Hale Pele

Color me 'enchanted' with this 'tiki room'.There is so much to love about this spot. Right away, I knew I was going to enjoy my visit, and will have it on my radar for the next time I swing up to Portland. The vibe here is just so perfect. Blacked-out windows and low but colorful ambient light, and all sorts of random kitschy tropical brikabrak on the walls. Combine that with classic surf music, and the mild cacophony of rainforest sounds, and this place seems to check all the aesthetic boxes of what you want for a tiki joint.We were lucky enough to nab a seat at the bar, and so got front row seats to watch the bartenders work their magic. I started off with a Duke, and this was something special, I tell you what. Absolutely delicious, and with a good boozy punch. It isn't often I gush over coconut shrimp, but the ones I ordered whilst enjoying my tropical beverage were honestly the best such shrimp I can remember having. My buddy also can vouch for the delicious sweet chili wings, and said they really hit the spot. Round two of drinks, and I wound up going for a Jungle Bird, which I was just as delighted and intrigued with. I mean, a tiki drink with Campari? Very interesting indeed.But lest we forget, the best part about seats at the bar is that you get dinner (drinks) and a show. The guys behind the bar were masters of their craft, and it was very impressive to watch them keep pace with the flood of orders, and handle the frequent bursts of flame. This took me by surprise, as they have several options on their menu that light up the night with blue and red flames, and were clearly customer favorites. (Note to self: Get a Signal Fire when next I'm here.) And should you be here with a big group, their volcano bowl is a true showstopper, not just with flames, but with a whole simulated thunderstorm throughout the entire room.Prices for all the drinks are in the range of like $15-ish for most everything. And food prices are decent, also sitting in the $12-20 range for most small plates. The rest of the staff here are absolutely phenomenal, too, being very friendly and prompt despite the onslaught of customers. The couple things to be aware of is that, especially during evening rushes, this place gets full to bursting, and there is likely going to be a waiting list to get a seat. Likewise, parking is a bit lax nearby, but then this is Portland, and there are plenty of ways to get around.So yeah, I was quite impressed for my first visit here. Been loving tiki drinks for a while, and I think this is just about the tiki-est spot I've personally been to. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I need another Mai Tai.

My friend and I went after work today. 4:30-6pm. We chose this place because of the reviews. We ordered old fashion I would say: 2/5 super sweet. (Even though we asked for half sweet) I wanted Poke (apparently they only offer this on the weekend) I had no idea. It's not on their website or menu. So I got their Ban Mi instead. It's essentially a chicken sandwich on burger buns. When cut in half the bread fell apart. It was mushy.My friend got their pork plate- 2/5. No seasoningAnd neither did their macaroni salad. Their carb ragoon was good 4/5. Just needed a little more salt. It is also super loud in there. We had no idea . So at times the thunderstorm noises caught us off guard. It's super dark in there and you can't see the menus. We had to pull our flashlights out . It's a themed bar. But overall- felt like it might be for a different age group. Overall- our server was very nice.But I'm Latina and love food. So, I will not return.

Rude service from the person at the entrance. They didn't let our guess visiting from outside the US into the bar because she didn't have a US ID.As other reviewers had mentioned, they lack customer service

We went Portland for the Comic Convention. This place came highly recommended by our hotel and locals. We showed up with a party of 6 and was to the wait was just over an hour. We were told we can wait outside or in the very tiny waiting area. Mind you this was after a full day of being at the convention. The waiting area is very warm. And very dark. And the seating is comfy cushioned couches. One of our party members dozed off while we waited. When it was our time to be seated the hostess informed the party member who the hostess had seen dozing, cannot have any alcohol. Had the hostess spoken with that party member earlier or even just had a conversation it would have been clear that they were not drunk. They'd had a beer two hours before we arrived and much like the rest of us were just tired from the long day of walking, and the waiting area was extremely warm and comfy. Really disappointed in the lack of customer service and poor communication from management. We didn't get to eat or drink so I can't speak on the actual food and beverage, but the service was extremely poor.

The notion of tiki drinks have never been that appealing to me, but vibe is most certainly what I love about Hale Pele. It feels like a lounge, dive bar, and eatery all in one and with the lack of pretension that comes with Portland nightlife, I could see myself easily coming here to knock out a few before calling it a night. Perhaps on some level, that's what they intended all along.The place is tight and narrow. There's always a number of folks who lined up along the long bar counter and there are a handful of tables where small groups are getting cozy and enjoying the intimate digs. The tiki-themed decor comes off as cheesy initially, but at some point they do play a big part of the ambiance.To no one's surprise, the biggest draw are their drinks. At $14-18 a pop, they're considered high for Portland standards, but they're pretty cocktails overall. The doctor funk ($15) is a perennial fave as well as the Singpore Sling ($14). They make a decent hurricane ($15) a la Louisiana and their zombie punch ($18) is one of the strongest drinks on the menu.Most bars that offer food don't have much to offer beyond the bar, but that's not the case here. The items I ordered were surprisingly tasty. Their salt and pepper taro chips ($8) were easy to munch on and the crab rangoon dip ($13) as well as the poke ($20) were solid all around. The Hawaiian bread ($8) is deceiving as the bread is grilled and served with guava ginger and the sweet chili wings ($12) are a hit. I enjoyed their kalua pork ($16), cuban sandwich ($13), and katsu chicken. My expectations weren't high but they more than delivered.Lastly, the bartenders and wait staff were efficient, professional, and amiable all around. I can totally see myself coming back for a cocktail, a bite, and some good company.

Great little Tiki Bar. Has never disappointed. This time it was a little more relaxed and environment. Friendly knowledgeable staff good drinks.

I've had this place bookmarked for months and finally had the chance to stop by the other night. It's off Broadway so it's all street parking. The windows are all blacked out and there's no open sign so we couldn't even tell it was open until we opened the door. It was surprisingly busy for a Monday night. We waited about 10 mins and they seated us in the corner at the bar top. The restaurant is very small and very dark. Your typical tiki bar. The food was delicious. Everything was so flavorful. We were surprised at how good the food was! Will definitely be back again!

Enjoyed the vibes here a lot, very tiki inspired. Had to wait 45 minutes on a Saturday night, but went by quickly and was able to go in. We all shared the volcano drink, which was great and came with a fire show. Definitely recommend to come with friends for a good time!

Hale Pele is an ABSOLUTE gem of an experience that truly does make you feel as if you are in paradise. The service is exceptional, and the staff members are so knowledgeable about the tiki culture, and all items on the menu. Prepare to be blown away by the drinks here because each cocktail is amazing. Can we talk about how magical Hale Pele is for a moment?! From the music playing in the background, to the tiki masks on the wall and all the vintage tiki artifacts it really is a work of art. When certain drinks are ordered, smoke comes from the walls and really makes having a drink here an experience.I have been to many tiki bars in the US, and Hale Pele ranks pretty high up on the list. Its no wonder why its considered one of the best in the US!

We LOVE Hale Pale. When you step inside, it's like being in another world! It's so fun to be totally immersed. I've enjoyed every drink I've tired but some personal favorites are the Lalani Volcano and Signal Fire. It's also fun to order a volcano bowl but you get to enjoy the show whenever anyone gets it! The cocktails ARE expensive. But they're worth it! They also have good food for a lighter meal. We love the taro chips for a snack.