Matt Horn’s West Oakland restaurant, Kowbird, has closed

Matt Horn, the James Beard award-nominated barbecue pitmaster, has introduced the closure of his West Oakland restaurant Kowbird.

“The lack of meaningful support for small businesses (in Oakland), the lack of a framework to nurture and sustain us, has taken a toll. No amount of passion can change that reality. It’s disheartening to see how small businesses like ours are overlooked, and it’s even harder to face the financial and emotional toll it takes on the people who make it all happen.”

Horn highlighted his “numerous efforts to address outstanding building violations” and stated he had “faced significant challenges in receiving the necessary support from the city to resolve these issues.” He additionally talked about an ADA lawsuit, and stated “it is important to clarify that the accuser is involved in nearly 200 similar cases across California.”

The chef’s well-known Horn Barbecue closed in West Oakland in 2023 after a devastating hearth and authorized troubles that concerned owing cash to his former enterprise associate for allegedly unpaid wages and a settlement to his former meat distributor over allegations of unpaid invoices.

Horn opened a brand new restaurant in Lafayette in December within the former Bo’s Barbecue area, serving his signature West Coast barbecue like brisket, pork ribs and smoked turkey. He stated that “to everyone who has stood by us — your loyalty, trust, and encouragement have been the foundation of our success.”