Garden of Tiki

[thekillingwax]

We were chatting the other day and this place came up. Anyone remember it? It was in the strip across from Regency that now houses TJ Max, Burlington Coat Factory and Carabba's. I ate there several times and while it was a fairly typical chinese buffet, the food was always excellent and the decor was very unusual. You came in over a little bridge on top of a koi pond and I swear all the lights were red in there- I remember not being able to identify some of the stuff on the buffet because of the deep red lighting and that just kinda added to the fun of the place.

My absolute favorite chinese place was the Little Dragon on Main St. One place I've always seen but have been more than a little scared to go to was Chopstick Charley's on Phillips. They usually have an open sign on their door but I never see any cars there and it seems like it's the front office for one of those lovely "adults only" motels. Anyone been brave enough to go there?

[cayohueso]

Chopstick Charley's at the world famous Joe Hotel. I'm not sure, but that place looks like it would be a doorway into some kind of alternate universe like "Big Trouble In Little China".

[thekillingwax]

It's a very odd place. I just looked them up on the Florida Licensing portal and it seems that they are in fact still a real place, at least as of 9/09. I guess I might have to man up and just go try it one day. They've been there forever.

[Charles Hunter]

I remember Garden of Tiki - at there a few times.  Did you ever see the Polynesian Review there?  Swords and fire and dancers.

[Miss Fixit]

My absolute favorite chinese place was the Little Dragon on Main St. One place I've always seen but have been more than a little scared to go to was Chopstick Charley's on Phillips. They usually have an open sign on their door but I never see any cars there and it seems like it's the front office for one of those lovely "adults only" motels. Anyone been brave enough to go there?

I ate at chopstick charley's when I first moved to Jacksonville, about 20 years ago, when I was very young and apparently very stupid.  I don't remember much about the experience; I never returned and now when I drive by I shudder to think I ever dared to go inside. 

[thekillingwax]

I remember Garden of Tiki - at there a few times.  Did you ever see the Polynesian Review there?  Swords and fire and dancers.

No, I didn't even know they did that. Very cool!

[cayohueso]

Does anyone remember the Hale Kau Kau Polynesian restaurant that was on Blanding Blvd, about 1 mile north of I-295? The building is still there and is now a used car dealer (next to Duval Acura I believe)
They had pretty good food, even though I was a kid and probably just ate the hamburgers. That was always my Dad's favorie restaurant.

[Charles Hunter]

I remember them, too.  At the time, it seemed like it was waaay out - away from everything.

[floridaforester]

Garden of Tiki was my absolute favorite as a kid.  I think I requested it for my birthday dinner several years in a row.  It was like a Polynesian escape in a Regency stripmall.  Pretty cool for a 10 yr old boy- especially the Tahitian dancers   beat the hell out of Showbiz Pizza or Chuck E Cheese.

[TheCat]

I remember garden of tiki and loved it.

[TheCat]

Is there a legit Chinese buffet in town?

The only one I've been to in the last year is O-Town Chinese buffet. The food was fresh. They have a mongolian grill and "sushi".

Reasonably priced.

Good reviews on yelp:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/o-town-buffet-jacksonville

[jagswinjagswin]

I ate at Garden of Tiki several times in the 90's. My ex-wife use to work at a Bridal place in that shopping center right next door if I remember correctly.

There are 2 Chinese buffets I frequent. There is a newish Chinese buffet in the same shopping plaza as Tiki was just further down. IMO it has the best sushi of any buffet I have ever eaten and better than a few sushi places I've eaten here in town. The rest of the food is average at best IMO. I go for the sushi though so, I frequent it often. I believe it's called Sakura Buffet. The other one is just down the street in the shopping plaza where Hobby lobby and the outback is. Sushi is pretty good and the other food is pretty good too. Check out either if you are looking for a good one.