Overview
South Shore Tiki Lounge is a casual bar-and-restaurant in central Kīhei, in Kihei Kalama Village on South Maui. Google lists it as operational at 1913-J S Kihei Rd, with a budget-friendly price level, strong review volume, and a mixed bar-and-food identity rather than a pure sit-down restaurant. The official site describes it as a tiki lounge with kitchen service, cocktails, live music, and late-night bar hours. (southshoretiki.com)
For a traveler, this is the kind of place that matters if you want an easygoing stop near the beach, with a broad menu, tiki drinks, and nightlife energy in one place. It also appears to be a known local hangout, not just a tourist stop: the site emphasizes community events, DJs, dancing, and a lanai-heavy setup, while review patterns suggest it works best for people who like a lively, informal setting. (southshoretiki.com)
Cuisine & Specialties
The food skews toward bar fare with an island-leaning, crowd-pleasing menu: pizza, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, salads, pupus, and a few vegetarian and vegan items. The drinks are a major part of the draw, especially tiki cocktails, mai tais, rum drinks, and blended tropical drinks. The official menu also shows a fairly wide range of pizza styles and toppings, plus local Maui ingredients in some items. (southshoretiki.com)
- Overall menu style: casual bar food with pizza as a core anchor, plus burgers, sandwiches, seafood-leaning plates, snacks, and tiki cocktails. (southshoretiki.com)
- Notable specialties:
- Tiki Style Mai Tai — the site calls this the signature drink. (southshoretiki.com)
- ‘Da Hawaiian pizza — red sauce, Maui pineapple, and Canadian bacon; explicitly described as the signature pizza. (southshoretiki.com)
- Sweet Kalua pizza — BBQ sauce, kalua pork, pineapple, and green onions. (southshoretiki.com)
- Surf’s Up pizza — Hawaiian sausage, goat cheese, basil, and truffle oil. (southshoretiki.com)
- TBone’s Famous Sliders — Maui beef or BBQ pork sliders. (southshoretiki.com)
- Coconut shrimp, fish & chips, tropical tacos, shrimp ceviche — these show a seafood and beach-snack lane alongside the bar staples. (southshoretiki.com)
- Price range / spend: Google’s price level 1 and the menu prices suggest a generally budget-to-moderate check, with many appetizers and drinks in the roughly $8–$18 range and pizzas around $11–$35 depending on size and style. (tripadvisor.com)
- Dietary usefulness / limitations: there are clearly labeled vegetarian and vegan options, including a vegan dog, vegetarian burger, hummus bowl, and vegan chili. That said, this is still fundamentally a bar/pizza menu, so it looks more accommodating than specialized. (southshoretiki.com)
Notable Features & Ambiance
South Shore Tiki Lounge is set up like a social hangout rather than a formal dining room: bar seating, a lanai, live music, and late-night DJs are part of the identity. The official site gives a clear picture of a small indoor bar paired with a much larger outdoor lanai, which matches the review pattern of a lively, casual place where people linger after the beach or come specifically for the vibe. (southshoretiki.com)
- Service model and seating: counter/bar-forward service with indoor bar seating and outdoor lanai seating; the site lists capacity at 23 inside and 87 outside. (southshoretiki.com)
- Atmosphere and decor: tiki-themed, relaxed, and nightlife-friendly; sources mention tiki glasses, tiki torches, DJs, dancing, and live music. (southshoretiki.com)
- Practical features: kid and dog friendly, free Wi‑Fi, live music in the late afternoon, and DJs on selected nights. (southshoretiki.com)
- Best fit: happy hour, a casual beach-town dinner, drinks with friends, or a low-pressure night out that can run into the evening. (southshoretiki.com)
- Weaker fit: travelers wanting a quiet, polished, reservation-driven dinner or a highly refined food experience may find it too busy, loud, or casual. This is an inference from the venue’s stated entertainment posture and review patterns, not a direct claim by the restaurant. (southshoretiki.com)
History & Background
The most meaningful background signal is that the restaurant has been operating for years as part of the Kihei Kalama Village scene and has built a long public identity around tiki culture, pizza, and nightlife. The press page shows repeated local awards and media mentions dating back more than a decade, and a 2010 newspaper excerpt references owner Mikhail Tassi describing a reset of the business and a focus on local ingredients. Beyond that, the official site does not present a full ownership timeline or chef biography. (southshoretiki.com)
