Tonga Hut

BushLeagueJunky
visiting on
Monday, February 10, 2020
for the first time

I'll be staying at Caliente Tropics on Feb. 9th, 10th, and 11th. I hope to make it in at least once.

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Regulars & Visitors

View all 416 Tonga Hut regulars & visitors

Humuhumu’s description

Tonga Hut opened in Palm Springs in the spring of 2013. It is the sister location of the historic Tonga Hut in North Hollywood

, with the same ownership responsible for restoring that location to tiki glory.

Tonga Hut is located on the second floor of its building. The restaurant has booth seating, and a dramatic tiki bas relief wall. Tucked at the back is a phone booth with a false back, leading into a small private room with a rich, dense, golden-era approach to tiki style. Behind that room is a small private lanai with a Witco bar and stools. Opposite the restaurant side of the space, there is a good-sized bar with a tiki-tinged mid-century modern look, and a lanai overlooking Palm Springs' main drag. The interior was created by Tiki Diablo.

The Palm Springs Tonga Hut location has a full food menu, including a flaming pu-pu platter. The drink menu is a mix of classic tiki drinks and their own modern creations, and includes a flaming coconut drink and shared volcano bowls. Tonga Hut hosts special music events, with particular emphasis on Exotica acts.

Comments

deathwhistle

deathwhistle has visited Tonga Hut.

January 15, 2020, 3:59 PM

The drinks here were very strong and a couple were very well made. The problem here is the ambiance is greatly lacking. There is a room with seating and board games which seems more like a college coffee shop or a micro brewery hangout then a tikibar. It does not transfer you anywhere. To be honest the lighting seemed more Palm Springs mid century than Tiki Bar as it was too well lite. The only impressive decor in this location is the secret room and its entrance phone booth which is really cool, otherwise the decor is off point for the rest of the 60 percent of the restaurant. It does get points for having food that is accurate with tiki bars with skewers of meat that resemble Polynesian ideas.

Shop99er

Shop99er has visited Tonga Hut.

October 16, 2019, 8:58 PM

Had dinner in the Secret Room with a friend and his son.

Drinks, food, and service were absolutely top notch.

Whaia-Muri

Whaia-Muri has visited Tonga Hut.

June 4, 2019, 11:42 AM

Disappointing. I've heard a lot of great things, so maybe we went on an off night.

The decor in the main area is OK. I got more of an atomic
50s James Bond vibe. Apparently there is a hidden room that is fabulous (great decor, music, and drinks), but I couldn't even get a peek because it was rented for a private party. According to the hostess, this is usually the case... If I have to reserve the "tiki" part of the bar for a fee, then that part of the bar doesn't count to me...

The worst part of our experience was the drinks. They were gross. Unbalanced, sloppy, and tasted like diesel fuel. The bartender was a nice guy, but didn't seem to know what he was doing.

P.S. Totally different experience at their Hollywood location!!! It was great.

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