"When we were kids, we looked to places like Rainforest Cafe for an immersive tropical experience while living in Texas. These days, we head to Tiki Tatsu-Ya on South Lamar. From the street, you’ll see a bright yellow sign advertising a fictional travel agency, which makes sense because the space inside will transport you to what feels like a Polynesian resort. There’s a beach house upstairs and a mysterious cave downstairs, both equipped with festive bars shaking up hyper-potent rum-based potions. Just remember, those drinks hit a lot different now than when you were 22 and had the metabolism of a small cheetah." - nicolai mccrary
"When we were kids, we looked to places like Rainforest Cafe for an immersive, tropical experience while living in Texas. These days, we just head to Tiki Tatsu-Ya on South Lamar. From the street, you’ll see a sign advertising a fictional travel agency. But inside is the bar equivalent of a tropical resort—with a beach house upstairs, and a mysterious cave downstairs, both equipped with full bars shaking up hyper-potent rum-based potions. And if the name wasn’t an indicator, this is from the folks that brought you Ramen Tatsu-Ya, Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, and DipDipDip Tatsu-Ya, so you know there’s a strong attention to food that combines Japanese, Hawaiian, and Polynesian influences." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion
"Themed bars are nothing new for Austin, but Tiki Tatusu-ya goes above and beyond. There’s a beach house upstairs, and if you descend into the mysterious cave downstairs, you’ll find a space that looks like a set from Legends of The Hidden Temple. The drink menu folds like a giant pop-up book, and you should focus your attention on the large format drinks, which come out with flickering lights, trailing smoke, and thunder sound effects. Order one to share with bendy straws, along with plenty of snacks like the stacked pu pu platter and teriyaki glazed foie gras musubi." - anne cruz
"A tiki wonderland adjacent to the ramen spot, offering a fun, themed late-night experience." - Courtney E. Smith
"Not able to pull off a beach getaway this weekend? This South Lamar tiki bar is the next best thing. Be transported to a tropical paradise at Tiki Tatsu-ya, which features elaborate decor (think rumbling volcanos), Polynesian-inspired pupu platters, creative island cocktails, and a lively atmosphere. A fun way to close out the week, Tiki Tastu-ya is open until 10 p.m. on Sundays." - Darcie Duttweiler