Hale Pele would benefit from being open later on the weekends. Closing down at 11:00 pm when the bar is full and people are having a good time feels like a mistake. The drinks are still good read more

Finally able to visit this landmark Tiki Bar in Portland over the weekend and what a weird and wonderful place it is! As soon as you walk in you realize just how small the space is. Thankfully, the timing worked out where when our friends arrived we were able to be seated fairly quickly so we lucked out. They will not seat you until your entire party is there which I appreciate. The decor is what you would expect it to be with tiki style furnishings all around and a soundtrack to accompany the vibes. Once you walk in and shut the door behind you, it's almost a given that you'll forget the time of day because the entire place is windowless. Another cool feature if you ask me. I have to say when looking around I kept contemplating the fact that someone walked in here and said "yeah, this will make a great tiki lounge". Regardless, they were right! The food was actually delicious. I had the cuban sandwich and the hawaiian bread. read more

Over Thanksgiving week, my family went up to Portland to visit one of our sons. This tiki bar is one of his favorite places to go with his friends. We decided to give it a try and we were a fairly large group of six people when we got there, we put our name on the list and we were told that it would be a little bit of time. I don't remember how much time they said. Poked our head inside and saw that it was packed, as far as I could see there were no available spaces. So we just chose to wait outside. We were the next people on the list and there were no reservations at this point. After 20 minutes I was getting a little irritated that people had come out, but they had not called us back to go inside even though we were standing right outside the door. A group of people walked up and they were sad immediately and I know they didn't have reservations, because I heard them talking about it. at this point, I wanted to just call it a night, but my son really wanted to show us his favorite spot. There's a small spot inside the door that you can sit and wait for a table and so we moved in there to have a seat. Apparently there was a large table right by the front door that the server and hostess assumed was going to be leaving soon and that was the table space that they were going to put us in. only half of them left so there wasn't enough space for all of us to sit there. While we waited again, another group before people came in and they sat them in the back somewhere. Eventually, we did get a seat crowded around a tiny table. We were all ordering specialty drinks, and honestly, they tasted all the same to me. The ambience is on theme with the tiki bar, very cute authentic. It seemed like there was one server and the hostess was helping her, and the bartender behind the bar was helping the server as well. Seems like also everyone ordered something flaming, and I can only assume there's never been a situation where something is caught fire that shouldn't have, but they didn't seem to be very careful with the flames. And I was quite worried that my hair was gonna catch on fire. If I were to visit again, I would see if I could get a reservation. Otherwise I'm not sure it would've been worth it. Parking is street parking so you may end up having to walk the night we were there we lucked out with the space fairly close by. read more

Hale Pele - Hawaiian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

A tiki bar that many people talk about - the drink menu goes on and on... It sounds like thunderstorms inside and the occasional fireball from a drink will fill the air for fun. The server lighting ours seemed to be a little over it sadly. Food is Hawaiian like - I will say I loved the sweet bread and jam. Small portions for the price, but tiki drinks aren't usually cheap. It had been overhyped to me, but you might enjoy a visit. read more

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Amazing atmosphere and amazing cocktails. The wait can be long but it is to be expected. Our bartender was in his first week but if he hadn't told us we would have had no idea. He did a great job. read more

Hale Pele - Hawaiian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Came here today after looking forward to it for many weeks. What surprised me was how small the space was, I came shortly after opening and it was packed. It also took a little to be seated and took some time to have my order taken. It also took a while to be followed up with, not sure if this because I was solo and was accidentally overlooked. Tried the coconaut and it was good, I also tried the rangoon chips and dip and they were also good. Not great. I also felt very awkward as a solo traveler. Not sure if this experience is normal or not, but nobody near me or the bartenders were particularly chatty. I came and sat in silence aside from ordering and closing out. I did like the decor and the drink I had was good, but nowhere near Smuggler's Cove or Pagan Idol. read more

Hale Pele - Coconaut - Hawaiian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Super fun place, great drinks, and fun tiki bar type food! We had the furikake rice, fried gochujang tofu (spicy!), and pickled hard boiled eggs. Next time we want to try the pulled pork and grilled Hawaiian bread. You have to get there the second it opens since it's tiny. Sit at the bar and watch the cocktail magic happen! :) read more

