Had a great experience at Trader Vic's. The service was outstanding and the sunset views made the whole evening feel extra special. The food was top notch highly recommend the miso salmon, which had a really nice kick of spice. The potatoes, however, were a bit bland in comparison. The drinks are super creative definitely get the Smoke Show, it's a standout. The mai tai was just okay and a little too heavy on the ice for my taste. Overall, great vibes all around and a spot I'd happily return to. read more

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Not what I was expecting. It's been a little while since I have been to Trader Vic's. And especially this location. I will say 3 nice things about this experience. The location is gorgeous! The last time I was here it was at night. This was an afternoon visit and it was still a beautiful view of the water. The food is amazing! Great flavors and wide variety of selections even for the time we came which was in between lunch & dinner. The portions were a good size. The overall look of the restaurant is very well kept together. Very well themed and sits perfect with the Hawaiian esthetics. Okay there are my three nice things. Let's get down to business because this is where the experience lacked. SERVICE! We came at a time where we didn't know they stopped serving lunch (The in between I mentioned earlier), which was not a problem. Our family knows how to pivot and adapt to situations. What I didn't like was that our server made us feel really unimportant. Let's start with the greeting. It was ready to order? As if we were a burden. It wasn't busy at all. 2 people at the bar, a couple opposite of us in the bar area (yes we were placed in the bar which is fine, because the dinning room is being set for dinner service at 5), and a gentleman to the right of us. Clearly not busy. We finally get our food and we are missing a Tuna Poke. We asked the food runner where it was and he said this was all that was on the ticket. Okay that's fine. Can you send our server so we can get it taken off our bill? The server/ bartender never came back to check on us to see if everything came out until we were almost finished. By that time we had empty drinks for our entire meal. And we asked for refills and our check. We get the check and sure enough the Tuna Poke was on the bill. You know the one that the food runner claimed wasn't on the ticket. This place (due to the standards I have always experienced going to ANY of their locations) my family should have been taken care of and treat like guests instead of burdens or even forgotten in an empty bar seating area. read more

We were thrilled to be invited to a dinner event host at Trader Vic's since it's one of the tiki bar I really waned to try! The dinner was decent overall. We started with a salad that came with lettuce mix, tomato, artichoke, hearts of palm and Japanese dressing. For entrees, we had the miso salmon that's pan seared salmon with chimichurri, grilled bok choy. We also tried the sliced New York strip loin, which tasted great as well. For dessert, we had the dulce de leche cream brûlée, which tasted great. After dinner, we went to the bar and ordered a few cocktails. The bartender, David, was very friendly and chill! We tried the original Mai tai, Polu Puffer and Bumbu Hunter. The one I liked the most was the Bumbu Hunter, it had four kinds of rums with tropical notes and warm spices! I would definitely come back to try more of their drinks! Highly recommended! read more

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Another spot on inKind that we decided to check out since we were in the area. I've never heard of this spot, but I did know that it was a Tiki/Hawaiian restaurant, which I was really excited about! I swung by with my family on a Saturday afternoon for a late lunch. We were told that their lunch ended at 3pm but could still dine in for items that were similar to their lunch menu. We were seated next to the window next to the water and were able to enjoy the beautiful weather. I really enjoyed the beautiful decor and felt like I was in Hawaii for a few seconds. We ordered a few dishes to share and portions were small given the price. I didn't care much about the Crab Rangoon and the Cheese Balls since the inside was a bit too mushy for my preference. We really enjoyed the fried rice since it's was flavorful and the rice was cooked perfectly. The burger was also delicious, especially paired with all the ingredients. I would love to come back again for drinks and happy hour. Our server was hospitable. Love the location and it's peacefulness this place brings! read more

