Honolulu Weekly

If there was one thing not to like about Shack Hawai’i Kai, it’s that it was too far away, particularly on Thirsty Thursday, when all draft beers are $2. On those days, it’s impossible to keep your intake to just one or two. Too many friends, too many people to meet, too many playful insults to exchange with the staff, and come on–the beers are two dollars each. Not for an hour, not for the early pau hana crowd or the late night service industry, but all freaking evening, from 6pm until closing. Ultimately, a discount night of drinks often turned into a very expensive cab ride back to Waikiki.

Well, it’s time to apologize to the taxi drivers. We know the economy is hitting you hard right now. We feel it too. So why not join us in town, because Shack Waikiki is finally open for business in the Waikiki Trade Center, and the Thirsty Thursday special has come along with it.

How is it? In a word, and without hyperbole: Glorious. The other Shack locations have that–shall we say–lived-in look. A bit too true to their moniker, if you will. The newest location melds the kitsch atmosphere with the overblown spectacle fitting for the world’s most famous beachfront, and it never feels like pandering to the tourists. Shack Waikiki has all the things that are necessary for a great local spot. No cover charge, at least before the band starts, great atmosphere, and at least on Thursday, two-dollar Newcastle. Or Bass. Or Mirror Pond. Or any other pick of the 24 beers they have on draft. Hell, this might be the only time you could order a Bud Light in my presence and not be ridiculed. It is, after all, only two bucks. (Then again, so is Guinness, or Blue Moon or Sam Adams.)

Of course, as with all Shack locations, there’s the food with the sandwiches and salads, burgers and fresh fish. But there is also $2 Newcastle and a person in these tough economic times has to have priorities. Isn’t that right, Mister Taxi Driver?

But we mentioned that there’s one thing we didn’t like about the Hawai’i Kai location, so it’s only fair to nitpick for the new spot.

We got nothing. Bar big enough to find a seat? Check. Alcoves to sneak away from the big crowds? Yep. Touch screens for the bored, anti-social or lonely? Gotcha. Pool tables? Oh yeah. And did we mention the $2 Newcastle? If there’s anything that can possibly be bad about the place it’s that it’s destined to be so popular that you’re bound to run into that crazy ex you’ve been trying to avoid. Even so, the place is big enough where you can keep away from them. All in all, it’s a near-perfect experience. At least, however, until we finally pried ourselves away from the tables, five Newcastles later, and headed for the bathroom, which was shamefully located outside the restaurant and down a dark hall and locked, forcing us to attempt to remember a three-digit code. That made us realize that perhaps $2 Newcastle, or at least five $2 Newcastles, might not be such a good idea.

The Shack Waikiki
Thirsty Thursdays

2255 Kuhio Ave., Waikiki Trade Center

Getting in: 6pm–2am.
Dress code: Super casual.
Soundtrack: Reggae and island tilt.
Sightings: Every bartender we’ve ever met.
Signature drink: With drafts at $2 each, it’s easy to try new things.