It's the oldest continuously operating cafe and bar in Oregon. From the neon outside and in, the history and ambiance is a throwback that dates to the 1880's. The bar is long, with pictures of all the Pendleton Round-Up lining one wall. The place is a fascinating time capsule. Way in the back, beyond the bar and the pool table, a very small dining room with counter service and several humble booths are tucked away next to the kitchen. It's old, and proud of it. I've only eaten there twice; I once had a great breakfast there many years ago with my son. The portions were generous, the service was excellent, and as American style breakfasts go, it was about as good as they get. It's not "inspired food." It's the standard stuff, and there's something comforting about that. It's Americana at it's best. The second time was my birthday, and again, I was there with my son. It was evening. When we got there, we were the only ones occupying the cafe. It looked exactly as it had 20-plus years ago. My son ordered a hamburger and fries. Again, no trendy toppings or fuss, just very fresh, very well prepared hearty fare...exactly what we were looking for. I had their "famous" fried chicken. it was without hesitation, some of the best I'd ever tasted. It came with jo-jos, a salad, and garlic bread. It was all excellent, and almost too much food. If you enjoy old school dining in a small town cafe, it's going to be hard to beat the Rainbow Cafe and Bar. read more

Great place for breakfast. Support Great Family Small Businesses like this Legacy staple of the community. read more

Rainbow Cafe - yummy biscuits and Gravy! - Cafes Near Me - Pendleton, Oregon

We did not enjoy our breakfast here. Smelled of bleach in the restaurant couldn't even smell the food and a very grumpy waitress.

Inside out: I'm sure parking isn't the easiest thing when it's busy, but we got lucky with a close spot. It's well within walking distance to plenty of the hotels. The whole place is well decorated, pretty cozy, and definitely got a vibe to it of a local place. Service: everyone was fine and friendly, we were friendly to them as we could tell on the Sunday night it was just the two folks and they were doing their best. Drinks and food: the drinks were strong but good, the food was excellent. We got the chicken and it's definitely enough to split with someone, and the French dip which my husband said was meh. The potato jojos were huge but tasty. Over all very well worth the visit! A nice historic place and experience. read more

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Recommend! e stopped by and got a couple Bacon Cheeseburgers. Absolutely no complaints what so ever. We were happy. Looks like several beers on tap and full bar options! read more

Rainbow Cafe - Bacon burger - Cafes Near Me - Pendleton, Oregon

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We missed the early morning StPattys Day Parade but still plenty of time to enjoy brunch & everyone celebrating read more

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Never have had a bad experience at the Rainbow. Hands down, the best chicken dinner.

The historical value of this "saloon" was worth it. Lots of memorabilia and I loved they had driving tours information on the table. We were there for breakfast and the food was a smaller menu due to the roundup in town. It was regular breakfast food. My husband and i enjoyed listening to the locals talk. Our server was very friendly and pleasant. A fun and busy weekend to be in town. read more

We stopped in for dinner while traveling from Nampa ID to Pasco WA. This is apparently the oldest continually operating bar in Oregon, having opened in 1883. The menu is pretty basic, and it's clear that the place has a dedicated clientele of regular customers. We were treated okay, but felt out of place. Not a place I would have any interest in returning to. read more

We were in town for a Sunday night show at the Wildhorse Casino. We accidentally found this place and were excited to learn its history. We were here Sunday afternoon to enjoy some top-notch Bloody Marys. I had a yummy mushroom burger with crispy onion rings. Waitress was chatty and friendly. The Irish theme and western decor go well together. I bet this place is super lively in the evenings but our afternoon was leisurely and mostly quiet. We even popped into the fun antique store next door. We will most definitely swing back in the next time we go through Pendleton. read more

Rainbow Cafe - the interior of the restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Pendleton, Oregon

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I'm a former resident of Pendleton moved city. The Rainbow is a fun bar. They have a kitchen so they make I guess I'd call it bar food. I got a bacon cheeseburger with everything and it's pretty good! The veggies are fresh and meat is fresh. They're family friendly as well. Kids can be there until I believe 4 or 4:30PM and then it's just adults. During roundup this place is packed and full of life! I highly recommend. They also serve breakfast. read more

Rainbow Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Pendleton, Oregon

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Great place to eat. The oldest bar in Oregon in Pendleton. Great service and excellent food. Come here to chillax and have a good meal.