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I loved my drink! I think it was called the Blue Hawaii. I can't remember the name of the drink my friend ordered but I had a sip and it was pretty good. The flaming cocktail experience was pretty cool but I personally didn't care to order a drink that offers that. My drink was not too sweet and kinda creamy towards the end. I loved how it looked too -- icy, tropical, and turquoise ocean blue. Even with an extra shot of vodka, the drink was still yummy and not too strong. The lumpia was a 9/10 and the Kalua Pork was a 6 out of 10. This was my first time at Hale Pele so I don't know if the Kalua Pork might be less salty in other instances. But for me, it was too salty. I enjoyed the texture of the pork and the rice was okay but I wouldn't order it again. The ambience was as my friend described like the Rainforest Cafe and the Tiki Room at Downtown Disney. It was lively on a Monday night and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Our server was entertaining and professional. He was patient with us even though we took like 20 minutes to finally order food and drinks. I would recommend stopping by if you're curious. If I'm ever in the area looking for an interesting place to go with friends for drinks and a light bite, Hale Pele would be one of my top choices. read more

Hale Pele - Hawaiian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Loved the vibes. It's a pretty small space that fills up very quick! Came on a Tuesday night and it was packed. The wait wasn't too bad for a counter seat (~20 min). There's some seating for those waiting and you're encouraged to look through the menu. There's a wide range of drinks for all kinds of people (they have a rating system for how strong the drinks are from 1-4). Service was friendly. The theatrics were present (thunderstorms with flashing lights, beautiful presentation of drinks and food, perfectly themed decor). I'd definitely come back again! read more

Man the staff here were so nice. Everyone was so warm, approachable, and knowledgeable. I had no idea what I wanted so they gave me a few suggestions. Each drink was great! One of the best bars I've ever been to. read more

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So, funny story. We recently were in Hawaii, at a Luau in Waikoloa on the Big Island. Long communal table filled with people, and in striking up a conversation with another vacationing couple seated across from us, we all realized we were from Portland. Us from the west side, them from the east, but "neighbors" nonetheless! The subject of Tiki Bars came up, and they mentioned "You gotta go to Hale Pele!" So, several weeks back, and again last night, we stopped in for noms and drinks. The drink menu reads almost like a picture book--pages and pages and pages with drawings of what each looks like. Pretty much, you could come here once a week, try something new each week, and not have repeated yourself for a year. Every drink we've tried, from their in-house creations to old standby's like a Hurricane, was fabulous, and not particularly expensive (most cocktails for one are in the $13-18 range, very average on the pricing). The menu also helpfully lists each item along with a 0/1/2/3/4 potency note, so you can tweak your alcoholic experience to your liking. They have a range of mocktails and drinks they can make non-alcoholic, for those who want the Tiki experience, but not the inebriation. Many of the drinks come with a quick "show" of sorts: a shake of spices on top of a flaming half-lime filled with what looks like croutons but they're on fire, creating a momentary burst of flaming color and sparkles as it's served. Note: the drinks do extinguish themselves, but it can take 5 minutes, and you have to be careful not to burn your nose while sipping. Food here is really good for "bar food". Selections come and go monthly just to keep the menu refreshed, and everything we've had there tasted great. Hawaiian Sweet Bread with jam: Oh man, if you haven't had sweet bread, slathered in butter and crisp-grilled you're missing out. Yeah, it's 3 pieces of bread for $8ish but damn it's good bread! Bok Choi, soy marinated with garlic chips on it. Nice, but needed a bit of salt. It was fine. Kalua pork: very tasty here, especially with their Pua'a sauce (soy sauce with hints of Falernum in it). Furikake rice made a great flavor and texture complement. Same goes for the Cuban, which is the pork on a bun with mustard, pickles, etc. Lumpia: (think fried spring rolls) excellent. Dip them in the Mae Ploy (sweet chili sauce) for a great flavor combo. This is our new favorite bar. Pity we live an hour away, but this one's worth the occasional drive! Helpful to know: this place is very small and dark. It's very much that dimly-lit cozy Tiki Bar experience with blacked-out doors and windows, but you may find yourself waiting 30-60 minutes on a busy night so best arrive earlier than later. We arrived on a weeknight around 5:00 each visit and we were seated both times within about 5 minutes. read more

