This is not a BBQ place. If you want a grilled burger or a hot dog, I'd give it 2 stars, but they hold themselves out to be "the best Bar-B-Q in the Bay Area". Not even close! Chili out of a can. Chopped beef or pork served off a griddle. If you want BBQ, don't come here. If you want a pancake or a hot dog and you're stuck in the area, it's just ok Update: I decided my original 1-star rating was a bit harsh, so I'm adjusting this to 2-stars. The food is ok, but it's still not BBQ and, in my mind, not worth making a special trip here. If you're in the area and need a quick bite, Kal's will fit the bill. read more

Great spot. Found it by chance and loved it! Amazingly friendly owners took great care of us and provided good "life" advice. Such a fun experience. Food was excellent!!! read more

Kal's Bar-B-Q - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

I work up the street from here, so I decided to phone in an order. I called and placed an order for a chili cheese dog and a hamburger both with fries. The guy on the phone seemed like he had a really hard time hearing me. When we went to pick up the orders everything was done in a timely matter. I asked for extra cheese on my chilli dog and one of the old guys seemed to bothered. He said do you REALLY need that much cheese, and I said yes please. It took him a whilw to figure out how he was going to charge me for the cheese, then he did .50 for a slice of American cheese. The food was amazing and I can't really complain. American cheese slices on a chilli cheese dog was different, but tasty. Not so great service, but excellent food! read more

This is based on my first time eating here--we were meandering through Sunnyvale and randomly chose Kal's--I was expecting the Southern-BBQ-scene, but its not really BBQ...its a really AMAZING burger/steak sandwich joint (whatever you call it...grill...yeah) We got the popular rib-eye steak sandwich, and a Kal's burger. They were both AWESOME, and the two of us are fanatical about burgers and steak sandwiches, having perfected them in our own home. Rarely do you find a place that cooks steaks or burgers to their proper temperature without asking them not to burn the shit out it--you can tell the guy behind the grill has probably made 8,000 of these. The burger was very moist and barely pink on the inside. The steak sandwich on a french roll satisfied the greasy-spoon girl inside me. They have a burger bar with toppings, condiments, sauces for steak, yay for horseradish! read more

W hat is this place T hinking? F or sure, I expect BBQ when i go to a BBQ place. Where is the BBQ ? Don't expect any ribs or anything slow-cooked here. You come here for burgers and sandwiches. Unfortunately, this place is not advertised as a GRILL but a BBQ. Yes, there IS a difference. i should have headed back out the door As soon as i saw three elderly asian cooks (who barely speak any english) behind the grill/counter. on the plus side.. they take amex! haha! read more

Beloved Bay Area, "You have one missing feather in your Cap: BBQ." I have yet to come across a good BBQ joint here. When I say BBQ, I mean BBQ like Salt lick or County line...(if you are a long horn you know what I am talking @) Since, I am stone throw away, I have tried Kal's multiple times. I have tried the Pork S/w and Brisket, but it's not there for me yet....Maybe I am too hooked to Real Texas BBQ. Will Give it another Shot. read more

Best BBQ in town! My grandfather, my dad, and now me come here every other weekend for their omelets and steak sandwiches! Customer service is always great and food is always awesome! read more

If you don't think the steak sandwiches are bomb, then go here for the service. The old asian dude, I named him Kal. Even though am sure his name ain't Kal, he adds to the coolness of this place. He will remember the regulars, and even pre-order for you once he sees you standing in line. If you can get here early enough, do yourself a favor and order the steak and eggs for breakfast. Steak for breakfast. Nothing beats that. read more

I went with a colleague from work and we both tried the BBQ beef sandwich. I had no clue I was being upcharged for my "french roll" bun - but I was. It was 14.99 for a sandwich, pepsi and fries. On top of all of it, it wasn't good. It tasted like the beef had been hanging out in the BBQ sauce / heater for quite some time.... not tasty. Won't go back. ***UPDATE: she did give me the $1.60 back for the up-charged french roll. read more

Kal's is my favorite breakfast place in Sunnyvale. I've worked early mornings in Sunnyvale since 2001 and have tried almost every breakfast place. It's not too crowded and the prices are reasonable for the Silicon Valley area. Their ham slice on traditional 2 egg breakfast is a good size, and their hashbrowns cant be beat. read more

