I visited for the first time last weekend--was looking for a laid-back, genuine country bar feel. Renegade delivered! The drinks were strong, the live music was great, and the vibe was "dive bar + country dancing"--not a club vibe. I did not want a club vibe. I highly recommend! read more

Renegade Country - Celebrating my birthday @ Renegade - Bars Near Me - El Cajon, California

Would highly recommend this spot to anyone that enjoys line dancing, wants to learn, or just enjoys the country atmosphere! I came here in a big group for a birthday party and we all tried to learn how to line dance. Most people that come here already know the dances pretty well but no one made us feel too bad about it. We enjoyed cheap drinks and a lot of laughs. All of us wanted to get a little better at the dancing and then return! read more

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Such a place cannot be found around every corner of the town. So this is a huge great entertaining place offering everything under one roof. Get down here, get in line dancing, or grab a seat and amuse yourself to the live music. Check hours on most weekdays as they are partially closed. Don't check hours on weekends as they are totally open. read more

Renegade Country - Bars Near Me - El Cajon, California

Taylor Johns and the Contraband put on a great show on the first Friday of 2025. The dances were a nice mix of two-step, country swing, and line dances. Patrons were enthusiastic and friendly to dance with. It was a good mix of country and non-country locals. The crowd peaked by about 10:00 p.m. The next night, 33 Thunder played. Unlike the night before, the crowd was predominantly country locals. The place was a bit crowded for my taste. read more

What's not to like about Renegade! It has become a home bar for me thanks to Ryan making really good drinks and always having a smile on his face, Chris providing security and a good laugh, and Patrick always making us smile on the way in... all the staff is outstanding taking care of everyone. Quick service, great bands, comfortable environment! read more

Renegade has definitely taken the place of InCahoots for San Diego's more traditional, two stepping country crowd in South County. While the dance floor is small, the dancing is great and the patrons are friendly. If you're looking to line dance, Wednesday is definitely the best night--it kicks off pretty early but peaks around 830/9, and dies down around 1030. Some nights are busier than others, but most nights there's plenty of room to line dance and partner dance as well. The bartenders are great and the drinks are reasonably priced. While it may feel like it's really far from downtown, it's actually probably closer to 20-25 minutes and well worth the drive. There's a great BBQ spot just up the road, so it's easy to make a night of it. If you're into the country line dancing or partner dancing scene and want a more traditional bar or add another day in between Moonshine's main dancing nights, Renegade is worth adding to your rotation. TLDR; Wednesday is the best line dancing night, but a good time regardless. read more

Not bad for a little bar. Not a huge fan of the floor plan, makes it difficult to maneuver. If you want any type of table or seating you need to get there as soon as they open, fills up quick. If you are sitting at the bar you might just get a front row seat to the performers knees. The people behind the bar are very nice and accommodating.. It would appear there is a regular crowd that comes strictly to dance all night. As others have said there is an older crowd, but every single person of the "older" crowd was paired up with someone from the "younger" crowd, and here I was in the middle. The drinks are nice. We had a few whiskey on ice, old fashioned, and the nice lady behind the bar even attempted a "root beer" float, that has no root beer. It wasn't too bad, different then what I have had elsewhere. I couldn't find the correct recipe but she wanted to try making it anyways. We only tried the fried greenbeans which were pretty good and rather filling. Not too many people got food from the food truck, but it all looked good. read more

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Fun atmosphere. Great music . The dance lessons are fun . Drinks are reasonable and the food is pretty good . Standard bar food but very good . read more

Second week coming here. Moved from out of state and looking for a place to go line dancing. The lessons are great BUT the DJ isn't as great seems like he's more about socializing verses playing music. Playing five 2-step/swing songs in a row makes me not want to continue buying drinks and dancing. When requests were made i felt like his "sure" was just brushed off and he could have cared less, because the songs requested were never played. Love that I love so close to this bar but I'm willing to drive further to be able to actually line dance and not stand around bored while people two step. read more

I've come here before and had an "alright" time and I've come here and had a blast- like Saturday. It had a lot to do with the band playing! We came for Patrick Trampus band and I am officially a fan. $5 cover well worth it! The downside to this bar is that it's super crowded, line for drinks excessive and parking is horrid. Oh- and more seltzer drinks pretty please. read more

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This place has definitely become one of my favorite places to go! Great prices, Great atmosphere! The staff are all so friendly and helpful! If you haven't been yet, I would highly recommend checking them out! read more

Atmosphere was very welcoming. The staff were friendly and attentive. Burger and fries were good and beer was cold. Highly recommend read more

Great little country bar that reminds me of back home in KY. I do wish they would expand the footprint by at least 100%. That dance floor is way too small to two step, and if there's like 15 line dancers on the lfoor - there's not room for any more. read more

This place is the best. Live bands on the weekends. Great people. Great food. What's not to like?

