Shaka Jons

Skewrs of shrimp sizzle on a bed of seasalt on a "lava" rock at Shaka Jon's, a downtown Miami Tikki theme restaurant.

Speak up!

Average rating based on 1 review.

What you said

Dtownmike

Posted on Fri, 02.06.2009 @ 19:13

We Love Shaka Jon's. I am part of the executive team at Macy's and our team goes there for lunch every day. They offer 7 different specials for under $5.99 and the RIBS are to die for. Highly reccomended. Go and See for your serves that This place is GREAT!... Read more

See more reviews

Member rating: 4

48 E. Flagler St.
Miami, FL 33133
Phone: 305-371-4304
Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, happy hour 3-7 p.m.
Price: $, $10 and under
Cuisine: Burgers, Salads, Sandwiches

Report an error

About

Somewhat funky (in a good way), this surfer theme downtown spot in the Flagler Food Court is named for the Hawaiian hand gesture shaka meaning “hang loose.” The sprawling space on the mezzanine level has silver sprayed thatch roofs around the bar and central dining area and falling rain fountains. Sit down and did into tasty wings, ribs, burgers, salads and sandwiches with hand cut fries and slaw or cook you own skewers of shrimp or slices of chicken or steak on large hot black “lava” rocks (really river stones) that are heated to 500 degrees. Other signature dishes are wild salmon or chicken in house mango barbecue sauce. Save room for Key lime pie or Aztec chocolate cake. Rum Runner drinks are 2 for 1 all day long.

See complete review

Shaka Jons is a surfer-themed restaurant in a former tiki bar and club in downtown Miami. Owner Robert Cvetkovski kept the silver-sprayed thatched roofs and carved tiki totems and added several falling-rain fountains.

Cvetkovski named the place for the Hawaiian hand gesture with pinky and thumb up and middle fingers curled down. The shaka salute means "hang loose" in surf culture, but has come to mean "hey" or "right on" and is used as a greeting by islanders. (You might have seen President Barack Obama's daughters saluting a Hawaiian unit this way in the inaugural parade.)

Shaka Jons (the Jon is for everyman) is the only sit-down eatery in the Flagler Food Court, so diners dont feel rushed. There are wings, ribs, burgers, salads, sandwiches and a smattering of Mexican items (nachos, fajitas, quesadillas). More novel are the cook-it-yourself meals on hot black lava rocks and the salmon and chicken in lightly spicy mango barbecue sauce.

Cvetkovski grew up in a suburb of Detroit, where his parents emigrated from the former Yugoslavia. He still has a Mexican restaurant in Motor City, but he and his family now reside in South Florida. He fell in love with Hawaii on a honeymoon trip to Maui, and developed the Shaka Jons concept for a time-share development that didn't happen. When he found the tiki-themed space downtown, he decided the time had come to roll it out.

Cruise ship day-trippers have already discovered his island retreat among high rises. The lava rocks are fun for folks who like cooking their own sliced chicken or steak or skewers of shrimp. The rocks (actually river stones from North Carolina that resemble lava) are heated in the oven to 500 degrees. The raw ingredients are brought to the table with utensils. The shrimp arrives on a bed of citrus sea salts, herbs and spices. Watch carefully so the crustaceans dont dry out -- the rocks stay hot for 45 minutes.

A good accompaniment would be the Kapalua Salad (named for a Maui beach), composed of greens, Mandarin orange segments and apples in vinaigrette. Or go with the crispy Island Salad topped with chicken tenders, blue cheese crumbles and pecans with ranch dressing.

End with Aztec chocolate cake or Key lime pie. Rum Runners are two-for-one all day, but best saved for after work and a designated driver. Aloha Miami!