My experiences have been over a two decades. It has been at least a year since my last visit. I am neither a raver nor a ranter of this place. This is a place you cannot expect gourmet food. Plain and simple diner food. I had what I thought was a main staple "chicken fried steak" for dinner. It appeared to be freshly breaded but the white gravy appeared to be from a can. If the gravy wasn't from a can the cook should be embarrassed to call it from scratch. My wife ordered a grill cheese a safe and simple choice. Bread was toasted with flat griddle marks perfectly but the cheese wasn't melted. How does one screw up a grilled cheese sandwich. Ambience hints of stale 50-60's motifs with Formica table tops and vinyl booths. read more

I was hoping to have a great breakfast, after reading the reviews, but I left rather disappointed. I had the corned beef hash, which was way too starchy. The sausage links were still connected to each other, which made them look like something I could microwave at home. On a positive note, the service was great and so was the coffee, but I probably wouldn't eat there again. read more

Zingo's Cafe - Zingo's Cafe! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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The service and food is incredibly good. The bathrooms are clean and roomy. Our waitress, Joy, was fast and friendly throughout our meal. You get huge amounts of good food. My husband and I loved this place! read more

New experience for sure.... Downtown bakersfield at 2 am..getting a greasy breakfast, is not the problem. The issue is the crowd..food okish..but dont go alone! read more

Totally throw back diner and yes that means they have counter seating. I found this place to have real value in both the service and the meal. Keep an eye out for daily specials and soup. Our server was attentive, personal, and fun. Although I was in Bakersfield and I know that's nothing to really celebrate I felt like I was in Carson City, Nevada. It was like time traveling. I had the bacon cheeseburger and I will speak more specifically to the beer battered onion rings being the star of the meal. There's a door back near the bathroom that opens to a dive bar and I was surprised as they were when I opened the door! If and when in town again I would give this place another try on my experience alone. read more

We were recommended to try this place out by a friend when we were staying in town and it was well worth it. Each plate cost about $12. Very very filling. Great waitresses. read more

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Every town has their version of the greasy spoon and this may be the spot to be in Bakersfield. We dined here before we attended a wedding that evening. We knew we would be partaking in the wedding alcohol festivities and thought we should get our hearty breakfast in before hand. Food was good. the portions were huge, we both did not finish out plates. Service was good and no frills which was nice recovering from the rehearsal dinner the night before. Overall, our experience was good and have no reason to give them a lower rating; However I wouldn't see myself eating here very often if i lived in town. An interesting tidbit - they serve deep fried twinkies.. I have never had one, but the next time i may be in Bakersfield i may be inclined to try one.. read more

Zingo's Cafe - James goes to town in bakersfield - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bakersfield, California

An absolute must for Steak & Eggs! Always cooked to perfection. Everyone is treated like an old friend. Huge portions no matter what you order. I always asked for a box as I order cause I have to cut everything in half and take it home with me. And the prices cant be beat. Located right off Hwy 99 & Rosedale Hwy on Buck Owens Blvd. Way better food & prices than the Crystal Palace by far in my opinion. They are a good old fashion down home dinner! read more

Honestly surprised at how good this place was. It looks a little run down but the food is soooooo good and the waitress was so nice. A lot of truck drivers but still a family establishment. 10/10 will be coming here again. Wayyyyy better than Denny's that's down the street, everything tasted fresh and homemade. read more

Zingo's Cafe - Waffle w/strawberries and whip cream, country potatoes, a sunny side up egg, grilled cheese meal, and a bacon cheeseburger meal - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bakersfield, California

I stopped in 8/11/2022 after a trip to the cardiologist. The sever greeted me as soon as I sat down to get my drink order,and she was right back with my iced tea,and took my breakfast order. I had the hamburger steak and 3 eggs over medium, hashbrowns with white toast. Every one was done to perfection. I was very pleased with my experience. I will definitely be coming back. read more

Visited Zingo's for the first time in a long time, the food was so good and served hot. Flavorful ham and eggs with biscuit and gravy of course. The food was not greasy at all. Totally recommend Zingo's in fact been back two more times before heading back home. read more

Zingo's Cafe - Zingo's Bakersfield California The Best Breakfast by far. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Old time diner where the waiter eases and cooks banter. I remember this place from 20 years ago and not much has changed; food or staff wise read more

