+1 510-653-8667
Located in the vibrant heart of Emeryville, Honor Kitchen is a standout American restaurant and bar that masterfully blends elevated comfort food with a dynamic cocktail lounge and stone oven pizza parlor. Whether you're settling in for a leisurely lunch, a relaxed dinner, or a lively night out, Honor Kitchen delivers a dining experience rich in both flavor and atmosphere.
The cuisine here is a thoughtful blend of farm-to-table freshness and hearty, soul-satisfying classics. Start your journey with the crisp, briny delight of Oysters on the Half Shell or indulge in the creamy decadence of Bone Marrow Brulee. The cocktail menu impresses with inventive signatures like the Nikkei Margarita or the robust and spicy Tito's Bloody Mary, perfect accompaniments to starters such as the Deviled Eggs topped with Dungeness Crab or the irresistibly crunchy Warm Soft Pretzel with Beer Cheese.
Honor Kitchen’s stone oven pizzas are a true highlight, offering artisanal options such as the fragrant Margherita Pizza crowned with fresh micro basil and luscious mozzarella, or the bold and smoky Smokey Porker featuring house-made fennel sausage and a drizzle of hot honey. For those who lean towards salads, choices like the Gochujang Fried Chicken Salad—a zesty, vibrant dish loaded with roasted broccoli and a ginger pear dressing—bring an exhilarating mix of textures and flavors.
When it comes to entrées, the menu continues to impress. The Gruyère Crusted Halibut rests on a bed of asparagus and pistachio pistou, delivering a perfect harmony of richness and earthiness, while the Braised Short Rib is slow-cooked to tender perfection, paired with cheesy Ansel Mills grits that offer a comforting warmth in every bite. The Lobster Mac ’N Cheese is a decadent indulgence that’s hard to resist.
What truly sets Honor Kitchen apart is its inviting ambiance. Diners rave about the versatility of seating options, from cozy indoor areas and chic lounge vibes to the bright, dog-friendly patio complete with water bowls—ensuring your furry companions enjoy the visit just as much as you do. The soothing backdrop of mellow music creates a welcoming environment, perfect for both casual meetups and more intimate gatherings.
Real customer experiences underscore the restaurant's strong points: Frank Mario Castellon praises the excellent service and relaxed atmosphere that even accommodates beloved pets, while Lily celebrates the consistently flavorful dishes that strike a perfect balance between sophistication and comfort. Although there have been notes about occasional understaffing or lively happy hour crowds, the staff’s genuine effort and the quality of the food and drinks shine through. From Brent Chartrand’s enthusiastic nod to the oysters and crab deviled eggs, to Lawrence T’s fondness for the calamari appetizer, patrons consistently find reasons to return.
Overall, Honor Kitchen is a culinary gem in Emeryville where bold American flavors meet craft cocktails and warm hospitality. Whether you crave a perfectly roasted short rib, a smoky pizza, or an expertly mixed drink in a lively, yet comfortable setting, this spot promises a memorable dining adventure that rewards the senses and satisfies the soul.
Lunch with friends. Great cuisine mellow music excellent service. Patio indoor and lounge settings. With your doggie ample patio space with water bowls. Highly recommend and kimmy gives 2 paws up.
Cool place with excellent food, but on the night we visited they were very understaffed. The two folks working did their best, but it was taking them a while to make the rounds. The oysters were great and the crab deviled eggs were awesome. The prosciutto pizza and seared tuna bowls got excellent reviews.
Delicious food, great drinks & wonderful service! Food is always on point, super flavorful, not too salty or greasy and the perfect mix of farm to table and comfort food. Manager usually stops by to see how the meal is going which is always appreciated. Drinks are yummy & the happy hour is well worth it. Highly recommend!
*Updated from 2 star rating due to 5pm lounge atmosphere playing a football game unpleasantly loud and subpar service.* HAPPY HOUR, 5pm Don’t let my experience stop you from coming here. I just wanted to share mine and give a warning: if you are sensitive to noise or have sensory processing difficulties, the Happy Hour lounge may not be the place for you. There were many speakers blasting an out-of-state football game throughout the dimly lit cave with only 2 of the tiniest TVs I’ve ever seen in a restaurant. The TV-size to TV-volume ratio was extremely disproportionate, and this isn’t something that could be ignored since I was getting extremely overwhelmed and was not enjoying myself. The few other people in the room did not appear to be watching, so the thunderous cheers from the game and frequent advertisements were not matching the chill vibes that the lounge appeared set up for. Lots of conversation areas, even a couch which I liked, but talking was barely feasible, and that was disappointing. The pizzettas were tasty, and the other seating in the restaurant and on the patio looked light and airy which was a totally different vibe than the Happy Hour cave. The drinks were really just okay, somewhat inconsistent in quality and strength. Bartender looked like she hated herself and/or her job but it could have been a case of RBF. From a customer service standpoint, it was not a welcoming environment and I had to ask for water at the bar after being seated for 10 minutes. I’m not sure if I will be back unless it is to eat outside by the fire pit, but I will not participate in another 5pm Happy Hour, which was the appeal for me coming here in the first place. I walked here and nearly got hit by 2 cars while both entering and exiting the restaurant. Not their fault that there is construction, but still not fun. *Update from previous 2 star rating due to loud atmosphere in lounge and subpar service.* HAPPY HOUR, 9pm I am pleased to say I gave Honor another shot at the 9pm happy hour. Vibes were excellent in the lounge. It was very cozy with beautiful decorations and lovely Christmas music. The truffle fries were outstanding, but not on the happy hour menu. Ordered around 10pm and the kitchen had no problem making them quickly. Our server was very nice and we were greeted immediately and brought water. The only thing is I wish they would invest in a music subscription service without Ads because those are never pleasant and often are louder than the music itself. Jolly vibes, good drinks…late night happy hour is the way to go.
Came on a Monday night and noticed on the menu that they had a whole pig buffet on Monday night football nights. Unfortunately , not tonight. I decided to get the calamri and short ribs. The calamari was delicious. The short ribs was not what I expected. The beef was corned beef flavor. It was tender and fell apart but I was really hoping for the deep rich flavor of just the beef instead of eating corned beef.(-)
I so glad I stopped in. The service is warm and friendly and I really enjoyed being seated at the bar. While looking over the menu I found so many options and was pleasantly impressed with what I ordered. Please order the short ribs! Falling apart tender and so flavorful. Ir was the perfect comfort meal. I will be back. Fun Fact: Outdoor seating is ample and each area has a fire pit!
This place has a vibe. Just walking by makes you want to go inside. It's chic, eclectic, and homey all wrapped into one space. The food was good, but to be honest we only ordered apps. We ordered six appetizers. No disappointments on the food. However, the cocktails were a miss. The creations here didn't work for our palettes.