A little hole in the wall, but a great place for everything from breakfast to drinks to a game of pool. The service, the food, even the coffee was outstanding. read more

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Staying in town to work for a week. Both times I got food to go because I came after work. Came here twice, the first time was great on a Monday, big guy in the back cooking up some super good food with large portions. Returned on Tuesday night, the waitress was a complete negative experience. Waited an hour for my food, she gave me the wrong side dish. I left a tip which I regret. She was talking shjt about the customers right next to me. read more

Rainbow Cafe - The menu... - Cafes Near Me - Pendleton, Oregon

This place does not deserve so many bad reviews and honestly its got such great history attached to it that it should be getting many more tourists than it does . The Rainbow is Pendleton's oldest continuously open and operated bar and restaurant and the oldest doing business at the same location. It was also ,the only few places open late and we decided to grab a quick dinner here . The place is huge and has lots of seating - Bar seats , booths , tables ,outdoors . We were greeted by the bartender and told to grab a seat wherever we liked . The music was loud and the place was bustling with locals -people were just walking over to each others tables ,talking ,drinking . Its the kind of stuff you see in Tv series where everybody in a town knows everybody else . The bar had a great collection of photographs of the Round-Up All-Around Cowboys. There are also slot machines and other games inside . We looked at the menu and decided what we wanted and then the bartender came to take our order and told us that we cant order from the dinner menu as the kitchen was only cooking lunch menu today for dinner . I believe that is the kind of information you give customers when you hand over the menus . Anyways we ordered our food and it arrived fairly quickly. Extremely huge portion sizes- the half salad was much bigger than any full salad worth its salt . we Also got the Grilled Halibut sandwich -very flaky and well made Halibut and comes with a side of fries or salad . This place also does not take cards so carry cash or else they do have an ATM machine inside the premises . Reasonable prices for the huge amounts of food they offer . read more

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I checked in a local hotel and decided to explore the community. I read about this bar and it sounded interesting. One or more cities that used to be small towns had bars like that but they are not there anymore. The décor and the clientele was fun and enjoyable and a good diversion. I wanted to eat something but I was not that hungry, and the lady working behind the bar bend over backwards to accommodate my request. I appreciated the food and effort. The baked potato had some tasty crispy bacon. read more

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This is a very local, homegrown, historical dive bar with a great kitchen. Pendleton is a very old and historical town with this establishment and their attitude carrying the same vibe. I give them 5 stars as the food was great, they open at 6 with beer flowing at 7, and is the only place in Pendleton where a person can go and have a great breakfast and a beer on your day off. Sure, the servers are not the warmest when you walk in, although if you warm up to them, they will smile and be cheerful back at you. I see negative reviews based on the perceived grittyness of the bar/restaurant and the staff. This town is a different vibe. Roll with it and you will not be disappointed. read more

I don't ever write reviews but the service I just experienced was the worst I've ever had. Waited 45 min for my breakfast order. Asked the waitress/bartender if she forgot to put my order in. She went to the kitchen "to ask" and came back to tell me it'll be another 25 min. I really don't understand how this place is ranked number one on yelp for breakfast. read more

Rainbow Cafe - This place is so bad I made my first review ever lol - Cafes Near Me - Pendleton, Oregon

If you're not in a hurry stop in. We didn't have a bloody Mary but they seemed to be very popular. Very clean. Filling portions. Good local atmosphere. We'll be back. Great Breakfast read more

Rainbow Cafe - Great place! Large portions! Very clean! Old school America at it best Don't be in a hurry relax and enjoy. - Cafes Near Me - Pendleton, Oregon

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I like the food which is your basic bar food menu. The drink prices are very reasonable.

The server did the best she could but it took us over an hour to get our breakfast and then the pancakes were cold. Yes it's historical and there's lots to look at. Great ambiance. Two stars because the server was so sweet and apologetic. The ladies room was built with cedar wood that made for a nice fragrance. Interesting bar denizens, the human locals in western wear and the taxidermy. read more

Great 1/2 chicken....delicious and very reasonable. Fast friendly service. Cool western atmosphere.

Passing through Pendleton we had a yummy all American breakfast! The biscuit sausage and gravy and eggs was just incredible! I love this little place! The sausage and eggs were fantastic, and the bacon was good too. Hashbrowns were crispy, and the coffee was fresh and kept coming. While there the waitress told us that they were known for their fried chicken. So on the way back from our Oregon Coastal trip we came back through Pendleton in the late afternoon and had their fried chicken. YES! She was right! It was GREAT! We didn't have the occasion to enjoy any adult beverages here this time, but we certainly would if we could. There is a pool table and other things to keep people entertained and enjoying the ambience. And this is one of the oldest historic businesses in Oregon that is in the same place as when it started back in the 1880s. So there is some historical value to going here. There are also a lot of pictures and artifacts inside the Rainbow Cafe. If you need a meal and you're just passing through, see if you can stop here. read more

The Rainbow Cafe is the oldest bar in Oregon, and some of the food looked like it had been there since it opened. Aftee we ordered, we watched most of the third quarter of the Seahawks game and tried to keep two hungry kids entertained. When the food finally arrived, the meat on my French dip was cold, extra-crispy beef jerkey. The chicken teriyaki burger had so much sauce that the bread disintegrated. Normally not one to complain, we couldn't let this one slide. So the very polite, friendly server took it back to the kitchen and put in a rush order for a couple of Reubens, which were delish! I have to give them credit for making it right and keeping Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn on the jukebox. read more

what has happenws to this place ! over it ! Linda is the best part ! when she isn't here it's a train wreck mess read more

