Tangiers Tobacco & Oddessey Hookah Lounge

San Diego, United States

4.5

Closed now

20 reviews

Does not accept credit cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 619-265-2225
Address:
7549 Mission Gorge Rd, San Diego, CA, 92120
b/t Conestoga Way & Tierrasanta Blvd
Navajo
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
2.1 miRed and Black shuttle
2.2 miGrantville
2.4 miSDSU Transit Center
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
No
Parking
Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Quiet
Good For Dancing
No
Alcohol
No
Happy Hour
No
Best Nights
Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check
No
Smoking
Yes
Outdoor Seating
No
Has TV
Yes
Dogs Allowed
No
Has Pool Table
No

Today

Today 8:00 pm – 2:00 am
Closed now
Local time (San Diego) 7:19 PM Saturday, June 28, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday 8:00 pm – 12:00 am
Thursday 8:00 pm – 12:00 am
Friday 8:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday 8:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday 8:00 pm – 12:30 am

Description

Specialties

We manufacture and sell hookah tobacco and custom made ceramic pieces for hookahs. We also sell new, top quality Egyptian and Syrian Hookahs at fair prices.

History

Established in 2003.

I wanted to setup a no bullshit business where people can come and have a good time. I’m not into the whole fake McDonald’s courtesy thing, so I wanted a place where people could come to have a good time and know that my smile isn’t fake and where people come together and say whats on their mind. This is definitely a place for people who like to be relaxed, joke around, have a good time and not take shit or life too seriously.

I believe in treating everyone fair and square, and from then onwards, all the people here watch out for the place jointly. The main person in the group is expected to watch the behavior of their friends they bring in. We have a few rules of conduct to observe and keep the atmosphere chilled out. If you are impaired from any substance, legal, prescription, illegal, whatever; go somewhere else. Be respectful to people in the lounge; some people are unwilling to tell you that you’re bothering them.

The lounge has done very little to change in 9 years.

Meet the Business Owner

Eric H.

Business Owner

Worked in the hookah industry since 1999. Been manufacturing hookah tobacco since 2005. I graduated from the University of California at San Diego, I was born and lived in the same 8 block area of San Diego for my entire life. I like to think hookah tobacco is my thing.

I believe that businesses had better customer service 40 years ago, and I try to hold those standards as a guide. We don’t allow tipping, for example. Its not allowed. My service to you is its own reward, I try to know every regular’s name, what they smoke, what they smoked last time and what they like. I don’t hide out in the back, If it doesn’t smoke well, I’ll fix it or its free. If somebody is obviously playing me or messing with people, I’ll tell them to get lost. Courtesy only means something if its directed at nice people who deserve it. If you have an attitude problem, stay at home.

I try to do what I do well, each time. I’m not the typical smile and shake your hand kinda business guy.

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20 reviews of Tangiers Tobacco & Oddessey Hookah Lounge

