The Kon-Tiki

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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