Bar Hook Up

worst place ive ever been. its ALWAYS DEAD with over priced beer and I sat and watched an endless amount of ppl walk in and out because they dont serve Budweiser or have sports on tv. The bar owner is so poor he cant afford cable or to pay the employees the right pay. $ 7hr is NOT todays hrly wage. I hope they go out of business and a more honest and easy going owner comes to provide bettter business and a happier atmosphere.

I know its called Shanghai’d now but I still call it Bar Hook up (Old habits die hard) I don’t even drink… I come here with my Brother and some neighbors and I discover the delicious Strawberry Mojito and I’m hooked. Its a cool local bar and the owner Gabe and the Bartender Mikey are both awesome.

Tranny night Tuesday. No go.

now the shanghai’d room
excellent service & great atmosphere.

Ugh. «Bar Hookup». Even «The Filling Post» and «Beach Girls» manage to sound classier. And Bar Hookup is certainly not one of THOSE places, but who would know the difference? Even topless and bikini bars in the Valley have some clever, classy name. So, Bar Hookup… REALLY? I’d like to have a chat with whoever is doing their marketing and naming because it’s not working and I’m 100% positive this is why this bar has failed for so long. Any self respecting, classy, attractive, hip young person, especially young women, wouldn’t be caught dead in a place called Bar Hookup OR in a place that has a sign on the street advertising «attractive drunk people». I know we’re in Orange County and all and people here think it’s fun and clever to eat at places like «Hooters» and «The Pink Taco» but I boycott those places for the same reason. I’m just not the drunken frat boy type. Sex DOESN’T sell when it’s sold so poorly – people like the game and mystery better, capish? They don’t want to feel like they’re gonna be hanging out with lecherous, unattractive old men at a nudey bar. So why am I finally willing to be seen at Bar Hookup? For the two simple reasons that I was already significantly drunk last night and because they changed their name. Those really are the only two reasons. Otherwise, I would’ve been at Hank’s Pizza next door with everyone else in the plaza. And that poor guy who has the insurance office next door should probably just give up and retire – to prove my point further, imagine trying to sell State Farm next to a place called «Bar Hookup». Wow. So now we’ve got «The World Famous Shanghai’d Room» and I can hold up my head high when I go in here. There isn’t a cover, so that’s cool, and the bouncer and bartenders ARE super nice. The place is way nicer inside than you would expect – I would imagine they had to do significant interior work to get this place fixed up and prettified after its previous tenant was «The Monroe Club» (ALSO a stabby bar). I wouldn’t say that TWFSR is anywhere close to being a dive bar – I think it wants that vibe (hence the still tacky remaining innuendos EVERYWHERE in the bar such as «make-​out booth» and TV’s stating it’s «okay to have sex in the bathroom as long as you don’t hold up the line», but again, they’re missing the point, and it’s really too nice inside to be considered divey. Clientele ARE young 30-​somethings, so that’s a huge relief… I didn’t want to walk in and be the only female and there only be old men sitting in the shadows waiting for something to happen. The design and décor mimic a nicer, trendier hipster bar that you might go to in LA – this bar is small and dark, but there are really cute red chandeliers, candles on the tables, red leather booth seats, and vintage erotic posters for art work. There is a DJ who comes in later at night to play records and a giant «iPod» jukebox on the wall that I think also has photobooth capabilities – it takes credit cards and looked like something I definitely should put in my house. The DJ knows his tuneage – he described his music as «70’s, 80’s and some funk». Anyone who plays «Talking Heads», «Devo» and «The Clash» all in the span of 20 minutes is okay by me. I hope they continue with the music – that would really make this a nice place to hang out in the future. The bar is also very clean and well-​maintained which is nice – I hate going somewhere where you’re kind of afraid to touch anything or where your shoes stick to the floor. I actually think drinks are very cheap – THAT’S BECAUSE ALL THE COCKTAILS ARE MADE WITH SOJU. That’s okay and all, it just probably means they don’t have a hard alcohol liquor license, which I think is another thing that really needs to happen if this bar wants to last. Lots of good beers are available, though – they are normal beer prices and cocktails are in the $ 6-​$ 7 range. You can get a cup of their «housemade sangria» but I wouldn’t – it is by far the worst sangria I’ve ever had in my entire life. The sangria at Wahoo’s blows this sangria out of the water and I wouldn’t expect that much from a bar like Wahoo’s…it’d be like expecting Chili’s to make you a quality drink. Anyway, again, this is probably because they can’t put hard alcohol in it. The result was a watered down wine juice – pass. Since this bar is a small, independently run place it would be really cool if it succeeded, especially because Beach Blvd. doesn’t have a respectable bar anywhere within this radius. This is a place I would go back to and give second chance to, I just think there are definitely still some adjustments to be made before I do so. The good news is, it looks like they are working on some things (marketing! Naming!) and that there are actually people starting to come and hang out here. Hopefully this will turn out to be a good Cinderella story – we shall see.

Now called Shanghai’d, still pretty chill place. We attempted to do a review of our own, but the owner asked us not to. It’s a new place and apparently not really known to the «bro’s of HB» and the owner would like to keep it that way. We respect his privacy.

Shangheid? What happened?

This is not a bikini bar, which apparently the area is known for.
This is just a spot for chill people to chill, got it?
I highly recommend this place. My wife and I stopped in while on vaca to California. The bar was just opening for the day and we had the pleasure of meeting Gabe, the owner. They have a great selection of beer (I said great, not huge). Super small dive with Kung Fu and surf videos playing on the TVs and a sweet selection on the Juke Box.
Stop in and chat him up, have a beer you’ve never tried before, and chill.
I’ll certainly make it a point to stop back in my next time in California.

