What an experience I just had… Come in and waitress was ok, said hello. Looked busy running around, asked for table and led there. She took plates and left the rag, I sat down and wiped my own table. Asked for country fried steak n eggs, then slaps a receipt on my table. A drink? Then comes back later and says you need to pay first with an attitude, no signs says so. I have her my card… Oh no it’s cash only. I get up and say no thank you, she then says there’s a arm machine in back. Nah, I’ve had bad things with scams on atm machines, didn’t like the way she talked to me and to top it off she says the order is already cooking. Well then why ask me to pay first if you already placed the order when I just asked if you make a certain dish. Not coming back… Chalk this bad experience up.
Matt J.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Vista, CA
I lived in Encinitas from 1988 – 96. Went to Keno’s mostly for the cheap drinks. Last weekend I did a pub crawl night in Encinitas(6⁄3). Hungover — the first place I thought of for breakfast was Captain Keno’s. I swear I hadn’t been in there since 1997. I don’t believe anything has changed. It’s similar to a David Lynch movie. My fiancée’ hits me on the arm and says why haven’t you brought me here before? Breakfast was decent. S.O.S., eggs, and sausage. Killed it! Bloody Mary and a beer back. Killed it! I felt a lot better as I drove home to Vista! Stay golden Captain Keno! Stay golden!
Roman m.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Mesa, AZ
This is perhaps the most underrated restaurant around. It’s a workmans place; decent food, lots of it, and completely reasonable in price. Expect to stuff yourself, especially on their endless clam chowder. Get there early in the morning and watch the trains go by. AWESOME place!!! Last time we were there it was cash only, just bring a $ 20.
Jennifer d.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Encinitas, CA
Ahoy! Capt’ kenos is a landmark not to be missed. Start your bar hopping here! Cheap mass amounts of food and strong cheap drinks! Then just an über ride to nearby krakken and all Encinitas bars! Fun fun fun! Don’t miss the 17 $ Saturday night crab night! Huge portions! Great people watching!
Ryan W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Marcos, CA
Total dive, but damn good cheap food. Don’t go expecting anything but delicious greazzzzy grub(not all of it but the stuff I like is). Good breakfast lunch and dinner for cheap. Cocktails are strong and dirt cheap. Bartenders are nice, Devin is the best by far. Local dude, polite, plays great music on the stereo and always has sports on the TV. Kind of a local bartender legend. Would have given the place 4 stars(just know what to expect before going) but the staff bumps it up to 5. Cheers.
Gigi D.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Encinitas, CA
Huge servings… good food… laid back attitude,. .my boy friend said his craft beer would have cost 3 dollars more somewhere else. It still has the 70’s décor but we enjoyed the 70’s prices. He had fried fish and was commenting on how fresh it was and how much he got. He always orders his fries crispy and is often disappointed when they arrive. This place got that right too. Try it. All you have to lose is your pants when all the saved money in your pocket pulls them down.
Karin E.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Carlsbad, CA
I love Keno’s. It’s like someone hit the pause button and it’s still 1975 inside. Divey, dark, and cozy. My favorite kind of bar. The food is pretty good — think grandma’s food. And you can’t beat the prices. You can get a full meal for less than $ 5, and a Jameson for $ 4.50. Nothing fancy, but definitely something special.
Shareen G.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Encinitas, San Diego, CA
This place has great prices and home cooked food. I’m thankful that people I know can eat so much for such great prices.
Blakely S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Encinitas, CA
Dont forget, they have quarts of Chicken Soup that will cure the common cold.
Carlos g.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Signal Hill, CA
Thank you traffic. We got off fwy due to traffic. Wow we found the best old school sit down restaurant. This is not a trendy bs expensive café. Fantastic great food. Reasonable prices. Which makes the food so much better. lol Biscuits and gravy.
