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Bahooka, Rosemead, CA (restaurant) |
bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 11351
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
|  Posted: 2007-04-11 10:02 am Permalink
Nice find. Only heard of, never saw photos of that place. Which came first? Was that location even remotely as decked out as the Rosemead one? I assume they moved the decor over to Rosemead when they closed shop in West Covina.
PS.: Dang, I should check Critiki first before I ask stupid questions!:
"This is Bahooka's original location, in West Covina. Bahooka was started by two brothers and a sister in 1967, one of the brothers -- Jack -- had worked for 10 years at Kelbo's. The building was expanded over the years, which was ultimately its downfall -- it grew over a property line, and in the ensuing dispute, Bahooka lost its lease. In 1980, the building was demolished. Fortunately, four years earlier a second Bahooka location had been opened in Rosemead, which still operates today."
Thank You!
Rosemead Blvd with Bahooka and its Tiki apartments is still one of the best Tiki tours to take...a shame that the whole Clearman's corner was razed, though...
[ This Message was edited by: bigbrotiki 2007-04-11 10:11 ]
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PremEx
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 305
From: Houston, Texas
| Posted: 2007-04-11 10:47 pm Permalink
You found most of your answers, but I can address this somewhat...
Quote:
| On 2007-04-11 10:02, bigbrotiki wrote:
Was that location even remotely as decked out as the Rosemead one? I assume they moved the decor over to Rosemead when they closed shop in West Covina. |
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Yes, they were identical in decor and theme. VERY identical. After a couple of drinks...you sometimes forgot which one you were in until you got outside! 
And yes, some of the stuff from #1 made it over to #2 and populated an expansion they did there in Rosemead, as well as "plus" the existing space a bit. But Darlene (Rosemead) told me that the bulk of the stuff from #1 got sold right from the Francisquito location at a big auction they had just before leveling the joint with bulldozers.
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PremEx
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 305
From: Houston, Texas
| Posted: 2007-04-11 11:00 pm Permalink
Back on...Quote:
| On 2006-01-23 08:52, mjrphreak wrote:...they were filming a suspense/thriller movie staring Jim Carey titled "Number 23". While on a non chalent trip to the restroom I could see into the area they had marked off and they had put of Christmas decorations in the parts they would be filming. |
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This movie was released not too long ago. It just sorta came and went, but it's still playing in a few theaters.
I was wondering if anyone out there saw it and noticed any of the scenes filmed at the Bahooka?
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Chub
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 26, 2005
Posts: 264
From: Detroit, MI but now in sunny Los Angeles
| Posted: 2007-08-22 02:01 am Permalink
Pics from our visit on Aug. 20th 2007
This is what happens after too many a drink!
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[ This Message was edited by: Chub 2007-08-22 02:28 ]
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Jeff Central
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 23, 2002
Posts: 1617
From: Columbus, Ohio
| Posted: 2007-08-22 05:38 am Permalink
Rufus still looks pretty good for a 30+ year old fish!!!
Cheers,
Jeff
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shampoovta
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 99 | Posted: 2007-12-02 09:47 am Permalink
WOW! Went last night for my 42 B-Day and just WOW! The pictures don't do it justice. Wish there was room at the bar I would of had another for the road (Passenger). Next time I will bring more people to get a bigger fish tank. This place is a must see. LOVE IT!
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TikiMango
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 17, 2008
Posts: 798
From: Satellite Beach, FL
| Posted: 2008-07-23 10:04 pm Permalink
Here's a few more photos, I just went there this past Sunday. I decided to upload these since so many of the early photos don't display. What an awesome place. Make sure you continue to drive North on Rosemead Blvd to the 210 and check out the 4 still-standing Polynesian-styled apartments, they have some great details.
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Pupule Tiki!
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procinema29
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 31, 2003
Posts: 474
From: los angeles
| Posted: 2008-09-13 8:01 pm Permalink
I went there about two weeks ago and was pleased to see they were stocked up on T-shirts in different colors, and even had issues of Tiki Magazine for sale, below cover price, if I recall correctly! And the tiki-style decor in there looks denser and more polished every time I see it.
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Caveman
Member
Joined: Jul 09, 2007
Posts: 8
From: Northridge, CA
| Posted: 2008-09-28 8:10 pm Permalink
Oh man, I so have to go here! I managed to step in one day during a commute home from work just to take a look-see, but I haven't had a chance yet to sit down with my wife and a bowl. It looks awesome.
- Wheggi
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Enchanted Tiki Guy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 14, 2008
Posts: 128
From: West Hollywood, CA
| Posted: 2008-10-01 1:02 pm Permalink
I had the pleasure of going to this WONDERFUL restaurant with Procinema29 last weekend. I loved it man! And the teriaki chicken I had with rice was fantastic!! So was the salad & their own dressing (which was included with the dinner) and rolls. Would love to go to a tiki event or get-together there! What a place! Thanks Procinema29 for introducing me to Bahooka!
[ This Message was edited by: Enchanted Tiki Guy 2008-10-01 13:02 ]
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KaliforniaTiki Cove
Member
Joined: Sep 04, 2008
Posts: 1 | Posted: 2008-10-15 1:50 pm Permalink
If you haven't seen any, or many, of the original Tiki joints, Bahooka is worth the pilgrimage. It's original, let's grant it that. It is, as has been duly noted, nautical spiced with tiki. It has a lot of aquariums, although many of them are scratched, and almost all of them are under-filled, and topped with dried water scum. The food is not what you're going for, but it isn't bad. It's no worse than Fisherman's Wharf and a heck of a lot cheaper. It's got atmosphere in spades. Drinks? Order them at the bar. Like the old Ports O Call, where I used to work, this place apparently has a policy of not putting alcohol in the tropical drinks not ordered in sight of the bar. I always order a Mai Tai, for tradition. I do not like the flavor of the rum and the juices combined, so if you leave the rum out, I really notice, I like the taste of the juices. To their credit, the waiter--who was friendly and helpful throughout--did not labor the point, did not argue at all, beyond his flimsy excuse, and quickly returned with a generous shot of rum. Still, come on. Was the money they almost saved on that one shot worth this word of caution that they've generated? I drove there from Pasadena, and having seen it (and some older, and much better vintage places that have long since gone by the wreckers) I wouldn't go back. But, if you missed the first Age of Tiki, then by all means, go. And check out that menu: When was the last time you saw Chablis on a California menu? This place is seriously retrograde, and it's worth at least one trip.
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tikiyaki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2710
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2008-10-15 2:56 pm Permalink
KTC...
We'd love to hear about your experience at Ports o Call, and see pix too.
That being said, I LOVE Bahooka....crusty fish tanks and all.
The last time I was there, the drinks (*ordered from the table) had PLENNY booze in them.
The food was old school for sure, but tasty...besides.....where else can you get a baked yam (with brown sugaron top) these days ?
Can't wait to play there this Sat with the Orchestra.
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nkash001
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Dec 08, 2008
Posts: 46 | Posted: 2009-08-28 3:38 pm Permalink
The boyfriend treated me to a nice dinner at Bahooka's last night. Simply wonderful! I highly reccomend saying hi to Rufus the fish and ordering a Monsoon!
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1861
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2009-08-28 6:22 pm Permalink
Here's a nice view.
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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builtiki
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Aug 31, 2009
Posts: 25
From: Silver Lake, CA
| Posted: 2009-09-01 10:32 am Permalink
this place is like stepping back in time and on another plane of reality all at once...the depth and thickness of the decor is beyond belief...nautical and historic...
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