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Valentine's Day at Trader Vic's was busy, which we expected. We were greeted right away and told they needed to seat a few parties before checking us in. Totally fine. It gave us time to browse the very cool tiki glassware and chaikey pieces in the display case. Now the mildly funny part. The couple right before us was checked in, walked halfway to their table, and then offered the option to wait for the main dining room. They said yes. We were next. No main room offer. Just a cheerful "Follow me!" and off we went to a side room. My husband leaned over and whispered, "Do we want the main room?" which made me laugh because apparently that was not on the table for us. But honestly, it worked out. The side room is where the hidden bar lives and it is adorable. We had a small cocktail table by the window with a canoe hanging in it. It felt cozy, quieter, and very island romantic. Perfect for Valentine's Day. It took about 15 minutes for the server to greet us, but our server was lovely. I had the Island Glider, which was delicious and not too sweet. My husband ordered the Bumbu Hunter, strong and tasty. Only note, dried fruit garnish. In tiki world, I am team fresh fruit. We started with the Cosmo Tidbits. The pork was good, the ribs were a bit much, but the shrimp was the best bite. Next time we are going straight for that. For mains, my husband's Green Chili Salmon was moist and flavorful. I had the strip steak cooked in their famous Chinese ovens using an ancient indirect heat method that gives a subtle smoky flavor. One end was slightly overdone, but the thicker cut was so good. After dinner we checked out the oven room, which is such a cool historic touch. Overall, Trader Vic's is an experience. Vintage tiki vibes, historic cooking, and sitting right on the Emeryville Marina make it special. We will definitely be back, maybe for daytime drinks and marina views next time. Fun, festive, and the perfect quirky Valentine's night out. read more

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Came to the ultra famous (to us) Trader Vik's. We have spent lots of time reading about the iconic Tiki spot and made sure to give it a try during my latest work trip to SF. Arrived on time for our 7pm reservation and were seated right away. The place is a tiki lover's dream with all the decor to match. The hostess gave us a little more trivia on the history and a mini tour of the place. We fell in love. For drinks, babe had the Mai Tai and i had a banana drink. So good and of course we gagged over the tiki glasses. For food, we shared the jalapeno cheese balls + the lamb chops. Both were totally great and yummy! Loved our little date night at Trader Vik's. It was such a great experience. I'm sure if we spend more time in the city, we will definitely be back. read more

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Always a 10/10 at Trader Vic's. Favorite drink is the Mai Tai and they never miss with the SF Mai Tai. Smooth, sweet and refreshing. The server was very helpful with ordering. Wish I remembered her name. Ordered small bites, crispy prawns and a side of fried rice. Was the perfect amount of food. Never any concerns when it comes to trader Vic's read more

Trader Vic's - Crispy Prawns - Hawaiian Near Me - Emeryville, California

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Food was great. Service was very fast. Sat by water so that's always good for a view. Tiki vibe very cool. read more

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Service and Staff: - We came early for our reservation and sat in the bar area. Service was pretty quick and we got our drinks and small appetizer in good time - When it came time to dinner, it was unfortunate that three of the dishes we wanted weren't available Food and Drinks: - Mango Mule: very flavorful and mango-forward - Painkiller: be careful because you can't taste the alcohol in this drink! - Original Mai Tai: solid drink - Spiced Fries: not spicy - seasoned well - Beef Kew Pake: almost like an Asian-inspired Lomo Saltado. Flavorful and plentiful - Tuna Poke: very flavorful (little heavy on the soy sauce, making it a little salty). Paired perfectly with the taro chips - Veggie Spring Rolls: comes with 5 and some sweet chili sauce. Be careful as these are very hot (temperature) for a good amount of time Miscellaneous: - Parking available via a private parking lot right in front of the restaurant - Drop off area available right in front of the doors for those that need / prefer easy access - Bar area has bar seats and tables available - Large space available for large groups and / or large parties (our friends had their wedding reception here) - Lots of fun goodies like ornaments, tiki mugs, and apparel for sale near the host stand read more