Zingo's Cafe is a better option than the Dennys Restaurant down the street. The food is not bad at all, but I don't have any favorite entree I can recommend. Service has always been on point. They attract a diverse clientele especially in the late evening. If you are looking for a late night snack or meal, then head on over to Zingos. As I mentioned earlier, they are a better option than Dennys. read more

It's been a few months since I've been in here, quality of food has definitely improved along with the size of the portions. I ordered the BBQ Beef burger and added a bowl of amazing homemade chicken soup, the meal was perfect in every way, the new waitresses were on top of everything. All in all 100plus % great food and experience. read more

Stopped off here after we saw it advertised in our motel magazine. Real old-time atmosphere, down to the 'how you doin hon' greeting at the table. Huge..generous portions (at least for this poor Australian), really good deal for the price. I had the Patty Melt (which was Ok), wife had the Soup of the Day which was excellent. Chocolate milkshake was exactly as it should have been. Chocolate lay, thick and straight from the 50's. read more

Zingo's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Caution: check your receipt. My husband took his mom her for lunch today. Waitress gave him bill that said $27.40. He gave waitress his credit card and she asked if he wanted a receipt, he said No. when she came back with the credit card receipt the total now said $47.40. The waitress added a $20 tip! He asked her why the receipt increased $20 and she said an error must have occurred. She asked if he wanted $20 cash back or for her to void the receipt. He had her void it. Also the food wasn't good at all. He ordered Chili Verde and it looked like it was from a can. His mom ordered fruit with her meal and the gave her canned peaches. read more

Had breakfast this morning here with my boyfriend. Breakfast burrito and chicken fried steak. Always good service and good food!

Just keep driving! This place serves cold microwaved food and it's not even cooked right. The service was horrible and the lady who works there was giving us dirty looks at us. You're better just going to Ihop or Dennys it's like the same price anyways. read more

Wow! Working on the road, you get tired of fast food. But this cafe has quickly become my favorite place in California. We arrived here in Bakersfield yesterday and cannot make ourself it anywhere else! So far, we have had the milestone soup with grilled cheese sandwich, bacon cheeseburger with fries, then for dinner we had a chef salad and the chili verse tamales. This morning we had grilled ham and cheese sandwich with a side salad and the bone in ham and eggs breakfast... EVERYTHING has been sooo good and the servings are huge! The waitresses have all been nice and very attentive.. I would definitely recommend to anyone in the area to give them a try! read more

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This place was so bussin I never ate so good I threw up cause I ate so much I even left a tip and I never leave tips 10/10 RECOMMEND!

Zingos gets a 4 out of 5 on a normal scale but a 14 out of 17 on a snasty scale. They super graciously hosted a rowdy group of us in their bar before a soccer match 6 weeks ago or so. Their two bartenders were really good and super friendly. Once we lost the match many of us came back and they were super kind and put up with our loud singing read more

Zingo's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Traveling from Point A to San Fran, we are spending the night on the way. Zingo's is right next door to HI Express on Buck Owens ave. and just a stroll to get there. Great diner food. Dinner was salad, sandwiches and fries - great value, hot food, snappy service. I see some complaints about breakfast but dinner options all sounded good - including meat, potatoes, salad, veg, bread and a dessert. You just never see that offering anymore. So, should we pass this way again, we'll stop again. read more

At one time many years ago I worked close by and ate her several times a month, The food seemed better 15 to 20 years ago. I went in her this evening with my wife just before midnight. She ordered chicken fried steak and eggs, toast and hash browns. Eggs were good scrambled, hash browns oily/greasy, toast OK. I had a patty melt on sourdough with onion rings. Meat patty prefabbed frozen pressed thing, onion rings had a very heavy greasy breading on outside. Chicken fried steak same way, heavy breading coming off and just very greasy. Service was good, and the price was right. But then with oil down to the $40s, they can afford to lube up the food very thoroughly cheaply. When I left this place I felt old and tired just like Zingos. Two star food with four star service. read more

