Lakanuki — Restaurant in Mammoth Lakes

Truly awful place. My group and I were clearly discriminated against because of our race. We were denied entry twice on 1/20/2024. The first time was around 9pm. We went inside to pay, there was a group in front of us paying, and the security looks at us and tells us they are closing, we found it weird because the sign said they were open till 2am so we tried asking him about it, but he ignored our questions and repeated that they were closing and told us to get out. So we did. A line had formed outside so we told them that they had closed and everyone looked confused. As we were walking away he comes out to tell the people outside that they were moving chairs around as they transition to nightlife and would let people in soon. I heard this and went back to ask what time they would let people in, and he said he didn’t know but that there would be a cover fee, and that we shouldn’t wait around. He told me there was another bar straight ahead. We decided to just go to the other bar because we didn’t want to wait around and we had already gotten out of line (because of him). We had a GREAT TIME but they closed at 11pm, so we decided to give Lakanuki another try. Mainly because they were the only place that is open until 2am. So we get in line, wait for about 30 minutes, and when we get to the front (it’s the same security as before), he tells us to wait so we do. And then he lets a group of people he knows cut the line and go in. The people behind us start getting angry but we don’t comment on it. Then he addresses us again and tells us it is cash only and that the cover fee just increased to $25 each. We think it’s crazy for a place like this, but hey we had just waited in line for 30 minutes, so we say okay but we needed to pull out more money. Then he says they don’t have an ATM. We had seen the ATM the first time we walked in and I heard the security tell the group in front of us they could use the ATM because they didn’t have cash either. So we all look at each other confused. He tells the group behind us they can go in because they had cash. And before we can say anything, tells us they reached capacity and would be closing the doors for a while. Realizing exactly what was going on and that this guy was not going to let us in, we left. We had been having a great night, we didn’t want to keep holding up the line, and we didn’t feel like arguing. I’m sure it would’ve been pointless anyway and he would’ve painted us as “acting crazy”. We were the only Mexican Americans there and two times is not a coincidence. This was such a terrible and saddening experience. I didn’t get the security’s name but he was the only security we saw there that night. Tall, heavy, and of course white. This makes me wonder how long this has been going on at Lakanuki, and how long it will be allowed to continue there. My only hope is that it was just that security and not the...

One of the more prominent establishments in the village at Mammoth, Lakanuki takes on two forms. One is a daytime family-friendly tiki-themed restaurant and the other is a rage until sunrise last stop danceclub/bar. I was able to experience both in one weekend, and I'll say that neither form really does it for me. During the day, the staff continually takes orders at the bar and gives a table number, despite every table being occupied with no indication that accommodations will be made once your food is ready, leaving you pacing anxiously looking for a table like a game of musical chairs with other customers in your same position. If you do get a table and get your food, I will say it's great. The fish 'n' chips were fantastic and the Lakanuki burger was delicious. Opt for the garlic fries if you can. The wait staff is very friendly if you can catch them while they fly through the dining room frantically trying to deliver orders as fast as the bar can place them. During the night, the front area turns into a sticky dance floor pretty much on par with any other last call bar you've been to. If you can handle the $10 cover (or $20 if you get there later in the night), and you manage to squeeze through the sweaty mass of bodies that are packed in wall-to-wall all the way to the "outside" area, you'll find a few crowded tables used solely for discarded drinks. They don't take orders from the outside area, so whenever you need a refill, you'll need to fight your way back through the sardine pit. And if you want to talk with friends, be prepared to lose your voice unless the staff attempts to muffle the sound by shutting the windows to the tented section due to the volume of complaints from nearby hotel guests. If either of these sound like your ideal stop while visiting Mammoth, pop in! For me, I'd prefer a place somewhere between the two extremes of Lakanuki. But it did check the boxes for two events that needed checking over the weekend trip, so...

Let me start by saying I’ve worked years in hospitality and tend to give the benefit of the doubt, but my experience here was INSANE. When we arrived at 3p opening we were not greeted by the two bartenders and were treated as if we were an inconvenience as one of the three parties there. I was the one to say “hey how’s it going?” after a while of already sitting down at the bar in front of them. Without seeing a menu, I saw from posters that there were two different Mai tais (