This place isn't as bad as people make it out to be. I'm a regular there and I always come out satisfied. The owner, Steven, always greets me with a smile and knows what I get - the steak sandwich. The steak is moist and tender (I'm salivating right now just thinking about it). You can choose what you want on your sandwich at the condiment bar. The steak sandwich cost about $13 with fries and a salad. Breakfast is also excellent and fulfilling. Their pancakes remind me of how my grandma used to make them. The Kal's Special consists of pancakes, eggs, and bacon and cost about $7. This place is a little pricey, but it is all worth it when you bite into their food. I saw previous reviews on how the building is all run down, but that's what makes it special. The hole in the wall restaurants are usually the best tasting ones. Highly Recommended read more

This place is indeed an institution as another reviewed stated, and having once lived in the neighborhood, I decided to visit, not recalling if I'd liked it before. I admire their longevity. The place is very friendly with a pleasant, barn-like atmosphere that I like, and the customers looked like longtime customers. Overall, it was clean and pleasant. However, I ordered Kal's pork bbq on a bun; It arrived fast, bland, tepid, and portions were not hearty for $14 bucks. I had a small side of bbq beans that were bland as well, puried like babyfood. There were no chili condiments available beyond chopped onions. Overall food: C-. I probably won't return, but if I do, I will go for sentimental reasons and a steak sandwich instead. read more

I think Kal's needs to take a good look in the mirror and say, "I am a grill, I am a GRILL and I am okay with that. I can tell my mom that I am a grill, she'll still accept me! And more importantly, I am a pretty decent grill" If it was Kal's grill I might even go 4 stars. But until they break down and become honest with themselves I simply can not. There is nothing remotely BBQ-ish about them outside of a pulled pork sandwich with some BBQ sauce on it (which is not what people who really liek the place tend to get). They might as well call themselves a soda fountain because they have coke in the fridge... Anyhow, that aside, the food is okay. The fries were unsalted, and really not that crispy... 1 star fries. The sandwich was pretty decent, simple... In the context of a grill this is a get what you expect kind of place, they don't do anythign special because their customers probably do not want them to. People keep going on about the price, but since subway a drink and some chips comes to $9.50 I think they might be out of touch with what lunch costs these days. The guy working there was pretty friendly... this is something simple, but I just wanted water and he gave me a glass with ice not some little paper shot glass size cup to tell me to screw off because I don't want to pay $1.50 for a soda... I will say that for what you get here is pretty darn similar to what I get in my work cafeteria... so I don't know if I am rushing back. read more

VERY nice service, quick and efficient! I like that I can put what I want on my steak sandwich :) mmmm steak sauce. No steak fries, but that's okay because at least they are NOT crinkle cut...not my type of fries. I went in just before the lunch rush, and it I had my food ready within 5 mins. The size of the steak is just right. It's not an obscene amount, and it's not a tiny portion either. I like this place! read more

Bleh. Quick, but not satisfying. BBQ taste was bland. The people were nice...sorry, nice people. read more

Love this place it delicious and wonderful this is a great place to eat in the bay area thisnis my new go to place and the coffee here is the best i have had the staff is so nice and friendly read more

This place is smokin'! Literally. We saw it a couple of times driving by. Looked promising. Checked it out. Nice folksy ambience, down to earth but well cared for, totally unpretentious, and tasty. Try the ribeye sandwich. Big tender delicious. read more

I gotta say, I was having a decent time and enjoying the food right up until the end. At around 8 pm tonight (Friday night), these guys had a 3 star review, maybe even 4. At 8:05 pm? Not so much. First, the food. I'm from the south, so I'm picky about my barbecue. Now that you know my personal bias, I can confidently state my BBQ beef sandwich was not bad. Tender meat, no smoke flavor whatsoever, and way too much sauce. But still not bad. Fries were fresh and hot, and all the toppings (lettuce, onions, pickles, etc.) were set out for easy access so I could customize the sandwich the way I like. The tea was the bagged, plasticky tasting crap I hate, but it was tolerable and not as bad as McDonald's. Where they lost major points was in kicking us out. KICKING US OUT. AN HOUR before their posted closing time. The guy was trying to send hints by turning off all the grills and lights, but we were having a good time talking and I was sitting right next to the hours sign, which stated they were open until 9. The guy cleaning (an older Asian gent) told us it was time to go. I replied that closing time was 9 pm. He said sometimes when people don't come in they like to close up and go home early. I told him we were obviously still enjoying ourselves. The guy said, and I QUOTE, "That doesn't pay the utility bill." Simple solution, dude - CHANGE YOUR FRIGGIN' HOURS. This was my first time in this joint and it was solidly heading for an OK experience until the last 5 minutes in there. So buyer beware - they sell cheap food but only if you have cash. If you pay with card, you gotta pay at least $10. And if they're ready to go home, they'll kick your ass to the curb because you, being a customer who paid to eat there, don't pay their utility bills apparently. read more

