Tonga Hut

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

Stephanie

Stephanie has visited Tonga Hut.

April 7, 2018, 11:04 PM

I visited Tonga Hut for my birthday and had a wonderful time. I sat at the bar and was served by the friendly bartender who was attentive and kind. My first drink was the �Kraken the Dole Whip� which was very sweet but thoroughly enjoyable. I also had the �Mojave Punch� which I wouldn�t recommend as well as the Pi Yi which was also sweet but tasty (and who doesn�t enjoy a drink served in a pineapple?). The bartender also gave me a �chocolate cake shot� which was very generously sized and interesting! I also enjoyed a chicken egg roll and the popcorn chicken, which were both very tasty and complimented the drink menu well. I met some fellow tiki-philes during my visit which made it all the more enjoyable. The decor was very mid century modern and not quite as tiki as some other establishments. Overall I really enjoyed spending my birthday at the Tonga Hut and would recommend it to others!

Mahalomo

December 29, 2017, 9:42 PM

So I've been three times and waited to review until my third to see if my first 2 visits were a fluke. Unfortunately they weren't. The decor here is good, but the drinks are awful! The menu claims the mai tai is based on Vic's original recipe, but tastes like rose's lime juice, water, and high fructose. Ouch. Last time I had a Navy Grog which was equally bad. My wife had a Honi Honi and while it was better than my mai tai, she said it was only because the bourbon covered the rose's lime juice flavor better. Head to Bootlegger for infinitely better drinks!

TikiFunk

TikiFunk is a semi-regular at Tonga Hut.

October 25, 2017, 8:11 PM

Went twice during last weekend, for dinner and drinks. Really a nice laid back tiki bar . The staff is very very friendly. The food is top notch. I'd recommend the flaming PuPu platter ... very tasty and great theater. The decoration is very much mod Tiki, great Witco pieces, a few Moai, but without the typical bamboo draping all exposed surfaces. The drinks are good, definitely much better than Tonga Hut in Los Angeles. The Mai Tai and the Chai Tai were the best. The others, the pineapple Pi Yi and coconut Tiki Tastic were average or a bit better than average. They've got great seating ....inside and out on the balcony. The music was so-so, with no consistent theme... 50's pop and surf all mixed together. The music was much more "Tiki" at Bootleggers.
Overall Grade: A Solid A

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