4 Kahunas Tiki Lounge opened in June 2018 in Arlington, Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth. The bar is topped with thatch, and backed with four large carved tikis, caricatures of the four "kahunas" who run the bar.
We made the drive from Dallas thinking this place would be the real deal as others have said. Cant quite understand how 4Kahunas has such a high rating other than the fact that its the only Tiki bar in this part of Texas. There on a Saturday night and it was just kind of a drag. Drinks were ok. Decor was ok. I dont think Ive been to a bar that had so few bottles of liquor on their shelves and one of those cheesy neon tiki bar signs from Amazon. Felt depressing. Truly nothing to write home about. Female bartender was complaining about the length of her shift and the owner and other bartender were talking about another patron at the bar. It just really killed the vibe in a place that had little else to offer. Knocked it out of the park...more like a foul ball. Go with tempered expectations.
Tiny but well appointed space. Drinks are made with fresh juice and homemade syrups which make em the best to be found in the area. The bar does tend to riff a bit on classics so be forewarned but what they produce is tasty if not a purist version.
Tonga Bob is a semi-regular at 4 Kahunas Tiki Lounge.
September 17, 2019, 4:31 PM
Visit fairly regularly, often taking guests when we have them in town or need a vacation that weekend. This place is a treasure, having its own sort of character with drinks that rival some of the best places I've visited outside of Mai Kai itself. I'm just a little jealous of anyone that got their custom mug!
We made the drive from Dallas thinking this place would be the real deal as others have said. Cant quite understand how 4Kahunas has such a high rating other than the fact that its the only Tiki bar in this part of Texas. There on a Saturday night and it was just kind of a drag. Drinks were ok. Decor was ok. I dont think Ive been to a bar that had so few bottles of liquor on their shelves and one of those cheesy neon tiki bar signs from Amazon. Felt depressing. Truly nothing to write home about. Female bartender was complaining about the length of her shift and the owner and other bartender were talking about another patron at the bar. It just really killed the vibe in a place that had little else to offer. Knocked it out of the park...more like a foul ball. Go with tempered expectations.
Tiny but well appointed space. Drinks are made with fresh juice and homemade syrups which make em the best to be found in the area. The bar does tend to riff a bit on classics so be forewarned but what they produce is tasty if not a purist version.
Tonga Bob is a semi-regular at 4 Kahunas Tiki Lounge.
September 17, 2019, 4:31 PM
Visit fairly regularly, often taking guests when we have them in town or need a vacation that weekend. This place is a treasure, having its own sort of character with drinks that rival some of the best places I've visited outside of Mai Kai itself. I'm just a little jealous of anyone that got their custom mug!
They had a Pearl Diver on The menu, which is a rare find! Expertly crafted by the friendly and laid back bartender - he was awesome. Great vibe and chill on a Tuesday night.
This is a great place. A little small, but every square inch is decorated and worth the trip. We met Brad who is the head kahuna. He is incredibly friendly and hooked me up with some new websites to follow. The drinks are very good and balanced. They are working on getting their own custom mug for their one year anniversary. A must see for any tikiphiles visiting DFW area
We stopped last night on our way thru the Dallas area and are so pleased we did. We met JP the owner and his fabulous bartender Joe. They were both very warm and welcoming. Joe makes spot on tiki drinks and really loves what he does. He's so personable and friendly which made our visit even better. The atmosphere is like sitting in a friends home tiki bar - relaxing with appropriate music and decor and perfect tiki drinks. Highly recommend the visit. Wishing you much success JP and happy upcoming 1 year anniversary.
Excellent bar. Owner was wonderful and interacted with us. Bartender was spectacular. Drinks were wonderful. Everything was great. Bartender even made us some of his favorites off menu. When the wife says make me something good, and it happens, it is a great day. These folks went overboard to make it a great visit and a nice time. Wonderful tiki vibe, nice tiki decor. This is a MUST go!
I feel that if I were to build a tiki bar it would look like 4Kahunas! They have done a great job making an obviously new place look like what I imagine a smaller tiki bar from the 50s or 60s would look like. Nothing over the top, but a good mix of newly carved pieces and vintage pieces and artwork. The bartender was good and drink presentation was excellent. I couldnt help but feel like the drinks were missing some spice though. They were good drinks, but I think some more exotic flavors would really take them to the top. Overall 4Kahunas was a really fun night.