This used to be my favorite greasy spoon in Bakersfield. Previously I'd have given them a 5 star review - but my issue might just be something that only annoys me. Give them a shot. They're worth it. They have the best chicken fried steak in town. Hands down. Their clam chowder (Friday's only) might also be the best in the city. Their fish and chips is almost as good as the 34th street diner, and their biscuits and gravy are divine. The service is always very fast and attentive at Zingo's. Some of the staff are downright awesome. The happy guy busing tables is a joy to be around, I swear. The menu is huge. Don't make the mistake of being overwhelmed by it. Go with what you think sounds good - because it is. Don't forget to ask them for their spumoni dessert with the dinner. It's one of my favorite treats in Bako. The reason they went from 5 stars to 4 is that they seem to have stopped cooking dinners after midnight - only breakfast. This place is open 24 hours, and is THE place to eat after a night on the town. If I'm rolling into a 24 hour diner with booze in my gut, I don't really want eggs. This is why I came here for years. They said it helps the cooks get orders out quicker on late night shifts, which makes sense because their menu is so large. Still annoyed me though. I asked them to toss that policy for me since I've been a loyal customer for years, and they did because they're a great place, but your mileage may vary on that. Heck, you might not even care. I did though, cuz I consider their fish & chips or bbq dinner plate to be late-night homeruns. Menu Musts: Chili Cheese Fries - Huge and awesome. Hot Wings (dry rubbed and HOT - not vinegar sauce) Biscuits & Gravy - Be careful. They're large. Clam Chowder - Friday's only, but wow. Country Potatoes - Trust me. These are amazing. read more

Only decent breakfast in Bakersfield. Keep in mind that those who do not like it are people who would rate IHOP as 5 stars... Not the brightest people. And the Biscuits are NOT like dinner rolls. wtf? read more

Truck Stop Food. To me this place reminds me of long road trips we used to take when I was younger. The kind of place where the clientel is a mix of travelers, night owls, bar flies, truckers, and some crazy characters. The food is always pretty good. I've usually gotten the cheeseburger or steak and eggs. Pretty much on par with your Denny's or Ihop. I guess they're known for the Chili...but I've personally never messed with this. I would say it's always worth going and definitely a good late night alternative to Denny's . read more

I tried this place for the first time this morning. I just moved to the area, and I'm trying to explore non-chain spots. This place looked interesting and had overall good reviews. I'm not unhappy that I tried it. On the upshot, the portions are HUGE! I got the Country Scramble. I kept eating and eating but barely made a dent. It reminded me of a good ol' fashion country breakfast--big and smothered in gravy. Also, the staff was super nice. I would go back just for the service. The other reviews are accurate; this place has a great truck stop/old diner feel to it. Certainly a nice relic. The reason I only gave this place 3 stars is that I thought it was most accurate. The menu is pretty basic, which may be an indication that they know what they do and do it right. But taste-wise, it was pretty plain. Not bad, but just don't expect any pizazz. Definitely worth checking out though. read more

The archetypal '50s-style Roadside Diner. Zingo's is everything you would expect when that comes to mind: biscuits and gravy, pie, chicken fried steak, every greasy fried dish known to middle America...vinyl booths with formica table tops, the works. However, unlike the poser retro diners (Ruby's, cough cough..), Zingo's is an actual '50s roadside diner, truckers, bikers, tourists and all. The fact that it's been a local institution for 50ish years in this Buck Owens town tells you all you need to know about it. My sweetie grew up in Bakersfield, so his family is familiar with this place and its politically incorrect food. When my kids were born we started frequenting Zingo's for breakfast during our visits to the In-laws. What could be better to a kid than a stack of pancakes with a side of sausage at Zingo's? No road trip through the Valley would be complete without it! read more

This is my favorite place ever have been coming here since I was a little girl just had steak eggs and country potato's with wheat toast yummo I recommend this place for sure read more

This place is a nice solid 50's style 24 hour roadside dinner. I have been coming here off and on for years, usually after the bars close for chili cheese fries. Their chili cheese fries are pretty good, with nice crispy french fries smothered in chili with a liberal sprinkling of onions across the top. On this occasion I was there earlier in the evening and it was decidedly more quiet as it was only half full. I ordered a french dip sandwich with french fries on the side. The roll was toasted a nice golden brown on the inside and was stuffed with quite a bit of beef. There was plenty of au jus to dip it in. The fries were done perfectly; crisp on the outside and moist and chewy on the inside. They were not greasy and were covered with some type of seasoned salt. My friend ordered the Mexican Hot Stuff omelet which was stuffed with cheese, jalapenos (fresh, not the pickled kind from the jar), and hot links. It was covered with cheese. It was cooked just right, the eggs being neither runny nor dry. It was not greasy in the least. She also ordered the biscuits and gravy on the side. The biscuits were fresh baked onsite (they tasted so fresh I asked the waitress to confirm it) and the gravy was pretty good, also. This is a seat yourself kind of place, but the waitress appeared pretty quickly, and was attentive throughout the meal, making sure our glasses were always filled and making sure we had the condiments we needed. It was a very pleasant meal overall. read more

