The Kitchen Arcata — Restaurant in Arcata

The Kitchen Arcata: A Not-So-Hidden Gem Worth the Trip

Mind-blowingly delicious, top-shelf, and creatively inspired—The Kitchen Arcata delivers a world-class dining experience with the heart and soul of a popup cafe. This charming spot has earned a fiercely loyal following, including discerning locals we met like Kevin, who builds tiny houses for low-income families and the unhoused. We were just visiting from Los Angeles and feeling sad to be heading home—until Chef Jason, along with boulanger Matthew made our departure a little more bearable.

From the first bite, Kitchen Arcata fires up the superlatives. As a New Englander, I can honestly say I’ve never had a clam chowder so chockablock with fresh, briny clams. And if you don’t order your sandwich on the amazing pretzel bread, well, that’s a culinary crime in at least three states. The salads? Local sourced, crisp, colorful, and bursting with flavor. And don’t get us started on the gluten-free banana bread—moist, tender, and gone in seconds.

The soul of Kitchen Arcata comes from its team:

Matthew (aka Mattie—who could moonlight as Richie from The Bear), Chef Jason, who also teaches at Cal Poly Humboldt, Jake, the owner, and another gentlemen we didn't get to meet. Together, they bring nearly 80 years of culinary experience, and it shows.

Bonus tip: take their advice and wander through the Arcata Community Forest after your meal. It’s the perfect digestif.

The Kitchen Arcata may just be Humboldt’s best-kept secret—but...

Absolutley my favorite place to dine in Arcata! I have been eating here occasionally for the past 6 months and have been blown away each visit. If you crave food that is made with love, intention and of the highest quality, you must stop here. This is the type food and service I would expect when travelling in Europe or a major American city (both of which I have been blessed enough to experience). The Kitchen Arcata is an abosolute step above the rest in Humboldt. It has quickly become my favorite spot to eat. Every dish I have had there so far has been unique, extremely palatable, and a breath of fresh air amongst a town that is full of predicable dining options. Always fresh, seasonal and absolutely amazing, I have come to love this little Arcata treasure. Treat yourself and stop by. You will not regret it! Something special is happening at The Kitchen Arcata, and every person who loves high quality food and a suberb dining experience needs to try them out! They are setting the bar for dining in Humboldt. I truly hope other restarants take notice and step up to this new standard of culinary artistry. Humboldt needs more quality food like...

What an amazing place!! We stumbled upon it and were so wowed we came back a second night. Jason was so welcoming, so cheerful- we felt right at home. Atmosphere was just what we wanted and couldn’t have enjoyed the delicious food more. We had the pulled pork sandwiches that were surprisingly served with popcorn- an excellent choice. Jason picked our beer- perfect. He asked our opinion on the next nights special and when we came in the second night it was exactly what we suggested- and exceeded our expectations. Homemade Butternut squash tortellini with brown butter and sage- served delightedly with a salad of green apples, lettuce, almonds and the perfect dressing. The tortellini was floopy doop good (best good there is) and each bite was better than the last. We were celebrating a 75th birthday and Jason brought out a simply delicious pastry with apples, strawberries and walnuts that finished the meal perfectly. My only complaint is that we live in Colorado and can’t indulge regularly at this amazing restaurant. Thank you team Kitchen for two...