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Place rating: 5
Brentwood, CA
Nothing compares to Tangiers. It’s the best hookah tobacco out there. The flavor, bowl life and it’s just so damn smooth. I only smoke Tangiers. My favorite mix is Blackberry, Peach Iced Tea and Cane Mint; all Burley of course.
Place rating: 3
San Diego, CA
Tobacco is still really great. Lots of unusual and delightful flavors (although the nicotine content makes it somewhat intense for people who have never tried it/​dont smoke all that often).
5⁄5 for that.
Lounge, on the other hand, is really off putting. Eric (the owner) used to be much more mellow, but he’s very different now. I have been to his lounge and learned a lot about hookah culture years ago, but after coming in more recently, he was very rude to my friends when they tried to take pictures of themselves in the lounge and I was almost bitten by his dog, who he keeps near the lounge’s entrance, on the premises.
2⁄5 because I’m sentimental.
If the place becomes more customer friendly again, please let me know.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
If you get in, one of the best experiences known to man. One of my hookahs lasted for roughly 5 hours. Also, the people there are amazing.
Place rating: 1
San Diego, CA
No wonder this business doesn’t allow photography or video. Incredibly illegal goings on in an otherwise all right hookah lounge.
This man is open carrying a handgun within the lounge, on top of having a visibly bloody bandaged wound.
Completely illegal in a non-​gunshop unless it’s a person with owning stake in business in an operating manager role.
Otherwise, generally all right. This is a place that caters towards regulars, and I don’t see it hard becoming one. Remember this place is more of a «posted at friend’s home» feel versus a lounge sort. Great shisha (some of my favorite), with amazing out of the ordinary bowls. Sucks that there seems to be a try hard regular who fucking packs open with an illegal extended magazine to show an air of toughness with his otherwise non-​intimidsting portly structure and to «impress people». I am an avid gun enthusiast and fuck heads like this ruin our cause, by flagrantly flaunting what looks like an illegal firearm in an illegal manner.
Place rating: 5
Ridgewood, NJ
Tangiers is one of the biggest names in hookah and I had no idea they were based out of San Diego until I Unilocal searched hookah one night on my vacation.
After reading the reviews, I came in expecting a setup like I was smoking at home and that’s exactly what I got. Eric and Fong were both sitting at a table, watching a movie, rocking bowler hats, and each smoking their own hookahs.
Now, I had never actually smoked Tangiers before coming here, because I’ve heard that it’s difficult to work with. This company actually invented the phunnel bowl, specifically for their tobacco. Fortunately, Fong was willing to teach me everything I needed to know about how to pack a bowl of Tangiers, including how to pack the tobacco, how to apply the foil, and how to manage the heat properly. They actually suggested the use of the silver coated coals, because they produce far less heat and Tangiers is heat sensitive.
Once my bowl was ready, I sat down for a smoke of the sevilla orange. It was perfect, and the flavor stayed strong the entire 2 hours I was there. I made the hookah harsh a few times, but Fong came over and fixed it. I haven’t quite gotten a handle on the heat management yet, but I did buy my own Tangiers phunnel bowls, small and pico size, while I was there, so I could make my own bowls when I got home. I was told that, no one has ever managed to get through an entire full size Tangiers phunnel, so I didn’t bother getting it.
I meant to go back before leaving the area, but time ran short unfortunately.
Oh and, no pictures are supposed to be taken.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
This review is solely on their shisha. I love hookah and I smoke a lot of different brands but Tangiers is something that I always come back to. It’s my go to! I like that this place is open fairly late because having two jobs and going to school doesn’t really give me much time to stop by busy smoke shops to get shisha. Plus I live right down the street! I get it, some people can’t tolerate the customer service here, but honestly the world doesn’t revolve around you. Actually the one time I did smoke here, one of the workers straight up told me what flavors wouldn’t be good since it was very humid that day.
A tip: Just get your shisha and go! This isn’t one of those lounges with loud music and dim lights anyways. One thing you should know, Tangiers is NOT for first time or occasional smokers. Don’t take it the wrong way if you feel that they think you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s not meant to be condescending, it’s just how it is. This is not how you would pack starbuzz and other mediocre shishas. Do some research or just ask, you’ll begin to understand why first time smokers would struggle with it. But once you get it down, this is some of the best shisha you’ll smoke, and it just lasts SO long!