Historic Bar and Restaurant with an old time western atmosphere, like walking back in time. Great Down Home Rib Sticking Meals with Huge Portions. Reasonable prices BUT they ONLY TAKE CASH. If I lived here in Pendleton I would be here all night he time! Yes his was my last road map after a 5,300 mile road trip and one of the Best! Do not miss this hidden gem! read more

Great burgers! The hand formed dbl patty burger is very good. I asked that it not be salted too much and it came to me as I requested. The staff here are good people and have to deal with all sorts of folks. They do it very well. Kaylyn and Zach are top notch bartenders and servers. I enjoyed it enough to come back in the AM for breakfast. The Ranch hand plate was very good. ( 9.50) Some of the best Bacon I have had in many years, ample portions of everything and again very good. I will be coming back here again and again! Of course the décor and the history the place has is right in line with the cowboy town feel. Oh... They pour good drinks also! read more

Slow service, rancid orange juice and semi-tolerable food made the Rainbow Cafe a less than mediocre choice for breakfast.

Fast friendly service and stiff drinks. When in Pendleton you gotta stop by the Rainbow Cafe. It's one of the oldest bars in Oregon.

Absolutely terrible. The kitchen reeked of gas, they probably have a safety issue there. Food took forever and was entirely inedible. It's cash only but they don't tell you that. When we walked in the sign said seat yourself, we sat by the front and were (rudely) told we had to sit in back. By the time we left (TWO HOURS later) the front was full (and god knows why, the place is horrible). I had pretty low expectations, this being a small town in eastern Oregon and all, but it was much worse than I could have even imagined. Do not go. read more

Good spot for greasy spoon breakfast. Fun bar at night and has a cool jukebox. Not many other late night bars left in Pendleton. This place is a classic! read more

We had a good breakfast here. The staff was very friendly! The food was good and they were nice to our baby and made her Mickey Mouse ear pancakes. My only complaint is that the wait after ordering was ~40min. They were pretty busy and seemed like the cooks were a bit understaffed. It is also a very loud and dark environment (a bar) which is fine but probably not the best place if you have a baby. read more

Atmosphere is old rodeo and western. Age range is 21-99 depending on day and time. Staff is excellent, especially Linda and Zack, both work nights. Food is inconsistent depending on which cook is working. Breakfast is literally the best in town, they open at 6am. Menu is out dated but new owners are working on a new one. Drinks are the best in town. read more

This is a $cash$ only restaurant! There is an ATM inside though. Other than than the cash part, the food was really good! Server was friendly and the food was prepared as requested. It is in a bar but has seating for families with under age children. We had the Rainbow special burger, French Dip, Club and Halibut fish and chips. I would definitely come back again. read more

Rainbow Cafe - Club sandwich. Really good house ranch dressing - Cafes Near Me - Pendleton, Oregon

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Don't bother. The snarky waitress (the only waitress) only waits on the regulars at the bar. 15 minute wait and still didn't have a water. We bounced out and went to roosters- MUCH BETTER!!! read more

In town for a work conference looking for a quick bite and stumbled across this hole in the wall bar/Cafe. Ordered the fried chicken and much to my surprise it was probably hands down some of the best fried chicken I've ever had (and I've had a lot). Quaint atmosphere, great down home staff absolutely recommend stopping in. Plus it's one the limited placed open past 8 or 9 in this little town. read more

Not a bad dive bar if you can handle how rude the bartenders are. Don't expect 5 star treatment. And watch them they severely over pour.

If you're looking for fast service, this is not the place to go. Waited 20 minutes to order, another 50 minutes for food, and 20 minutes for the check after our plates were collected. Not only that, but the food was sub-par when it did finally arrive. The waitress complained about being busy, but there were maybe 30 other patrons. More people walked out without eating/being serviced, than those who actually ate. We were obviously not the only party upset with our services. This used to be our go-to Saturday breakfast spot, but we do not plan to return any time soon. read more

Road tripping, we stopped for the night in Pendleton and ate breakfast here the next day after asking for a recommendation for breakfast. It was so good that we came by again on our way home. Huge portions, I shared with our 4yo, my husband shared with our 12yo, we all left full, you don't get hassled for splitting plates, and the prices are great. This place is a dive, no doubt about it. If you're at all pretentious, go elsewhere. You'll wait for your food, you'll get your own coffee, the waitress will run around like a chicken with her head cut off and might forget what you asked her for, but she won't give you attitude when you ask again. Stop by the ATM on your way, or you'll have to use theirs, that I'm sure has a hefty charge. read more

Ordered our food at 8:30 AM, waitress was so nice and super cute, then we sat and waited for our food for 30 minutes at 9 AM, a sales person came in and asked the cook to take an inventory- the cook then stops prepping our food to take inventory for this guy. By this time it is 9:20 and the cook had not even started cooking our food we had ordered at 8:30. They did not apologize and seemed not to care. Terrible service. read more