If you are coming here for a bbq plate with a slab of ribs and a tri tip or bbq chicken this is not the place to go. You are better off going to Armadillo Willys down the street. The style is very old school and they haven't updated their décor probably since they opened. They have mostly bbq sandwiches there. read more

This place was introduced to me by a coworker who came into work with the most wonderful smelling bag of food, sat down next to me and began eating loudly without so much as offering me a french fry. "Hark!", I say to him, "From where doth thine vittles cometh?" "Kal's", he said, between breaths as he stuffed that sandwich into his mouth faster than he could possibly chew it. I vowed on that day that I would not die before sampling the cuisine that inspired such primal gluttony in someone who is otherwise a very civil person. What's good on the menu is really good, what's bad on the menu is kinda bad. Before you dismiss this place though, try the steak sandwiches (MUST get it with cheese on it), and spend some quality time at the condiment station where you can take all the peppercinis, pickles, lettuce, tomato, etc, etc that you want. The people behind the counter are usually friendly, albeit busy, and you get your food pretty quickly. The restaurant has a fair bit of character to it. If you live or work in the neighborhood, you owe yourself at least one stop at Kal's. read more

Ok guys! This not a gourmet joint. No gourmet toppings. The four stars is for a real mesquite charcoal grilled burger. No pale gray steamed burger here. You put you own fixings on the burger. Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, jalapeño, mayo, mustard or ketchup. The owners are super nice and you get your food in a timely manner. You wanna watch some TV... They usually have a game on. My husband has been going to this place for 15 years. Food is always consistent. read more

If you want to spend a lot of money for really bad food eat here. "Low Carb Platter" had some ground meat (she described it as "a ground sirloin patty"). The patty was a decent size but it was gray, flavorless, chewy, sinewy meat that oozed water when cutting into it. The salad was chopped iceberg lettuce with some grated carrots and a single thin slice of tomato. Maybe their other menu items are worth the money they charge for their food. For $17.99, the "Low Carb Platter" I was serve was barely edible. This is the first and only time I will dine here. YMMV. read more

I like BBQ.....the center condiment station is a good idea, but they have no BBQ sauce dispensers anywhere for the customers to use. It wasnt expensive, but the food to cost ratio is low. Food wasnt terrible, but I can make much better on my grill at home. I can say I tried Kal's but its not for me. read more

I love the steak sandwich !) the place is older but has beautiful charm and love. These folks have been here for over 20 years. I have been here more than once. It's really good. read more

Karl's is the type of place you can go to with a group of friends and just hang out while inhaling a steak sandwich, which is what I got by the way. It is pretty well cooked and with a fully stocked condiment bar, a very good choice. pricing seems a tad topside but not enough to really matter. The service is very friendly if not a little disorganized. By disorganized I mean that there is no number or name system. You're expected to know whether or not the order called is yours or not and in my case, everyone in front and behind me ordered the steak sandwich so it was a bit confusing. Nevertheless it's a pretty solid joint for a bite. Also of note is their sign warning against refilling your drink before leaving. Pretty funny considering we all know they're probably referring to Asians who have a history of doing that. Also ironic considering a lot of their staff is Asian. I'd still come back though...that steak sandwich was pretty legit. read more

Awesome place to go to grab a bite to eat. Everytime I come here, I always want to try something else from the menu but cannot and will not deviate from the steak sandwich. For about $8.95ish, you get a large portion of steak on a French roll. There's a condiment bar in the middle of the restaurant to customize your sandwich. The steak is cook pretty well, though it sometimes can be bland. That's why there are condiments I suppose. The staff here is pretty good overall. They are pretty quick and efficient and they prepare most of their food on their broiler. I think they're remodeling their bathrooms at the moment, so you have to deal with a porta potty outside. The interior has an old-fashioned type of feel, but it's casual enough to just hangout and enjoy a meal with friends. read more

