The Shameful Tiki Room opened in March 2013 at 4362 Main Street and has run near capacity most weekends since. Fifty seats, 1,200 square feet, no windows, no clocks.
Founder Rod Moore built it as a faithful midcentury tiki room, not a theme bar. He sold in May 2023 to A Tribe Called Zest, led by Jason Laidlaw, who had already worked the room for seven years (Daily Hive).
The handover changed nothing a regular would notice. The gong still sounds every time a Mystery Bowl leaves the bar.
The Georgia Straight's tenth anniversary profile traced Moore's period detail obsession, and the room proves it. Phones look wrong in here, which is the point.
The food is support, not the show. Reviewers across Yelp and Tripadvisor agree: arrive fed and drink the menu.
Lineups form before the 5pm open on Friday and Saturday. Most seats stay walk in; the few reservations go by email.
Budget roughly $138 for four with a platter and a round of bowls, per Tripadvisor reviewers.
Cards accepted. The room seats 50 and holds the line at capacity, so groups of six or more should email shamefultikireso@gmail.com well ahead.
What to order
- 01
Mystery Bowl, about $22
- 02
Zombie
- 03
Volcano Bowl