Andy C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Carlsbad, CA
One of the best little dives in the North County area. Located in Encinitas, I’ve seen this place over 2948239 times when I drive up and down the 101. It wasn’t until recently I stopped in and finally had some food with a group of friends. At first, I only thought that this place was a bit of a themed restaurant. Something like a crazy pirate themed place that was more of a Chuck E Cheese kind of place. Driving by, I’d always see the signs on the side of the road that had their food and prices. Everything was always really cheap, so I never really thought twice of this place. When we came in, the cashier already knew my friend Richard.(This just goes to show how many times he’s been here) She knew that he’d like to start off with the shrimp platter and the fish and chips. And then each one of us ordered our own dish. I had the hot turkey sandwich, and I couldn’t have gone wrong. Awesome slices of turkey served on a simple wonder bread kind of bread and a side of mashed potatoes… and then, wait for it, the best part… COVEREDINGRAVY!!! THESANDWICHANDMASHEDPOTATOES… JUSTSMOTHERED!!! YAAAAAASSSSSS!!!
Howard S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Cardiff, CA
5 stars because. 1. Staff is very friendly 2. Prices are amazing! 3. The food has a very home cooked feel to it and the position sizes are well above the price. 4. The bar is connected and you can sit anywhere you’d like and the clientele are locals from 21 – 80 years old. It has a great small town, Mountain, diner feel. And it’s at the Beach which makes it event better! My recommendations are the $ 9.99 baby back ribs or the $ 17 crab leg special! Enjoy!
Marvilyn P.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Financial District, San Francisco, CA
Keno burger was awesome We always order the shrimp cockrail which was less $ 2 a plate New york steak — juicy and tasty Fish and chips tasty
Kristine C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Castro Valley, CA
If you like dive bars this is the best one in the area. I always enjoy coming here for the cheap drinks and outstanding staff. Some of the kindest people you’ll meet. I also love the things they do for their community. Great people and place all around! P. S. Also the best dinner specials on Fridays & Saturdays
Nich M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Jose, CA
Ecstasy. Elegance. Divinity. Three words that don’t come to mind when I come to Captain Keno’s. The tables are dirty, the staff is aloof and the décor is downright odd. At first glance, the food appears to be cheap and served on a plastic plate. Your second glance will confirm this. The menu is remarkably varied in everything but price. The breakfast is nondescript cheap breakfast. The bacon and scrambled eggs were leathery. The potatos and toast were potatos and toast. The ketchup was Del Monte. Simply put, this place isnt very good. …but god dammit I cant keep myself away. I love you Cap’n Kenos and I always will.
CC H.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Tracy, CA
Been coming here for years, it’s a shame they don’t update the décor, but the food is good and cheap. Shrimp cocktail is only 1.99. Wine is only 3.75. All you can eat soup, it’s comfort food here. I moved to northern California recently, and had to come back here when in town. Expect local, old diner, and good food — really affordable.
Cynthia S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Oceanside, CA
This is THE dive bar in the area. Cheap food and a lot of it. It’s not a five star place but you will be full when you leave. Also happy hour all day long so… What’s not to love.
Amy S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Los Angeles, CA
If there was more than 5 stars available, then this bar would get 6. It is the EPITOME of a dive bar and it’s awesome. To give you an example: I bought two Gin & Tonics, 1 JohnnyBlack straight up and a tequila water for FOURTEENDOLLARSAND50CENTAROOS. I’m a big fan.
L W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Oakland, CA
A friend and I went in for a mid afternoon drink and the sign about happy hour lasting all day wasn’t kidding! It was all of $ 6 for two well-mixed drinks, and atmosphere is beach/dive/friendly. Keep it up!
Golden P.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Luis Obispo, CA
Cheap & good! Homemade breakfast all day long for under five bucks. Pan– cooked potato cubes, fresh eggs, giant pancakes! How do they do it? Semi-self-serve(pour your own coffee), pay with cash only, shortcuts like American cheese instead of cheddar, no-frill décor(hasn’t been renovated since 1965), and no extras(they don’t have avocado or grits). The surfer dude server forgot our silverware and condiments. The to-go box was a styro plate covered with foil. If you can live with that, this is a great place to check out.