2012 is officially the year of tiki. Everybody who is anybody has traded their Manhattan for a Zombie (made with locally distilled liquor though- this is Seattle after all). All the cool kids got tired of looking for secret doors leading to the best bars of 2011 and can now be found exclusively at bright, hip oasis’s where sweet, brightly colored libations flow like boozy waterfalls. Leading the charge in the tiki movement is Chino’s, a new Mexican-Taiwanese fusion joint on Pike Street in Capitol Hill. And while I know that description may leave you a little skeptical (fusion? sweet booze? Zombies?), Chino’s is the real deal. They’re not only slinging the trendiest drinks of the moment, but they’re giving away FREE cocktails on Tuesdays if you bring in a Tiki-style mug for their collection. Oh, and they have really delicious food as well. Let me elaborate.
(courtesy of flickr user aloha75)
I have to admit that Chino’s had me before they even made mention of free booze. When I first read descriptions of their promise to bring LA-inspired Mexican/Chinese street food to Seattle, I was intrigued. When I tasted their signature Gua Bao (pork belly in fluffy steamed buns), I was sold. And then they announce that I can trade in the ugly novelty mug I brought back from my last Vegas trip for a FREE tiki cocktail (drinks run $9-$12 a pop excluding happy hour), I felt like I had finally found a kindred spirit.
So here’s the deal: you bring in that mug your significant other has been begging you to throw away (or you start scouting Goodwill to amp up your collection) any Tuesday and you get a FREE tiki drink on the house. You can choose to donate to their house collection, or ask the bar to keep your mug just for you on your return visits. It’s the barfly’s version of the fancy nail salons where you get to keep your own foot tool on hand so as to avoid getting cuticle fungus.
So what are you waiting for? Get thee to Chino’s today. And while you’re there, enjoying your complimentary cocktail, make sure to order the house pickles and an order of the Gua Bao, because they’re delicious. And with all that sugary imbibing, you’ll need some food in your stomach real bad.
these make me all droolly
