Bahooka

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Rufus the fish at the Bahooka Tiki Bar Bahookarufus.JPG
Rufus the fish at the Bahooka Tiki Bar

Bahooka was a Tiki bar and restaurant in Rosemead, California, United States. [1] The Bahooka was well known for its many fish tanks, [2] one of which held a famous and frequently photographed pacu fish named Rufus. [3] [4] [5] The bar was also known for serving over 60 different kinds of Tiki drinks, [6] including their Jolly Roger Bowl [7] and flaming drinks such as the Flaming Honey Bowl and their eponymous Bahooka Bowl. [2] [8] The Bahooka served Polynesian fare such as teriyaki chicken breast and their signature "Exotic Ribs". [7] [9] [2]

Contents

History

Bahooka was founded in 1967 in West Covina, California [10] and expanded to a second location at 4501 Rosemead Boulevard [7] in 1976 after losing its lease. [11] This allowed the Rosemead location to expand its dining area, adding a new room as well as more custom wooden/fiberglass aquariums, which then exceeded over 100 aquariums, many over 100 gallons in capacity. [12] Tiki mug producers Tiki Farm created a 40th Anniversary mug for the bar. [13] The Rosemead Bahooka closed in March 2013. [14]

Rufus who was known for eating carrots [15] [11] and for having appeared with Johnny Depp in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas . [14] Rufus, planned at one time to be transferred to another restaurant in Glendale, will remain at the current site in the new restaurant. [16]

References

  1. "Tiki Paradises". ocregister.com. April 29, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Nikki Batalis (June 25, 2008). "A little piece of tiki heaven". The Orange County Register.
  3. "Tiki Paradise Bahook To Be Reborn". lamag.com. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  4. "Tiki Fish retires". Los Angeles Times . February 17, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  5. "Bahooka Is Bust". archpaper.com. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  6. Peter Dills (June 10, 2010). "World Famous Flaming Bowls at Bahooka's". The Pasadena Independent. p. 9.
  7. 1 2 3 Jonathan Gold (December 1, 2000). Counter Intelligence: Where to Eat in the Real Los Angeles. St. Martin's Press. pp. 17–8. ISBN   978-0-312-27634-8.
  8. "Flaming Honey Bowl". pinterest.com. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  9. "bahooka ribs and grog". critiki.com. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  10. Frank C. Girardot (February 15, 2013). "Rosemead landmark Bahooka to close". Pasadena Star-News.
  11. 1 2 Cindy Arora (April 5, 2003). "Bahooka bottles its popular dressing". San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
  12. "Carl Strohmeyer; Aquarium Biography".
  13. "Bahook 40th Anniversary Mug". ooga-mooga.com. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  14. 1 2 Frank Shyong (February 17, 2014). "Rufus' tale has a hook; A long-closed Rosemead restaurant must decide what to do with its iconic 37-year-old pacu fish". Los Angeles Times (Home ed.). p. A1.
  15. "Rufus eating carrots at The Bahooka". youtube.com. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  16. Rabe, John. "New owners see light; Rufus the carrot-eating pacu to stay at former Bahooka". February 18, 2014. KPCC . Retrieved February 24, 2014.

34°05′15″N118°04′25″W / 34.0874°N 118.0736°W / 34.0874; -118.0736