Post #5956 by BC-Da-Da on Thu, Aug 15, 2002 1:35 AM

Where once was the great Kelbo's in West L.A. sat, now lies another strip bar that still has some resemblences to it's Tiki Era glory (a picture from the outside will suffice).

I too have never ventured into the Tiki Theatre, but have been tempted many times. Another one to avoid is the Tonga Hut on Victory Blvd. While the sign is okay and the door tiki outside is totally genius, inside it is the worst.

I'm not saying it has to look like it did in the '60s... I understand that these guys don't care about Tiki and thirty-forty years later, while we are rediscovering it, they are simply burned out of it. But, the Tonga Hut is really disgusting. Many of the regulars there are drunk by 2 in the afternoon. By night, it can be violent, with drunks cussing at the newcomers.

The owner is always drunk too, but he gave me his original drink recipes to borrow one night (while he was smashed out of his mind). That is an eternal loan, mind you, because he doesn't need 'em back. He isn't using them.

The Tiki Ti is still the best place in L.A. for drinks, but the Lava Lounge is really god too, and the music is always very hip. The Tahitian, next to the Writer's Guild on 3rd St., is okay. They have a Gilligan's Island night on Wednesday's. I've never been to it, though, so I can't comment. I usually alternate Wednesday's between the Lava Lounge (Blue Hawaiians play) and Cantor's on Fairfax.

Anyone visited the Cacao on Santa Monica Blvd.? I've heard it is a Tiki coffee house (tiki without liquor = boring, I know). A place called the Chinese Island, up near Magic Mountain, still serves drinks in tiki mugs. Happy hunting. Welcome to L.A.