The Kon-Tiki

Comments about The Kon-Tiki

WanderingWill

WanderingWill is a semi-regular at The Kon-Tiki.

March 25, 2019, 10:35 PM

The closest Tiki bar to my house, yet it took me so long to visit. I was worried that it would fall short because they have a built-in audience in downtown Oakland. Here’s how it went:

The good:
Location for me. It’s a short walk or scoot there, so I don’t mind drinking a bit more than usual because it’s easy to get home.
Decor: I thought it was really quite good. They embraced the tiki vibe, but didn’t quite take it to the Forbidden Island, Smuggler’s Cove, Trader Sam’s level. I think it’s the high ceilings that make it a little less “Polynesian twilight”.
Drink menu: short but sweet. Some new spins on the classics that really worked out (very nice take on the Zombie). But the server did lack knowledge of classic tiki drinks (3 dots and a dash, hurricane, sidewinder dang).
The food: maybe some of the best tiki bar food around. They definitely considered this menu and I was not an afterthought.

The not so good.
Music: not tiki. The auditory experience didn’t match the visual.
The crowd was more of an Oakland crowd than a tiki crowd.
The seating was basic. The tiki huts looked nice, but the regular tables were awkwardly placed and uncomfortable.

Overall, a nice and convenient place to take friends, visitors, and the uninitiated, but my regular tiki bar will remain Forbidden Island.

Tiki Grabowski

Tiki Grabowski has visited The Kon-Tiki.

February 11, 2019, 6:14 PM

Currently at Kon-Tiki for my first visit. Nice decor, small but decent drink menu. On this visit I had the Kon-Tiki Grog which is one of their own. My chief complaint would be the music. Again if you call yourself a tiki bar I wouldnt expect classic rock or oldies to be playing. The music sets the tone and the vibe of the place from the moment you walk in the door. It's another place to check off the Critiki list but not crazy about Kon-Tiki unfortunately.

Downes

October 26, 2018, 9:25 PM

Wonderful iteration and satisfying dining chops. Leading the tiki way in the East Bay.

Shop99er

Shop99er has visited The Kon-Tiki.

October 8, 2018, 4:49 PM

Excellent Zombie!!

Bartender was very nice and clearly well experienced.

My only fuss is the music. It’s great, but too loud for my taste.

NeilSmith

NeilSmith has visited The Kon-Tiki.

July 25, 2018, 12:59 PM

i really like what Longitude has evolved into, although I thought the decor is slightly better now, I loved the latest drinks menu and the drinks were really good. Good service too, bar manager was very helpful as was his staff.

KevinCrossman

KevinCrossman is a regular at The Kon-Tiki, and is usually there .

July 7, 2018, 9:26 AM

The new cocktail menu is a big improvement on what was already a fine selection. As such, I've revised my rating and bumped up some of the rankings to reflect to better and more diverse menu. The revised food menu is better for some people and maybe a little worse for others, so you mileage may vary. But at least they still have the amazing burger.

Service is consistently awesome here.

Disarmed

Disarmed has visited The Kon-Tiki.

July 5, 2018, 5:13 PM

Just tried the new menu. It's a big improvement BUT if you don't like spicy food or seafood there aren't a lot of food options. The zombie didn't taste right but Dick Smitherines and Ma Kua are amazing. Music remains hit and miss, it swings from funk, 20s and soul to classic tiki.
Service is great, as always.

Woodtiki

Woodtiki is a regular at The Kon-Tiki, and is usually there Wednesday nights.

March 31, 2018, 10:13 AM

As a weekly regular I always look forward to an evening at the Kon Tiki. The bartenders are very accommodating and will make off menu drinks, give great suggestions, and are fun to chat with. The food is amazing, and chef Manny has created a menu that pairs perfectly with the cocktails. Great vibe all around!

KevinCrossman

KevinCrossman is a regular at The Kon-Tiki, and is usually there .

March 13, 2018, 2:18 PM

I had the burger here and while it isn't classic tiki by any means, I've got to say it was an amazing burger. Probably the best thing inside this place, which is a high bar considering the drinks are also fabulous.

RikiTikiTavi

RikiTikiTavi has visited The Kon-Tiki.

December 26, 2017, 6:54 PM

Excitedly visited during a business trip to the Bay before the holidays. The decor is an upgrade over Longitude, though built on what was already in place. The drinks were adequate. They were prepared well using quality ingredients, but they fell a little short if my expectations. There was a Kon-Tiki grog, but it was not memorable, and nothing on the menu was a standout. I found myself missing the Peter Love Grog from Longitude.

Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable (nice improvement from the previous establishment). We met one of the owners briefly (by request) and he seemed earnest, but preoccupied. Understandable for a bar in it's first month or so.

The crab Rangoon dip was a disappointment; it came in a little aluminum pan that looked like it came out of an Eazy-Bake oven, and with too few chips. Also, it wasn't great. I had just ordered the same thing at my local Tiki bar (Archipelago, in DC), and had my socks knocked off. Few vegetarian options (especially considering Longitude was famous for having many excellent choices).

A perhaps minor quibble: As a big fan of the book, "Kon-Tiki", there doesn't seem to be any connection here. No flavor text on the menu, nada. Maybe this will come in time.

Raider273

Raider273 is a regular at The Kon-Tiki, and is usually there Thursday .

November 10, 2017, 8:20 PM

Wife and I went last night, November 9, 2017, during 'soft opening' week prior to official opening On Saturday, November 11th. Mr. Grossman's review nailed it. Big improvement over the Longtitude vibe. Drinks were excellent (we had the regular and Kon Tiki Grogs, Zombie and an off menu Mai Tai), staff was very friendly and music was perfect. Poipu platter was tasty but presentation was plain. Good start but needs more tiki decorations AND a tiki mug. Will be back for round two in about two weeks. Super happy to have them around!

