Will Matt Horn open a restaurant in Fresno? Here’s what the well-known BBQ master says
Matt Horn left Fresno and made it big in the barbecue world.
He’s a chef and pitmaster who opened Horn Barbecue, an Oakland restaurant that people line up for, and that landed in the pages of the New York Times.
He also recently launched Kowbird (a fried chicken sandwich restaurant in Oakland), published a cookbook, and was named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs of 2021.
All that buzz had some Fresno foodies wondering: Would Matt Horn open a restaurant in Fresno, his hometown?
Rumors were swirling that he would, but details were hard to pin down.
Last week, another big name in Oakland barbecue from Fresno, James Woodard, shared plans to open a Smokin Woods BBQ in the Brewery District downtown.
A Horn Barbecue in Fresno?
And that got some people wondering anew if Horn would also open a restaurant here.
So we asked him.
He responded to our Instagram inquiry with an emailed statement via his public relations firm:
“Fresno is my hometown. It will always hold a special place in my heart, which is why I plan to open a Horn Barbecue there, to share my love of barbecue with my community. While it is still in the preliminary stages, we have already identified a location for the restaurant and are working on finalizing the deal. I look forward to sharing more details when the time is right.”
So yes, it’s in the process of happening.
Most restaurateurs won’t reveal a location until a lease is signed.
And even once that happens, it could be many months – or more – before Horn Barbecue opens.
Many of the behind-the-scenes tasks – like negotiating a lease, getting the proper permits and building out an empty space – can take months, if not more.
We’ll keep you updated whenever we learn more information.
This story was originally published July 27, 2022 at 11:00 AM.