The people who brought you smugglers cove bring this to the table; it is a GREAT tiki bar experience and worth the trip! we got there at 4pm, and got a table but by 5 it was crowded and there was a wait. Drinks and menu is great, they arrange the menu by flavor which I thought was cool. read more

Hale Pele - Cocoanaut - Hawaiian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Ngl was not expecting this place to have such a long wait 1 hour on a Saturday night but I would say it's well worth it. Vibes, music, ambiance, everything was dam near perfect. Felt like I was in the Caribbeans but just a little too close to my neighbor. They even got warning labels for the strength of their drinks but hey it's a good thing I can't read when I'm buzzed. Bulk approved read more

Hale Pele - Leilani punch - Hawaiian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The absolute coolest tiki bar around! A super dark vibe illuminated by tiki torches, candles and colored sea glass lights everywhere. There were periodic rainstorms that played while we were eating and it was so cool! The food was actually pretty good. The lumpia was sooo flavorful, the garlic shrimp was absolutely incredible and the drinks were so fun and creative! You can even get drinks that the servers will light on fire! The only downside is that it's an extremely small venue so there is usually a wait and once you're seated you're packed in pretty close. read more

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This place was an experience, to say the least! The drinks were delicious and the Crab Rangoon dip was great! The restaurant is a little tight and it gets super busy, so I'd recommend coming earlier in the evening. The menu is super fun and it made you feel like you were in a mini Hawaiian theme park. The decor was probably my favorite. read more

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Great ambience. Attentive staff. Drinks were amazing. Had a wonderful time. Will definitely go again.

I came to Hale Pele for the drinks, so I can't speak on the food. The cocktails were beautiful definitely Instagram worthy but the place itself wasn't particularly memorable. The service was just okay, and after waiting over an hour to get in, I expected more. In the end, it felt like a run of the mill tiki bar with great looking drinks, but not enough substance to justify the hype or the long wait read more

Hale Pele - Hawaiian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The decor isn't the only thing that's good here. That is one thing I worry about. When I go to tiki bars in the bay and the decor is looking insane, sometimes the drinks are just ok. I'm glad that wasn't the case for Hale Pele. The issue we had this day was that we came just a bit too late. Every single table was taken and there was a wait. However...no one was standing or sitting in the waiting area. The dude who approached us and let us know the sitch, told us that we could hang out. I looked at him. I turned and looked at the 2 person seat to the right. I turned back and asked him, "If we ordered drinks, could we just sit there?" And he looked over and was like, "Sure!" Welp. Now you know folks. I mean, I would love the try food here sometime. But we were only here for a drink a dip. We didn't care if people were going to be around us because we weren't gonna be there for long. And man were the drinks good. So yea. Now you know. Hopefully that doesn't cause problems in the future. If it does. I apologize. read more

Hale Pele - Hawaiian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Didn't take long to get a seat, everybody was very friendly, really enjoyed the drinks and the fantastic atmosphere. Absolutely would go again if back in Portland. read more

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Super cool tiki bar!!! We waited about 1hr 15min to be seated for a group of 6 & it was worth it. I got to try the Volcano & Hurricane. The Volcano is a very fun drink to share with friends! Hurricane was a nice blended drink, but I would ask for it to be fruitier in the future. read more

Hale Pele - Volcano - Hawaiian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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One of my favorite tiki bar/restaurant/places! Food is very good. Always appreciate a tiki place with food because it really helps with all the drinks you know you're gonna order Be prepared to wait for your table The tiki decor is fantastic read more

Food: 5/5 Since it's mainly a cocktail bar, the food menu is limited, but the appetizers they do have are bold and very well executed. Service: 5/5 Fast and attentive. Some cocktails even come with unique presentations, adding a little show to the experience. Ambience: 5/5 Space is a bit tight, but the Hawaiian-inspired interior is incredible. They've really nailed the tropical atmosphere. Cocktails: 5/5 My only regret is having just one day in Portland. Every cocktail I tried had a perfect balance of flavors and spirits. I'd love to come back and explore more of the menu. Summary: 5/5 overall read more