Place rating: 5
Norfolk, VA
Wow, simply put amazing tobacco. Cane Mint, Welsh Cream, Orange Soda, Mimon… the lounge is essentially a hole in the wall, but trust me, one visit, or one bowl of Tangiers, and you’re set for life.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Uh, wtf?
Take all of your expectations of a hookah lounge, your expectations of one of the greatest hookah tobacco brands to date, put these expectations in a ziploc bag, mix it up, drink it, then throw it up. Then drink it again. Then you end up at this hookah lounge.
This lounge met none of my expectations. It overly exceeded anything I thought possible about this place. So laid back, inexpensive, and chill.
This is not a fancy hang out spot to bring your girl. You come here for the hookah, and ONLY the hookah. And it will be the best hookah you’ve ever smoked. Bring your girl here who has only smoked Starbuzz and you’ll be single quicker than it takes to light up a quicklight.
Eric and his buddies and his girl (or wife) will make you feel like you’re chilling at home smoking hookah with your friends. Everyone was so welcoming (except his dog). Oh and Eric will be nothing like who you’d expect the owner of the most talked about tobacco brand for hookah to be. Very very cool guy, down to earth, and tells it as it is. Little did you know he’s also one of the biggest distributors of tap water.lol.
You either know what Tangiers is all about, or you don’t. You also are either the kind of person who can tolerate Eric or you can’t. Fortunately for me I know what it is, and I know that I can.
6 out of 5 stars. Hookah was so good I couldn’t even finish it.
Thanks guys!
Place rating: 5
North Hills, CA
I dunno what some 1-​star reviewers are thinking. This place isn’t a casual fancy club vibe lounge. This place is for hookah enthusiast who truly appreciate the high quality of shisha. When I first came in, I was quite nervous but as I smoked and started to know the owner, he’s one of most down to earth, straightforward person you can ever meet.
If you like hookah lounges that serve starbuzz, al fakher, n nakla that have nice interior, pretentious service in an attempt to overprice you while having bowl burnt out within an hour, hour half at most, then go ahead and look elsewhere.
True hookah enthusiasts will know how awesome this place is. Tangiers is a shisha that needs to be packed and served properly and where else can you find a place better than the founder?
One thing I will advise here is, unless you and your girlfriend/​boyfriend are both hookah enthusiasts who come here with expectations of high quality smoking experience, this place is not for u. So go take your date to gas lamp and smoke watered down, excessively glycerol-​filled, stem-​filled shisha for 30 minutes while sitting down in a nice interior, Italian-​leather couches and paying $ 25 – 30 for a hookah itself.
As I smoked and also talked to one of the employees, I have learned something new about how to enhance my tangiers smoking experience on my own, such as the way its packed, way it should be served, etc. Which lounge would teach you how to pack your bowls efficiently or at least even show u how they pack their bowls?
This lounge really proves the concept of «Don’t judge the book by its cover.»
No hookah lounges or shisha makers can beat the originality of Tangiers.
Place rating: 5
El Monte, CA
Great place. Everybody knows the tobacco is the best you can get, and what better way to experience it than at Tangiers HQ, prepared by the master himself. I’ve been coming to the lounge since 2006 — they’ve changed locations but the experience remains the same, and that’s a good thing. Besides being incredibly knowledgeable in the hookah business, Eric is a brilliant dude with excellent taste in movies, which are usually playing at the lounge. I’ve never left the place without learning something new. There are also board games and tables that are conducive to playing them with your friends over a frosty soda from the fountain.
If you’re a professional victim who gets off on posting whiny reviews on Unilocal,I highly recommend visiting — you will almost certainly find fodder for your next outraged one-​star cryfest.
If you find that you can carry on a spirited debate without requiring grief counseling or a crash helmet, you may have the opportunity to do that here as well.
