Keene Cafe

I enjoyed my breakfast here today with my family. We are here visiting for Father’s Day and my dad wanted us to have breakfast at this historic place. I really enjoyed knowing that during world war 2 this place is where many soldiers ate their breakfast and lunch on break from guarding the trains. That’s super cool. I had the chicken fried steak and eggs with home fries and a biscuit with gravy. It tasted good. Everyone else I was with liked their meals as well.

Nice place to stop. There aren’t too many resteraunt options, or any other options… I had the cowboy burger, it was good and stacked tall. The French fries were steak cut and fried well. It was busy when I went so I am giving them the benefit of the doubt on the service. I will probably try this place again next time I am near by.

For two years I’ve stopped here for breakfast every week or two on my commute to Bakersfield. This is a perfect half way point. I had been bragging to my father about their breakfast and turning others on to this place that entire time. My father finally came out to visit from out of state so we made the trek here for that very breakfast. Sadly, we showed up at 11:18 and were told we could no longer order because they stop serving breakfast at 11. I understand that with McDonalds but expect better service from a small place like this.

I LOVE this place. I am IN love with the chiliquilas that they make. I think it’s the best breakfast east of Bakersfield and west of state line. The service is friendly and prompt, and the chef will make it how you want it. It’s small, but that’s the charm of it. A small café in an even smaller town that mine. Its been here forever and I hope it stays forever too!

Stopped in today Feb. 22, 2016, and had their grilled cheese sandwich with regular ol french fries… Gotta say that was the best grilled ham and cheese I have had in a long time… Keep it simple. The ham was sliced real thin and melts your mouth. Just the right size sandwich too.
Hi 5 to the waitress and the cook they were jammin as the place was pretty busy around lunch time. I guess some people still know how to work. Good job and I’ll be back…

Nice little café. Friendly staff. Good for a stop on a motorcycle trip. Food is pretty decent. Not amazing not bad. Standard breakfast fare. Next time I’m trying the Chicken Fried Steak. It looked pretty legit. Chillaquilles were a little strange to me.

My first visit to this place and I was NOT disappointed. First off the front door is not used, it has 2 side entrances. Once inside you seat yourself where ever you like. My wife and I were attended by a young lady (sorry I didn’t get her name) she was a excellent server, very polite. The menu had many good choices I decided to try their chilaquiles, my wife had the California omelet. They were both very delicious. The coffee was fresh and hot, all the tables were clean, silver ware was clean. The only dirt I saw was on the floor but it came off the boots of some hard working local ranchers that were there to catch a quick breakfast. I definitely plan to stop by again soon. I am one happy customer.

Great coffee. Fast, friendly service, big portions, good food, all in all, a good hearty breakfast!

Had I rated this café a couple of years ago, the review would have been much different. I would have given it 5 stars, without hesitation. Now, however, my opinion has changed. I think I read somewhere that Keene Café has changed ownership recently. If that’s true, then that may explain what seems to be a dramatic shift in their food quality. What used to be a family tradition has now likely become a thing of the past. Allow me to explain…
My in-​laws live in Tehachapi and they introduced us to this place many several years ago. The very first time I ate here, I sampled everyone’s food and loved it all. The dish that really drew me in was the biscuits and gravy. It was the best I’d ever had. Seriously, I’ve dated biscuits and gravy at many places and none ever came close to those at Keene. My husband and I loved it so much that my in-​laws ended up taking us there at least once during every one of our Tehachapi visits. Our very first visit to the café it was just my husband and I with his family. As the years rolled by, the café saw our family of two grow to a family of five. Sadly, our youngest’s first visit was likely our last.
We were there about a month ago. I ordered my usual biscuits and gravy, my husband got his sausage omelet, and my kids ordered the bacon and eggs kid’s plate. I didn’t taste the hubby’s omelet, but he said it was not good. My biscuits and gravy were awful. The biscuits were about half the size of what they used to be. The gravy, which used to be so rich and flavorful, was suddenly bland. They also seemed to have downgraded their sausage. I had so many gristly bites that I had to stop eating about half-​way through my already meager portion. The worst, though, was the kids’ meals. They literally got one egg and one piece of bacon. That’s it. On a normal adult sized plate. I wish I had thought to take a picture, because we were all in amazement at how ridiculous it looked. When we asked if they got toast with the meal, the answer was no. So we paid 5 or 6 bucks for one egg and one piece of bacon. Really?!? We ended up paying for a side of toast because the kids were so hungry still! My mother-​in-​law got her usual chilaquiles and she said they were still as good as usual. My nephew got a kids’ pancake meal. He actually got two good sized pancakes, but that still doesn’t justify the price that his parents paid.
Sadly, after that last experience, our party of 11 decided that we were likely done with the Keene Café for quite a while. We all loved it so much before, that we may try it again in a year or two in the hopes that they’ve improved. We’ll see…

