Don The Beachcomber Restaurant And Mai Tai Bar
Are you craving an exotic getaway without leaving the United States? Look no further than Don The Beachcomber Restaurant And Mai Tai Bar, a treasure trove of Polynesian culture and cuisine located in Huntington Beach, California. Step into a Tiki paradise where tiki torches, bamboo walls, and colorful murals transport you to a tropical island while you savor the finest cocktails and dishes from the Pacific Rim.
A Brief History of Don The Beachcomber
Don The Beachcomber traces its roots back to the 1930s when Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt opened a small bar in Hollywood, California, and started serving rum-based cocktails with exotic names like Mai Tai, Zombie, and Navy Grog. Inspired by his travels to Caribbean and South Pacific islands, Gantt created a new genre of cocktails that blended tropical flavors, spices, and potent rum into a potent yet delicious elixir that became all the rage in Hollywood and beyond.
As his fame grew, so did his brand, and he opened several more Don The Beachcomber bars across the country, each one featuring his signature tiki decor, music, and food. Today, Don The Beachcomber has become a cultural icon of Tiki art and lifestyle, and the Huntington Beach location continues to carry on Gantt's legacy with its own flair and charm.
The Atmosphere at Don The Beachcomber
From the moment you enter Don The Beachcomber, you'll feel like you've stepped into a different world, one where the sun never sets, and the party never ends. The ambiance is a perfect blend of kitschy and classy, with colorful lights, bamboo walls, tropical plants, and vintage artifacts that evoke the time when Tiki culture was at its peak.
You can sit at the bar and watch the skilled bartenders mix your favorite cocktails with showmanship and style, or you can relax in a cozy booth or table and enjoy the lively music and friendly chatter. You can also reserve one of the private dining rooms for a special occasion or a large group gathering.
The Menu at Don The Beachcomber
As much as Don The Beachcomber is known for its cocktails and atmosphere, it's also celebrated for its delectable dishes that showcase the diversity and richness of Pacific Rim cuisine. From appetizers to entrees to desserts, every dish is carefully crafted with fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and artistic presentation.
Start with the classic Pu Pu Platter, a colorful assortment of finger foods that includes teriyaki beef, chicken wings, pork ribs, fried shrimp, crab rangoon, and vegetable egg rolls. Or try the Poke Bowl, a Hawaiian staple made with raw tuna, seaweed salad, avocado, scallions, edamame, and furikake, served over rice or greens.
For the main course, you can't go wrong with the Teriyaki Chicken or Beef, which features tender meat marinated and grilled to perfection and served with fried rice and vegetables. The Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi is another crowd-pleaser, with a generous portion of fish coated in crunchy macadamia nuts and served with mango salsa and coconut rice.
Save room for dessert, as Don The Beachcomber offers some of the most exotic and indulgent treats you'll ever taste. The Chocolate Lava Cake is a must-try, with a warm and gooey center that oozes out as you cut into it, served with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with caramel sauce.
The Drinks at Don The Beachcomber
Of course, no visit to Don The Beachcomber is complete without sampling its famous cocktails, which are the highlight of the menu and the reason why people keep coming back. The bartenders use only the finest rum, fruit juices, spices, and secret ingredients to create the perfect blend of sweet, sour, and strong flavors that will transport you to a Tiki paradise.
The Mai Tai is the undisputed king of cocktails at Don The Beachcomber, and it's easy to see why. Made with two types of rum, orange curacao, lime juice, and house-made almond syrup, this drink is a potent yet refreshing masterpiece that has become a classic in the Tiki world.
Other popular drinks include the Zombie, a lethal concoction of three types of rum, lime juice, grapefruit juice, cinnamon syrup, grenadine, and absinthe, served in a skull-shaped glass. The Navy Grog is another favorite, with a blend of three rums, lime juice, grapefruit juice, honey syrup, and cinnamon syrup, served in a signature tiki mug.
Plan Your Visit to Don The Beachcomber
Ready to experience the ultimate Tiki escapade at Don The Beachcomber? The restaurant and bar is located at 16278 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, California, and it's open seven days a week from 11 am to 9 pm, with extended hours on weekends. Reservations are recommended, especially for large groups or private events.
Don The Beachcomber also offers catering and take-out services for those who want to enjoy its food and drinks at home or at a different location. You can check the menu and place your order online or by phone, and the staff will make sure everything is ready for pickup or delivery.
Don The Beachcomber is not just a restaurant and bar; it's a destination that will transport you to a different time and place, where the sunsets are always golden, the waves are always crashing, and the drinks are always flowing. Come and join the Tiki tribe at Don The Beachcomber and discover the magic that has charmed generations of Tiki lovers.