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Tiki Bar Culture May Have Created One Of The World's Most Iconic Appetizers By Karen Hart Sept. 16, 2025 7:39 pm EST

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Tiki bars may be known for those drinks with the umbrellas or the ones you light on fire, but these beachy chain eateries also get a nod for one of the most iconic appetizers to come out of a tropical-themed establishment: coconut shrimp . This dish starts with a sweet mound of shredded coconut. The shrimp is rolled in it until it envelops the crustacean and forms a golden crust as it fries. It is the ultimate handheld appetizer to nosh on while you sip on a mai tai cocktail or a rum and Coke.

What's the origin story of coconut shrimp? Well, it was born during the post-World War II era, but just where it starte

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