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I went during happy hour which are only during Wednesday - Friday evenings. The happy hour drink menu had quite a selection, although they have an immense option of lovely cocktails from the larger menu. Love the themed drinks and they come in super fun glasses or mugs as well. Ordered purely from the happy hour menu this trip and had a great time. The Singapore Symphony drink has a blend of gold um, gin, pineapple, and passion fruit. It was a tasty drink, but way too sweet for me, almost like candy. I had to try the original Mai Tai here and that was a tasty tasty mai tai, loved it. I tried the Suffering Bastard, purely because the mug was super awesome haha. The drink is Vic's version of the original by Joe Scialom. This version has a blend of rums and lime. Another great drink that was too sweet for my taste. My last drink was the Mai Tai Pale Ale from Alvarado Street Brewing which I do not recommend. I don't know how or why this is named the Mai Tai PA but tastes absolutely nothing like a mai tai. I'd recommend you try out their other drinks and cocktails. Ordered some food from the happy hour menu including beef sliders and pupu party. The beef sliders are quite tiny, but you come here for the drinks more than the food. The beef sliders are angus beef on hawaiian roll with aged cheddar, katsu slaw, secret sauce, and jalapeno (2 per order). Again, tiny but tasty beef sliders. The pupu party had 2 crab rangoons, 2 cheese balls, and 2 BBQ riblets, not bad but not amazing. Definitely pairs well with the cocktails and beer though. It's okay if you are disappointed by the food, maybe the cocktails will make up for it like in my case haha. 4 stars drinks, 3 stars food. read more

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Amazing historic tiki ambience. Love the bartenders on every visit. We sat in the little corner of the bar area with a great view of the marina and downtown after making a reservation a week ahead (for a Wednesday at 6:15). Ordered a mai tai (OG 4eva) and a Macabou Mambo (bourbon, lemon and macadamia nut liqueur- great!). Food was okay- great Crispy Prawns, okay ribs, Crab Rangoon, and pork slices. We also shared the Trader Vic's salad - great fresh salad with a yummy dressing. A few good beer selections on draft - Pilsner, IPA and a Hazy IPA. Of course I'll be back - it's Trader Vic's! read more

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What can be said that hasn't been? Delicious drinks... I could stay here all weekend if it wouldn't mean the end of me. Love all the custom mugs and that they are available for purchase. I got the Bumbu, which was both great and immediately put a stop on any cares or concerns I had in life (as any great tiki drink should!). Decor was transportive & fun. Bartender was cool and hooked up a few free paddle stirrers. Server helped us navigate the menu and order delicious drinks. Will be back! read more

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Just visited Trader Vic's for my first time, and I did have a really good time. The differentiator here is to not confuse this with a tiki bar, this is a large scale tiki restaurant. If you look at it as a restaurant, not a bar, you will set your expectations going in. So the decor here, is pretty amazing, and there is a lot of history in this place. I had the pleasure of coming from the Christmas Bizarre, so I had over an hour to just browse around checking out the entire place, meeting people, and burning money... The coolest part was being able to grab drinks from the bar and carry them around exploring, and they even had virgin ones that your kiddos could carry around, IN CUSTOM MUGS. This was pretty special and the kids loved it, and there was like 9 different options to choose from. As far as the drinks themselves, they were OK. I've been to some high caliber tiki bars, so I'm a little picky now on my flavors and drinks but the drinks were alright, not bad, not awesome. One thing that really knocked this down is the bartender I ordered from. I asked a very simple question, "what do you have that is on the funkier side, I like Jamaican pot still." He looked at me completely dumbfounded and went "idk, do you wanna see a drink menu." Now restaurant aside, this is Trader Vic's, your bartender should have some basic rum knowledge. That one was pretty off putting. Luckily a local standing next to me stepped in and gave me a drink recommendation, and this was after my first Mai Tai. Now let's talk the food. I'm a bbq and food snob and this food was SHOCKINGLY tasty. We went with a large pupu, a pulled pork melt, the jalapeño balls, the claw chowder, and even a big ol piece of chocolate cake. I gotta say, that clam chowder could be a big thicker, but it rivaled everything in SF that's for sure, yummy stuff. This was still a great time, I can't wait to go back. read more

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You have got to experience Trader Vic's. I have been here with both family and friends. We all enjoyed our visit here. It is such a unique restaurant. I love that it's right on the water, brings such peace and calm being here. The food is quite tasty and unique. For appetizer, we had their jalapeño cheese balls, we enjoyed them and they quickly disappeared lol I like the uniqueness of the straws, they are actually pasta noodles, never seen anywhere else do that. For my entree, I ordered a dish that had both shrimp and steak, served over rice.... You guysss the portion is smallll LOL but it was so yummy. I had the pain killer drink. The flavor was really nice. Overall, this restaurant is one that I'd visit again. I LOVE it!! Photos are compiled from two different visits. read more