If you just want to relax on a sofa and smoke the best tobacco out of the best hookah, you can do that too.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Certainly different from your average lounge… the «décor» is minimalist and the best way i could describe it as the hookah equivalent of a dive bar. The owner Eric and his wife do not seem to be the friendliest upon first interaction, but give it time and you will find some of the most helpful service there is. Instead of being bullshitted by overly friendly employees, what you get here is straight shooting from someone who knows the trade so well, he is the creator behind both the best tobacco and best bowls in the industry. Every flavor I have tasted (only tried 10) have been amazingly flavorful and long lasting. Amazing value for what is being offered. Come with and open mind, and be prepared for a life changing hookah experience. Best. Tobacco. Ever.
Place rating: 5
Encinitas, CA
If you smoke the best shisha then you probably only smoke Tangiers. Those of us in SoCal are fortunate to live near Oddessey, to be able to smoke and buy flavors that the rest of the country has to wait for ages to be stocked stock online.
Before you stop by Oddessey make sure you actually read the reviews, namely the bad ones, and understand what you are getting into. This isn’t a a San Diego club or an upper crust D.C. velour couch filled lounge and if that’s what you’re expecting you’re going to get a shock. It’s a very low key place, more like your relaxed, basement chill spot (ignore the fact that there are no basements in SoCal) with couches, board games, old movies playing and an eclectic gamut of people. Eric’s rebuttals to some of the reviews will give you a good idea of his personality. Like he says, if you go there relaxed and unassuming, you will have a good time. If you go there expecting to be waited on, you are in for an unpleasant surprise. Don’t forget to check the lounge’s wall for their «rules».
If you’ve never smoked Tangiers and want to experience truly the best shisha, you came to the right place. The menu is massive and can be overwhelming, so check out
beforehand. Read up on the reviews and get a few ideas of what you’d like to try. Whether you are there to smoke, to buy shisha or to buy a full hookah, the Lounge’s prices are excellent, even better than online (how many places can you say that about??). As long as you are chill with Eric he will spend a lot of time with you making sure you get the best and most fitting hookah or shisha and that you understand the differences.
Tangiers is always one of my first stops after I return home from a deployment. I’m sitting in Afghanistan right now planning my purchase… thinking Pumpkin Spice, Cane Mint (of course), and hopefully some Jackfruit.
Oh and don’t forget to bring cash… something I always seem to forget. If you do, there is a gas station down the street.
Good luck and have fun.
Place rating: 5
Batavia, IL
Great experience at the lounge. My husband and I were in SD for our honeymoon and stopped by after chatting with Phong for a bit on Reddit. He was an awesome guy with a lot of knowledge and provided us with a helpful demonstration on how to properly pack a bowl. We then hung out with a few other friendly dudes and watched some movies. It felt like we were all hanging out in a friend’s basement, I kept expecting someone’s mom to come down the stairs and tell us all to leave.
Thanks for a cool time Phong and hope to visit again soon (hopefully we’ll be moved here for good then!)
Place rating: 5
National City, CA
Always a great place to relax and smoke great hookah. No loud music blasting, or a very dim lit place. A long list of flavors to choose from first timers to long time smokers. A very relaxed atmosphere, good place to talk to new people.
A movie while smoking great flavors!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Tangiers sheesh is the best sheesh you can buy. Sure you might think this is opinion based but it’s not. Try it out for yourself.
Some people might think it’s not all that great to stop by at tangiers. Honestly I think both Erik and his wife are very nice and happy to have your business. Sometimes you might go and the mood might be a little off, but hey everyone has their bad days.
If you’re respectful to people, they will return the favor.
They have multiple great flavors to choose from. I suggest cane mint if you’re a mint fan, other then that, juicy peach and their Kashmir flavors are really good.
They also have hookahs you can order to smoke a bowl while you wait. And if you’ve never smoked tangiers before, I’m sure Erik or his wife will teach you. Their both welcoming to new comers.
You can also buy hookahs to bring home with you. They have great unique pieces that you can’t find anywhere else. I’ve bought 2 already and my friends also have a custom built hookah from tangiers. We love them.
Hope everyone found this review helpful, and go on down to tangiers and grab some tangiers hookah tobacco.
Thank you Erik for creating the greatest sheesh around.
Place rating: 5
Hollywood, FL
Really good place, home atmosphere, you can feel yourself fully relaxed.
Tangiers tobacco — the best.
Place rating: 5
