistent customer base and the thrill of island escapism through colorful cocktails, pleasurable pupus, tropical trimmings, and nostalgic know-how. How would my belly handle the beastly drinks concocted here!? PURCHASE(S) Gepetto's Last Words ($16.00): Intrigued by the cocktail's name, this elixir was crafted with Fid Street Gin, tangerine, creme de violette, lemon, and cucumber, it was a citrusy refreshing sweet drink that was decorated with bright yellow petals. It was nice, but for whatever reason it just didn't quite hit the spot. [ONION RINGS/STRAWS/STRINGS ALERT - 4.0 of 5.0 STARS] Onion Rings ($9.00): A decent portion with rings of medium to large sizes, these were hot, dark golden browned, crunchy, and had a slight tendency to crumble when bitten into while the onion ring (sweet Maui!) rarely pulled out at times. They were lightly oily while the catsup wasn't needed but used. SERVICE While in Stowaway, we informed our male server to let us know when we were allowed to enter the belly. Once inside and situated, we had the place and bartender to ourselves. After we all perused the menu, we placed our orders, and everything arrived within ten minutes. The rest of the time was spent chatting, picture taking, and our bartender checked in on us also giving a Dole Whip taster. All was casual, chill, and somewhat on island time - aloha and mahalo! PARKING (FREE): They shared a medium-sized private lot with several other businesses who were closed at this time with plenty of spots - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE "Hidden" inside Stowaway which was located within a strip mall, the entire theme was based on the Pinocchio story, the interlude in time spent inside Monstro, and as we entered it felt like the beginning of the Disneyland "Storybook" ride as you road a canal boat into the mouth and sharp teet of a whale. There were several marionettes (appropriate and non-appropriate) that hung from the ceiling and belly walls, along with other Disneyesque memorabilia, a few sitting booths, and a tiny bar at the end of the roo. No natural lighting whatsoever while an assortment of extremely low-lit electric lights and table candles glowed. There were no TVs while I couldn't recall any background music. ATTIRE Although I was actually dressed appropriately for the occasion in an aloha shirt, linen pants, and flip-flops, this place was totally casual, so a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops would suffice. OVERALL Belly Of The Beast was an adventurous fun evening with friends, it left me feeling childlike with the need to watch "Pinocchio", and I couldn't wait to return to try more of their awesome-soundling elixirs. I generally loved all-things Disneyana, and this new wrinkle, albeit probably not approved by the mouse ears brass, caught my fancy. My one drink was tasty but just didn't hit the right spot, the onion rings were very good, the prices were a tad elevated, the atmosphere was awesome, and the service was friendly and professional. They had an extremely limited menu, and there was some doubt whether or not ordering from the Stowaway menu was an option. Plus, I always preferred to support small local mom & pop businesses. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $27.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

    Photos
    A shot of the entire speakeasy.
    A shot of the entire speakeasy.
    Coconut shrimp
    Coconut shrimp
    Small place inside Stowaway.. floor can get wet when it's raining

    See all

    Small place inside Stowaway.. floor can get wet when it's raining
    Royal Hawaiian

    Royal Hawaiian

    3.9
    (398 reviews)
    12.8 mi

    My husband and I have a tradition of having dinner somewhere in Laguna Beach before heading to the…read morePageant of the Masters every year. This year we decided to try Royal Hawaiian, and I'm really glad we did. The tiki atmosphere was fun, the drinks were great, and the service was excellent. My husband ordered the steak, I had the pork chops, and we decided to try the Royal Hawaiian fries with the fried egg. It sounded a little different, but they were actually really good! We even saved room for dessert, and it didn't disappoint. Overall, we had a great experience from start to finish. If you're looking for a fun place with good food, good drinks, and great service, I'd definitely recommend Royal Hawaiian. We'll definitely keep it in mind for one of our future Laguna nights before the show.

    The atmosphere was great. Reservations are required for dining, and I'd recommend arriving early to…read morefind street parking. Food and drinks were excellent, and the staff was friendly overall. Our waitress was a bit slow, though, even though it wasn't busy during our 3:30 p.m. "Linner" reservation. I ordered the Curry Pineapple Fried Rice, which comes with homemade portuguese sausage and shrimp. Because of a shellfish allergy, I asked if the shrimp could be modified to chicken without cross-contamination. The kitchen confirmed it could, so that's what I ordered. It was delicious and I'd recommend it. What disappointed me was the lack of communication and being charged an extra $6.95 to "add chicken." I didn't add anything--I substituted a less expensive protein due to a shellfish allergy. If I would have known, I would have ordered something else. The waitress should have mentioned that there would be an added charge to modify. Cons: no parking, slower service and possible hidden costs without warnings Pros: great atmosphere, food and drinks.

    Photos
    Entryway
    Entryway
    Spam Musubi
    Spam Musubi
    Interior

    See all

    Interior
    Twisted Tiki

    Twisted Tiki

    4.4
    (367 reviews)
    26.4 mi
    $$
    Private events
    Happy hour specials

    Had a great experience at Twisted Tiki! The bartender was incredibly personable and made us feel…read morewelcome from the moment we sat down. I can't remember his name, but he mentioned he was from Virginia, and his friendly service really stood out. The tiki drinks were delicious and had a beautiful presentation--almost too pretty to drink! Their happy hour is a fantastic value, and we also tried the chicken skewers, which were very tasty. The tiki-themed decor is fun, colorful, and adds to the overall atmosphere. Between the great drinks, good food, and excellent service, we'll definitely be back. Highly recommend checking it out!