Tonga Bob is a semi-regular at 4 Kahunas Tiki Lounge.
July 30, 2018, 10:11 AM
We heard about this through Critiki and mentions from other regulars who had been unimpressed with Pilikia and its Tiki Bar offerings in DFW and this, finally, is the real deal. The decor is there and perfect, sort of a semi-modern vibe with well organized seating and a mix of well-understood lighting that keeps everything dim and pleasant at all times of day. Hours are great, and while it's not the easiest to find, there's plenty of parking nearby if you catch them at a not-busy time of day.
The important thing here, however, is the drinks. This place understands its menu and what it's going for. The drinks are great, and the 1944 Mai Tai I had was handled with brilliance in replicating and improving upon the recipe I remember sampling at actual Trader Vics locations elsewhere. Their Zombie, in turn, is literally the best I've ever had, and the spin they take on their drinks is a unique sort of touch on the typical recipes while keeping to the rule of real fruit juices.
It took a long time to finally get a good Tiki offering after Trader Vics died, but this is it, and if this is only the beginning in DFW, we're going to be looking forward to a wonderful Tiki renaissance.
I am so happy that there is now a tiki bar in the DFW area! I visited for the first time on the night before their grand opening. The space is not large, but it is decorated quite well. The bar has a thatched roof and showcases four interesting carved tikis. When I was there, the television behind the bar was showing Jaws. I had three drinks: the Kahuna Painkiller (perfect drink to start off the night, sweet but not too sweet), a Mai Tai Royal (their spin on the 44 Mai Tai, seemed a bit sweeter with some added fruit juice maybe? I enjoyed this one for sure), and a Missionarys Downfall (tasty, but this was my first time having this drink so I cant compare it to others). I really enjoyed my drinks! Their garnish game is really on point, with some creative additions to the usual such as a pirate ship made out of citrus rinds or a butterfly made from an orange peel. I had a chance to chat with one of the owners, who was charismatic and kind. The bartenders were great and attentive. The music was very tiki, and the lighting made it feel cozy and tropical. The decorating is definitely done well! Overall, I will certainly be back to try more drinks and soak up the great tiki vibes!
It's not right in Dallas, but not so far away....in an unassuming area.
Open the no nonsense door and suddenly you've arrived.......a splendid tiki oasis.
These folks did their homework and it shows.
The space is inviting and comfortable....once your eyes adjust to the subdued lighting after leaving the scorching sun outside.
There are several U shaped booths to the left, the bar to the right....
Great tiki art on the walls by Kymm Bang, Boozey Doodler, etc....Martin Denny and other exotica playing, great drink menu options, attentive service......
This place is infused with Aloha!
.......we were starved for tiki after several unsuccessful attempts to connect with a troublesome place in Dallas.....we feared the region was barren.....
So glad to sip corrected!
Three of us sampled 7 drinks?....all excellent. The Blackbeard's ghost had inspiring garnishes to top off an interestingly complex concoction.......
it's another 2 weeks before the place officially is open, and they're open 7 days per week!
The kahunas have absolutely knocked it out of the park! It is so nice to finally have a real tiki bar in Dallas. The drinks,classic and new, are top notch. Brad is a fantastic mixologist and great to chat with. The atmosphere is phenomenal - from small touches like the TikiTony carving hanging out at the bar to the water effect in the front of the bar - this place just feels like a tiki bar should.
I cant find even a nit picky thing to complain about. Listen to some Martin Deny on the speakers, have a fantastically crafted Brainchild or Jet Pilot and above all - talk to JP and the rest of the Kahunas. Theyve built this place with love and it shows.
TiKi75201 is a semi-regular at 4 Kahunas Tiki Lounge.
June 16, 2018, 8:32 PM
I have long been waiting for a true tiki bar to reopen in the DFW area for some time, and have to say that 4 Kahunas nailed it! My wife and I visited on their second day of business around 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon and was immediately whisked away to a lost island in the south pacific! In true tiki fashion, expect to hear the likes of Les Baxter and Martin Denny playing in the background. Drinks are crafted with care and you can certainly taste the complex flavors that are poured into each one. They encourage you to bring your own mugs from your collection, makes for a great conversation starter! Got to meet the great minds behind 4 Kahunas, CP, Brad, and Randall and they were all very friendly and shared some insight into what inspired the bar. We are looking forward to our next visit, and the next one, and the next one...