Suzie Wong’s Hideaway: Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Suzie Wong’s is a must visit for any dive bar lovers visiting Honolulu
Situated past the Waikiki strip, hiding behind a 7/11, sits my favorite dive bar of all time: Suzie Wong’s Hideaway.
In 2021, I spent three months living in a hostel in Honolulu, HI. That summer was amazing: I met so many people and together we went hiking, partying and spent days relaxing on the beach. But I spent the week looking forward to Thursday night, the night my new friend group and I declared “Suzie Thursdays.”
There’s so many great things about Suzie Wong’s, starting from the moment you enter the janky parking lot. Don’t let the dilapidating buildings surrounding the bar deceive you, in the center of the parking lot you’ll find the best burger you can get on Oahu. The burger comes from the food truck, Ty’s Food Truck, that sits to the left of the entrance to Suzie Wong’s.
Ran by Ty and his dad Steve, Ty’s food truck serves up some of the best cheeseburgers on the island. I’m no chef, nor do I consider myself a burger connoisseur, but Ty’s burgers are full of flavor and consistently cooked to perfection. I’ll admit, some nights when I’m missing Hawaii I dream of this burger.
Once you place your order at Ty’s food truck, there’s no need to wait outside for the food to be ready. Steve will shortly come shuffling inside with your order once it’s done.
The moment you enter the neon green and pink bar, you’ll immediately be mesmerized by the zany decor hanging up on the walls. From a massive Wrigley Field sign to a shark with a Santa hat on, just thinking about the eclectic atmosphere brings a smile to my face.
It’s not just the diverse decorations that grabs your attention, but also the diversity of the crowd. At one table you’ll find elderly Native Hawaiians winding down with a Kona beer after a long day at work; at another you’ll see a group of sorority girls just getting the night started. Suzie Wong’s truly is a place for everyone to feel comfortable to go to at the end of a long day or the start of a long night.
After finding a seat at one of the metal barstools or wooden tables, now comes the fun part: the drinks. There’s no set menu, so sticking to a beer or basic cocktail will do, but if you come on a weekend you’ll meet Patrick who can mix up something special for you.
Patrick, a former law enforcement agent and bar owner, makes drinks like no other. As someone who never knows what I want, typically defaulting to a vodka cranberry, I never worry when ordering a new drink from Patrick. Usually I just say “give me something sweet” and he’ll serve up some sweet alcoholic concoction. 9 out of 10 times the drink is a hit, but if not he’ll make me something new, free of charge.
Oh, did I mention the most expensive drink at Suzie Wong’s is $9?
Traveling around Hawaii for 3 months, nearly 5000 miles away from my home in New York, took a lot out of me. There were so many ups and downs; from seeing breathtaking views to having to camp because I couldn’t afford a hostel, but Suzie Wong’s remained the one place where I could go to relax, unwind and have fun.
Although I was ways away from New York, sitting around the wooden table, sipping my sweet drink and eating a cheeseburger with a group of strangers turned lifelong friends made me feel right at home.
