Chill at Chiko’s
CHIKO'S TAVERN
Open from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mon. through Sat.;
4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sun.
930 McCully St.
(One block makai of South King Street)
949-5440
Everyone knows of at least one "hideaway" bar; someplace where you can have a couple of beers in peace without worrying who you'll run into. Or maybe you want to hang out somewhere off the beaten path where crowds aren't usually a problem. Either way, Chiko's Tavern in McCully is a nondescript watering hole that fits the bill pretty well.
Parking is an obvious problem at Chiko's Tavern, which occupies space next to Camellia Yakiniku Buffet on the corner of McCully and Algaroba streets. It took a couple of unsuccessful passes though the area before the Barfly finally found a spot. But once you manage to find parking and walk into Chiko's, it'll be worth the wait.
Ten tables line the walls in Chiko's main room, surrounded by televisions and a big screen in one corner. About a dozen people were kicking back when the Barfly visited on Monday night, and once again our group seemed to be the only people employees and other customers didn't recognize upon entering the establishment.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Katsu Sera, left, sings karaoke while her friends, Melon Bryant, middle, and Dean Apa have a drink.
Don't mistake Chiko's Tavern for a sports bar -- this week's Monday Night Football game got turned off midway through the second quarter on the big screen so customers could sing karaoke. At least there were a few other TVs we could watch while an older gentleman a few booths over sang Neil Diamond's greatest hits. (The bar also features local bands on Wednesday nights, starting at 9:30 p.m.)
And if the comfortable booths and home-style lighting in Chiko's main room don't help to relax you, then check out the back room. Just like a nightclub, Chiko's has a second area complete with dance floor and couches for customers to enjoy. Three dart machines line one wall, and red satin-like couches and chairs occupy the rest of the room's perimeter. A separate sound system, air conditioner and bar make Chiko's second room seem almost like an entirely different place, something the Barfly didn't expect at all when walking in.
How much for a Bud Light?
Chiko's Tavern offers domestic bottles for $2.25 and imports for $3.50. Well and call drinks are also available starting at around $4.
Get things to do?
Three dart machines and a Megatouch game machine are located in the bar's second room; karaoke is also hooked up to the televisions in Chiko's main room.
What about the grinds?
Food items are reasonably priced, with most items around $5. The beer battered mushrooms ($3) were pretty good, as was the mochiko chicken ($5) and Kal Bi ($6) we ordered. Stay away from the steak ($8), however; we got what would be considered a half-order at other places and the meat was the most heavily salted of all the pupus ordered.
And the help?
Service at Chiko's on the night the Barfly visited wasn't too bad;. we had no problem finding a table and getting served, but when it came to getting another round our server always seemed to stop by five minutes too late. While keeping the regulars happy is important, making new customers feel like their being paid attention to is essential in getting them to return for a second visit.
Barfly appears every Friday in Star-Bulletin Weekend.
E-mail Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com with suggestions of neighborhood bars to visit.
