Kahuna Tiki Tu’s Haunted Mansion of the Caribbean Pirates
Hidden within its vast sprawl, Los Angeles is home to numerous unexpected bits of haunted scenery. Case in point: the Kahuna Tiki Tu restaurant on Riverside Boulevard in Valley Village. Although the name accurately conjures images of fearsome Tiki icons glaring down in darkness, faintly illuminated by flickering torches, what it does not suggest is that the restaurant offers, in addition, a double Disney tribute to the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Just within the entrance, the area behind the reception dais features a Haunted Mansion display. Behind this, the corridor to the restrooms is festooned with decorations, starting with a few more from the Haunted Mansion.
Further along the wall are placards from Pirates of the Caribbean, and secreted at the end of the corridor is a lonesome pirate prisoner, reduced to skeletal form.
Even after a few drinks the scene is probably not intimidating enough to scare you from using the restrooms, but you have second thoughts about ordering another round when you see the tiki skulls decorating the bar.
There is also a display with a deep sea diver standing above a miniature version of the Creature from the Black Lagoon, popping his head out of the sandy ocean bottom. Around the corner from this is a dimly lit decorated with tiki idols and a skeleton lounging on a wicker chair. All in all, a far cry from depicting a luxurious Pacific Island Paradise!
Ghostly decor aside, Kahuna Tiki Tu is worth checking out if you enjoy Polynesian-themed dining and drinking. The kitchen offers a splendid array of food options, and the cocktail menu is loaded excellent tropical drinks, with names like Brainkiller, Headhunter Martini, Zombie, and Scorpion Bowl. After dinner and drinks, we recommend a cup of the Hawaiin Coffee, which is truly distinctive and definitely delicious without benefit of cream or sugar. Coffee from Hawaii has a good reputation because it is grown in volcanic soil, but the Kona coffee found in supermarkets is not necessarily the best; the coffee at Kahuna Tiki is the best.
Learn more at the official website: kahunatiki.com.
Notes:
- Kahuna Tiki Tu is actually the second Kahuna Tiki location. The original is Kahuna Tiki NoHo on Magnolia Boulevard.
- Since initial publication, the article was updated on December 11, 2023 with additional text and photographs.
Photo Gallery: Kahuna Tiki Tu Haunted Mansion & Pirates of the Caribbean Decor (updated)