I went into Kal's this week for lunch. I have to agree with the other 1 star reviews - poorly prepared food and way overpriced for what you get. Maybe it was great once - but not now, not for this reviewer. I'll be taking my lunch BBQ hankerings to Amadillo Willy's too ... read more

I have ordered two things from this place: 1) burger, 2) steak sandwich. Both are very good. The other items may or may not be good, I just don't know. Perhaps the items ordered may account for the high rating deviations in reviews about this place. I give it a 4 star because they make the burgers the way I like it. You may have to tell them how you personally like your burger to be cooked. The grill is right there in front so you could just talk to him. I like a juicy burger with just ketchup on it and the condiment bar allows me to put lettuce/pickles on the side to eat seperately. Admittedly their price is on the high side but not exorbitantly so, and at least personally not unaffordable. If you actually like McDonalds burgers then you're wasting your time and money here. Despite the complaints about their prices, they are packed during lunch. I surmise this is due to their awesome burgers and that people working around this area make enough money to comfortably eat at this place. read more

"Waiter: Would you like some drinks, Señor, while you wait? I will put it on the Underhills' bill. Fletch: Yes, very good. I'll have a Bloody Mary and a steak sandwich and... a steak sandwich, please." -- IMDb Quotes: Fletch (1985) *** Go to Kal's for the steak sandwich...enough said. *** read more

The hamburger was your basic backyard grille party style burger at a slightly-higher than fast food price point. I really wanted to like this place as it has all the style of a true hamburger dive but there's just not that much going for it except that the Service was nice and quick. Here's why: * Burger meat was juicy but there was no flavor in the meat other than the beef. A little salt and pepper while grilling would have transformed that piece of meat. * The bun was your typical 8 to a pack special you can get at any grocery store. * The toppings bar as average. While they did have tomatoes, the lettuce was your garden variety stuff (iceberg?). Also, curiously enough, they didn't offer any BBQ sauce in the condiment bar (others have mentioned that here as well). I'm glad I tried it (I've passed this place dozens if not hundreds of times) but I don't feel compelled to go back. At this price point, I'd rather eat at 5-guys. -g read more

Let me just get this out of the way real quick: the extra star is for friendly service. Despite the mediocre Yelp reviews I decided to give Kal's a shot based on a couple of personal recommendations. Wish I would have just stuck to my guns and listened to Yelp. I ordered the steak sandwich on the recommendation of the cashier, and she up sold me on some onion rings. She asked me how I wanted the steak cooked (Rare) and I started thinking Yelp may have been wrong about this place. Nope. You were right. It comes out about 5 minutes later. The onion rings were hard as a rock and inedible. The "rare" steak was well-done and was about the fattiest slab of meat I've ever tried to eat. If you know me, you know I don't often leave food on the plate, but I could only get through about half the sandwich before giving up. No seasoning, bad cook, tough as nails. It tasted like what I imagine meat water would taste like if meat water was a thing. It turned into one of those meals that you're just shoving down your throat because you're hungry but not enjoying a single bite of it. Overall, extremely disappointed and wouldn't eat here again if it were free. read more

Kals is normally really good - I ordered the Steak Sandwich - it was really fatty and the fries were cold. My wife got the cheeseburger and fries and hers was way overdone. A bad experience......I was really bummed....... By the way - dont wear anything nice if you eat inside, cuz you will smell like smoke if you do!!! read more

Stake sandwich , and the breakfast is always good. Every time I'm even remotely close to that area , I make sure to stop by. read more

Kal's Bar-B-Q - Barbeque Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

It's true that this place really isn't a BBQ place. They grill inside (not outside as in traditional southern style BBQ), but then this isn't Southern style BBQ. The nicest guy runs this place. He's there every day it seems like. I've had their BBQ chicken sandwhich. It's great with 1000island on it. I've also had breakfast there. Simple eggs, hashbrowns, pancakes and bacon type deal. All done well. Nothing 'special' or 'fancy'. Good prices too and they are open early every day for breakfast. Very casual atmosphere. Strange random decore, but who cares, I'm there to eat. read more