I love this place because it's a legit local country bar. Not a bunch of 20 something wannabe cowboys who just watched Yellowstone, and for those who came in and didn't exactly look like they knew George Strait from George Jones, they were accepted right in. It just had a fun vibe where hard working folks came to enjoy dancing and some beer. Great band as well. Highly recommend read more

Howdy cowgirls and cowboys! For a bar on top of a feed store- it's pretty nice. Any night of the week - it is packed. It's small and local which is great! It does have great drinks and reasonably priced, it has line dancing and great music. Sometimes they have food trucks which is fun. If the dance floor isn't for you- they have pool table and corn hole. This bar is for everyone and fun. read more

I love this bar! The staff is very friendly and hard working! They treat you like family and always make you feel welcome I highly recommend coming here! read more

Love this place already. First time here.....i was like 45 mons early ....i went in to ask a question then asked to use the restroom.... So nice so helpful read more

Rita and her crew are amazing. Best country hangout I have ever been to. Great music, great people, great food and fantastic ambiance. Friendly people and an overall wonderful experience. I would recommend to anyone looking for fun night out. read more

I thought this was a good place to have a fun night cap but i couldn't be more wrong... i asked for water at the bar and after that the bartender Lorie refused to serve me. I just asked for water and after i walked back up to the bar for a drink she claimed i was a liability.. there was so many intoxicated people there and she was still serving them but i couldn't even get one drink. if you want to hang out here just don't ask for water or just go to a better bar. read more

Super cool spot! Live band was fantastic tons of people dancing! Will def return! (Line dance lessons too!!)

Great Country bar, dancefloor, live band, dance lessons, etc. Good burgers, great drinks, great staff. Fun, friendly, older crowd. The 3 stars are because they only have 2 stalls in the women's bathroom, no DJ, just a music system. ...and they do 75% couples dances. I'm a die-hard linedancer, so I'll stick with Moonshine Beach. read more

Thursday Night Country Dancing at its fines, with some really nice folks here! Along with a pretty large dance floor so theres plenty of room for dancing. Oh and no one here is just dancing to a jute box either! This place has live music! So request are possible!! Long large bar with happy bartenders to help you with whatever you want from their fully stocked bar! This place has plenty of tables and chairs, so you can bring or meetup with all your friends! Don't worry about parking because they have two parking lots to take on the crowd! Also don't worry about not knowing how to dance country because there will be plenty of happy people willing to teach you! read more

Renegade Country - The bar. - Bars Near Me - El Cajon, California

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My husband and I have been here a few times and we always enjoy ourselves. The bands have been very good and the regulars all seem quite friendly. Food and drink prices are reasonable. read more

Stumbled into this bar, this place is awesome, the food, drinks and service. The girls are serving as fast as the orders are coming in, very little wait time. read more

Renegade Country - Good country bar, awesome music great food - Bars Near Me - El Cajon, California

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As far as dive bars go... this place isn't diveish at all... if you're a two stepper Friday and Saturday nights are best! It seems the regulars don't dance that much... do bring a partner! You'll get in some line dancing as well! The staff are very friendly... the red-headed dance instructor is a bit annoying and only seems to teach mostly old-school line dances! As if this writing they're not serving food because of something something I didn't get! Overall a lot of fun with live bands on Friday and Saturday with no cover! Also, a lot of incahooters are now going there! read more

I attended an event here held by KSON there was live music and dancing and even though I I'm not able to dance it was very fun to watch this place is very clean and the staff is very attentive the bar is very busy and they have nice pool table area read more

Renegade Country - Live band stage area - Bars Near Me - El Cajon, California

I went to To Renegade several years ago with am old girlfriend. There I met Jimi Nelson. Jimi was the front man in the band that was playing. I liked his style of country music I talked to him and we became Facebook friends. Recently I saw Jimi at the Swallows Inn in San Juan Capistrano. I decided to give Renegade another try. The time I was there before I got a meal at a reasonable price. Not sure if they still do that. Last time I was there the music was too loud. Nothing changed there. Last time I was there the place including the dance floor was too crowded. No change. Last time I was there it was a little too dark for my preference. That hasn't changed either. I went in on a Saturday night after Spendingthe day going from one music event to another and I wasn't ready to call it a night. That was a mistake. The music was too loud. It was too crowded. A large line at the bar It was too dark. The crowd wasn't friendly I got a feeling I should leave. So I did. On the positive side they do hire good bands. I like a smaller place that isn't as loud so this just wasn't my place. read more

