Wang Chung's

Happy Pride, Honolulu! Looking back at past reviews spanning over a decade, I can't believe that this was my first time at Wang Chung's! I was already in Waikiki for work when I got a text asking if I wanted to go out for Karaoke - she had a friend visiting from LA and even tho it was a Thursday- I was down. This tiny little bar was PACKED on a Thursday night. And literally everyone was so friendly and the vibes were just right. It really felt like a safe space. I loved the decor from astro boy, the rainbow neon signs, and the old school airplane beverage carts! I only ordered a singular tequila shot with a pineapple back - so I can't speak on their speciality cocktails or anything like that. I will say, that I couldn't do my shot in one go and had to half it. I had a great night, made some new friends and reconnected with an old childhood friend. 5 stars for the amazing memories at Wang Chung's. If you're wondering, as a group we sang Santeria by Sublime and got home by midnight for the perfect karaoke night out. Also don't miss out on the free condoms and shout out to the person who gave us the newspaper so we could do the crossword?!

Great neighborhood gay karaoke bar, but of course all are welcome. The toughest part is finding this place. I walked back and forth 3 times before I realized you have to walk to the back of a hotel. Karaoke starts whenever you feel like it and it's a dollar per request so bring cash. The lychee martini is good and packs a punch!! Really chill neighborhood local vibe here. I had fun and it was half a block away from my hotel!! Can't beat that when I stumbled back. I can't wait to return.

Ohh Wang Chungs! Although it's labeled "gay bars", I recommend this place to everyone that wants to have a great time! The atmosphere is so welcoming if you are local or visiting Hawaii doesn't matter if you are gay or straight. The vibe is cool and safe and you don't have to be a great karaoke singer either the crowd is super supportive and the owners and bartenders are awesome. I've been a few times and had a great time! Although I didn't gather enough bravery to sing i truly love getting to hear some amazing singers at this karaoke bar and drinks are yummy!

Very divey locals only bar. The vibes are great during karaoke night. Super fun and lively atmosphere. Drinks are cheap and affordable compared to everywhere else on the strip. $11-$12 for a cocktail. Only downside is the bar is located on a very very sketchy side street and inside a rundown hotel.

Terrible terrible place stop go for karaoke. The Staff is a Scam. They take your one dollar bill to request a song to sing yet they never give you a chance to sing it. My friends were there recently. Several of us chose songs to sing giving a dollar each or more and after several hours our songs never materialize so that we could sing. When we confronted the bartender, she was very nasty and we all left. So if you're a tourist or a visitor, they will not allow you to sing your songs instead they give priority to their locals or friends and you sit there for several hours and never get the chance to karaoke Absolutely would not ever come back here. Do not recommend this place as a scam.!! They steal money and don't let you sing!

Wow you guys really know how to ruin a fun night out. We came to the bar to celebrate a friend's birthday and some of us put in songs to sing for karaoke. My partner and two others were waiting over an hour for their turn to come, but it seemed that their slot kept getting pushed back. I noticed that the bartenders were putting people that came in later than us a higher slot to sing! When we noticed that their turn was never going to come my partner asked the bartender and she got very belligerent. They post karaoke etiquette on their screens, but they don't adhere to their own rules. It seems if you give a really big tip you get put to the top of the list. Very sad for people that just wanted to go and sing. Night ruined. And very poor attitude from the one female bartender. Definitely not the same experience we had a few years ago.

Female bartender had the worst attitude towards us. She is definitely selective on who she was nice to. Manager spoken to, he did not seem to care about how we were treated. Behavior of the female bartender was unaccceptable. The female bartender followed me outside the bar as we left to confront me and my group.

Chelsea is awesome! The best bartender! My buddies and I come here every weekend, and love it!

Everybody have fun tonightEverybody Wang Chung tonightEverybody have fun tonightEverybody Wang Chung tonight!Ready to party like it's 1986? Well, I didn't see any Flock of Seagulls hairdos in here, but there was definitely a karaoke set-up in here just waiting for wannabe singers to wail or belt out depending on what vintage song is playing on the speakers. Jamie W. decided to rest back at the hotel, so I ventured out solo to this spot.Like the other two gay bars we patronized in Honolulu, it wasn't obvious from the street where it was. For this bar, you walk up a flight of stairs at the Stay Hotel on Koa Avenue and go past the lobby through a glass door. It's a more darkly sophisticated-looking spot than Hula Bar & Lei Stand or Bacchus Waikiki.Purple, pink, and indigo dominated the clubby space. There are no portraits of gay icons on the walls, rather Japanese pop art like a trio of maneki-neko cats (photo: https://bit.ly/3Z123VS) and the Glico running man from Osaka (photo: https://bit.ly/42rpISA). It was a low-key night when I arrived with just three people at one side of the bar.There was a talkative guy sitting on my side who turned out to be a karaoke regular. The bartender tried to call me out for a tune, but I didn't think the other customers were ready for my rendition of Celine Dion's "Taking Chances". It would've included leg kicks and a split at the end. OK, I may be exaggerating just a bit.Regardless, I enjoyed the entertainment with a couple of their $12 cocktails, first a saucy Mai Tai with a creamy top (photo: https://bit.ly/3n7obk9) and then an indulgent Butter Mochi Old Fashioned (photo: https://bit.ly/400PlIi). I admit I did stagger a bit on the longish walk back to the hotel, but I managed to buy a really loud aloha shirt for Jamie at the ABC store.COCKTAILS - 5 stars...the sweetness seduced followed by the kickAMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...the nightclub setting workedSERVICE - 4.5 stars...attentive bartenders... and I only sing in the showerTOTAL - 5 stars.., Everybody have fun tonight! Everybody Wang Chung tonight!RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3Kz5ksc

One of my favorite karaoke bars in town. The vibes are immaculate, the bartenders are friendly, the drinks are strong, and I love supporting a local bar that supports the local LGBTQIA+ community! While they tend to be most popular during the weekends, there's still some amazing events that happen at the bar during the week. They currently have Trivia Night every other Monday at 7:30 PM and Musical Bingo every Wednesdays from 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM; I happened to come during Musical Bingo with a friend of mine and had such a fun time. If you're looking to branch out from your typical mixed drinks, they have a Local Drag Queen Cocktail Menu that features cocktails that are inspired by local Hawai'i drag queens. I tried Cara Mel's Calamansi Smash (Bulleit Rye, Aperol, Calamansi Sour) and it was the perfect summertime drink! My friend also enjoyed Emma Gration's Hibiscus Paloma (tequila, rose, hibiscus grapefruit syrup). Karaoke happens throughout the night and it's easy to sign up if you want to belt out your favorite songs. Simply scan the QR code, find your song, and write the song and your name on a slip of paper before handing it to your friendly bartender. It does cost $1 per song and the queue can fill up fast, especially on a weekend, so make sure to get your songs in as soon as you decide. I've seen people wait nearly an hour for their song on a busy night, so plan accordingly. Parking is always a gamble in Waikiki, and this place is no exception. I managed to score street parking a block away, but if you don't want to take your chances with street parking, there's parking at Honolulu Zoo if you don't mind the walk. If not, I highly recommend taking an Uber/Lyft here, as it's less of a hassle.