Banzai Cocktails & Food / Maria Wiles
The Midway District just received another reason to cheer, and its name is Banzai Bar! Appropriately named after the Japanese phrase used during celebrations and cheering, Banzai recently had its grand opening in the Midway District, and it was a splash of fun! Banzai is the new brainchild of the Waterfront family who are known for their true-blue, San Diego establishments such as Eastbound, Harbor Town Pub, The Hills Local Pub, Club Marina, Werewolf and The Waterfront (the oldest tavern in San Diego). And, following in tradition, this bar has the same awesome neighborhood feel as its counterparts.
Banzai Cocktails & Food / Maria Wiles The grand opening was packed, and it was no surprise as there was delicious eats, ice-cold booze (with local brews on tap) and, my personal favorite, sake bombs! Banzai Bar set the Guinness World Record for number of consecutive sake bombs (at 6pm, 8pm, 10pm, 12am), and the party attendees obviously joined in on all the fun. When I say sake, you say bomb… sake…BOMB…sake…BOMB!
Banzai Cocktails & Food / Maria Wiles
This spicy new bar has a menu that’s equally as exciting, dubbed as Hawaiian-Southern California-Costal cuisine. It puts Asian twists on some true classics like burgers and tacos. Personal favorite was their Bahn Mi Sliders with pickled carrots, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeno and dojo sauce. The owner Chad Cline’s wife created the menu, using inspiration from her Japanese heritage to add some unique flair to each dish. You can take a peek at the full menu here.
Banzai Cocktails & Food / Maria Wiles
Not to mention, Banzai is the official bar of the San Diego Gulls. The mascot, Gulliver, and the Gulls girls even joined in on all the grand opening festivities. Being from Buffalo, I do love me some hockey, and this place just became my new pre- and post-game destination.
Banzai Cocktails & Food / Maria Wiles
So cheers to Banzai (with an ice-cold beer!), one of my new go-to, neighborhood destinations!
Banzai Bar
3048 Midway Drive, San Diego. (619) 501-5458 or banzaibar.com
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Maria Wiles is a local writer, Buffalo NY transplant and self-proclaimed chicken wing connoisseur. When she is not talking about her love affair with food, she can be found in child's pose at a yoga class or rollerblading on the Mission Beach boardwalk. Follow her on instagram.