Gabe Gabe Gabe Gabe Gabe Gabe … Awesome lychee mojito! Gabe Gabe Gabe Gabe Gabe had a great time, would definitely come again gangsta!!!

Lets get it out of the way. The only thing this place needs is a Full Liquor License. Other than that, this place is great. Nice set up. Good DJ booth, good space to dance, comfy booths. Décor is great. I finally saw what everyone was writing about when they said «opium den» theres a bit of asian art around but its more dive bar than chinese restaurant. Clean bathrooms, friendly staff and friendly regulars. They’ve got two flat screens and a projector screen all playing 3 different AWESOME movies. Drink prices are very reasonable. They have all the favorites when it comes to beer and a few i haven’t seen before but will enjoy trying. Ill definitely be back soon since they have bands and djs on the regular playing Punk, Reggae and NuWave.

Very nice little place, liked the ambiance. Sure, it’s a dive, but it’s not a dirty one. Drinks are a little high, but they need to make a profit somehow. I didn’t know what to expect from a place called «Bar Hook Up», and I have to say it was nicer than I thought it’d be. I went for a show, I was a little disappointed that the lighting was so low because that made it very hard to record video, but other than that no real complaints.
One thing though, I met the nicest guy there (he works there) and I didn’t get his name. I drank a little to excess (it’s a place to hook up for sure, I didn’t buy one drink for myself!) and I can’t find a phone number for this place anywhere! I’d really like to be his friend, but as I can’t find a phone number and it’s a bit far from where I live I don’t know how to contact him. So yeah, great staff too :)

Just wanted to update my review. Got a personal email from the owner of the bar apologizing for my experience. I thought it was pretty cool how they really care about their customers. Even though it wasn’t my type of atmosphere it might be yours =] Seems like the owner genuinely cares about his customers.

Friendly and limited. Cool vibe and décor.

I like the vibe in here. Beer, saki, and wine only though. So you hard core boozers have to go elsewhere. It’s really small! I mean really small! But its fun and the owners pretty nice oh and check out the baby 2 headed duck in the case by the restroom. It’s kinda cute in a morbid way. ;)

Good beer, good atmosphere, and every night is something different.

we went here on a whim.
was seriously surprised with the service and the quality of the drinks.
the bartender/​owner Gabriel was fantastic, and the sangrias were awesome. (I love how they only have apple pieces in them)
overall, a very laid back, (my kinda place) chill, semi-​cheap place to get your fix ((:

Fortunato D’s hipster moment #68: Ever heard of Bar Hook Up (BHU)? It’s at an obscure location locked away from all of mainstream. it’s so underground you’ve probably never heard of it.
BHU is hipster fabulous. hipster-​slash-​surfer actually. If you like to immerse yourself in an eccentric culture of a dive separate from HB dives, this is it. It’s like the nerdy middle child in Huntington Beach’s jock family of dives. Throws like a sissy, but all the ladies love him because he’s misunderstood in a mysterious way. How, you ask? Small, dimly lit, accessorized with Asian/​Orient types of accentuations, and an interesting alcohol listing. It’s a beer and wine place, but they serve Korean vodka (and sake) with a wide variety of ways to serve them. The owner showed me a beer and its name was «Name Brand Beer.» WTF? That was weird… $ 4 Bud Lights for the not-​so-​experimental type of folks. If you don’t like it, you’re way too mainstream like a square. I’m like a rhombus, I got more depth… Even moreso, a circle. Circles are so predictable (Hipster moment #69). *scoff*
Don’t ask if the game is playing here, you’ll be left dissatisfied. Don’t ask if UFC is playing either… I told you, nerdy middle child. «If you’re the Main Street fighting type, you can gtfo… surfers, great people and a good atmosphere is what this place is about» said the owner/​bartender.
If you’re looking for karaōke on a Monday, this is the place to be. Their KDJ’s have a pretty big list and if the book doesn’t have it, they may have it in a database. A great place to take a group of friends for a serious karaōke competition. If you’ll excuse me, I’m out of Kombucha so I have to end this rant… (#70)
«Wilco used to be one of the most prevalent pieces of silverware in outer space, but sadly they are no longer at the front of the organic grocery line» (#71. I was on a roll till I killed it with that last cliché).

Last night was my first time but not the last at «Bar Hook Up.» I enjoyed myself and atmosphere was great. This bar is a lounge, relaxing, & cool. It welcomes all types of people from surfers, punk rockers, hip hops kids and just people looking for a fun time. I like the Dj and the drinks were average price. The owner was really cool and easy to talk to. He is someone that was really excited about his new bar and just meeting new people. I can tell you that I felt right at home and this is my new spot. Thank goodness for this new bar!

It’s a very, very dark & quiet neighborhood tavern. They only serve beer, wine or that nauseating korean vodka piss. They can’t have pool tables, darts, video games, jukebox, pinball or fun stuff. There is a D.J. on weekends. Cool, red booths against the wall. Draft beer (Newcastle) was $ 5.00. There’s a great sandwich & pizza shop right next door. Did I mention that it’s very dark & quiet ?? Hmmmmmmm. It used to be a brothel. It isn’t anymore. Now, it’s a dark hip hop D.J. torture chamber. I’d rather get a hummer.
DRINK ON MY DRUNKEN FRIENDS,
Krotch Hamilton, Professional Drinker.

My sister brought me to this dive bar on Beach Blvd. From what I understand, they just opened a little over two weeks ago, and it is slowly getting off the ground. The owner (cute) has redone the interior with an opium den theme in mind, ie red Chinese-​looking lanterns and curtains. From what I’m told, it was a complete dump before. It looks great now! They have a beer and wine license, so you will have to drown your sorrows away with whatever’s on tap, fermented grapes, soju, and sangria. Cash only. It’s the OC (damn that show with Adam Brody for making that a saying!), so parking is easy.