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JOHN-O's Tiki Bus Trip to the Hong Kong Inn (+ Rincon Room) - 3/24/12, Pictures start on pg 6 |
JOHN-O
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: May 16, 2008
Posts: 2463
From: Dogtown, USA
|  Posted: 2012-02-02 9:19 pm Permalink
When was the last time you took a field trip in a bus? Grammar school? Well let's relive those childhood memories but this time you won't need a note from your parents.
The Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale touts its Polynesian revue dinner show as the last of its kind still in operation. Well that's not exactly the case as we have one in our own California backyard...
The Hong Kong Inn in Ventura !!
They have the authentic mid-century pedigree (since 1964) and serve traditional (faux Chinese) Tiki food. We're talking Moo Goo Gai Pan, Chop Suey, and Egg Foo Yong !! They also rock the Tropical cocktails.. and in Tiki bowls no less. Yes, many have warned me that the quality is not Mai Kai standards but think of it as the price of admission to what's essentially a free Poly-Pop show.
Here's the Tiki itinerary...
1. The pre-dinner cocktail hour and bus pick-up point will be at the Tonga Hut in North Hollywood. This will give everyone a chance to get properly "fortified".
2. From there we'll ride a chartered Tiki bus and make the 60 mile journey to the Hong Kong Inn.
3. Once arriving, we'll have dinner and enjoy the fantastic Polynesian floor show.
4. Afterward, the bus will make a stop at BongoFury's amazing Rincon Room for a post-dinner nightcap. Thanks BongoFury !! 
5. The bus will then safely return us back to our Tonga Hut starting point where the festivities can continue. Or you can join me down the street for some 24-hour Mexican taco stand drunk food.
I'm still working out the final details but I estimate the roundtrip bus fare to be $25 and dinner averaging about $15 (not including cocktails).
You can't get more diverse than this for a single night of Tiki fun.
Mark it on your calendar !!
[ This Message was edited by: JOHN-O 2012-03-30 09:20 ]
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Chuck Tatum is Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 12, 2011
Posts: 1674
From: Southern Cailifornia
| Posted: 2012-02-02 9:30 pm Permalink
Hell, That's Tiki!!!!
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Bora Boris
Mr. Unreasonable
Joined: Mar 25, 2005
Posts: 2402
From: Boogie Wonderland
| Posted: 2012-02-03 10:17 am Permalink
I'm trying to be as delicate as possible on this but first let me say I LOVE THE HONG KONG INN and Tina's Ports of Paradise Polynesian Show is Excellent! I go about twice a year and always look forward to it. It will be a great field trip but please leave your Tiki Cocktail taste buds at the door, the drinks can be um… very.. oh you know.
I've gotten lucky with some drinks but they can be inconsistent and are worse than B a h o o k a overall. So maybe order a beer? However the drinks at the Rincon Room will more than make up for any mishaps at the HKI. Also be advised that the food at the HKI can also be on the level as the drinks but if I were going I would still order the drink I was happy with last time "The Chinese Itch" and some chicken fried rice and still enjoy myself 100%.
I'm only writing this because I do love this place and don't want to see a bunch of possibly business hurting negative reviews after the field trip.
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WooHooWahine
Grand Member (7 years) 
Joined: Mar 04, 2005
Posts: 2902
From: Mission (Impossible) Viejo, Ca
| Posted: 2012-02-03 11:04 am Permalink
WooHooo! Sounds like a Fun Fieldtrip....We Can't Wait For those of you who have never been to The Hong Kong Inn you are in for a treat
The Hong Kong Inn, Ventura
Old School Ceramic Clam Shell Bowls
Mai Tai's too!
Tina's Ports of Paradise Dancers were Spectacular!!!
The Vainuku Ohana know how to spread the Spirit of Aloha!!
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tonga hut
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 04, 2008
Posts: 123
From: No. Hollywood Ca. 91606 Since 1958
| Posted: 2012-02-03 12:26 pm Permalink
John, Tonga Hut will supply food for you weary travelers when you return!
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Capt. R.H. Falernum
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 05, 2009
Posts: 236
From: Mar Vista (Los Angeles), CA
| Posted: 2012-02-03 4:06 pm Permalink
Yes. Awesome. Fantastic. I'm in!
I'll see if Sotally Tober is free to come along too.
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Jason Wickedly
Grand Member (4 years) 
Joined: Jan 01, 2008
Posts: 701
From: LBCTIKI
| Posted: 2012-02-03 4:28 pm Permalink
Sounds like a blast, John-O - count the Wickedlys in!
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HB TIKI
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Dec 12, 2008
Posts: 645 | Posted: 2012-02-03 4:54 pm Permalink
Please count my wife and I in on the crawl, sounds like another excellent John-o adventure. I am glad you got you license to drive the BUS. Thanks for the pictures of the Bar WooHoo. Was that Chris"s younger brother in the picture.
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HB TIKI
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Dec 12, 2008
Posts: 645 | Posted: 2012-02-03 5:58 pm Permalink
John-O, Will the bus be vintage?
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whoseyrtiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Aug 21, 2011
Posts: 58
From: the OC
| Posted: 2012-02-03 10:35 pm Permalink
Saweeeeeeeet! I'd like to reserve a spot on this Mr. Toad's wild ride:D
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whoseyrtiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Aug 21, 2011
Posts: 58
From: the OC
| Posted: 2012-02-03 10:39 pm Permalink
Saweeeeeeeet! I'd like to reserve a spot on this Mr. Toad's wild ride:D
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heylownine
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Oct 05, 2008
Posts: 477
From: Agoura Hills, CA
| Posted: 2012-02-03 10:42 pm Permalink
This doesn't even sound like a choice. It sounds like a "must do".
Kevin
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if it's not a little complicated, it's probably not worth it.
http://twitter.com/heylownine
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2677
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2012-02-04 07:49 am Permalink
The Pi-Yi at the Hong Kong Inn is served in a frozen pineapple and is quite delicious Hong Kong Inn is a cool place.
Great idea for this John-O !
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tiki_martin
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Sep 23, 2011
Posts: 21
From: Glendale-home of Damon's
| Posted: 2012-02-06 09:59 am Permalink
Sounds like a good'n, I'm in...
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Tangaroa-Ru
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 04, 2006
Posts: 377
From: Surf's Up, Los Angeles!
| Posted: 2012-02-06 4:23 pm Permalink
John-O! Another great tour! I love both these places, and I especially love the Bongofury'! If I'm in town, I'll be there, but right now I may be off in the land of aloha that week... which isn't a bad alternative, but, you know... I miss you guys. Sigh.
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