Hale Pele - Hawaiian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

It's Christmas at a wild tiki bar over on Broadway. Make your way under the pufferfish guarding the door and see what's on offer. The drink menu goes on and on, pages and pages of drinks, sorted by flavors, marked with the year and with a handy potency scale. It was about a 30 minute wait on a Thursday night, but the next few fill folks waited an hour. It's my first time here, and I ordered the original 1944 Trader Vic Mai Tai. I have been looking all over for this drink - like a holy grail, it eluded me, from Portland to Florida to the Caribbean. I found it here! And, it's great. Complex, strong, not really sweet. The husband ordered Imaginary palms, but declined to purchase the glass. I almost regret that, honestly. Smooth, a little sweet, and very tropical. Since it was a weeknight, I has a one drink limit and ordered the Festivus Nog - a virgin vegan egg nog. My opinion is split. Was it good? Yes. It has a lot going on and I enjoyed every sip. But, it was $8 for a tiny glass. But it was made in house. But, but, but. I am glad I got it, I just wish the potion was larger. A Cuban sandwich with Mac salad for him, shoyo chicken with bok choy for me. I was surprised hours much I enjoyed my plate. The chicken was tasty, but alone it works have been.... Not noteworthy. But, in context - it was served on a bed of cabbage that added a delightful crunch, the bok choy was flavored with garlic and soy and tasted great. And the rice has... 2 something's on it. Yum! I will come again, I am sure! Note, my photos of my drinks and food didn't come out. Sorry! read more

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My date and I ended up here on a Sunday night. He had been before and had been dreaming about the drinks and Hawaiian rolls. There was a small wait of 20 minutes before we got a table. I appreciated the time though, it gave me a chance to review the drink menu since there are so many options. I ordered the Pole Star and the Hurricane drink while there. Both were amazing and would recommend both of them. We also ordered a small spread to included edamame, taro chips, Hawaiian bread, ribs, and chicken basil rice. I didn't have the ribs or Hawaiian bread due to my dietary restrictions but my date loved both. The highlights for me were the taro chips and chicken basil rice. I took my leftovers home to enjoy the next morning for breakfast. Add an egg or two on top of the chicken basil rice and it is even more delicious. Overall highly recommend and will be back in the future. read more

On our quest to try as many Tiki Bars as possible, we were recommended Hale Pele by friends. And this place is almost immersive with how on theme they are. We were warned it's a bit small in there so going around opening would have been our best bet. We snagged a table for 5 around 4:30p on Sunday. Their drinks menu is huge with over 50 cocktails. The drinks were absolutely fabulous!! We got several drinks spanning from the Signal Fire, Sailor's Grog, and the illustrious Volcano Bowl. When the Volcano Bowl came out they flickered the lights and some tropical sounds with drumming played. To top off the show, they sprinkled some powder in the air and lit it on fire. It was dazzling and smoky. The Signal Fire also came with a fire atop the drink. My favorite was the grog! They really go above and beyond to give a good tiki experience. The prices are a bit higher but thats to be expected. Cute and really decorated Tiki bar! read more

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Cool tiki bar! We ordered 4 drinks, but only 1 was decent (signal fire). It is an entertaining place with the decor and some of the drinks come with a little fire show. I ordered the guava hurricane but it was too sour I didn't finish. Then I got the painkiller which was better with the coconut cream but not balanced well so was too creamy. The Dr. Funk was not funky enough. Just tasted like pineapple and super sour- no Funk! read more

Absolutely blown away by this place! I lived in Portland for 5 years and never made it here, shame on me! I was back in town for business and we sauntered over here after some beers at Steeplejack. The ambiance is kitschy, dim, and neon...just as you would expect out of a good tiki bar! The cocktails are various levels of sweet, sour, and strong. Luckily there's a detailed cocktail guidebook (complete with strength levels) to help you decide. I highly recommend you get a a cocktail with cinnamon in it. The fire show that will ensue will put even the most vigorous hibachi onion volcano to SHAME! read more

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. read more

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I love a good tiki bar, so I was excited to try this place!! we had great service and the food and drinks were excellent! I would highly recommend! read more

