This place is closing but deserves one more shout out. The place is dripping tiki decorations. The cocktails are STRONG and the burger is truly to die for. It's surprisingly delicious, easily one of the best burgers I've eaten in the bay and perhaps my adult life. If these owners open up another restaurant, GET THE BURGER!!

LOVE Kon-Tiki. Tiki drinks are great! And it's so "vibey". This was basically my neighborhood cocktail bar. The food is weirdly good. Burger is the best burger in Oakland (if you like smash), and I don't think I was ever disappointed by an order. My favorite drink was the uma uma, but the flashier group drinks are fun. Fire and stuff. Sad to see them go.

I'm extremely sad this place is closing. These stupid people feeling all brave now commenting and complaining about things I've never experienced during my many visits. The thing I would most complain about is not getting to go before they close. Not getting to experience the delicious food one more time while trying their many delightful cocktails. Chatting up the bartenders and getting great recommendations. I wish everyone who works there the best.

Step into Kon Tiki if you've got a forgiving spirit tucked in your pocket. I found myself racing to this sanctuary on a grim, cool afternoon, arriving at 4:45 PM, just in time to snag a booth. This might be my final rendezvous before they close the doors for good, so I braced myself for what could only be described as the unpredictable dance of service. As the first arrival, I was treated to a front-row seat watching a slow parade of patrons trickle in to fill the bar. It was one of those nights--only one waiter floundering behind the scenes while cocktails flowed to the lucky souls perched at the bar. I watched the bartender whip up drinks--with a flourish that felt like both art and desperation--while I waited, pondering the one thing that brought me here: the damn burger. Having seen the scathing review on Instagram from Kontiki the night before, I steeled myself for the wait. When my girlfriend joined, we placed her order alongside a second round of drinks, a move that soon turned into an exercise in patience as we caught the faint whiff of impending disappointment. Punk anthems blasted through the speakers--The Ramones, Misfits, Dead Moon--music that couldn't quite mask the tension simmering in the air, a reminder that each moment here felt fleeting with the shadow of Kon Tiki's impending closure looming over us. Thirty minutes in, our drinks finally arrived, and with them, a bow of apology from the waiter: the fryer was down, and it was game over for kitchen service tonight. At that moment, I had to accept the bitter truth: this would be my last taste of "The Burger." Yet, bitterness isn't what I'm here to do. The memories packed into that space--gatherings, laughter, a shared love for tiki culture--are too precious for resentment. It stings to see this place slip away. The souvenir tiki mugs, once a cherished trinket, were all gone. I'd recently read an article touting Oakland as the culinary mecca of the U.S. It's a hard pill to swallow: the only reason I'd navigate from Berkeley to Oakland was for Kon Tiki. Sure, I could explore other flavors, but not today. Not when nostalgia is this thick. The entire experience felt like a visit to a loved one in hospice. Casual chatter about sushi and baseball swirled around us, the reality of the situation hanging heavy like smoke in the air. What can be done? What can Oakland do to pull itself up? Maybe it just needs to recalibrate so that its gems stop feeling the need to escape. I won't sugarcoat it: to glorify this fading city feels empty. It's a profound sadness to see Kon Tiki on the brink of extinction, a sanctuary, and a place where memories linger longer than the cocktails ever could.

Can't believe I haven't posted yet especially since I've been so many times. Love their drinks love their decor and love their food. One of the best fried chicken sandwiches (Nashville hot) I've ever had...and I've lived in the South for 10 years. Even their shroom burger is delicious that I got on a whim. So sad to hear they're closing. Please go while you still can and appreciate everything about them!

Great late night spot to meet up and connect with friends. Drinks are reasonably priced for the alcohol amount it's made with, not that water led down version most spots serve. There are food options for every different eater in your friend group - vegetarian, allergic one, not too spicy, to I eat everything eater. Ambience is loud and conversation is hard to have, at least hard to hear. Definitely not a first date spot. With few places in the bay to hang out at late night, this one is definitely an option. Live music played by a DJ and security checks ID at the door. No reservations during the weekend so good luck. We had no problem with getting a table for 4, but we did arrive early trying to meet up after work. Parking is all street. I had to circle a minute then walk a couple blocks around 7:30pm. Right off the freeway to access and leave from.

It was the honey's birthday so we made a night of it at Kon-Tiki. When you walk in the atmosphere is classic tiki. After being seated we ordered several drinks. I enjoyed my Saturn and the Uma Uma, and the honey liked his Grog and Mai Tai - although I would have liked to see a couple mocktail options and something blended. The food was surprisingly good and we loved the thin cut fresh french fries and spicy popcorn chicken. The service was excellent and overall we enjoyed our visit quite a bit. We would definitely return!

I don't think I have ever been to a tiki cocktail bar that also serves food so coming here before a show at the Fox Theater was definitely the move. We tried some happy hour cocktails and both drinks were strong yet balanced. This is good to pregame for a show! We also split their burger and fries and that was also pretty solid! This place has a great overall ambiance inside, the drinks were well prepared and the music was fun. The service did get a bit slow once it got more crowded but it looked like there were only a couple of people working the floor. But we still successfully got 2 happy hour rounds and food so it was still worth it. I'll definitely look forward to coming back here!

I had such a great time here! A friend had sent me a link to an article that said this bar may have to close, so while I was in the Bay Area on vacation, I made it a point to visit for the first time. I was impressed with the knowledgeable bartenders, not only in their ability to make a great drink, but also in their familiarity with Tiki culture, including other tiki bars, Tiki mugs, etc. I found sitting at the bar to be a very social experience, which isn't that unusual at a tiki bar since you usually find good vibes, but there was just something special about this place. I ordered the crazy fancy Mai Tai, which was made with a premium rum, and it was really nice to get a little sipper glass of that room to try straight. I also got the Kon-Tiki Grog and got to try sips of my neighbors' zombie and SR 138 and those were also very good. I always like a tiki bar that puts on a show, and the flaming drinks are done very well here. I didn't get to try any of the food, but the people next to me raved about the burgers. I really liked the decor, including so many Tiki mugs from other establishments, and honestly I would have loved to have stayed for a couple more drinks if I didn't have to get to my hotel in San Francisco. I hope it's able to hang on and that I'll be able to visit again on my next trip to the Bay. I would also love a tiki mug at some point. They have very nice zombie glasses right now, but that's not really what I collect.