Alby Zatkoff and Mark Fries set out on a mission –
Find the best Mai Tai around Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.
A comprehensive scale was developed with a complicated scoring formula...
But, the more Mai Tais we drank the more complicated the scoring seemed.
Here are the results starting with the best and ending with some sad renditions of the popular drink.
Legend
Garnish is edible material
Junk is inedible decorations
Size is a guess usually dictation by the glass
Flavor can be tricky, but worth discussing
Alcohol has been given a scale: 1 is weak – 5 is too strong, prefer 3.5 4.5
#1 – The “Guy” Tai at the Chart House
Cost : $6.00 at Happy Hour (until 7pm and after 11pm). Chart House glass available for extra $3.00
Garnish: Cherry, lime wedge, orange slice and fresh mint
Junk: none
Size: 16 oz.
Flavor: Not watery at all, good spice, finished sour (as it should)
Alcohol: 4
Reviewed by: Alby & Mark on 03/02/09
Comments: Best I’ve ever had (Mark). Overlooking marina. Bar tables are recommended. Food is cheaper than in the restaurant, and tables are at windows. Guy, the inventor, commented that he uses Bacardi Silver rum and Myer’s dark rum on the top. He makes all the juices and simple syrup from scratch.
#2 – The Mai Tai at the Room Without a Key– Halekalani Hotel
Cost: $12.00
Garnish: Fresh mint, lime wedge
Junk: Sugar cane stirrer, orchid flower
Size: 10 oz.
Flavor: Very good lime flavor. Appropriate sour finish.
Alcohol: 4 (generous pour)
Reviewed by: Alby & Mark on 03/05/09
Comments: Frosted glass with lots of crushed ice. Lisa was one of the best waitresses we had. Beautiful location with a wonderful sunset view. “Evening resort wear” required – tennis shoes ok, but need dressy shirt and shorts.
#3 – The Mai Tai at the Elegant Dive – Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach
Cost : $9.00
Garnish: Pineapple (unpeeled), lime wedge
Junk: Paper umbrella, orchid flower
Size: 12 oz.
Flavor: Great flavor. Very fruity with sour finish.
Alcohol: 3
Reviewed by: Alby & Mark on 03/03/09
Comments: Drink finished stronger (alcohol) at the end. Beautiful location over the Waikiki Beach with friendly staff.
#4 – The Mai Tai at the Mai Tai Bar – The Royal Hawaiian Hotel
Cost : $10
Garnish: Pineapple (peeled), cherry, lime wedge
Junk: Paper umbrella
Size: 8 oz.
Flavor: Good, not too sweet
Alcohol: 2.5
Reviewed by: Alby & Mark on 02/27/09
Comments: Classic location, hula band played in background.
#5 – The Mai Tai at Duke’s Restaurant
Cost : $7.00
Garnish: Lime wedge, pineapple (unpeeled)
Junk: None
Size: 8 oz.
Flavor: Strong pineapple juice taste. Good finish.
Alcohol: 3.5
Reviewed by: Mark on 03/03/09
Comments: Great beach location. Darkest color of all.
#6 – The Mai Tai at Keo’s Thai Restaurant
Cost : $6.50
Garnish: Cherry, pineapple (unpeeled)
Junk: Paper umbrella
Size: 8 oz.
Flavor: good, needs to be a bit more sour
Alcohol : 3.5
Reviewed by: Alby & Mark on 03/01/09
Comments : Great restaurant, but stay away from the stuffed boneless chicken app – rice flour coating is hard as a rock, and the interior was so hot it burned.
#7 – The Mai Tai at Chuck’s Steakhouse
Cost : $7.00
Garnish: Pineapple (unpeeled), lime wedge
Junk: none
Size: 8 oz.
Flavor: sweet, watery
Alcohol : 3
Reviewed by: Alby & Mark on 02/28/09
Comments : Music is VERY loud and plays from 4pm – 1 am. Bar menu available.
#8 – The Mai Tai at Harbor Pub
Cost: $3.75 at Happy Hour
Garnish: Cherry (with a very funky taste – don’t eat it Alby may have got food poisoning from it!)
Junk (inedible presentation material) : none
Size: 8 oz.
Flavor: Good fruit finish
Alcohol: 3.5
Reviewed by: Alby & Mark on 03/02/09
Comments: Deeper orange color than any other we tasted. This was the only waitress to ask how we liked them. Very much a “boating” crowd, given proximity to marina. Interesting characters. We saw a woman dressed in a gown and white feather boa celebrating her 66th wedding anniversary with her husband!
#9 – The Mai Tai at the Shore Bird Restaurant and Beach Bar
Cost: $7.50
Garnish: lime wedge, cherry, unpeeled pineapple
Junk: paper umbrella
Size: 8 oz.
Flavor : lacking, bland unripe pineapple
Alcohol: 1.5
Reviewed by: Alby & Mark on 03/01/09
Comments: “got worse as it went on” (Mark)
#10 – The Mai Tai at the Yard House Restaurant
Cost: $9.25
Garnish: Pineapple (unpeeled) and cherry.
Junk: none
Size: 16 oz.
Flavor: Overwhelmingly strong coconut flavor, likely using Malibu Rum. Very sweet.
Alcohol: 3.5
Reviewed by : Alby & Mark on 03/05/09
Comments : Very orange/caramel color.
#11 – The Mai Tai at Hula’s Lei Stand
Cost: $6.50
Garnish: Pineapple (unpeeled and so big it overwhelmed the glass)
Junk: none
Size: 16 oz.
Flavor: watery
Alcohol : 2
Reviewed by: Alby & Mark on 02/28/09
Comments: Don’t feel an overwhelming need to ever return. Great location across from the beach, zoo and park. Bar overlooks Diamond Head.
Comments: “the view is better than the drink” (Alby)