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PRO TIP: Wear a Hawaiian shirt or dress. It's not mandatory but it's fun to dress up for the vibes and regulars do it too. With that said Trader Vics is a vibe at this point. You come here for the atmosphere more than anything and they're known for their tiki drinks. (Which you can also purchase their tiki cups in the front) For food I've had a handful of their menu items at this point but the steak takes the prize. It's smoked and super tender. You can watch the chefs pull it out of the smoker through the glass window and it's well worth the splurge. Overall a fun place to make memories and go out for drinks with friends. read more

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If you come on a Thursday night, like we did, you can sit in the lounge and enjoy happy hour appetizers and drinks all night long. So fun to enjoy the beautiful sunset view and experience a slice of the tropics here. read more

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My son brought me here for my pre birthday lunch, we were seated in a corner with windows all around, we started off with a Mai Tai then moved to this drink served in a boat so good, we has the ahi poke that was so fresh with avocado and cilantro & served with taro chips so delicious I could eat that all day! Ambience was chill and the staff was attentive. Will definitely go back again soon for dinner and views of the marina. read more

Such an iconic Bay Area establishment! I have come here many times, but this time I was able to enjoy their event space for a celebration of life. They had an open bar with beer and wine and the bartender was extremely nice and accommodating. The food was mid, nothing special for a buffet. The pork fried rice was the best thing they served. Great flavor and well done overall. The salad was basic and the pork sliders weren't special. Of course I had to have their famous Mai tai (how could I not), the bartender did a fantastic job. Every time I come the flavor's consistent and balanced. The bartender was also nice enough to let me try a sample of a drink he was making for another customer, delicious! If you're looking for a fun tiki bar/restaurant on the water with a nice view, this is the place. read more

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Do not come here, the "beef sliders " were so soggy they reminded me of a week old picnic sandwich. read more

Trader Vic's - The worst "beef slider I've ever seen: tasted the bread was so soggy, it reminded me of week old picnic sandwich - Hawaiian Near Me - Emeryville, California

Ambiance: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Food: 5/5 Drinks: 5/5 Price: 3/5 Parking: 4/5 Another great visit at Trader Vic's Emeryville! Hana was our server, and she did a great job! read more

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Drinks are great! Below average service. Views are amazing and tikka bar vibe. Calamari was very crispy and tasty. read more

Trader Vic's - Hawaiian Near Me - Emeryville, California

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So my boss was looking for a place for a Christmas party and we were trying to go somewhere different because the last two years we went to the same place. We were talking about going here since we both hadn't been here in a while so he called up to check on reserving a spot since there was going to be 17 of us. So he called and they told him he had to talk to a banquet manager or person because of the amount of people that were attending. So he called up and was talking to John and they're going back-and-forth and he was told that he'd have to leave a deposit around 2000 which she told him was no problem and that he wanted to do it. So my boss has been trying to get in touch with him so he could book it because it's going to be this Sunday, December 21. Well, he had left messages and they played phone tag a few times, but then my boss tried several more time with no answer. That is not the way that you do business, you have another business trying to book a Xmas party for its employees and you don't have the courtesy to accommodate them and return calls and book it for them. That restaurant definitely lost some business and future business. read more

Beautiful location, friendly servers, charming tiki-themed decor. Appetizer sampler platter + mai tais = mini vacation. Enjoy read more

Trader Vic's - Mai tais are life - Hawaiian Near Me - Emeryville, California

The tiki drinks here are incredible! Well balanced and refreshing. Got their original Mai tai, the cucu lada, and bumbu hunter and all 3 were delicious! Cucu lada was refreshing, the bumbu hunter was a nice spice and flavor of 4 different rums, and the OG mai tai was really solid. Our server was very attentive and amazing with suggestions. Got the beef Cho Cho and sweet potatoe fries to share. Would come back to try more drinks! read more