Alexandria, VA
My first experience at Tangiers, and Eric and the Mrs. are awesome, awesome people. No problem helping anyone out who comes in to their shop. Extremely knowledgable people– I had a really good conversation with both that lasted a good _​4_​hours! Not to mention the impromptu Organic chemistry review! Was a good experience even though I’d only gone in there to pick up some tobacco for a friend.
I’ll stop in here again before I leave the state. Thank you!
Place rating: 1
El Cajon, CA
Not even one star. I left this place 15 mins ago and am still sitting here trying to figure out what the fuck we just experienced.
Haha seriously the creepiest place I have ever been to. First of all there is no signs or anything to let you know where to go and then when you walk in you see everything. There is a few couches and an old soda machine. Barely anyone there and the ones that were there were «regulars» clearly by the way they were all lounging.
They also sell sheesh so we tried to buy some instead of sitting there because of the weird vibe we got right off the bat. The guy talked to us as if we never smoked before which I felt was really rude. He was too lazy to get up to show us the lit and instead pointed to it for me to go grab. We picked two flavors out of the 1,000 options and he then said it wasn’t a good choice. I usually would think its nice for people to like warn me if it’s not a good choice but he did it because he said it was an advanced flavor.
People that we attempted to talk were so rude. One girl had her dog and our friend asked to pet it and she threatened to kick my friend because she was training her dog. As if we were suppose to know that.
I will not ever come back here or ever recommend this to anyone… Not even someone I truly dislike.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
The owner — Eric is an awesome guy. Personable, passionate about what he sells, and not afraid to speak his mind. For anyone who has given this business less than 5 stars it is because your expectations are out of whack. I will explain what to expect if you keep reading.
First let me tell you the tobacco is some of the best I have ever had and the hookah pipes are nothing short of brilliant. Normally when you go for hookah the tobacco tends to burn and taste like coal when you first light it, then its good until it slowly gets worse and worse over the night. What causes that is the coal; you are breathing ash. NOT Here! Eric has this crazy design he came up with and had built where there is a little hole in the head until so you don’t breathe in ash. Instead you get a silky smooth great taste.
Now on to the experience. We came on New Years Day at 8:30 pm. It was my wife and I along with 2 – 3 other couples in the room; quiet night and everyone mostly kept to themselves. We had a great time; smoked sheesha (we ordered the new 700 series «The last slice of pie» which was excellent) played cards, and watched the Simpsons on DVD with the group. It was AWESOME!
What I liked about this place is it reminded me of hanging out with friends in high school. You hung out in a simple room, played games, watched TV, discussed life, and just chilled. That is what this is. If you are expecting servers, music, belly dancers, food and a club type scene you have come to the wrong place. That is not what this is. To me it feels homely; you don’t feel like a customer you feel like a friend.
At Tangiers you get the best sheesha on the market along with a place to hangout with friends. Look at the pictures and you will see the setup. It’s florescent lights, tables and chairs, some coaches and a TV in a medium sized room. This is not the typical hookah lounge. Get your expectations in line.
The prices are more than generous. Three to four hours of entertainment for two people cost is all of $ 13 cash! Oh and whats more the flavor selection was gigantic. I swear there had to be over 100 flavors!
If I lived in San Diego this would be a place I would be every week. I will be back in a few months on our next trip down. You stay Classy San Diego!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Do you Like great tasting Hookah with a plethora of flavors that last for hours?
At a very low reasonable price at that, with good and knowledgeable staff.
Tangiers is the place for you indeed.
Its good to have a place where people have a chance to converse with each other as well as other patrons without having to yell.
Its a place where you can relax, watch good movie/​shows.
One cool thing is that they have soda fountains with unlimited refill,
(Iced tea if your lucky)
large tables to either study or play games.
As long as your respectful and not thin skinned,
this place is as comfortable as smoking in your own patio/​back yard.
And if your in there late and have no school or work the next day,
I suggest you challenge the owner to a Board game.
I suggest Eclipse !!!