Hala Kahiki was opened in 1966 by Stanley and Rose Sacharski when they decided they wanted to get out of the funeral home business, and is still run by their family. Tucked away in a quiet suburb, Hala Kahiki is a beautiful classic tiki bar. The layout is sprawling but feels subdued and intimate. Witco carvings are featured heavily throughout the dimly-lit bar. The extensive drink menu tends toward the sweet and low-octane... consider bringing a flask to perk your drinks up a bit. The gift shop is large and includes a section of vintage clothing. Hala Kahiki was one of the stops during Exotica 2003, where Sven Kirsten gave a presentation on the art of Witco.

Comments

Drinkbot

Drinkbot has visited Hala Kahiki.

May 28, 2018, 3:29 PM

Drink quality is poor. All drinks appear to be made with a sour mix and grenadine, so they all taste the same. I ordered a Zombie and a Hurricane, and they literally looked the same (red) and tasted the same (like sour mix and grenadine). I asked the server about this and she claimed they were the correct drinks. On the plus side, the drinks had a decent amount of alcohol, but the sour mix and grenadine was so strong, you could not tell if you were drinking cheap vodka or a fine rum. Maybe this place used to be good in its hey day, but not now.

Tikikahuna

Tikikahuna has visited Hala Kahiki.

April 11, 2018, 12:55 PM

I visited the Hala Kahiki for the first time last Sunday to attend the Lowbrow Aloha art show. Overall I was impressed. The inside of the bar is well decorated and although it was to cold out to use it, they also have an interesting outside area. Their bar looks to be very well stocked, especially with a very large rum selection. I had 2 drinks, the first a Dr. Funk which was excellent, and then a Mai Tai, which was disappointing. The bartenders are great, I just think their Mai Tai recipe is just not that great. I found it to be kind of Pina Coladaish. The biggest gripe I have with the place is the electronic gaming machines. Although I'd prefer the gaming machines to TVs, the glow they produce is distracting. At least they keep them kind of out of the way near the entrance.

Raider273

Raider273 has visited Hala Kahiki.

March 17, 2018, 10:37 AM

Wife and I made a point of trekking out to Hala Kahiki the evening of Friday, March 9, 2018, while visiting Chicago. Well worth the trip. Drinks were solid (not great), but the decor, service and vibe were outstanding. Almost like a time capsule to to tiki bars of days gone by.

The co-owner took time to chat with us and as others have noted, the place has a kind of 'friends' feel to it, like you could come back a year later and feel like a regular.

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