Opened August 2nd, 2022.

Mothership is a sci-fi tropical themed bar in San Diego, CA that is a partnership between the owner of Kindred and CH Projects (False Idol, Polite Provisions, Raised By Wolves and more).

Designed by Ignacio “Notch” Gonzalez, Mothership imagines a restaurant and cocktail lounge build from the ruins of a crash landed ship on a tropical alien planet.

Though not exactly a tiki bar, it is definitely "Tiki adjacent" with solid tropical cocktails and immersive theming.

From the Mothership website:

"The Ancient Astronaut Shuttle Crew, aboard the A.A.S.C. MOTHERSHIP, boldly explores the darkest, furthest edges of the tropical-flavor galaxy. Cosmic rays blast from a solar flare and blow the MOTHERSHIP’s electronics into disarray. The psycho-space marauders are left with no option but to execute emergency landing protocols on the nearest planet. Off-board, the tight-knit Crew explores the lush surroundings. They discover no sentient life, but unexplainable events occur and a lurking presence is felt. The mysterious, uncharted ecosystem has few resources to repair the ship -- but ample plant life and curious, intoxicating spirits. In time, the Crew accepts that they are marooned in a sinister, fertile paradise. They establish a colony and fashion the ship into a base camp, including quarters of leisure. Together, the fearless crew members commit to adventurous coexistence with the natural life of the planet, not in desperate peril, but on a ...PERMANENT VACATION."

Edward Kwong (1917-2006) was was one of the leading pioneers of Asian Cuisine in the West Valley.

He established House of Kwong restaurant, a favorite celebrity dining spot in Woodland Hills, CA from 1948 through 1986 when he retired.

The restaurant had a pink and green neon sign welcoming customers. Parking in the rear. Thatched reed walls on the interior with a Chinese tree painting, oriental rugs, and purple formica table-tops with glitter.

Although not resplendent with tikis and tiki decor, this Chinese restaurant had a large tiki cocktail menu and is impressive for having several (now) rare and sought-after mugs, including the Spurlin Fog Cutter and Oceanic Arts Cobra's Fang, as well as their own unique bowl, the Witchcraft Bowl, surrounded by 4 flaming demon heads (truly a crypto mug!).

Today, as of 2022, the location appears to be a vacant lot sandwiched between a cell phone repair shop and a multi-level building housing a law firm.

*Photo shows Edward Kwong on left with his brother, Don Kwong, on right -- in the restaurant kitchen.

This location had a fantastic back-lit plastic-faced sign. The sign's tiki head stood over 8' tall with gas-burning tiki torches on either side.

Located at Western & 186th St., Torrance, CA. Open at least through the 1970s, but saw redevelopment in the 1980s.

Now home to (as of 2022) Kansha Creamery.

Chin Mon Wah (Young family patriarch) and his childhood friend, Chin Kwok Yen, purchased the building in the late 30s. Prior to placing a restaurant in this location it had at the ground floor a photo studio at 942 and stores at 946-950 Grant Avenue with the remaining two floors above being the Gum Mon Hotel.

At this time they remodeled the building to house the Kuo Wah Cafe at 942 Grant Ave which served American Style food and 946-950 to serve Chinese food. The Lions Den Nightclub was in the basement and its entrance was at 942. This is where the bar was located at that time. The Lions Den had shows featuring Chinese performers that would sing, dance and tell jokes just like all the mainstream nightclubs of the era. The Gum Mon Hotel still remained. Sometime after WW II, in the mid to late 1950s, the Lions Den Nightclub ceased to exist due to the changing times and became a dining room. Its bar was relocated from the basement to the main floor location of the Cafe which served American food. Many politicians, heads of state and other dignitaries were hosted.

In the early 60s, Chin Mon Wah's son, Andy Young, had by that time became general manager, and again undertook major construction. The Lions Den basement, main floor Kuo Wah Cafe and second floor hotel rooms were remodeled into a single restaurant called the Kuo Wah Restaurant instead of "cafe". A new bar was built in the basement, the kitchen was relocated from the main floor to the basement. A second remodel of the existing bar took place and the 2nd floor hotel rooms were cleared to make way for a 300+ person dining room. An outdoor courtyard was created at the front entrance of the building so that diners could sit out on nice days to eat or have cocktails.

Upstairs, they had a burlesque dance review based on a number out of the hit play (1958) and film (1961), Flower Drum Song. In the film, “Fan Tan Fannie” was performed by the strip-teasing female comic lead, Linda Low, played in the film by sex symbol Nancy Kwan. Their postcards advertised the dancing girls doing 3 shows a night along with "togetherness dancing" whatever that meant...

Between 65' and 68' there was a nightclub in the basement called The Drag'on A' Go-Go, which featured local bands. This is when they started to offer free tiki mugs with any of their exotic Polynesian cocktails. These mugs were exclusively from Otagiri Manufacturing Co. This continued until 1975 at which time they sold the restaurant to investors who rebuilt once again to make a Hong Kong style dim sum eatery. At this time the restaurant was still called Kuo Wah.