Not friendly to newcomers...pulled off dance floor and asked to dance in the corner because we are not pros. if you don't know how to line dance and are trying to learn...do not recommend read more

Where's the No star option? This place is horrible. I generally enjoy country bars but this place is basically just a club full of locals that treat outsiders like shit. I came here to celebrate Halloween a few months ago and some older lady (local I'm guessing) started screaming in my face that I was sitting in her seat. Her man was talking to me and never mentioned that the seat was taken. The bar tender walked up to me with a huge bouncer and got in my face and threatened to kick me out then cut me off! Never going back to that place read more

The most fun country western bar I've ever been to! Friendly team and great ambience. The bands are phenomenal. The owner is always there. Ask for Rita... She is a hoot and so much fun. read more

Everything was great the service was very good great burgers and steaks cook your own with line dancing and pool read more

Renegade Country - Steak and burger - Bars Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Absolutely love what the new owners have done with this place! Great dance floor, music and drinks. The bartender was friendly and quick. Tons of parking Just what East County needed! read more

I LOVELOVELOVE THIS ESTABLISHMENT!!! Rita and her amazing team have made Renegade Country one of the most beautiful venues I've been to. Not only is it beautiful visually, but also in character. Everybody there is kind, welcoming and soooo much fun. The bar staff keeps my heart happy, the door staff keeps my ass safe, the Chuckwagon staff keeps my belly satisfied and the amazing live music/bands and dance lessons keep my soul entertained!! I feel lucky to have the opportunity to be a patron of this amazing place regularly! I'd love to give a shoutout to some of the amazing staff there (please forgive me if I missed your name and you help to make this place the delight that it is, consider yourself among the following) Rita, Kelly, Summer, Megan, Jennifer, Tara, Kayla, Amanda, Donovan, Patricia and Corey. If anyone reading this hasn't had the opportunity to go, do yourself a favor and check it out, I promise you will not be disappointed!! Dancing, music, food, cocktails...what's not to love?!?! read more

Came to El Cajón to visit a friend- we entered the Renegade on a whim- Band on stage had the dance floor FILLED with extremely skilled couples dancing and having an awesome time! As we approach the bar, we were greeted by a huge smile on our bartender's face- I ordered a typical Shocktop and she excitedly said, "Let me make it special for you!" As I'm thinking.... uhhhh..... she tosses in a shot of tangerine vodka for an orange replacement for no additional charge :) Such a friendly bar with true blue locals and positive energy. Bras hanging from the ceiling and all! Minus one star for the older gentleman behind the bar that just sat there scowling and extremely disturbed by my polite request for a napkin for another patron.. Just saw a bunch of posts about how close-minded the patrons are- I'm a white chick with dreadlocks and saw several same-sex couples completely enjoying themselves alongside the cowboys and a girl with neon orange hair kicking a mean two-step... *shrug* read more

Renegade Country - Bars Near Me - El Cajon, California

My new favorite bar. A legitimate replacement for In Cahoots. Friendly staff, great atmosphere, delicious food, and nice layout!! Highly recommend!!! read more

This place is packed Fridays and Saturdays, but now they are going to start having other than strictly country bands on Thursdays, which, to me, is fantastic. I know EC is country heaven, and I'm proud to live here, but I like rock too! I look forward to the Thursday night lineup to see the variety Rita is bringing in. Nice job Renegade! Oh, did i fail to mention the beautiful HUGE dance floor? read more

Renegade Country - This place should not be empty on a Thursday night. Clean and really nice since they redid it. East county residents check it out - Bars Near Me - El Cajon, California

Saturday night line dancing lessons at 7. Good drink eats had the fried green beans. Pretzel bits were delicious! Good live music a variety of age groups and a lot of regulars. Will be back read more

I would like to update this review by saying the owner Rita reached out to me and took care of the issue. Its not right to ding The Renegade for what Whiskey Ridge does however, I would be reluctant to hire them again If i was an owner. I would like to give this bar another chance as the people that went there seemed to be having fun. read more

I came here on a Wednesday/KSON night and was actually really surprised at how much I liked the place; didn't quite know what to expect due to the mixed word-of-mouth reviews. The dance floor, although very small, was very smooth and nice to dance on. I would actually recommend removing the bar seats on the sides of the dance floor to create more dance space (but thats just my 2 cents). Anywho, the food was delicious AND inexpensive; practically unheard of these days. They teach dance lessons from 7-8:30 so I learned 3-4 line dances which was really cool. The atmosphere was also chill; people aged from young to old, similar to an Incahoots vibe. I will definitely go back. read more