    This was my first time at Twisted Tiki, and I really wanted to like it because I love tiki bars…read more It's a fun little place, and we enjoyed the two drinks we ordered. They were both tasty. I ordered the Zombie, which was really good and came with a cool zombie hand. We also had a nice time talking with the bartenders. Unfortunately, the air conditioning wasn't working that night, and it was really hot inside. We sat in the corner at the bar, and one of the bartenders was nice enough to turn the fan on the bar toward us. I appreciated the effort, but at that point it was basically just moving warm air around. We also ordered French fries, but they never came. We asked about them and were told the kitchen might be backed up. After we finished our drinks, we were ready to leave because of the heat, so we asked about the fries again. They went to check, but there still wasn't an answer as to when they'd arrive, so we canceled the order. I don't want to be too hard on the place because the drinks were good, the bartenders were friendly, and the broken AC may have just been an unfortunate situation that night. We actually went to Twisted Tiki because Mission Control wasn't quite what we remembered, so I'm not sure I would make a special trip just for Twisted Tiki based on this visit. That said, we're fans of tiki bars, so if we're in the area again, we'll definitely give it another try. Hopefully the AC is working and the French fries make it to the table next time!

    Photos
    Twisted Tiki
    Twisted Tiki
    Twisted Tiki

    See all

    The Grass Skirt

    The Grass Skirt

    4.1
    (1.4k reviews)
    48.6 mi
    $$

    Although I am not the biggest fan of the new drinks, the staff was and is always incredible. The…read moreambiance, Henry, and Mike are the reason why we keep coming back. Thanks so much guys, you're awesome!

    The Grass Skirt in Pacific Beach is a fantastic tiki bar. This place is everything you'd want in a…read morelegit tiki experience. They pay attention to details which is why you feel like you're in a Hawaiian cave somewhere or in the Hawaii episode of the Brady Bunch . We tried a number of their signature recipes. I started off with "Boozin Susan's World Famous Chi Chi". It's a frozen vodka cocktail that tastes like vacation. The vodka is complemented with pineapple, coconut, lime, Demerara syrup and cinnamon. It was a perfect recipe when you think about tiki. (Pic 2) We also tried "Hella Missionary" which is another frozen cocktail with tequila, mezcal, adobo-spiced honey, pineapple, lime and mint. It's the blended mint that makes it green. It was quite tasty with a very fun crazy straw. (Pic 4). We had some bonus fun with a signature shot called "OJ Did It". It was a delicious add to the vibe with vodka, liquor 43, coconut and orange juice. (Pic 7). I couldn't remember what pic 6 is but it was tasty. Maybe it's "OOO-BAE I Love You So". It starts with rhum agricole, salted cream, pineapple, cinnamon, macadamia nut and toasted coconut flakes. I could be totally wrong so oh well. The Grass Skirt is always a great idea if you're in the PB area when in San Diego. Go check them out. Salute @thejohnnycocktail

    Photos
    Tuna Tartar cones. Incredible!
    Tuna Tartar cones. Incredible!
    Pele's Inferno
    Pele's Inferno
    G.S. Martini

    See all

    G.S. Martini
    Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

    Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

    3.9
    (2.5k reviews)
    31.7 mi
    $$$

    This review is for the Trader Sam's mixology seminar. I haven't visited during regular hours yet…read more The inside of Trader Sam's was closed for a few months for renovations earlier this year. They have mixology seminars periodically, and I snagged spots for a friend and me a few days after they reopened. The cost is ~$180 per person and it is held inside the main bar area. They will also validate your parking. Arrive at least fifteen minutes before the start time at the check-in sign near the entrance. When it's time to enter, grab any available seat at the bar or any of the tables. Everything for making the drinks is set up ahead of time. You mix and garnish a cocktail and a mocktail. Kelly Merrell who is well known in tiki/cocktail circles guided the seminar. For an introductory mixology seminar, the format was great with a lot of basic cocktail education and interaction with the attendees. I've been making cocktails at home for a while and even picked up some helpful tips. The "Barrel of Mischief" cocktail we made had six different spirits, which was perfect for describing the different characteristics and some background on each. After mixing up the cocktail, you garnish it however you like from various options provided. The cocktail was very good. Even with all those different spirits, it was very balanced and not boozy and had some complexity. We also made a basic mocktail with lemon, simple syrup, and elderberry tonic. It was even garnished with a cute Mickey Mouse cucumber slice. Apparently, bars have been paying a lot more attention to mocktails lately, which is great for people who don't drink but still want to get the same experience. Once the seminar inside has completed, there is a reception for attendees across from the entrance in the Tangaroa Terrace outdoor patio area. The area was reserved and has tables, a large fireplace, and live music. We were served ahi tuna bites, Hawaiian fried rice, and a Taiyaki waffle fish filled with ice cream. We were also served a Miehana cocktail. Kelly and other Trader Sam's staff mingled with guests. Each attendee also received a Trader Sam's 15th anniversary mug a few weeks before its general release. I had a great time, learned a few tips, and I finally got to see the inside of Trader Sam's. Since reopening, they are now walk-in/waitlist only and no reservations, and they said it's actually easier to get in now. I'm looking forward to returning during regular hours for food and cocktails.

    Wait time wasn't bad, even after we asked to change our seating from outside to inside…read more The staff was able to make suggestions to our party due to a nut allergy, as all of the listed mocktails included almond. Fun experience overall, with amazing decor.

    Photos
    Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar
    Hawaiian Burger ...
    Hawaiian Burger ...
    Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

    See all

    The Lost Inferno - tikibars - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...