My daughters and I stop in to eat here probably once a year while traveling from Fresno back home to Yuma Az. It’s a little out of our way but so worth it. This year I told my oldest (14) that we will be stopping in on January 2^nd on our way back from Christmas with the grandparents and now that’s all she can talk about. Great people, great food and a great atmosphere. I have to admit, I am just as exited to go. Best country fried steak I have ever had. This will be my wife’s first time going but I know she will love it too.

Our second time stopping here for breakfast on way to S.F. from Vegas. A very busy Sunday morning, but the same excellent service & food as the quiet week day trip! It will be our go to place on this route. Hubby & I enjoyed omelets & homefries-​yummy potatoes & try the salsa! Service unbelievably prompt & friendly for such a hectic morning!

Right off the Keene exit prior to arriving at the National Chavez Center. Staff was nice and friendly. Prices were reasonable and the food was okay. Nothing spectacular but suited our tummies purpose for the morning. For being owned and run by the National Chavez Center, I expected something representative of the museum. A face lift is needed inside and out. Didn’t see any logos or the mention of Cesar Chavez anywhere. Somebody needs to call HGTV or Obama :)

Place was swarming with flies and the place itself was a little unclean. Waitress was very unfriendly and she threw my card back at me after I paid the bill. I was so disappointed. We try to support local business but this one is a no go.

I’ve stopped here several times in the last couple of years. The employees are very friendly and the service is excellent. I’ve had a range of food from hamburgers to BBQ to a buffet and the food has always been excellent. It’s good enough that I’ll skip a meal so I can eat at the café if I know it will be open.

No Military Discounts!!! For as many veterans that ride motorcycles to go through here I’m very surprised. Shame on you Keene Deli!

Stopped here for the first time on a trip back from Las Vegas. The food was good and service was friendly. We will certainly stop back by here again.

You have got to try both the Chorizo and eggs and the Breakfast sandwich!
Worth the drive up/​down Hwy 58 and they have plenty of parking space for large trucks too! (For Christine)
Great food, and prices.
Add the waitress Sara’s smile and you’ve got a winning combination

Fluffy pancakes and excellent homemade chicken fried steak. The gravy is creamy and perfectly salted. Lots of Mexican offerings for those inclined. I ordered the chilaquiles (eggs scrambled with tortilla chips and pico). I’ve never had a chilaquiles before that didn’t come smothered in a sauce (either red or green), so Keene’s seemed a little dry. I asked for extra pico and that fixed I right up. Homefries were good– crispy on the outside and tender inside flecked with green peppers and onions. All-​in-​all, we were impressed and left satisfied. Service was top-​notch.

Located just outside the Tehachapi loop and the Cesar Chavez Memorial, is this rustic, beat down little restaurant. Don’t let the faded exterior fool you though, it’s just part of the charm.
Step inside and you will find yourself surrounded by cowboys, truckers and nearby locals there for coffee, pie and lunch. The menu is certainly inspired by Mexican cuisine, but it offers a bit more than that, such as burgers, etc.
Unfortunately, I just wish they had a couple more vegetarian options on the menu and added limon to the side of the plate and not an orange… minor details, but important.

I can’t believe nobody has reviewed this yet. It’s a nice little restaurant in Keene. I believe it is a frequent lunch stop of truckers, bikers, locals, and people working in the area. The staff is friendly and their food is pretty good.
I had the Mexican style chicken caesar salad yesterday, even though they use pre made dressing, It was pretty good. The chicken was cooked well and had nice flavor, the lettuce was fresh and crisp, and I really liked the fresh fried tortilla strips on top.
The fish tacos are pretty good, way over filled though. They make their own salsa there and it’s really good.
Their menu has the country diner basics, breakfast, burgers, steaks. but, they also have a lot of Mexican influenced dishes like carne asada tacos, taco salad, or burritos. I would assume because all the cooks I saw were Mexican. It’s a good stop if you’re hungry way out here on 58.