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After months of forgetting to snag a reservation at Trader Vic's until we're already on the freeway (whoops!), I finally planned ahead. We arrived early for drinks. My husband went classic with the original Mai Tai (still the best in the game), while I tried the non-alcoholic No Tai Mai Tai--nice enough, but heavy on the OJ. Dinner kicked off with the Cosmo Tidbits: a solid sampler of char siu pork, ribs, crab rangoons, and prawns. Everything was tasty, especially with the nose-tickling spicy mustard (I just love that stuff!). I ordered the chicken madras curry--great flavor, generous portion, but could've used more rice and slightly softer onions. The curry's sweet condiment tray (bananas, jam, coconut flakes, etc.) was quirky and I didn't experiment with most of it. My husband had the strip steak with mashed potatoes and panko-crusted creamed spinach--clean plate club despite his usual so-so attitude towards potatoes. I also tried the NA Lilikoi Sour, bright and tangy, with an aquafaba foam (would've loved egg white instead, but no biggie). Ambience is classic tiki--dim, tropical, and full of character. It's more upscale than kitschy, though the tables are packed a bit tight. Still, Trader Vic's nails the balance between historic charm and a polished experience. read more

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1st time back since their renovation, came in on a Saturday evening and were packed, full house. We were able to get a table in the bar area, which they served the same menu. The service and food was the same as usual, great tasting and fresh. I was a little disappointed to see that they took the Seafood Parillada off the menu, that was one of my favorites. Ahi Tuna Poke is always good here. Crab Rangoon to go and my daughter loved it. Macadamia Mahi Mahi was excellent, cook to perfection, and fresh!!! Grilles Salmon Caesar Salad was great with spiced cashew and Lemon Ginger Aioli. Oh, what can I say about the drinks, always good and made perfectly. read more

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An old classic that is a contemporary favorite! The view is fantastic, service is excellent, drinks are on point and the food is delicious. While the Atlanta Trader Vic's is a time capsule, Emeryville felt to me like a living timeline - history but also really yummy updated menu items and an energy level that was happy and upbeat. Our table tried a variety of rums, tiki drinks, and main dishes - all were delicious, as were the side salads. We really were impressed by the entire experience. read more

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2 Stars for the food, it's a really outdated menu. The pupu platter was just okay, the Bahn mi sandwich was on a ciabatta roll and was very dry. The ahi poke salad had way too much salad dressing on it. For the one elderly person in our party, they were delighted with the atmosphere and their lunch of appetizers and chicken. Went up to 3 stars as the staff was very nice, attentive, and handled the special requests from our lunch guest. With the reservation I asked for a quieter place. The restaurant had one other couple in it when we arrived for our noon reservation and we were stuck the corner in a round booth that blocked the view to the bay. And right under the speakers. WHY??? There were so many other places we could have been seated with more comfort, a better view, and without music blaring at you. Finally, I appreciate the accessible parking, first hour is free and then $2.50/hour thereafter. Made it very easy. We feel like this is probably a good place to get some drinks with umbrellas and look out at the bay. (If you can see it.) read more

What a treat! While we weren't greeted right away at the door, it didn't take too long for them to find us a seat. Afterwards service was good. I got the Koana puffer which was very good. I enjoyed it alot and the dropper of hard proof alcohol was a treat to sneak in. It's quite a sweet drink as Tiki drinks are, but overall I enjoyed it alot. Also had to get the original Mai Tai which was typical but a must-try per the menu. I enjoyed it but I didn't think recall much standing out to me. I am excited however to go back and try some of their other drinks! Everything on the menu looks great! read more

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Visited Trader Vic's as it was part of the in kind restaurants where you can use their giftcards. The food is very overpriced. We ordered from the happy hour menu and they were a good snack to accompany the cocktails but nothing too memorable. It is located right next to the water so you get a nice view if you grab a table by the window. The cocktails are fun to order. I love that they show you a photo of the cup the cocktail would arrive in. Drinks are overall sweet and tropical. Good place to come if you want to enjoy the sunset view and enjoy some Hawaiian vibes. read more

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My favorite tiki bar in the bay! I will say there are others that have more fun decor, but I think trader Vic's cocktails are higher quality than most. Skip the food but have the mai tai (or another fun drink). read more

