Run to Kay's Country Kitchen! We come to Santa Maria at least once to twice a year for a sporting event and always venture out for food. Sunday mornings are meant to be leisurely but this time we were in a rush. We had actually slept in until 7am, normally up by 5am without alarms. The hubs event started at 9am so we made the quick drive for a to go order, calling two blocks from the restaurant after glancing at the menu. We both decided the first item on the menu we would try; Orcut Hash, did sourdough toast and homemade biscuit We had just a couple minutes to sit and order iced tea to go. Before the server could get us our iced teas our food was ready. It's super cute inside...can't wait to come back and enjoy the sit down restaurant. Staff was super friendly and welcoming. Large alcoholic choice of drinks... really wanted that spicy Mary but since we were in a rush stuck with iced tea. The only 1 minute drive back to the gun range in Santa Maria was grueling smelling that gravy... We were both were thrilled at the large portions. It was amazing! I love gravy and could have used a little bit more but honestly I think it was fine for a normal person plus remember we go to go order so I suspect it soaked up a little on the drive. The staff threw in pepper and Tapatio which the hubs loves. I had Yellow Bird Blue Agave Sriracha in my travel trailer and used a little on it. OMG! It was so good! The potatoes had a nice crunch on them. That gravy was amazing. The biscuit was great, had a bite and saved the rest for later. The hubs managed to eat his whole plate and was stuffed! I might have eaten 1/4 of mine saving it for later. We will for sure be back! read more

We went to Kay's Country Kitchen on Sunday after church as a family, looking to enjoy a late breakfast/brunch. I've been here before and have usually had a good experience. We normally sit in the open patio/sunroom area, which has a really nice country-style atmosphere, and the food has always been good. Our waiter was also very nice, courteous, and attentive, so I have no complaints about the service he provided. Unfortunately, this visit was very different because we were seated directly in front of the area where the kitchen staff was cooking, prepping, and washing dishes. Throughout our meal, I could hear several members of the kitchen staff joking around and talking loudly. Horseplay among coworkers normally wouldn't bother me, but the language being used was extremely vulgar. Most of it was being said in Spanish, and I got the impression they assumed the customers nearby didn't understand Spanish. One phrase in particular, "a la verga," was being repeated constantly -- "vete a la verga," "a la verga esto," "a la verga lo otro," over and over again. Without getting into a literal translation, it is an extremely vulgar phrase, roughly equivalent to repeatedly saying things like "fuck that, fuck him" and roughly translated to they can eat a dick, he can eat a dick, they can eat a dick. I was sitting there with three young children who understand Spanish, trying to enjoy eggs and hash browns with my family while listening to this language coming from the kitchen over and over again. That's simply not appropriate in a family restaurant. Eventually, I got up and approached the kitchen staff myself. I politely asked them, in both Spanish and English, if they could please keep the vulgar language down because I had young children with me. The employee who had been using the phrase the most acted as though he didn't understand what I was saying and then pointed me toward another employee wearing a blue polo. I explained the same thing to him -- that we were trying to enjoy a family brunch and could clearly hear the constant vulgar language. Unfortunately, he seemed uninterested, appeared to be in a hurry, and essentially brushed off my concern. I didn't believe he was the manager because I would hope a manager wouldn't handle a legitimate customer concern that way. I later spoke with the actual manager, who told me she would address the issue with the kitchen staff, which I appreciated. The food was still good and our waiter did a great job, so my complaint isn't about them. It's specifically about the professionalism of the kitchen staff and the way my initial concern was handled. My recommendation to families with young children would be to ask to sit as far away from the kitchen area as possible. And if you hear this type of language, say something. Employees should be able to joke and enjoy working together, but repeatedly using extremely vulgar language loud enough for customers and children to hear is unacceptable in a family restaurant. read more

Kay's Country Kitchen in Orcutt used to be one of my all time favorite breakfast spots. I've been coming here since 2014, and for a while it was one of those places I couldn't wait to visit. I usually order the Kay's Orcutt Original with eggs, home fries (or hash browns), and a choice of meat, so I've had the same breakfast enough times to notice the changes over the years. My biggest gripe is the inconsistency. The eggs don't seem to be the same quality they used to be, but the biggest disappointment has been the potatoes. Their home fries used to be the best I've ever had. They were one of the main reasons I kept coming back. Now, it feels like you never know what you're going to get. More often than not they're undercooked, leaving the potatoes hard in the middle. On the rare occasion I mention it, the replacement usually comes back overcooked instead. It's frustrating because all I'm hoping for is the perfectly cooked home fries they used to be known for. I can't quite put my finger on everything that's changed, but the overall quality just doesn't feel as consistent as it once was. The food is still pretty good, and that's why I continue to support them, but I definitely find myself coming less often than I used to. This place used to knock it out of the park almost every visit. I genuinely hope they can get back to that level because I'd love to see one of my longtime favorite breakfast spots thrive again. read more

Kay's Country Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orcutt, California

This place is cute and apparently a local institution. The server was fantastic. Very attentive and made sure everyone's coffee and waters were kept full. Great attitude as well. I had a Monte Cristo sandwich with fresh fruit. The sandwich sounded better on the menu than it was on the plate. The plate actually looked rather sad. I wish I had gotten a picture but when I'm with clients taking pictures of food is awkward. I got the menu pics before they arrived. Anyway the sandwich was OK but nothing special. I wish I would have ordered something else. Kay's gets a 4 based on the service and atmosphere. 3 for the good. read more

See all

Love Kay's! The food is always great! The California scramble is a hearty breakfast. It comes with 3 different meats and they all blend well together. We got seated first in our area and got our food last. All the tables around us ate and checked out as we were still waiting. Not sure what happened but once we told the server our food came out in 10 minutes. They have lots of seating for big groups. They also have patio seating in the back which is also nice with a breeze. read more

See all

I got the chili verde omelet and it was delicious! We came here for brunch on Father's Day and there was a long wait with many patrons waiting around with their pagers. It was worth the wait! The decor is very country and stylish. I loved how they gave different coffee mugs out. They didn't all match! There is a kid's menu that gave great portions for pancakes! read more

Kay's Country Kitchen - Chile Verde omelet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orcutt, California

See all

We found this restaurant on Yelp after we finished a hike nearby and the Yelpers came through once again! Kay's country kitchen is located in Old Town Orcutt. It's a charming restaurant with lots of options for home style breakfast and brunch foods. They also have an extensive regular and seasonal drink menu. We walked in and were greeted right away. There were people standing outside so we went in expecting to wait. Lucky for us, our wait was less than five minutes and we were seated by our server. Our server was really good-attentive, detailed, and fast. The restaurant was decorated with fun Christmas decor and there was an old black and white TV show on in the back by the bar. I ordered a classic combo which was savory and sweet which is my favorite kind of breakfast. I chose sausage over bacon and waffle with blueberries over a pancake and maybe one other option. It was delicious and hit the spot. My boyfriend got the Mediterranean scramble with a muffin which he was also very pleased with. Both dishes came out quickly and the service was great. This is how all breakfast/brunch places should be! read more

See all

Good breakfast spot. It has an old western /country feel . Staff is it not super attentive, we had to wave our server down multiple times for more coffee and to order other items. I ordered a side of jalapeños and they were $5 not extremely expensive , just a note. I would come back if in town again though. So why a four star ? Despite the lack of attention by staff , we did enjoy our food. This is a fam owned business and they can't always control how staff handles their customers. read more

See all

My husband and I were so impressed with Kay's, we went two days in a row! It's a casual restaurant that has that welcoming and homey feeling. Yesterday, we ordered the steak and eggs and Danie's eggs Benny with trip tip. The steaks were cooked and seasoned very well! Today, we ordered the chicken and waffles and the Orcutt hash - wow! The waffles had such a fluffy center with the lightest crunch on the outside. The bits of pork belly and gravy meshed so well in the Orcutt hash. Our servers were so nice and made it a great experience. Definitely a staple breakfast spot! read more

Long overdue update: 5 out of 5 10 out of 10 Service is so good. Paige took care of us and we lacked no good thing. Food was superb: One of the tastiest scrambles ever! I got the Turkey Sausage scramble and added some garlic and Ortega chiles. With some crushed black pepper, Himalayan salt, and their homemade salsa...it was crazy good. We also ordered the French Toast and a "Create Your Own Omelette" Yes, you have to wait but that's a good thing. In demand, on point, off the chain. Place was clean, service is friendly, and the food is fire. Tip them well! read more

Kay's Country Kitchen - Turkey Sausage Scramble - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orcutt, California

Kay's Country Kitchen is a time capsule that takes you back to simpler, slower times where patrons gathered at the local town diner for DELICIOUS breakfast fare. There was a line of hungry customer outside Kay's when my party arrived and the 25 minute wait was beyond worth it. The inside ambiance was loud, lively and welcoming. The waiting staff was like an assembly line; delivering piping hot plates of breakfast with accuracy and execution. The Tri-Tip and Eggs was calling my name since landing in Santa Maria for the weekend- home of the infamous Santa Maria Tri-Tip/BBQ and the Tri-Tip at Kay's did not disappoint. There was a prominent smoke ring and a glorious bark of pepper and bbq rib that was slow smoked for hours and you sure could taste it! Kay's provided a superb breakfast and amazing service. I'm looking forward to my next visit to the sweet town of Orcutt. Thank you Kay's! read more

See all

Great service and great breakfast! I ordered the steak and eggs Benedict with a Belgian Waffle and it was better than I expected! I'm from solvang so I know what a good waffle from Belgian is supposed to taste like. Now I'm not much of a red meat person but the steak did not disappoint, crispy and smooth! I had bad eggs Benedict, outside of my hometown in the past and these taste just like my childhood ! The hash browns could have been cooked crispier, it was my least favorite item. Other than that, this food made my morning, even the decor was a beauty, I love vintage! No wonder this place is so popular read more

Kay's Country Kitchen - Eggs Benedict Special & Belgian Waffle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orcutt, California

We had a wonderful experience here. We arrived and the wait was so short, luckily we were seated inside at a booth. The staff were friendly and continuously checked on us to ensure we were enjoying our meal. My Chile Verde omelete was flavorful and filling. My friend made a bold move and ordered the peppermint pancake. She enjoyed it, though it looked like a meal for Buddy the Elf. Their restrooms were stocked and clean. They have patio seating and seating in the back of the restaurant. I'd return to try another dish. read more

See all

We came in on a Sunday and it was packed. The hosted told us it would be about a 20 minute wait and she was spot on. The service was friendly, and pretty good considering how busy it was. I had the chile verde omelet which was good but I did think it could have had some more meat in it; as there were just a couple pieces in the whole thing. The hash browns were delicious and my daughters enjoyed the kids pancakes. The ambiance gives county diner vibes. read more

Kay's Country Kitchen - Chile Verde Omelet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orcutt, California

My husband and I were driving through and had breakfast here! Customer service is amazing Coffee was great, I had the chorizo omelette and that was very good! Try the strawberry lemonade! read more

New to the central coast I really enjoyed this little spot we had a large party including 2 babies and the accommodation was great, seating was comfortable and service was good. Not too much of a wait for a busy Sunday morning. Waitress was friendly and pleasant. read more

See all

We've been coming here for years but it has really gone downhill. Came in for Father's Day, to start we got here around 9:30am got seated over an hour later which I was able to cope with because they did tell me it was a long wait. What I wasn't able to get over was the service... so SLOWWWW we didn't get greeted for about 15min drinks took another 15-20 mind you we put the entire order in at once to speed things up . Food hit the table around 11:30 2 hours after arriving and to my disappointment the food was bland !!! Steak was over cooked, no flavor, not even a steak knife. Biscuit and muffins were so DRY. No more homemade jelly. Server was unable to Check on us as very much until the end when all the food was eaten because after waiting so damn long we just gave in and ate. This place used to be our go-to we won't be coming back. We ended up with a 200$ bill to top it off this was for a party of 5 adults. NOT worth it whatsoever.. read more

Called and put in a breakfast order to-go. Ordered the Shannon scramble and got the biscuit as the side. The scramble was delicious and they put Tapatio and Tobasco hot sauce packets in my bag, which I used. The hash browns were crispy on top and the country biscuit was HUGE! It was the size of my entire hand and the texture was interesting. It had the taste of a biscuit, but it was soft and pillowy like a roll. I bet they taste amazing with gravy! I ate my breakfast in the parking lot of a nearby park and it was perfect. Looking forward to coming back and having a proper sit-down breakfast here! read more

Kay's Country Kitchen - Entrance - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orcutt, California

Called before we came, no outdoor seating so keep your dogs at home. We had a great time. Took Dad out for brunch. Nice relaxing time. Dad really enjoyed his Kay's Omelet & I am definitely happy with my Monte Cristo Breakfast Sandwich choice. Husband loved his smoked tri-tip and we all enjoyed the Chili Verde Fries, was a great appetizer. read more

See all

Nicole W. served me. I ordered everything but the kitchen sink. Best service I have had in California in a long time. Will be back. Thanks

This was a neat find in this small town! A restaurant with lots of personality, friendly and down to earth service and really good food. We started with the chile verde fries which were very tasty. The chile verde sauce was super flavorful and the pork very tender served over some shoestring fries. Delicious! I had the tri tip and eggs. The tri tip was outstanding. Smoked out back daily, it really had a nice smoke ring to it and tender to the bite. The spicy house made salsa really brought it up to another level! I ordered the biscuit and gravy as my bread side and wasn't as impressed. The biscuit was soft and fluffy, just perfect. The gravy...not so much. It had a flavor to it that wasn't super pleasant. It tried to be a nice white country gravy but it really didn't taste that great. Overall, a great visit and as mentioned - the service was excellent which makes it easy to recommend this place for a visit. read more

See all

Favorite place in town for breakfast. The wait was not long, especially for a Sunday. Great small town vibes inside the restaurant. We will always come here for Sunday breakfast. read more

Kay's Country Kitchen - Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs Blueberry Harvest French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orcutt, California

Food was fantastic. Portions were large. The service was great. The wait time was a little long but it was the day before Mother's Day so that's probably why. It was a nice setting, not too loud or disturbing. read more

See all

Brought the family on a Saturday for lunch. Ee got lucky and got a spot right in front, but I think there is a lot in the backtoo. Had a bigger group around 8 and the wait ended up being around 45min. Which wasn't too bad. Lots of options to choose from! Got some drinks first and the strawberry lemonade was delicious! And it was huuuuge! They gave me a to go cup before I left so I could take the rest with me and the cup was full even though I drank half of the original! All the food we ordered was great too. And the portions were huge. Especially the burritos. Everything came out hot fresh and delicious! The gravy was really good and fry on the country fried steak was perfect. I chose the muffin option for one of my sides and they brought it out towards the end so it stayed hot! Overall a great brunch spot and would definitely come back! read more

See all

Okay...We showed up way too early for our flight to Vegas so... I suggested we eat something and Yelp found the closest spot and it was a great choice. Now this old time "coffee shop" had it all, the look, the menu, the service old time perfect. You won't find many of these places any longer, a thing of the past. M ordered breakfast a 2 X 3, two pancakes (good sized), two scrambled eggs, and two strips of crispy bacon. She was full and couldn't eat the last piece of bacon...what? I went with lunch because I ate my breakfast hours ago (while she was getting ready...for a plane ride...what?). The Club sandwich was very good and was actually a "Club" sandwich, had avocado too. I subbed onion rings for the fries and ordered a side of cole slaw. Now cole slaw can be a tricky thing, I've made my share. The slaw had a brownish appearance I thought well its probably a few days old, Maybe Green cabbage and shredded carrots, mixed in was the purple cabbage that can discolor but I went with it. Crispy with a neutral cole slaw non-flavor was nothing special and needs fine tuning. The service was excellent, food was out fast, and all is good. Even my iced tea was a freshly brewed strong flavored tea. We didn't have a chance to sample the desserts but I'll defiantly be back with more time to enjoy. Great place foodguy-martin read more

Kay's Country Kitchen - da counter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orcutt, California

Fast friendly service and the breakfast was awesome! This place is historic, clean and well maintained. The stained glass in the ceiling is a pretty cool as it has probably been there for a very long time! Will come back for sure in the future! Highly recommend! A+++ read more

Everything bad. The plate needs to be thrown away - it is so banged up. Service wasn't just slow, it was non-existent. A two-egg omelet with a little spinach, one mushroom , and some onions - burned side of potatoes was $18. The biscuit was dried up and flavorless. Hey !! Guess what !! No amenities like a slice of orange. read more

Came here for breakfast. I was super excited to try it. We were thrilled that they serve breakfast cocktails and they were very good. Food was solid. Definitely no complaints at all. Service was perfect. I would definitely go back. read more

Outstanding breakfast. I got the Orcutt Hash; diced ham, pork belly, sausage with fresh fried potatoes topped with two eggs. Highly recommend! Busy little place but still quaint and friendly. Apparently it turns into a bar at night on the weekends? read more

Kay's Country Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orcutt, California

The place is a ripoff for the area. Everything is super expensive (including kids meal). They charge prices as if its in a expensive real estate area and interior is a simple diner looking and even sugar & cream is low maintenance cheap diner looking. They even have the guts to then charge extra 3.5% for using credit cards. They better be paying $30/hr minimum to all employees or else the place is ripping tourists. read more

Best burger on the Central Coast. I've been a big fan of Kay's breakfast for years, but never tried the lunch menu until today. I've also been looking for a good burger since I moved back to the area 18 months ago. This one wins. My husband had the pastrami sandwich and that was excellent too. read more

Still STILL my favorite breakfast place in the area. Was lucky enough to get Amy again and my friend was so pleased with the way she dealt with the kids. They got soda and when it was finished, she brought them a water first and said when you finish this, then I will ask your parents if it's OK for another. Where else are you gonna get this kind of service? It really helps so that parents can enjoy their breakfast without fretting over a lot of that. Thanks Kays and Amy for making breakfast tasty AND fun :) read more

See all

Kay's is my favorite place to have breakfast on the Central Coast. I'm a sucker for a good eggs benny and Kay's delivers every time! The staff is amazing from hostess to kitchen staff to servers they never fail to provide an excellent dining experience. If you're looking for a chill spot to eat with family and food that never disappoints, Kay's is where you'll find it every time! read more

I've been going to Kay's kitchen for almost 3 years! I love eating their "Too much to drink" omelette with pico+salsa on the side. Their strawberry lemonades are SO good too! The service is really good. The servers are very nice and are prompt with bringing you whatever you need. There's def a homey feel that you won't get from most modern breakfast places! read more

Kay's Country Kitchen - Breakfast special: Pork Chops - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orcutt, California

See all

I'm never charged the same amount when I go here. I've been charged for extras once but not the next. I've been offered multiple refills on strawberry lemonade for free by one waitress then the next time i come i ask, and I see the bill and I was charged. Nobody says anything about up charges until you see it on the bill. read more

Staff is friendly and food is always great, what more can you ask for ?! Check out the pics I added. read more

Kay's Country Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Orcutt, California

See all

We have been here a few times and never had an issue. Today was a different experience. I ordered the too much to drink last night omelette today. The restaurant was not busy at all, it was around 12pm. My friend had a burger and fries. Our food came out and for whatever reason our food was cold. The gravy, and omelette was not hot, barely warm. It felt like the food was sitting there for a while before being served to us. We did not have enough time to have them make another one because we had to get back to work. Not a good experience today at Kay's. We may try again when we have more time. Today was not worth the money we paid. read more

First time visit to Kay's for breakfast. I didn't realize how small the restaurant was. It was full, but we came just in time as a couple of tables were opening up so our wait was not long at all. Service was friendly and quick. We didn't have to wait long for our food to arrive to our table. We ordered the Blueberry Harvest FT and the vegi omelette with home fries. Everything was great! read more

Great food Service amazing and friendly Chill open environment Ambiance peace My go to spot when I am in the area read more

This restaurant had a very charming country Wild West vibe to it. We got seated immediately upon arrival. The staff was very friendly and welcoming, and it was just what we needed for breakfast/brunch on our way to Solvang. I got a tri tip and egg plate, while my friend got a chicken fried steak. It was all very delicious. It's advisable to pay in cash, since right on the front of their menu, there's a 3.5% fee on sales receipts paid with credit card. read more

See all