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Super cool tiki bar with excellent drinks and yummy taro chips. Had the Nui Nui and pain killer. Both where excellent however the painkiller was almost to much for me. I was expecting something smaller and got a nice surprise. I would for sure try something differ next time. Both bartenders were super attentive and outgoing. Explaining the menu and contributing to the tiki atmosphere. Make sure to get a cocktail with fire. You get a very nice presentation. read more

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This place is VERY cool. It's definitely a spot to mark off your bucket list. Basil rice is delicious. I'm not a fan of spices in my drinks, but they are unique and fun. The location is very small and intimate. Not good for large groups and challenging to maneuver to the bathroom. Street party only and can be difficult. But an absolute cool place to check out. read more

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Absolutely yes! Loved the space and ambiance. We sat at the bar and enjoyed watching them make all the cocktails! Best way to see which one looks like the next drink to try! Great service! Friendly staff! read more

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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. read more

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The only reason it's getting 4 and not 5 stars is the bartender. I ordered the drink with the mug. She took the mug out and set it in front of me and walked away to get the "stuff". I reached out and turned the mug to get a full view (I'm about to pay $47, I'm gonna look at it!) and she yelled at me, "Don't touch that!!!" Also...my husband tried to ask a question about a drink and she was very short with him and not engaging at all (one of the best things about tiki bars in general is the knowledge and skill of the bartenders). It was super disappointing and made us uncomfortable. The bar itself is very cool and authentic. The drinks were great and the food we tried was excellent (Cuban sandwich, Mac salad, Hawaiian bread). Definitely get there right when they open!!!! read more

Best experience ever. Wait to be seated was over a hr i think mostly because it was valentines day weekend or maybe it's like that every weekend. If your sensitive to smells or lights flickering then I don't recommend this place for you. The smell it's mostly from cinnamon burning that makes the cool fire drinks, there's also the gloomy lights that feels like you're on a disneyland ride with the sounds and light show. The best thing about this place is the drinks, I got the volcano that I shared with my husband it was a shareable drink and also some appetizers. Definitely a place to check out and visit again. read more

Hale Pele - Drink menu - Hawaiian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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TLDR; I'm a fan, I'd recommend it if you're in the area Food I'd order again - Seasonal drinks were great The Vibes - Immaculate. If you're a fan of tiki bars, you know it's always going to be a good time. The servers make you feel so welcome & it's just a great fun place to catch up with friends with some solid drinks. It is very dark inside & well done. Wait Time - Maybe 10 minutes. We walked in on a weekday . As for the drinks, they're pretty quick. This is not a quick dive bar, it is a whole experience read more

I think my post got deleted from awhile ago, but I feel like my one star should remain. I came in with a group, it was fantastic, busy, hectic etc. We got our checks at the end of our meals and drinks. I paid, signed and tipped. Thank goodness I kept the receipt, bc upon checking my account I was charged for another tab that wasn't mine. I called the place and they gaslight me about the extra charge. Then she finally admitted that someone from our group didn't pay, so she took it upon herself to charge me extra when she realized SHE missed a ticket. I did my part and paid for my meal and drinks and tipped. It's not my fault she forgot to count the checks closed out on our table. I called my bank about it, and I talked to a manager from Hale Pale, in which they compensated me for what they took. I ran into our server that evening who seemed very unhappy for HER OWN mistake she tried to punish me for. It's been several years since I stepped foot there and I never recommend them for our girls nights unless I want our server to steal from us. read more

This is a great place to bring out of town guests! The decor is fun, the drinks are tasty and well priced. I recommend getting one of the flaming drinks! read more

Hale Pele - Crab Rangoon dip - Hawaiian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Cool tiki bar with cool decorations. The drink that they light on fire is super fun and nice funky flavor, but the other drinks we had were very acidic and flavor was unbalanced. Employees seemed to not be in a great mood. read more

I've been here twice and there is usually a wait because the venue is relatively small for how busy it is. I love the theme and the vibes are immaculate. The lamps and overall lighting make for a very relaxing time. Totally worth a try for the experience. For drinks I ordered the Lava Flow which is a piña colada with strawberry puree. We ordered lumpia, shrimp skewers, and macaroni salad as well. The food was pretty tasty but the portions were small so dishes are ideal as appetizers. I would recommend ordering family style so you can try different dishes. Worth a try! read more

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