KevinCrossman

KevinCrossman is a regular at The Kon-Tiki, and is usually there .

November 8, 2017, 10:29 PM

We visited the Kon-Tiki during a soft-open prior to their official grand opening. As such, the bar (on a Wednesday evening) was not overly crowded but there was a lively vibe. We sat at the bar and the service was outstanding. When our drinks were low we were politely asked if there was anything else we’d like. We tried an off-menu Mai Tai (made with Denizen’s Merchant Reserve and so very fine), their Navy Grog (strong but good), and the Somaoan Fogcutter (tasted great with brandy). The best drink was the Tropical Itch which comes with a small backscratcher and tasted great was complex and fruity.

The decor here borrows from the former Longitude but is definitely more traditional Tiki. Music was on point with a number of Exotica classics, some surf-tinged songs, and a few lounge songs. For sure the music and decor here are right down the middle in terms of what you want in a tiki bar. There’s room for more immersive or elaborate elements but for sure this is a great start. The upstairs wasn’t open when we visited.

We ordered the Pupu Platter which included their excellent Crab Rangoon Dip, Texas Toast, fried Prawns, BBQ ribs, Macaroni Salad, Mushroom, and Fried Pork Belly. I really loved the Crab Rangoon Dip, but thought to Ribs were not too meaty (more bones and fat) and the pork belly was pretty fatty too (I’ve never had pork belly before, though). My wife liked the Macaroni Salad and the mushrooms. Definitely want to try their fried chicken sandwich and burger next time.

It was kind of funny watching the bartender prep the drinks, referring to a cheat sheet about the drink ingredients and garnishes for the drinks, but the drink menu seems like a great place to start (and the fact that my off-menu Mai Tai used Denizens is a great indicator). They seem to have a large rum collection and am looking forward to a rum club that surely seems probable.

The owners and staff are very personable. This seems like a great start for a new tiki bar and I certainly hope this grows into a formidable player in the Bay Area tiki bar scene. The location is two blocks from the 12th St. BART station so for many of us this is a very convenient tiki bar location.

terrylee

terrylee is a semi-regular at The Kon-Tiki.

November 7, 2017, 10:05 AM

here's their actual website: http://thekon-tikioakland.com

Tipsy Foxxe

November 6, 2017, 10:44 AM

There is an article in the Eater San Francisco
https://sf.eater.com/2017/10/26/16256602/menu-kon-tiki-bar-oakland-opening

Regulars and Visitors of The Kon-Tiki

Regulars

People who go to The Kon-Tiki at least a few times a month.

• KevinCrossman
• not_carlos
  Wednesdays
• Woodtiki
  Wednesday nights
• Katstiki
• Raider273
  Thursday
• Dirk Darling
  Mostly during happy hour
• Laguna
• Trader Mimo
  Every Thursday
• EricaTheRed
  Wednesdays & Thursdays

Semi-Regulars

People who go to The Kon-Tiki at least a few times a year.

• 
  Lokelani
• 
  Apocryphanow
• 
  kanaluna
• 
  amy
• 
  Hope Chest
• 
  terrylee
• 
  Suffering Bastard
• 
  Sykes
• 
  daworley23
• 
  TikiDiki
• 
  audreymm
• 
  Katie
• 
  ChulaCher
• 
  WanderingWill
• 
  TraderSampson

Visitors

People who have been to The Kon-Tiki at least once.

• 
  Humuhumu
• 
  tikitabby
• 
  exquisitecorpse
• 
  phynix
• 
  KeithH
• 
  Tiki Kim
• 
  always on the beach
• 
  Tiki-D
• 
  RikiTikiTavi
• 
  skillbilly
• 
  Noland Nocount
• 
  Shop99er
• 
  Tiki 'Alopeke
• 
  Exoticah
• 
  maxelman
• 
  Monster A GoGo
• 
  traps_mcgee
• 
  erinsauce
• 
  Castaway Kevin
• 
  Farbror Fuzz
• 
  mizeng
• 
  Hamo
• 
  NeilSmith
• 
  sr113
• 
  Disarmed
• 
  Robot Tiki
• 
  CosmoReverb
• 
  Ke Ahi Kirk
• 
  myorg
• 
  SassyStiletto
• 
  funkentelechy
• 
  Cichlidfan
• 
  tikiboss
• 
  PuaKeiki
• 
  Misterkingdom
• 
  atomic_kitteh
• 
  C-Monkey
• 
  TropiCollin
• 
  RumDrunkPirate
• 
  craigbestjr
• 
  bardot
• 
  MrLzrd
• 
  kemika_popoki
• 
  Uapu'uwai
• 
  IITYWYBMAD
• 
  roddog
• 
  TikiCatKC
• 
  Tiki Grabowski
• 
  TraderBrandon
• 
  Tiki-a-go-go
• 
  Skycam
• 
  SarntLee
• 
  mrjake2
• 
  Supermushu
• 
  AlohaAmy
• 
  TikiGreg
• 
  natecreed
• 
  slingmasta
• 
  Tikimuggler
• 
  Hreeves77
• 
  tikiobsessed
• 
  mable31
• 
  Demerara24
• 
  Davyjones6
• 
  Brittiki
• 
  ms.swizzlestick
• 
  JV
• 
  BarnztheTiki
• 
  traderjosh
• 
  TheFuzzyMusk
• 
  melika
• 
  KonaKev
• 
  notkeanu
• 
  TikiDre
• 
  Fidel Cashflo
• 
  Mauddeitch
• 
  TikiSheik
• 
  Tikiman2001
• 
  Beni Daikaijew
• 
  ruby.red
• 
  Cap’n Chrissy
• 
  Kawika