The first thing you notice is the tiki heads. Not one or two — a full wall of them, lit up behind the bar, staring back at you while a server drops off a Scorpion Bowl big enough to need two straws and a warning. Fong’s Pizza on First Avenue SE is not what most people picture when they think Cedar Rapids dining, which is exactly what makes it worth a visit.
The concept sounds like a joke: a Chinese-American restaurant that pivoted to tiki cocktails and pizza. In practice, it works. The original location is in Des Moines, but the Cedar Rapids outpost has settled into its stretch of First Avenue with enough regulars to feel like a neighborhood place rather than a novelty act. On a weeknight, you’ll see couples, work groups, and the occasional table of parents who clearly needed something louder than their living room.
The pizza is the anchor. The crust is thin and slightly crisp, closer to a tavern-style than a New York fold, and it holds up under some genuinely unusual topping combinations. The Crab Rangoon pizza — cream cheese base, imitation crab, green onion, wonton strips on top — is the one people mention first, and it delivers. The wonton strips stay crisp longer than you’d expect, and the cream cheese underneath keeps things rich without getting heavy. The Thai Chicken version, with peanut sauce and cilantro, is a close second. There are conventional options too, but ordering a classic pepperoni here misses the point.
The drink program is serious without being precious. The tiki cocktails lean sweet and strong, which is what the format asks for. The Zombie and the Painkiller show up on the menu and are made properly — not watered down, not cloyingly syrupy. Beer selection is modest but covers the bases. If you’re not drinking, the Thai iced tea is made well and refilled without prompting.
Pricing is reasonable for what you’re getting. A 12-inch specialty pizza runs around $16–$19, and the tiki cocktails land in the $9–$13 range depending on size. Shared appetizers — the egg rolls are better than they need to be — can stretch a meal without the bill getting out of hand.
The room itself is worth a mention. It’s dark in the way that tiki bars are supposed to be dark, with enough light to actually read the menu. The décor is committed: bamboo, hanging lanterns, carved faces, a general sense that someone put real thought into making you feel like you’re somewhere else for an hour. It doesn’t feel cheap or slapped together.
Service has been consistently solid across multiple visits — friendly, not hovering, quick to check in when the food arrives. On busier nights, a reservation or early arrival is smart; the dining room isn’t huge, and weekend waits can run 20 to 30 minutes.
Fong’s isn’t trying to be a special-occasion restaurant or a destination for serious eaters. It’s a place to order something you wouldn’t expect, share a large drink with somebody, and spend two hours not worrying about much. Cedar Rapids has plenty of spots that do one thing carefully and well. Fong’s does two strange things together and makes it stick.