Trader Vic's - Vegetarian fried rice - Hawaiian Near Me - Emeryville, California

Celebrated a friend's birthday here and had such a great time! Staff were all so friendly and flexible, we got there at 7 and were hoping to sit at the bar, but they were able to get our table ready so we were able to sit down early. The décor is so fun, definitely gets you in the mood to tiki tiki. We started with the beef chocho, calamari, and crab rangoons. I was surprised by how tasty everything was. The beef chocho was fun, you get to cook the medium rare meat over a fire. It had a great glaze and the meat was super tender. Calamari and crab rangoons were delish of course, and we all enjoyed them with our first round of drinks. I loved the fun cups and menu that showed exactly what you would get. I can't remember what drinks we ordered but all the ones I sampled were yummy, though some were stronger than others. For mains, I ended up sharing the wonton soup, eggplant stir fry, and fries. The mains were not as good as the apps, but I did think the fries were cooked really well, like better McDonald's fries. We ended the night with a scorpion bowl and a coffee drink on fire. We ended up being the last party there, but the staff didn't rush us out. Great dinner and even better place to celebrate a fun get-together! read more

Trader Vic's - Hawaiian Near Me - Emeryville, California

First time here - water view is beautiful and the end of the sunset was nice. Drink menu was overwhelming but the variety is great. We got the passion punch and the zombie. Thanks to the other yelper who recommended the banana whipped foam because that definitely elevated the passion punch. Service was friendly and he checked on us several times. Table next to us highly recommended the salmon which is specially smoked so will have to go back to try that! read more

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If you haven't been to Trader Vic's yet...what are you waiting for? When it comes to a Tiki bar with excellent drinks, there is no better place! The bar has incredible views of the marina and city. The servers are always very friendly and helpful! We always love coming here and going through their extensive drink list. read more

Trader Vic's - Veggie Burger - Hawaiian Near Me - Emeryville, California

Had the best wedding dinner here at Trader Vic's. Wanted to do a low budget wedding dinner with about 60 people and Trader Vic's made it happen with drinks. Food was absolutely amazing and everyone was talking about how good it was. The drinks were even better and the bartender made it happen. The service was amazing from the very beginning with Aaron, Jahn, and Claudia. They helped me with everything and double checked with everything as well. They even set up the tables perfect and it turned out so well. They helped me with any special request and made my wedding planning so much more easier. We did not do the ceremony here, but you definitely can. I can't wait to be able to come back on our anniversary every year to have a great dinner! THANK YOU! read more

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Nice little Tiki bar at Emeryville Marina. Staff were pleasant. Cute and tasty cocktails.! read more

Trader Vic's - Cute Cocktail - Hawaiian Near Me - Emeryville, California

We went with friends for a birthday happy hour. Perfect spot for this! & it's on the water! The Maui shrimp were sooooooo good we all said we'd be back just for those alone. Drinks were yummy & good sized & the cups were too cute! Server was great as well. We were thinking of buying tiki cups to take home but holy moly were they expensive. $47 for the cup I wanted. read more

Trader Vic's - Sea horse drink. It has strawberry and passion fruit it in. Very tasty - Hawaiian Near Me - Emeryville, California

This is a Classic Tiki Bar experience. They have amazing Virgin MaiTai's for me and Full Bar for you. Enjoyed the Poke read more

Trader Vic's - Poke apps - Hawaiian Near Me - Emeryville, California

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Great experience for our first time to Trader Vic's. Shaquille was a fantastic server and had great recommendations of the menu. The Cosmo Tidbits were a great starter with the Mai Tais and the Rendang Pork Shank was perfect to share read more

Trader Vic's - Cosmo Tidbits - Hawaiian Near Me - Emeryville, California

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After years of living in the East Bay, I never knew this restaurant existed. The views are amazing!! And the ambiance is warm and cozy. Service was attentive and welcoming. However, the food itself was just okay. I was recommended the salmon- I had high hopes for it being it was stated as one of the top dishes- it was so dry though! The steak was okay also, for being a signature item. The kids meal with shrimp and fries were good! My daughter was happy about that. And our fried cheese appetizer was good too. The drinks were nicely presented with umbrellas and all :) Mai tai was as expected. Overall, great atmosphere for happy hour and a cozy meal with views. Food wise, there are better options though! Very unique environment, and nice decor. read more

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