A sunken shipwreck bar in Anaheim where the food and drinks are as serious as the theme.
Strong Water is designed to look like a sunken ship hull, and the commitment is complete — nautical artifacts, themed grottos, sea shanties and exotica music, bartenders lighting drinks on fire in a space that does a convincing job of making you forget you're in Anaheim. Most themed bars sacrifice food and drink quality for the concept. Strong Water doesn't.
Opened in 2019 by Ying Chang and Robert Adamson — the team behind the nearby Blind Rabbit speakeasy — Strong Water survived the pandemic to become one of the most recognized tiki venues nationally. The beverage program earned a 2024 James Beard nomination. The food is Asian-fusion tapas that are genuinely good, not just credible for a bar. The Loco Moco Burger — an 8oz Wagyu patty with a fried egg and bone marrow gravy — is one of the standout dishes served in any bar in Orange County.
You step through an unassuming door and the room changes entirely. It's dark, detailed, and intimate at a level the construction earns on close inspection. The space physically can't fit many people, which is what makes it feel exclusive rather than simply quiet.
Loco Moco Burger—an 8oz Wagyu patty with a fried egg and bone marrow gravy; the standout food item and the one that justifies taking the food seriously here.
Crispy Lumpia—pork and vegetable egg rolls with nuoc mam cham; clean, simple, and executed well.
Zombie—their take on the tiki classic; limited to two per person for a reason.
Leviathan—a complex cocktail served in a custom ceramic mug that regulars collect.
Location: 270 S Clementine St, Anaheim · Hours: Mon–Wed 5–11 PM · Thu–Fri 5 PM–12 AM · Sat 12 PM–12 AM · Sun 12–10 PM · Note: 21+ for indoor dining · 2-hour seating limit per reservation
Walk-ins get the outdoor patio, which works but isn't the reason you come here. The indoor experience — the sunken-ship decor, the grottos, the lighting — requires a reservation, and on weekends that means booking weeks out. Plan accordingly and book indoor when you can.