There are some places in Las Vegas that I know I’ll eventually end up – no matter how many trips to Vegas it takes for me to eventually get there. The Golden Tiki had been on my radar for years. But for some reason, I just hadn’t made my way over to Chinatown for a good hang.
However, while in my Lyft on my way to the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas from the airport, I got into a great conversation with my driver about Las Vegas' Chinatown. Combined with my friend Terrin's suggestion of trying Weera Thai, which actually had a Chinatown location (Weera Thai - Chinatown), and I was set for dinner and liquid desert.
It was a rather pleasant walk down Spring Mountain Road from Weera Thai to The Golden Tiki. Once I arrived, I showed the doorman my ID and made my way inside.
To start, I ordered a TAI DYE (Bettie Page Rum, Jamaican Rum, Dry Curacao, Prickly Pear, Orgeat, Lemon), a Mai Tai hybrid by Ojafter School Special, was a solid way to open up the night.
I asked for light ice, so I could actually taste the drink vs a watered down version. My bartender complied and gave it to me in a smaller glass, which I appreciated. Sometimes, I actually want to taste what I’m drinking.
The visuals of the evening were so much fun. Between the burlesque dancers and the band, I felt that I’d stepped into a full and complete vibe and was happily strapped in, enjoying the ride.
To close out the night, I finished with the Navy Grog (One of our stronger cocktails, Ron Barcelo Añejo, El Dorado 5 year, Bounty White, Kuleana Hui Hui, lime, grapefruit, & honey)
They set that bitch on fire in front of me for dramatic effect – and I loved every second.
At once point, a guy came up to me and asked if I was going to play the gambling machine in front of me. After I said no, he asked if I could scoot over so that he could play next to his wife. I was solidly amused. He called himself a degenerate gambler and I knew I was in for a show.
I watched him put $100 into the machine, along with his Player Card. I saw him win up to $150, and then I saw him slowly but surely drop all the way down to $1. At one point, he told me that his wife had won $1,000 the other day from the keno game. But, all I could see was a person chasing a high of “almost winning” and engaging in the cycle of “maybe this next one will be it.”
As I grew up traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for my mom to gamble on the slot machines, I was well versed in this thinking.
I also heard a frustrated bartender show off a final bill in which a patron tipped $20 on a $350 tab. It made me reflect on how tipping culture has completely shifted the expectations of the service industry. It’s very interesting how tipping is expected now, as a fulfillment of paying a persons salary instead of a compliment of well rendered service.
The Golden Tiki
3939 Spring Mountain RoadLas Vegas, Nevada 89102
