Damon’s Steak House Is a Delightfully Unserious Tiki Romp
Despite the fact that Damon’s Steak House lives on busy Brand Boulevard in Glendale and has a bamboo facade that sticks out among its neighbors, the iconic tiki steakhouse still feels a bit like a Los Angeles secret.
What to order
- Coconut shrimp remains the must-order appetizer. Plump shrimp wear strands of coconut reminiscent of the palm fronds that decorate Damon’s and get fried until crispy. The shrimp itself is not too sweet — a detriment of most coconut shrimp — while the orange and horseradish sauce provide a gentle bite.
- The rib-eye steak, a whopping 16 ounces of tender beef, gets topped with a generous pool of garlic herb butter that seeps into the meat. Add a twice-baked potato on the side, which arrives with a browned crust supplemented with butter, green onions, and sour cream.
- A simple, faultless garlic bread loaf satisfies thanks to generous chunks of garlic creamed with butter and Parmesan. The mixture gets swiped across a French loaf, toasted until crunchy, and then butterflied into individual, raft-shaped pieces.
- Save room for dessert: the brownie sundae uses a homemade brownie drowned in a hot fudge sauce and served with your choice of vanilla or coffee ice cream. A macadamia nut brittle leans into the tropical theme while adding dimensional crunch.
What to drink
It’s not a true trip to Damon’s without a tiki cocktail. The Blue Hawaii is a superlative version of the iconic cocktail, while the creamy, coconut-laden Chi-Chi delivers on sweetness and creaminess that comes standard for tiki drinks.
Insider tip
Coming with a group? Order the Big Blue Lagoon, a goblet-sized version of a Blue Hawaii intended for four to share.
