The Hula Hula Room

Taking over an old Torrance dive bar, the relatively new Hula Hula Room is one of the only tiki bars in the South Bay—unless you count the intermittently opened Hale Hawaii Lounge, which opens only when the owner feels like setting up shop. The narrow strip mall space is fully decked out with a thatched roof over the bar and wicker panels, and the tightly curated drinks menus include a mai tai, Navy grog, a zombie and a painkiller. The house creations are delicious as well, from the bright blue Pali Highway Sunset to the booze-free Hawaii or Bust, a nonalcoholic version of a blue Hawaiian. The space isn’t the most over-the-top in terms of tiki decor, but the excellent bartending and relaxed locals’ crowd at the Hula Hula Room more than makes up for it, not to mention the relatively easy ability to walk in.