Tiki Bar Near Me in Long Beach: The Bamboo Club Experience

The Bamboo Club opened its doors on East Anaheim Street in March 2019, built out by legendary fourth-generation tiki designer Bamboo Ben Bassham to bring authentic Polynesian pop craftsmanship back to Long Beach. When searching for a lively, food-forward tiki bar near me in southern Los Angeles County, this sprawling destination at 3522 E Anaheim St blends classic mid-century island decor with an expansive outdoor dining patio and a serious culinary program. The dimly lit interior features intricate thatch roofing, glowing green pufferfish lanterns, bamboo-paneled booths, and a central bar stocked with rare rums and house-made tropical syrups. Unlike traditional cocktail caves with sparse snacks, The Bamboo Club pairs its tropical mixology with hearty Pacific Rim comfort food.

The design of The Bamboo Club pays homage to Southern California's foundational role in tiki history, drawing direct inspiration from mid-century Polynesian landmarks. Designer Bamboo Ben sourced authentic materials, carving custom wooden tiki poles and framing the seating booths with sturdy structural bamboo. Vintage travel posters, maritime netting, and woven wicker fixtures lend the dining room an inviting, layered warmth that feels historic rather than theatrical. The space reflects the distinct energy of Long Beach's Zafaria neighborhood, creating an inclusive community meeting ground where neighbors, musicians, and cocktail connoisseurs mingle comfortably.

Beyond the atmospheric main barroom lies a spacious outdoor garden patio shaded by leafy palms and heated during cooler ocean evenings. This open-air terrace allows guests to enjoy sunny daytime lunches and breezy cocktail sessions under the coastal sky. The music programming ranges from vintage exotica, cumbia, and Hawaiian slack-key guitar during the day to lively vinyl DJ sets and acoustic performances on weekend evenings, infusing the venue with a dynamic rhythm that evolves as night approaches.

The culinary menu at The Bamboo Club goes far beyond basic bar appetizers, offering thoughtfully executed island classics and Asian-inspired comfort plates. A perennial favorite among diners is the traditional Loco Moco, priced at $17, featuring a six-ounce seasoned beef patty smothered in rich house-made beef gravy, topped with a sunny-side-up fried egg and crispy wontons over steamed white rice, with a popular vegan mushroom-patty version available at the same price. Seafood lovers frequently order the Ahi Steak Plate for $22, showcasing blackened ahi steak seared rare alongside charred broccolini and white rice.

Meat lovers can indulge in the Crispy Pork Belly Plate for $23, served with savory Shoyu barbecue glaze, unagi macaroni salad, and broccolini, or the Grilled Chicken Plate for $19, featuring charbroiled Huli Huli chicken and pineapple teriyaki. Sandwich lovers often opt for the Thai Tea Brined Fried Chicken Sandwich for $18, topped with coconut chili slaw and spicy mayo on a toasted bun, or the comforting Three Cheese Grilled Cheese on sourdough for $14.

Tacos are equally popular, including the Baja Style Fish Tacos for $17, featuring fried cod and pickled serranos. Drink pricing features classic Mai Tais, Painkillers, and Navy Grogs ranging from $14 to $16.

The hospitality model at The Bamboo Club accommodates both casual neighborhood drop-ins and planned dining outings. The venue opens at 3:00 pm from Monday through Thursday and begins early at 11:00 am from Friday through Sunday with dedicated lunch specials. If you plan to visit on a Friday or Saturday evening, arriving between 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm guarantees immediate seating on the patio or at the interior bar booths before the post-dinner rush sets in. By 8:00 pm on weekends, the bar transforms into a lively social scene with vinyl DJs spinning funk, soul, and exotica.

For parties seeking a relaxed conversational setting, the patio tables offer comfortable spacing where you can savor entrees without feeling hurried. The service staff is knowledgeable and attentive, happily explaining the rum profiles behind custom concoctions and accommodating dietary substitutions. If wait times for indoor tables exceed forty-five minutes during peak weekend dinner services, grabbing an open standing spot on the patio while enjoying a cocktail offers a pleasant way to wait.

Positioned along East Anaheim Street near Redondo Avenue, The Bamboo Club serves as an ideal anchor for exploring the quiet, green neighborhoods of East Long Beach. Just three blocks east sits Recreation Park 18 Golf Course and Park, a historic 1920s municipal park filled with mature eucalyptus trees, lawn bowling greens, and rolling fairways. Taking an afternoon stroll along the paved walking paths surrounding the golf course or visiting the historic Billie Jean King Tennis Center offers a tranquil prelude to dinner.

Alternatively, heading two miles south along Redondo Avenue leads directly to the scenic Long Beach coastline and the lively Belmont Shore corridor along 2nd Street. Wandering through Belmont Shore's clothing boutiques, independent bookshops, and coastal pastry cafes before heading north along Redondo Avenue to East Anaheim Street creates a well-rounded Long Beach excursion that culminates in tropical cocktails under the bamboo thatch.

Practical Notes: The Bamboo Club is located at 3522 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804, situated between Obispo Avenue and Redondo Avenue in the Zafaria District. Operating hours run Monday through Thursday from 3:00 pm to 12:00 am, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 am to 2:00 am, and Sunday from 11:00 am to 12:00 am, with weekend lunch specials served from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Main entrees range from $17 to $23, sandwiches and tacos are priced between $14 and $18, and specialty tropical cocktails cost between $14 and $16. Credit cards, debit cards, and contactless digital payments are accepted.

Parking is available in a dedicated surface lot located directly behind the building, accessible via the alleyway off Obispo Avenue, supplemented by metered and unmetered street parking along Anaheim Street and surrounding residential cross streets. Long Beach Transit operates regular bus service along the 41, 45, and 46 lines, stopping directly in front of the venue at Anaheim and Obispo. Combining museum-quality bamboo architecture with exceptional Hawaiian comfort fare, The Bamboo Club stands as one of the premier tropical dining destinations in Los Angeles County.