Since then the restaurant changed hands at least two more times. Its name for 20 years or so was Grand Palace.

Then, in 2021, owners with a love of history decided to bring back a version of The Lion's Den Club as the new Lion's Den Lounge and Bar. The address for this newer club is 57 Wentworth Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108, but it occupies the same footprint as the old club and honors its style and memory.

The Mona Kai Apartments were built in 1965 on Sawtelle Boulevard in Culver City, CA. They feature a large A-frame entrance.

It doesn't appear that there is any other surviving tiki decor.

There is also a Mona Kai Apartments in Goleta, CA but it is not clear if there is any connection other than the use of the name.

This apartment complex features 4 A-frames in front and is 2 stories with 21 units.

Other than this, it doesn't appear to have any other tiki decor.

There are also Mona Kai Apartments, originally built in 1965, at 4600 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles 90230 (Marina del Rey), CA. It is not clear if there is any connection to the apartments in Goleta other than the name.

Formerly known as Hatch Bar & Eatery, local restaurateur Leonard Chan and partner Dominic Iapello went from a light beach vibe to full-Tiki, starting with the re-opening of their restaurant in December 2018.

They added 35 Tiki cocktails on the expanded cocktail menu and the rum selection grew to 70+ bottles.

Food-wise, some favorites like the Loco Moco remained, with some new Polynesian-inspired additions including a tempura-battered Spam Musubi and Chinese-five spice chicken wings. The kitchen could also accommodate gluten-free and vegan preferences – the Impossible Burger was another newer option.

Stowaway was tucked behind Blacksteel Barbershop.

Stowaway announced that Saturday, November 5th, 2022 would be its last day open at this location.

*They re-opened with a sneak preview on May 16th, 2023 at their new location -- 14401 Newport Ave, Tustin, CA, United States.

The Tahitian in Pasadena opened on November 21st, 1961.

This location at 137 S. Lake Avenue was previously home to Steve Romer's Surf Rider, which had closed only 4 years before.

The Tahtian restaurant was co-owned by Don Avalier and Bill Dove with Chef Francois Sirgant as a third partner. It was one of two Tahitian restaurants, the other location was in Studio City. There was also a Royal Tahitian restaurant in Ontario, CA that used identical lettering and was likely related. Menu cover tiki was designed by Andres Bumatay. The decor was supplied by Oceanic Arts and Sea & Jungle, and the ceramic table lamps and coconut mugs were supplied by Spurlin Ceramics.

Open through at least 1968 (and the Studio City location closed around same time).

The Tahitian in Studio City opened February 20th, 1959, and was one of at least 2 locations -- the other was in Pasadena. The Royal Tahitian in nearby Ontario, CA had identical lettering, and may have been related. Menu cover tiki (same as tiki outside of front door) was designed by Andre Bumatay. The decor was supplied by both Oceanic Arts and Sea & Jungle, with coconut mugs and ceramic table lamps from Spurlin Ceramics. Closed around May of 1968 (Pasadena location closed about the same time.) . The location is now a parking lot.

Opened in 2003.

Hawaiian-style interior design & furniture showroom.

As of 2021, this site is home to Elite Physical Therapy (Formerly Palm Desert Physical Therapy).

The new location for Hawaiian Interiorz is:

74-104 Highway 111 (#2) Palm Desert CA 92260

Mark Thomas' Outrigger was located in picturesque Monterey CA, overlooking the Pacific Ocean on Cannery Row.

It started off as just "The Outrigger" and opened on Friday, May 22nd, 1959.

The Outrigger was a local favorite where families would celebrate 21st birthdays, anniversaries and wedding receptions. The menu featured an array of Polynesian items and an extensive tiki cocktail menu. Guests enjoyed The "Outrigger" for $1.50 which was “fuel for the gods only…or for the devils who do not fear the outcome.”

In 1978, a fire swept through the restaurant/bar, and it was rebuilt as Mark Thomas’ Outrigger. This lasted at least as late as 1984.

In 1994 it became a Fish Hopper which has kept a few original Outrigger tiki drinks on their menu, including the popular "Bucket of Fire" (Vodka, Rum, Gin and Cherry Brandy Mixed with Exotic Juices and Topped with 151 and Served Ablaze!) which used to cost $7.75 and served 4 guests and today (2026) sets you back $35.00 and serves 1 or 2.

The Lanai Tiki in Eastvale, CA had a soft opening August 22nd, 2024 at Cravings Food Hall.

This venue is from Leonard Chan and, the other owner of Stowaway Tiki and The Lost Inferno in Orange County, Dominic Iapello.

The Lanai Tiki lives up to its name as an outside but mostly covered, long and narrow seating area located on the patio behind Ostrea Oyster Bar. You can sit on the patio to order or at the oyster bar.

One treat that some tikiphiles will be happy to see is some of the salvaged signage from the old Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach.