Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Kensington Cafe

    4.1 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Kensington Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Kensington Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    KENSINGTON CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    More like Kensington Cafe

    Recommended Reviews - Kensington Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Linda L.

    Still love this place! Recently came in for lunch with a coworker & everything was delicious! Staff were friendly & welcoming. The indoor decor is so cute & homey. Parking is easy to find.

    Carmel coconut latte
    Kimberly B.

    The staff are the shining stars of this gem corner cafe. So friendly and down to earth. With so many enticing choices for breakfast it is hard to decide, so you should probably just over order and tip graciously. We found street parking two blocks down and enjoyed the charming neighborhood walk to the cafe. We sure needed it with bellies full.

    VEGAN BURRITO
    Olivia S.

    My sister and I came for brunch on a Friday. We were greeted by a friendly host and sat right away on the patio. We both started with a soy latte which we both enjoyed. I had a hard time making a decision on my entree because they had so many great options, including their seasonal specials. I ended up choosing the biscuits and chicken gravy per our server's recommendation. The gravy was flavorful and not too heavy. The biscuits were good and flakey but the bottom is the biscuit was a little hard. My sister had the vegan burrito which she enjoyed. We both said we would love to come back and try their other menu options. They have plenty of vegan options for my sister which was great!

    ASADA HASH BOWL and MAPLE PEACH WARMED OATS
    jacqueline s.

    Really solid breakfast/brunch place! We were seated very quickly on a Sunday morning which was surprising. We tried their seasonal oats, açaí bowl, and Asada bowl. The coffee was great as well! Parking can be tough so expect to look around for a bit but otherwise this was a great spot. I am planning on coming back to try their French toast next time!

    Quiche and MATCHA LATTE
    Megan M.

    Kensington Café will always hold a special place in my heart. When I lived nearby, I used to walk my dog here for breakfast or grab a coffee and pastry on lazy mornings--it's that perfect blend of community café and neighborhood hangout. Their patio is dog-friendly, which makes it an easy go-to when the weather's nice (which, let's be honest, is most days in San Diego). The full coffee bar is excellent--their matcha latte and seasonal drinks are favorites--but I'm also partial to their iced tea with free refills. Over the years, I've worked my way through the menu: omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, and now the quiche--which was fantastic. The Spanish Revival is also great if you're in the mood for something hearty, though it's definitely on the heavier side. What really keeps me coming back is the staff. They're consistently kind, warm, and attentive--no matter how busy the café gets. Even on weekends, I rarely wait more than 10-15 minutes for a table, and once you're seated, it's just easy to relax and enjoy. If you're looking for a classic neighborhood café with great food, friendly service, and that welcoming, local feel--this is it.

    AMERICAN DREAM with sourdough
    Kaloni S.

    This is a super cute corner cafe! I've come a few times and the staff is always very welcoming and sweet! They have a wide variety of options on the menu and drink menu as well. The food and drinks taste very fresh! It's definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. The American dream: (4.5/5) I ordered it with sourdough instead of the everything bagel, it was delicious! The eggs were fluffy, bacon was crispy and flavorful. Iced chai: I ordered it with almond milk and a splash of vanilla syrup. It was perfect! I like mine on the sweeter side.

    coffee
    Elizabeth N.

    loved this place, it was full on a saturday afternoon but we were seated within 5 minutes. it's kind of dark inside, next time I would definitely ask for outside seating to enjoy the sun and the warmer weather. our food and coffees were delish. server is super nice, although don't remember catching her name. I got an asada hash bowl, I feel like there could've been more more asada after looking at the pictures of other bowls posted on here. nonetheless it was still super filling and I had to take the leftovers home. I had to get a side of a pancake, it was warm and fluffy - just perfect! I want to come back and try more especially their sweet breakfast dishes! ps you can also come in and order to go coffees at the coffee counter!

    Kim R.

    The service was good. Food was ok, I ordered the Daniel on a croissant it also came with a side of fruit. I was very disappointed in the size of the side fruit it was pretty tiny. The fruit also was not the freshest. Cafe itself was cute. Street parking wasn't too bad.

    HOT HONEY CHICKEN AND WAFFLES
    Jiselle T.

    The service and ambiance were great! The food was okay, I ordered the chicken and waffles and was surprised that they fried a very thin chicken breast for it. I would've liked to see thick juicy chicken instead. I've had the chilaquiles in the past and I would not recommend those either.

    THE PARKSIDE
    Danny D.

    Very cozy indoor and outside seating areas. The servers were warm and inviting, very attentive. I got an omelet dish that was a bit under seasoned and needed quite a bit of tapatio and ketchup. The croissant was extra and was very buttery. Parking was easy on a weekday, we parked at the neighboring park.

    ASADA HASH BOWL
    Alberto C.

    I live for their Asada hash bowls!! They are superior. I love how tasty and fresh they are. Its a perfect blend of the potatoes with the guac and poach egg. The customer service is also great here its always welcoming! The place is located in the corner with pretty easy accessible street parking. Great decor and environment inside. Not to mention, they have great iced coffee my favorite is the Mauna Lau Latte! I always come back here for a quick breakfast or brunch!

    Dara T.

    Delicious food in a nice corner location in the beautiful district of Kensington. I ordered the Chicken and Waffles with a side of eggs and I must say, it was delicious! I normally probably wouldn't be able to finish a meal like that, but the food was so easy to eat. The chicken was more of schnitzel, very tender and fresh! They also have an outdoor seating area that of course allows dogs. Our waitress was amazing and made sure our water was refilled and we got everything we needed. On top of that we did a walk in on a random Saturday and got seated in 15 minutes! Overall great place!!

    Hash bowl
    Christina L.

    I will admit I was not crazy about this place. I think the menu has a lot of good options but I just felt like the food tasted very generic. Definitely good portion sizes. I think that some of the items on the menu are extremely overpriced. Also, the wait can be very long and they don't tell you how long it is going to be. Also, what I was not a fan of is that they had the window open from the outside part of the diner to the inside of the diner, the sun was very blinding. So I felt like not having a blind or cover of some sort or something to kind of deter the light of being in your face that wasn't very fun. At some points I couldn't even see. I will say the place is kinda small, so it can get a tad loud from outside to inside because the seating is so close to one another. Even trying to leave there isn't much room. You kind of have to wiggle in between everyone as you're coming in and out there isn't a clear path to really walk. I will say parking is fairly okay.

    HONEY GONE NUTS WAFFLE & MARLBOROUGH

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Vy T.

    Vy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 day ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Vy T.

    Vy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Vy T.

    Vy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    25 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Vy T.

    Vy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eden C.
    0
    137
    140

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Vy T.

    Vy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Classic breakfast in a cute neighborhood location. Ample street parking available. Waits are not too long.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jesus J.
    389
    23
    5

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Vy T.

    Vy T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 36

    Ask the Community - Kensington Cafe

    Is this restaurant wheelchair accessible? Does it have wheelchair accessible restrooms, too?

    Yes it is! We are ADA certified!

    Do they have real maple syrup?

    Do you plan to ever reopen for dinner? We used to love coming for dinner...

    Will you be adding more vegan options in the future (for breakfast)?

    Is this place dog friendly?

    Yes, we were able to sit on the patio, with our dog, and they happily served us.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Carbon Angela’s Kitchen

    Carbon Angela’s Kitchen

    4.7
    (282 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    Family-owned & operated
    Established in 2023

    This is probably the longest overdue review I have ever written, but at this point, not writing it…read morealmost feels selfish because I would very much like to always be able to get a table here. But alas, Carbon Angela's Kitchen deserves every flower, every reservation, every "you have to try this place" text thread, and every bit of love. This place has become one of my absolute favorite hidden gems in San Diego. Easily top five for me, and as someone who dines out a lot for a living, that is not a casual statement. There are places you like, places you recommend, and then there are places that start to feel woven into your actual life. Carbon Angela's Kitchen is that for me. Angela is truly the heart of this place. She has this way of making you feel like you are not just coming in for dinner, but being welcomed into something she deeply cares about. And Emanuele is absolutely part of that magic too. Together, they have built something that feels warm, generous, soulful, and so special. They feel like long-lost friends and family now, and I am honestly just so proud of them and all they are creating. The food is the kind that makes you want to order with the whole table in mind. The griglia mista is hands down one of the best investments you can make if you are dining with a group. It is the meat platter, it is the moment, and it is absolutely worth ordering. Four to five people can split it, especially if you are also doing appetizers, salad, wine, and a few extra things for the table. It is such a perfect nod to what Carbon was before Angela took over, when the space leaned more BBQ, but now it feels beautifully married with Angela's warmth, Italian influence, and the kind of hospitality that makes the whole meal feel like an experience. And please do not sleep on the rest of the menu. The short rib is fire. The arancino trio is always a yes. The eggplant croquette? Obsessed. The crespelle? So good. The Everything Salad is my favorite salad on the menu, and the street corn should never, under any circumstances, be skipped. I said what I said. The wine selection is top tier, the appetizers are memorable, and the whole place has that rare magic of feeling cozy, intentional, and completely unpretentious. You can come for a low-key dinner, a girls' night, a celebration, or one of those "we just need a really good meal and a really good glass of wine" kind of evenings. And the back patio? Perfect for an evening under twinkling lights. It is one of those spaces that just begs for a long table, good conversation, clinking glasses, and the kind of night that accidentally turns into a core memory. They also have catering menus available, which is very important information to keep in your back pocket if you are hosting anything soon. What Angela has built is honestly something to behold. One of the hardest-working restaurateurs doing the dang thing in a city like San Diego, and now opening Bedda across the way too? I am in awe and wonder watching it all unfold. It takes so much courage, grit, taste, excellence, and heart to build what they are building, and you can feel all of it in the room. Carbon Angela's Kitchen is a true labor of love, a hidden gem, and one of those places I will keep cheering for again and again. Go hungry. Order the griglia mista. Get the Everything Salad. Do not skip the street corn. Share Share Share, so you can try a little bit of everything and do a tried and true family style meal, you won't regret it.

    We dined on Sunday for the first time and tried their Sunday Funday Feast. This Sunday the feast…read moreincluded a Choice of one Pasta Dish; Fresh baked Focaccia and fresh salad. It's served Family-Style and is enough for 3-4 people which was only $60. The restaurant is small and charming with a window into the kitchen. They make their pasta fresh (be sure to include your pasta texture preference when ordering (Al Dente or Softer, etc.) We were greeted by Angela (the owner) and she made us feel welcome (as if we were dining over a friend's home which I absolutely loved). She started us off with some fresh baked Focaccia which had herb + cheese baked into the top (of course it was delicious). We added an appetizer called Crespelle which was a really yummy spin on a Manicotti made the right way (with a Crespelle). The salad was fresh and tasty. We order the Rigatoni Sugo which has a Tomato based sauce and assorted meats (Meatballs, Sausage, Cubes of meat) and was delicious along with the meats as well. We also added the Picanha Steak Entree with the Brie Fondue and that was so different while being soooo yummy. We enjoyed some wine with our meal and we finished with this really delicious Bavarian Cream Filled Napoleon with a Berry Coulis (desserts do change so check with restaurant to see what they have available the day you want to visit).. We can't wait to come back and try their Grigliata Mista (Meat Feast for 3-4 people).

    Photos
    Arugula Salad
    Arugula Salad
    Carbon Angela’s Kitchen
    Carbon Angela’s Kitchen

    See all

    Working Class

    Working Class

    4.4
    (977 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    I had a great experience here and would definitely come back. My review is mainly for drinks,…read moreservice and the facilities. I did not have anything to eat this time but will try the food next time. KPBS was having their One Book One San Diego event here and I was interested so stopped in today check it out. I am a bookworm and love reading so this event was perfect! This event also unveiled the top 10 books for each category including adults, teens and children. I learned that over 750+ book entries were received! Wow! At my table, I ended up meeting a librarian, a teacher and a publisher. The librarian was part of the selection committee and she suggested so many good books! She mentioned a book about octopus conversation in the atolls and my ears perked up. The book is Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler and its on my shortlist to read soon! Waiting for it on Libby! OK. back to the venue. We had the side part of the bar and everything was outside so that was nice. Service was great and Zach did a great job getting everyone's orders. I started off with a special edition One Book, One Brew beer, brewed in the Kolsch style and limited edition beer by Chula Vista Brewery. Nice, crisp and summery beer! I also had a margarita too, that was so-so for me so next time will stick with beers. Parking around here is a pain but I did find a spot after circling a few times. This bar/restaurant is in a hip part of North Park and I can see myself coming here to meet up friends or other events. I'll be back!!

    Came here after a workout class and after grabbing coffee down the street. My partner mentioned…read morethat their breakfast burritos were really good, so we decided to give them a try. We took the burritos to-go, and they were still nice and warm during the short drive home. Overall, the burrito was solid, and the green salsa complemented it really well. If I'm in the area again and craving a breakfast burrito, I definitely know where I'll be stopping by.

    Photos
    Working Class
    Baja Fish Burrito
    Baja Fish Burrito
    Mini corn dog appetizer

    See all

    Mini corn dog appetizer
    Clem’s Station

    Clem’s Station

    4.8
    (111 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    This is a popular Talmadge neighborhood hangout. They have a huge beer selection and a full bar…read more The food is fresh, well prepared with large portions. The staff is very friendly, accommodating and well trained. Taco Tues specials are popular. A great place to catch the World Cup or a Padres game.

    Now that's what I'm talking about! 4.5/5!…read more Ended up coming back out to Clem's to give it another shot. Although my last visit wasn't bad, it was just middle of the road and left me wanting more-especially in regards to the Wagyu burger and the bacon. This time around, I decided to switch it up a bit. As we arrived, I ordered my current favorite beer on tap, Coco Ono, from Bay City Brewing. It's a piña coloda IPA that's not too sweet, and has great coconut flavor. Moments later I realized that there was a Taco Tuesday special that was $15 for 2 tacos a draft beer of your choosing. Since the Coco Ono is $9 alone (ouch!), I realized it was a better deal to get the Taco Tuesday special. I asked Karina if I could turn that draft I ordered into the special, and they kindly obliged...nice! The last time I was here, I noticed some wings coming out of the kitchen and they looked awesome. So this time I knew I had to get the wings, $16. I ordered a 9 piece of Buffalo wings, per staff recommendation, and they did not disappoint. We actually got 10 piping hot wings served with stacks of baby carrots, fresh cut celery, and both ranch and blue cheese. I'd love to see them do a homemade ranch because it would better compliment the wings than that Hidden Valley stuff. Wings were a 5/5!!! I forgot to even mention the tacos. That's probably because I forgot about them...lol. While the small TJ tacos had some solid carne with onions and cilantro, they were a bit plain. Served on two tortillas with 2 salsas, and 2 limes, a little bit of guac would have livened them up. I probably wouldn't order them on their own at $3 each, but as part of the $15 deal, it was all good. 4/5 for the deal. Lastlly, we ordered the BBQ chicken pizza, which was a HITT!. I had previously tried a few slices of pepperoni pizza last time, and it was a good snack to have with some brews, but nothing memorable. However this time, the BBQ Chicken pizza was up there with my favorite one in town. It was covered with loads of chicken, which they stated was cooked in-house, cilantro and BBQ sauce. The crust did look like it was a little over baked, but it ended up having a perfect under crust with zero burnt flavor. Only the outer crust was ultimately effected and got a bit crackery. All in all it was a really delicious pie. All the while Karina and Emma were answering my many questions, tapping off our drinks, and providing pretty much anything we asked for. The food presentation was great, the restaurant was immaculate, and the service was friendly, all giving an overall 5 stars. Thanks to Emma, Karina, Paul, and the kitchen staff for making this a delicious evening. I'll definitely be back for the pizza and the wings.

    Photos
    Clem’s Station
    Bon appetit baby
    Bon appetit baby
    Chicken wings are juicy

    See all

    Chicken wings are juicy
    Encontro North Park

    Encontro North Park

    4.3
    (2.4k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    If you're expecting average bar food, this isn't that…read more I went to Encontro in North Park and everything felt a step above what you'd expect. It's a casual spot, but the food leans more chef-driven and thoughtful. We started with the breadsticks and truffle butter simple, but really well done. The crispy portobello mushrooms were one of my favorites, super flavorful with a great texture. For drinks, I had a margarita and a bloody mary, both solid. For mains, we ordered the tri-tip sandwich (aka "Cardiff Crack") and the chicken sandwich. The tritip especially lives up to the hype really tender, packed with flavor, and easy to see why it has that nickname. Dessert is what stood out so much . The butter cake comes warm with ice cream and purée, and it was easily the highlight of the meal. I took a bite and just paused for a second it's that kind of dessert Overall, a really good spot if you want elevated comfort food in a laid back setting. I'd definitely come back, especially for that butter cake and tritip

    Encontro is a busy gastropub sitting right on the corner of 30th & University in North Park. I love…read morecoming here specifically for their happy hour specials -- the plates are the perfect size, the drink deals are solid, and it's an easy spot to pop into after walking around the neighborhood. The entrée menu is decent -- nothing too out of the ordinary -- and pricing runs a little high in my opinion. But the atmosphere is lively, they're dog‑friendly, and the patio area is a nice place to sit if you want something casual and comfortable. Overall, a decent option if you're looking for a sit‑down American restaurant in North Park with good happy hour bites and a fun, busy vibe.

    Photos
    Great Indoor Seating Area W/ Open Bay Windows!
    Great Indoor Seating Area W/ Open Bay Windows!
    Churro Ice Cream Sandwich
    Churro Ice Cream Sandwich
    Fried pickles

    See all

    Fried pickles

    Kensington Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...