A blast from the past. At least to me, it looks like a place out of the 60s. It's a BBQ place but more of a greasy spoons with a grill with lots of smoke. Met my friend here and I decided on the pork sandwhich on a French Roll (which is extra $$). You get fries and salad with that. Their beef seems to be the popular item with that lunch crowd, but I opted for the other white meat. My friend had the burger, fries and salad. Overall I thought the food was fine, but I thought my pork just didn't have that smokey hickory smell that I'm so used to when BBQing in my backyard. Then again, that's my own personal taste. If you're going there for lunch, go about 5 minutes earlier since the parking is a bit tight in this part of Sunnyvale. Eat outside or in. If you choose to sit on their park bench facing Mathilda, prepare for the traffic noise. I liked it. I'd go again. read more

It is what it is. If you are looking for an school, smokey BBQ joint this would be the place. The food is solid and the staff is friendly and fast. The Good Straightforward menu with decent prices. You can see your food being cooked over the wood fire grill. I really enjoy the old school vibe. Every time I have lunched there it is always filled with blue collar guys just eating a decent lunch, enjoying each other's company, and maybe watching sports on the TV. The spare ribs are good and the bacon cheeseburger is straightforward. The staff is friendly, efficient, and quick. I grabbed lunch to go today and was in and out in under 10 minutes. The Bad The food is by no means phenomenal and is not the best BBQ I have had, but having lunch at Kal's every once in awhile is A-OK. One complaint is their salad is all iceburg lettuce and some of my lettuce was a little old. The again, I went for the burger and the salad was the side. Still, give a higher rating if the overall quality was improved a little bit. There is really not a lot to either rave or complain about. You have had better and you have had worse. Kal's is the pinch hitter in the BBQ dining selections. It does in a pinch and I don't regret it, but I am also not drawn back. It is worth a try and the once every 6 month visit. read more

Okay, today is steak sandwich day for me. Kal's prepares a steak sandwich - on a charcoal grill - that's to die for. He starts with a thin-cut, boneless rib-eye. You can get it with cheese, if you'd like. I get mine medium rare, with cheese. Once it's done, I add onions, lettuce and tomato at the condiment bar. A little mayonnaise and catsup and this steak sandwich is transformed into one of the best charcoal-cooked meals anywhere in the Silicon Valley. There only bad time to go is at lunch - they're usually so crowded that you can't get a parking space or a seat. Wait until after the lunch rush to enjoy a great meal. Definitely a "gotta-have" when I'm in the Silicon Vally/Moffatt Field area. Worth just about any drive...even from LA! ;) read more

Kal's BBQ is a timeless classic and a fixture in the Sunnyvale area. Kal's presents itself as a hometown, small, dive of a burger shop; and it lives up to exactly that. You're not going to find the best burgers here. But again, you didn't come to Kal's for the best food in the world. You dropped in for an old school cozy feeling. When you walk in, it smells and looks like a small town BBQ. The burgers are just fine for everyday food and the burger bar (fixin's) helps your burger take the form you want. Going to a place like Kal's, you don't expect to pay the prices you would at a place like The Cheese Cake Factory, and Kal's delivers in this arena as well - the value arena. People at my company still talk about going to Kal's way back in the days. It's nostalgic, satisfying, and worth a stop in when you want that cozy family dining experience. read more

I came here around 2 on a weekday and it wasn't crowded which was nice. I had no clue what to order since everything sounded good on the menu. The man taking my order noticed my indecisive puzzled face and recommended the steak sandwich. Damn, 10$? Eh fuck it. "Sure, I'll get the steak sandwich." Fries? Yes. Soda? Yes. Now it's 15$. All I was thinking was that I hope to get a large amount of fries. I love fries. The sandwich and fries come and by my surprise the steak was pretty freaking big - it hung out about 2 inches on all sides of my bun :) nice. Biting into it i noticed that i had no desire to put any sauce on it, which makes me know that I am eating good food. The fries were lacking in quantity which I didn't like, but they make up for it in quality. They taste really, really good. I plan on coming here again for the breakfast because that looks really good too. read more

Visited during pandemic. Perfect procedures. Food was tasty and fast. Very nice owners. Plenty of parking and convenient location. I love their crispy French fries! We will be back soon. read more