Not the best...not the worst... Tried going to the 24th Street Cafe since it was pretty popular on yelp but when I got there the wait was an hour (guess everyone else had the same idea). So I went to Zingos instead. Let's put it this way: we were seated instantly. I got the ham and cheese omelette. There was too much cheese (i didn't even know that was possible) and the ham was too chunky and it was chewy. I also asked for fruit on the side. They gave me canned pears. I didn't touch them. If you don't have another option this place isn't bad. But it you do...exercise that option. read more

ZINGO'S! How we LOVE Zingo's! It's one of our favorite places to eat in Bakersfield! We've been there several times and have never had a bad experience. The restaurant has been open whenever the sign on the door said it would be. The food is plentiful, fresh and delicious and the waitresses are efficient and personable. The staff keep the coffee and other drinks filled and the soda cups are really large, which is something I appreciate. We love the diner/truck-stop/down-home ambiance, the friendly patrons and the family-friendly atmosphere. We were looking for a restaurant that could be a regular go-to place, somewhere that epitomizes Bakersfield in regards to its down-home character and wonderful people, that has great food and good coffee ... and fortunately we've found all that at Zingo's! read more

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Classic diner fare with friendly service.

This place hasnt changed since before I was born...and that is exactly why we still go. Friendly service, great food, and plenty of calories for the money. Bakersfield comfort at its finest read more

We were in Bakersfield last night on business. Coworker was hungry , I said I saw a cafe down off the corner . We can park the truck at the little fuel stop next door . Little place , off the beaten path , not fancy .But that's where you find some of the best food . Older cafe , but if did not have great food it would not last All these years . We had a great dinner . If in the area well worth stopping by ! read more

Interesting little place that apparently has a lot of history here in Bakersfield. Went around lunch time with a friend. I ordered a plate of chili cheese fries, and OMG the plate was huge! I think the plate is only $4.95? They put fries on the bottom, a layer of chili, a layer of cheese, and then onions on top. I asked for the onion to be grilled and was happy to satisfy my inner fatty craving for fattening food. As a side note the crowd is kind of interesting with it skewing older. I think some of the people were gold prospectors... read more

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I wanted to love this place. I REALLY did. I decided to go order some hot wings for myself after someone brought some into work late on night. I also ordered the biscuits and gravy and one of their giant cinnamon rolls. Here's the breakdown of what's wrong with this place: 1) it may take a while before the waitresses acknowledge that you are standing there. This is a huge pet peeve of mine, especially in customer service. Don't stand in front of me taking care of someone's bill and totally ignore me! 2) I saw both waitresses handle money and then directly touch food. I was placing a to-go order and my waitress let the cinnamon she was pouring into a cup for me run over her finger and acrylic nail. Ew! Then she went to get my biscuits out of the warmer and split them in half with no gloves. I saw the other waitress grab bread to toast with her bare hands also. That's completely disgusting. Enough said. 3) The food here is FATTY. i mean FATTY. Biscuits with gravy came in a container overflowing with gravy, to a point where i could barely find the biscuits. Seriously, it was overkill. The cinnamon bun is pre-slathered in butter, so much so that you can't even see the bun itself! I'm a fatty at heart and this place was too much for even me. The food even tasted fatty. Too rich and too salty. Unless you are looking to have a heart attack or are seriously desperate, stay away from this hole-in-the-wall. read more

This place was alright. It had all the expected menu items for a roadside diner. It's a cool looking place that's where the originality stops. The food is mediocre and why does everyone like these biscuits and gravy so much? I ate here and didn't die so I guess that's good but it was just crappy food when you really get down to it. read more

Came here drunk. This place is awesome. Customer service is awesome. Food is awesome. Awesome stuff zingos. Thank you! I will be back. Your pancakes were awesome!!! read more

Zingo's Cafe - Awesome! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bakersfield, California

I've passes by this place a million times and it wasn't 'til my stay at the neighboring hotel that I decided to check it out. I am so thankful I did. It has got to be one of my all time fav. places for diner food. Everything is good!! It's got atmosphere, delicious inexpensive generously portioned food. You WILL go away very happy & super full. If you're ever in Bakersfield stop at Zingo's, do yourself that favor. read more