Mai-Kai is Fort Lauderdale history, and still a rum-soaked blast - Review - Miami - The Infatuation
"When Mai-Kai opened in 1956, a 21-year-old Elvis was dominating the Billboard charts, Ernest Borgnine had a great year at the Oscars, and Fort Lauderdale was getting its very first taste of drunken spring breakers. Everything (except the spring breakers) has changed since then, which makes the preservation of this epic tiki time capsule all the more impressive. video credit: Ryan Pfeffer video credit: Ryan Pfeffer video credit: Ryan Pfeffer Pause Unmute That rum-soaked history is why Mai-Kai is still a destination for tiki bar obsessives. Mai-Kai feels like walking into an old ship full of pirates who washed ashore 100 years ago and have been steadily drinking since. The dark, cavernous space is mostly made of wood, and an endless loop of water flows down the bar’s windows as if the entire property is trapped in a perpetual thunderstorm. Despite a renovation in late 2024, Mai-Kai still feels untouched by time and worthy of its place on the National Register of Historic Places. photo credit: Mai Kai photo credit: Mai Kai photo credit: Mai Kai photo credit: Mai Kai Pause Unmute The vaguely Polynesian and Southeast Asian food has never been the point of Mai-Kai—it's simply background noise to the nightly dinner show. You can just come here for happy hour at one of the two bars. The drinks are like a Super Soaker full of rum aimed directly at your mouth, and there’s usually a live band playing in the indoor bar. It’s fun. But, at least once, book a table for what purports to be “the longest running Polynesian dance show in the United States.” The show straddles a thoughtful line between entertainment and education, and it’s what makes Mai-Kai more than just a museum full of drunken dads in Hawaiian shirts. Food Rundown The Show Rather than a lazy, slapstick cultural parody—an all-too-common theme at American tiki establishments—Mai-Kai’s hour-long show has a cast made up of Pacific Islanders and people of Polynesian descent. It starts about 90 minutes after you’re seated and features traditional dances from different Polynesian cultures, a plethora of birthday shoutouts, and a healthy dose of fire. If you’re not too drunk, you’ll learn something. When you make a reservation, you have the option to pick your table. The dining room is huge and there are plenty of seats with bad views. Premium seating costs $33 per person and is truly worth the extra $10 so you can actually see what’s going on. PlayMute video credit: Ryan Pfeffer Barrel O’ Rum Mai-Kai rum barrels are a great way to ensure you’ll be the least productive version of yourself the next day. They’re supposed to come in a little barrel, but they were out of barrels by the time the bartender made ours. This was upsetting until we finished half of this drink, at which point it was impossible to do anything but smile like a goofball. photo credit: Ryan Pfeffer Tahitian Breeze An example of a more restrained Mai Kai cocktail, this drink is a surprisingly balanced blend of sugar, citrus, and rum. The glass also has a layer of crushed ice fused to the side. photo credit: Ryan Pfeffer Coconut Shrimp You sure taste the coconut—a little too much. It’s as if each shrimp were marinated in coconut sunscreen. PlayMute video credit: Ryan Pfeffer Lua Pork Belly Buns Squishy, messy, and perfectly fine for soaking up the rum in your system. photo credit: Ryan Pfeffer Chef’s Special Drunken Lobster Pad Thai Our server pushed this hard, and we’re glad he did. It’s got a respectable amount of lobster and noodles tossed in brown butter. One person could order this and be just fine. Big portions come in handy at a restaurant with drinks this strong. PlayMute video credit: Ryan Pfeffer Thai Beef Salad Stay away from this bland, mushy beef salad that is about as far from Thailand as Mai-Kai is from Hawaii. photo credit: Ryan Pfeffer The Parking Situation Mai-Kai is valet-only, and on a busy Saturday night, the line of cars at the entrance can back up onto Federal Highway. If this stresses you out, arrive early and kill time with a drink at the bar. Or do the easiest option: order a ride from one of those apps on your phone. PlayMute video credit: Ryan Pfeffer" - Ryan Pfeffer
