HALA KAHIKI: Take a Tiki Time Machine Back to 1964!

On a recent visit to Chicago, I went out of my way to visit as many tiki spots in the greater Chicago area as I could find and fit into my schedule. One of the places on my list was the Hala Kahiki Lounge, located just a little southeast of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. If you’ve ever been to Chicago, you know that O’Hare is nowhere near the center of town. It’s a pretty good jaunt away.

I would be visiting Hala Kahiki alone. While I don’t mind going to tiki bars alone if I have to, I’m usually on familiar turf when I do. Out in the wilds of Illinois, I had no idea what to expect. Would the place be worth my time or would it be some in-name-only tiki bar (aka sports bar or some other generic saloon) hiding under the pretense of being tiki? Hmm.

I knew very little about the place when the Uber driver pulled off of the road onto a side street to let me out. Here? The front looked promising, but the building looked so…long? Surely this wasn’t all Hala Kahiki?

I’d noted an interesting carving of a two-headed figure on the main roadway as well. Hmm What was that all about?

It was kind of late-ish (about 10 pm) on a Wednesday night in this little ‘burb. It probably wouldn’t be busy, I thought. This was a weeknight in late October, after all. Who’d bother to go out? I had seen a couple walking in though, as I was getting out of the car…

I went in and was immediately in the bar area. There was no one there, except the frantically working (mixing and shaking) bartender and a couple of waiters scurrying about at their station at the end of the bar. Where was the couple?

A sign at the door said to wait to be seated. As I stood there, it gave me a chance to check the place out. Wow! I totally dug the faux leopard print bar stools and matching elbow pads along the bar. The walls were covered in Lauhala matting. There were three tables under a hut-like roof across from the bar.  Lights made of glass fishing floats dangled from above. This place seemed like it might be going for that vintage look. I was impressed.

After a few moments, a man emerged from an entryway at the far side of the room and came over to me. I told him I was alone. He said that they were kind of busy. Would I mind sitting at the bar?

Busy? Of course, I didn’t mind sitting at the bar. I had planned to do so anyway. But where was everyone else?

I was seated and before long, the bartender handed me a menu. Hmm. The list of drinks was quite extensive. Decisions, decisions…  Well, since I was at the Hala Kahiki, I thought I should try their signature, namesake cocktail.

The Hala Kahiki is a blend of the bar’s versions of a Zombie and a Scorpion. It’s a mixture of gold and white rums mixed with various juices including pineapple (Hala Kahiki means “pineapple”) and topped with Overproof rum.The presentation was simple, but the drink was yummy. It was perhaps a tad stronger than expected, but fruity and tasty.

As I sipped, I spied a gift shop area near the door. I asked the bartender (who was constantly washing, slicing, cutting, mixing, etc.) if it was open and if it was okay to have a look. Sure, he said, without really looking up from the many tasks he had at hand.

I got up and took a gander. There was both men’s and women’s aloha wear, assorted other tiki-esque/tropical-themed trinkets… Nothing I really needed. Then I spotted their tiki mugs. I didn’t get one, but kind of wish I had. They were not as polished looking as most mugs. There was a raw, amatuerishness to them, but they were fascinating. The mug was actually two mugs put together and resembled the wooden twin-headed figure out front (which I now realize is two figures holding each other close). 

I went back to my seat and sipped. As I slurped down my drink, I Googled the bar to learn more about it. This clearly wasn’t some sports bar. This had been here a while…and I was kind of digging the place.

Imagine my surprise at learning that the bar hails from… 1964! I looked around. Yes, it was well maintained, and the staff all wore matching shirts. But this clearly was not a new place. The more I looked around, the more delighted I was. My stars! I’d spotted an amazing collection of vintage WITCO pieces in one corner. How cool. 

Further research led me to understand that the two-headed figure is referred to as Roze & Boze, a reference to the couple that started this tropical watering hole, Rose and Stanley Sacharski. There is a drink on the menu with that name, honoring the two. It features El Dorado 5-year rum, Heirloom Pineapple Amaro, passion fruit, lemon juice and biters, all served up as a drink for two.

By the time I’d finished my research, GASP! My drink (for one) was gone. That meant I’d be needing something else. This time I elected to try mixture called Sailor’s Breeze. This proved to be an interesting experience. The drink contained coconut and dark rums, pineapple juice, coconut cream and… non-dairy creamer (!?!). What? I don’t know how to quite describe it, but that creamer gave the drink an unexpected sort of tilt that my tastebuds found quite intriguing.

This time, as I savored my drink, I kept watch on the busy crew coming and going from the far doorway, bringing in trays of empty glasses, and taking out new drinks. I kept wondering what the rest of the place looked like beyond the bar area. Could I take a peek? Again, I asked my way-too-busy bartender for permission to look around. Sure, he said again.

It had to be pushing 11 by this time, and yet, when I walked into the back room, I could see that the place was still packed. (More people had come in, in fact, since I’d arrived and had been seated at the tables opposite the bar.) I didn’t want to disturb anyone, so I just did a quick walk through. The main room beyond the bar contained several tables. There was plenty of interesting tiki décor throughout. 

At the back of the room was a window looking out on a small, decorative yard. It had plants and a fountain with colored lighting. Nice.

Then I noticed another doorway that led to another room. It wasn’t being used, but it had several more tables and tiki décor. 

Next to that was what looked like a former patio section that had been enclosed.  It also was closed for the evening. The place was far, far bigger than I had imagined.

Back at the bar, I finished up Sailor’s Breeze. I was thinking about heading back to my hotel. I’d gotten a later start to Hala Kahiki than I’d wanted, and still had a long way to go back before returning to my room. But, why cut the night off so quickly? Why not just one more drink?

While I was being tempted by the selection of ice cream cocktails (Ice cream!?! Yes, please!), there was a whole section of coconut drinks to consider. Don’t even get me started on the various takes on Zombies that were available, too. There really were so many choices. When the bartender asked me what I’d like, I hadn’t made up my mind yet. I asked him what his favorite was. He said the Painkiller. The tried and true tiki classic? Okay then. I’ll close out the night with one of those.

Hala Kahiki’s version was a concoction of dark and coconut rums, coconut cream, Allsice dram, passion fruit purée, pineapple juice…and that non-dairy cream again. Interesting. Best of all, it came with fire! Oooooo…

As that drink disappeared into my stomach and the bar area began to fill up with customers, I was lost in my thoughts. Being alone and having no one to talk to hadn’t made for the ideal evening, but I’m glad I’d gotten to see the place. Not that I’ll ever be back, but I wouldn’t mind a revisit at all, especially with friends along to enjoy it with me. Despite my lack of interaction that night, I’d had a nice experience. 

I really hadn’t minded the long-ish Uber drive there. Watching the city fall away and suburbia take over was interesting. Hala Kahiki isn’t in Chicago, technically. It’s in a town called River Grove. Be glad it’s removed from the Windy City proper. Otherwise, like Trader Vic’s (both iterations) Ciral’s House of Tiki, Tropical Hut, Bamboo Bernie’s and other long-gone Chicago tiki jewels like them, the vintage gem that Hala Kahiki is today might only have been a memory.

Hala Kahiki

2834 N River Rd.

River Grove, IL 60171 

(708) 456-3222

http://chicagotikibar.com/