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Shakabrah

Familiar funky, fresh charm with some new additions

Two words: Meat. Straw. PHOTO CREDIT: Jackie Fender

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ANNOUNCER: A staple in North Tacoma, Shakabrah serves up hearty egg and griddle breakfasts for the hungry masses. Under new ownership this past year, many of the favorites are still on the menu, but now with a liquor license, breakfast as well as nightlife has a new feel on 6th Ave. We didn't have to ask Jackie and Dutch twice to check out the new spirits menu.

JACKIE: What I love about this space is that, even after the exchange of hands, Shakabrah maintains its charm. Those who have loved the space for a decade or more, will still. The addition of a traditional bar space includes a counter adorned with old CD covers, which made waiting for my meal a fun exercise in reminiscing. Plus, expanded hours and a playful cocktail menu equates to more hours you can fill the space. 

DUTCH: I wouldn't expect anything less than a fun and funky vibe to a Shakabrah specialty cocktail menu, and they delivered. Selections such as the Tequila Honey Bee with tequila, lemon, bitters, and honey syrup or the Hawaii 5-0 with rum, blue curacao, sweet and sour, pineapple juice and a maraschino cherry are sure to keep people happy at all hours. But the coffee drinks like the Mexican Coffee, Dillanos Coffee and booze bring new meaning to breakfast at the café. With summer right in front of us, I went for the iced coffee Boozy Shaka Brew; a refreshing blend of coffee, vodka, Irish cream and Kahlua served over ice.

JACKIE: Breakfast on the weekend is bustling and the hubbub of the morning required I indulge in the Bloody Mary. Shakabrah's is a tasty number with kicks of spice, pepper and horseradish, a lick of brightness with a squeeze of lime and a meat straw. Yea, you heard me right. Meat. Straw. Though I'm hesitant to suck liquid through a straw fashioned from beef jerky, it was a fun addition. 

DUTCH: Every time we visit, my son orders the hub-cap-sized pancake. He's been doing this since he was very little, and I think now as a teenager, he still gains some satisfaction out of finishing the whole cake. Served with butter and syrup, customers can also select alternate toppings like bananas, chocolate chips, strawberries with whipped cream to name a few.

JACKIE: I've had the same go-to for nearly 12 years, The Chrissy. This scramble has it all with bacon, a sun-dried tomato pesto, garlic, mushrooms and spinach, finished with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Though the newest rendition is slightly different than what it once was, the execution is impeccable and the flavor matrimonies are on point! 

DUTCH: There are several hand-held options here as well. The OG Sandwich is offered both for breakfast and on the late-night snack menu. Two fried eggs over-medium with three strips of bacon (though I contend that mine have far more than that), and shredded cheese on toasted sourdough. Perfect for breakfast or the midnight cravings.

JACKIE: Mmmmmm ... you had me at bacon. Also on the late-night eats is the Loco Moco, which is on my "to-try" list with an angus beef patty and rice laying the foundation for poutine gravy. My inner fat kid is intrigued. Though paired with a Bloody Mary meat straw might be a bad idea. I may as well have cardiac arrest, right there. 

SHAKABRAH, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Wednesday; 7 a.m. to midnight, Thursday-Saturday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, 2618 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2787, facebook.com/shakabrahjava


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