Review Sentiment Snapshot
What People Love
Review patterns consistently point to the same strengths: a fun tiki atmosphere, live music, friendly or welcoming staff in many reports, and food that works well as casual beach-town fare. Pizza comes up repeatedly as a reliable choice, and several reviewers like the combination of patio seating, drinks, and relaxed island energy. Some secondary mentions also frame it as a place people return to for happy hour and evening hanging out. (tripadvisor.com)
Common Gripes
The main downside signal is service inconsistency, especially on busier nights: multiple reviews mention slow seating, long waits, and food taking a while to arrive. A few reviewers also describe food quality as uneven or only so-so, including orders arriving cold or incorrect. These complaints appear recurring rather than isolated, though they are balanced by many positive reviews, so the negative signal is best read as a real but not universal operational risk. (tripadvisor.com)
Practical Visitor Tips
- Hours: the official site says the kitchen is open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m., with the bar open until midnight; Google’s listing is similar, though it shows slightly different late-night closing patterns on some days, so checking before going is sensible. (southshoretiki.com)
- Best time to go: earlier for a calmer meal, later if you want music or a nightlife feel. The site lists live music 4–6 p.m. and DJs/dancing on select nights. (southshoretiki.com)
- Expectations: it looks like a mostly walk-in, casual place rather than a reservation-heavy restaurant. The available sources emphasize bar and lanai seating, not reservation policies. (southshoretiki.com)
- Location: it sits in Kihei Kalama Village, across from the whale statue and Kalama Park playground, which makes it easy to pair with nearby shopping or a beach outing. (southshoretiki.com)
- Crowd / timing caveat: if you go at peak dinner or entertainment times, expect possible waits and slower service. That caution is well supported by review patterns. (tripadvisor.com)
- Good use case: a post-beach meal, happy hour stop, or casual group outing where atmosphere matters as much as the food. (tripadvisor.com)
Verification Notes
- Official name, address, and phone line up across Google and the restaurant’s site: South Shore Tiki Lounge, 1913-J S. Kihei Rd. / 1913-J S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753, (808) 874-6444. (southshoretiki.com)
- The website uses southshoretiki.com; Google also lists that same domain. (southshoretiki.com)
- Google marks the business as operational, and the official site is active with current menu and info pages. (tripadvisor.com)
- Minor hours drift exists between Google and the restaurant site, especially around late-night closing. (southshoretiki.com)
Sources
- South Shore Tiki Lounge official Info page —
https://www.southshoretiki.com/about/— retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for address, phone, hours, amenities, capacity, and identity confirmation. - South Shore Tiki Lounge official homepage/menu —
https://www.southshoretiki.com/— retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for menu structure, specific dishes, and price examples. - South Shore Tiki Lounge official cocktails page —
https://www.southshoretiki.com/cocktails/— retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for signature drinks and drink pricing. - South Shore Tiki Lounge official press/reviews page —
https://www.southshoretiki.com/press-reviews/— retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for historical background, awards, and older media references. - Tripadvisor restaurant listing and review excerpts —
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60632-d1020744-Reviews-South_Shore_Tiki_Lounge-Kihei_Maui_Hawaii.html— retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for current traveler sentiment, service complaints, and broad review patterns. - Tripadvisor attraction/review listing —
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60632-d5842826-Reviews-South_Shore_Tiki_Lounge-Kihei_Maui_Hawaii.html— retrieved 2026-04-01. Most useful for atmosphere, patio, and happy-hour style visitor impressions.
