Charles’ 
Slide of the Week: January 27th, 2005
Bali Hai Restaurant, Shelter Isle, San Diego, 1962
On the marquee: EXOTIC CANTONESE CUISINE - DANCING TONIGHT - POLYNESIAN FLOOR SHOW. Near the marquee: A 1959 Rambler.
Last week I couldn’t leave San Diego without enjoying a tiki-taste-treat sensation of the highest order — the lunch buffet at the Bali Hai. Architecturally the restaurant is a cross between a Tiki hut and a flying saucer.
You may arrive by boat. They have a dock. It is on Shelter Isle after all. But I arrived by car. The first thing you notice when you get out of the car is what they call “The Goof” on the roof. Upon closer inspection he seems to be half man-half tiki donning a chef’s hat and large hoop earrings similar to those worn by the lord of the manor, Mr. Bali Hai himself, a half Mr. Potato / half Tiki God who greets customers at the front door. Like countless others and I have been before, I was charmed by his big wide eyes, red lips, hoop earrings and friendly spirit (you can see him on the left in the slide).
Once inside, I ogled the vintage d�cor until it was upstaged by the lunch crowd that I would be dining with: a group of sensible seniors that were most likely bussed in from somewhere far less exotic. Together we lined up at the bank of chafing dishes helping ourselves to sweet and sour pork, chicken chow mein and macaroni and cheese - which by the way are especially good when stirred together on your plate into a pan-Americana goulash. And when washed down with a big gulp-scale mai tai served in a Mr. Bali Hai souvenir Tiki mug - your stomach will thank you. If you can bear to take your eyes off of your plate or the buffet table, the view across the bay to the city’s skyline is absolutely picture perfect. One wonders (but not out loud of course) how this space age Polynesian restaurant has survived on this perfect plot of land for more than five decades.
After I piled my final plate high with a slice of lemon cake decorated with real live orchids and cottage cheese garnished with ripe kiwi slices (I eat healthy), I stumbled into the gift shop and just couldn’t resist a pair of Mr. Bali Hai salt and pepper shakers. Yes, any restaurant with a gift shop is VERY special. And the Bali Hai is no exception!
Here to you and another 50 years of the Bali Hai
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
January 2005
Sets this Slide belongs to:
Food & Recipes & Roadslide
5 Comments on “Bali Hai Restaurant, Shelter Isle, San Diego, 1962”
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February 15th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
“Like countless others and I have been before, I was charmed by his big wide eyes, red lips, hoop earrings and friendly spirit (you can see him on the left in the slide).”
UGHHHHH!!!!! That *charming* tiki god was the bane of my 3 & 4-year old existence!
Circa 65-66, Dad would load us in the car and head for sunny San Diego for family weekends at the ol’ Vacation Village (or this other hotel on Shelter Island forgot name). We’d dine at the Bali Hai, and that freaking freak-show of a statue thing scared the pee-pee out of me! So much so in fact, that if I ever had an accident my MOTHER would THREATEN me that “The tiki god is going to GET YOU if you do that again!” BAH. She had me thinking it followed us back to Northridge. Nice…
K, that was a thoroughly embarrassing item I just shared publically. Never thought I’d come across a photo of this! Glad I’m a grown-up girl now and no longer afraid of tiki gods.
Carry on.
May 2nd, 2006 at 5:06 pm
Ah yes, the Bali Hai, back in the 60’s my parents would take me there to eat. Since i was a kid back then, the head with the big hat ( the Goof) that was on top of the building was scary to me.
I used to like to watch the Tahitian dancers that they used to have.
Yes, it definitely brings back some wonderful memories!
May 5th, 2006 at 3:10 pm
Driving from the San Fernando Valley to Shelter Island in the 60s was like suddenly entering the tropics. It was always part of our trip to Sea World. Wow, that return trip was a very long traffic jam, though.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:08 am
I remember being on a vacation with my parents in the mid seventies in San Diego. We were going to Bali Hai for lunch on the last day before we drove back to L.A. Somehow, just as we were pulling up to the restauraunt (right about where this picture was taken) My dear old Dad got really angry with my Mom and started yelling at the top of his lungs about something while he spun our green, wood panelled station wagon around and headed home with no lunch for anyone. For 3 hours - Dad yelling, Mom crying, me contemplating a good future therapist. Fun! Thanks for the memories.
April 10th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Wow!! I just came across this slide! My husband & I found this restaurant (listed in the AAA Tour Book) and decided to give it a try for our 5th anniversary (we were married in Hawaii), and it was just like being back there! We LOVED it! The ambiance, the view, the food was all just wonderful! I’m so glad this place is still around, we need more reminders of how precious the 1950s were. Thank you for keeping the memories alive! We’re big fans & have been to several of your slide shows, and continue to bring friends along who instantly become fans, too…
Long live Bali Hai, and YOU!