Tiki Taka is a fun new restaurant tucked inside the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort. Celebrity Chef Richard Blais of “Next Level Chef,” “Guy’s Grocery Games” and “Good Morning America” is at the helm of Tiki Taka, which means “back-and-forth.” The restaurant is equally unique for its concept of Japanese and Latin tapas and for its indoor/outdoor setting inside the resort. 

Tiki Taka musts:

• Experience the Tableside Sangria, prepared with liquid nitrogen and topped with fresh fruit for a “wine sorbet” taste sensation.
• Order the Lollipop Roll with tuna, salmon, yellowtail and red crab swirled together inside a cucumber “wrap.”
• Finish your meal with a Basque Cheesecake, infused with passionfruit curd and lychee pearls, topped with coconut streusel and strawberry gel.

Tika Taka ‘bout something different

During a recent visit to Tiki Taka, we discovered an engaging menu that is equally appealing for a laid-back date night or for a group of friends who enjoy great food and cocktails. The concept of Tiki Taka is tapas, making it a perfect way to share dishes and discover new foods.

Cocktails — A new discovery

The cocktail menu is brilliant at Tiki Taka, ranging from sake flights to a unique twist on traditional sangria and representing both Japanese and Latin beverages. There are four different flights of sake, including some of the finest selections available, providing a sampling of Japan’s celebrated libation. 

The Tableside Sangria is the one “must have” beverage on the Tiki Taka menu, available in red and white versions. One of the helpful staff visits your table and creates what amounts to a “wine slushy” with a labor-intensive session at your table, carefully blending wine with liquid nitrogen. Once the wine firms into a thick slush, it is topped with fresh fruit. It is a delicious and refreshing drink either before your meal or standalone.

Mocktails include the Year of the Dragon, with agave, dragon fruit, lime, agave and ginger bitters. When the weather is nice, a seat out on the patio is the perfect spot to properly enjoy cocktails and mocktails. 

Tiki Taka menu highlights

The Tiki Taka menu is not entree-driven, but tapas style, so mixing and sharing menu selections in any order allows for a unique dining experience. The pork belly is outstanding, served with a traditional fish sauce and tangy caramel apple-style “glaze.” 

The gyoza is a true fusion of Latin and Japanese, as the traditional Japanese dumpling is stuffed with chorizo and served with a sherry dip. The Empanada Gallega is new to the menu and features a pork belly, piquillo pepper and shitake mushroom stuffing. It’s the perfect menu item for sharing. 

The finest menu selection is the Snake River Farms Beef Zabuton skewer with a tare glaze. Snake River Farms is known for its outstanding quality beef products and this one is no exception. The perfectly proportioned dish is perfect for two people to share. 

Roll with it

A focused selection of nine different sushi rolls provides variety and a chance to enjoy high quality rolls made exceptionally well. The standout on the sushi menu is the signature Tiki Taka Roll, a tremendously delicious roll with blue fin yellow tail, red crab, piquillo pepper, avocado, cucumber and parsley. 

No self-respecting sushi roll is complete without the punch of fresh wasabi, and luckily Tiki Taka has it! If you’ve never tried fresh-cut wasabi with your sushi rolls, it’s the proverbial cherry on the sundae, and you can thank me later.  

The Second Try Roll includes yellowtail tuna, picholine olive shiso and is topped with lemon, yuzu kosho, dill and cucumber. It is both satisfying and refreshing, and the incorporation of dill is a nice added taste sensation.

The Lollipop Roll is another fabulous menu item that features tuna, salmon, yellowtail and red crab, all tucked into a round roll surrounded by cucumber. When topped with a smidge of ginger and freshly cut wasabi, you will be hooked.

Sweet ending with dessert tapas

Last but certainly not least on the Tiki Taka menu is a collection of sweet sensations designed to end your meal on a high note. The collection of Mochi is served with fresh berries and a streusel crunch. Choose from matcha, strawberry, black sesame, coconut or chocolate chip. 

Our favorite is the Basque Cheesecake. WOW! This devilishly delicious dessert is well worth a visit to Tiki Taka. Think of it as a more engaging, “deconstructed” cheesecake with lychee pearls, passionfruit curd and coconut streusel kissed a delightful strawberry gel. This is NOT your mama’s cheesecake.

Tiki Taka is located inside Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort at 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd., in Scottsdale. Visit the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort website for a full listing of on-property dining options.