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We decided to reprise our Kensington Cafe lunch during our brief San Diego trip and I couldn't be happier that we did. While the first visit was pleasant, the second was divine. My roasted veggie salad leveled up with slightly meltier cheese, slightly heavier garlic vinaigrette and more brassicas in the ratio of Brussels to broccoli and cauliflower. The ingredients were greater than the sum of their parts. Basically the platonic ideal of a drizzly afternoon comfort meal. The picture is the dish after I've cut up all the vegetables more and spread the cheese more evenly throughout the greens, which I'd recommend as optimal preparation for both eating and viewing. There is a warm communal buzz inside the cafe that is purely organic, and we look forward to returning during our next trip to town.
I've been here a couple of times always hoping that I would find something to love about it. Unfortunately the food is just ok. The ambiance is nice with tons of dog friendly outdoor seating and the service was great! But the food is disappointing. We had the vegetable plate, one pancake and the ceaser salad. Everything was pretty boring. If they amped up the flavor a bit this place could be a real winner.
Brunchin' in Kensington never looked (or tasted) this good @kensingtoncafe From the crispy, savory goodness of the chicken & waffles to the fresh summer salad and those comforting biscuits & gravy -- this spot is serving up all the brunch feels. Come hungry, leave happy... because brunch is always a waffle lot of fun
Visiting SD and came across Kensington Cafe on Yelp. Plenty of street parking all around the cafe. They have seating outside as well but with a party of we sat inside. Right away service is awesome! We also noticed the staff interacted with a lot of regular customers. I asked our server for recommendations for both drinks and food. We ordered a Banana Bread Latte, Amazon Bowl, Lox Toast, Kids Pancake & Parkside Scramble. Everything came out pretty quick and it all looked so yummy! The latte was really good and I got it half sweet which was just right for me. I was expecting the lox toast to be smaller but it was a good size and tasted really good. The bread didn't get soggy at all. The acai bowl was the perfect size and the consistency was creamy vs. a sorbet which we like. The side potatoes came with a mix of purple yam too which was unexpected! The scramble was definitely enough to share as well as the "kids" size pancake. Everyone enjoyed the food. Again I can't say enough about how awesome the service was! Sadly I didn't catch our server's name but she checked on us very often and was just so happy and super nice! Highly recommend Kensington!
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.
First spot we hit for brunch on my birthday trip was Kensington Cafe in San Diego. I'm glad we arrived when we did because we barely had any wait time it definitely looked like it gets busy.. I ordered the hot honey chicken and waffles, and it was so damn good. It honestly left me wishing we had a location near me! The waffles had such great flavor that I didn't even use the syrup I just added butter. The chicken had the perfect crisp, too. I would've loved a little more hot honey, but that's just me. For coffee, I went with a vanilla cappuccino, which I also really enjoyed. Overall, I had a great meal at Kensington, and if I'm ever back in the area, I'll definitely be coming back.
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.
Let's start off with a positive. I have been here numerous times and always had delicious food. This sandwich is by far one of the worst clubs I have ever had. It was so dry. The Gorgonzola spread? Non existent. The flavor was lacking. I threw away the other half.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the fresh, flavorful food, friendly, attentive staff, a cozy, inviting atmosphere, and creative drink selection.
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17 days ago
Food and service super good! I'm a nice area, you need to pay street parking. Not much in the area tho. Montezuma, 5/5: Really good! There are actual chicken pieces in here. Thought they used deli slices bc it looks so thin but there are sizable slices. The side salad is normal. The cheese and sourdough was good - crispy and umami. I don't taste the aioli much? But this sandwich typically tastes basic without some sauce and this is good, but I couldn't really tell. Cinnamon roll pancake, 4/5: The pancake is very thick almost like a cake? It's very sweet. The oats on top make the bite tastes like brown sugar oatmeal. Not very cinnamon or pancakey - get this for a sugar craving. Outside seating is nice. There's plenty of shade an busy on a Saturday morning, but they had a table of 3 available with no wait. read more
We decided to reprise our Kensington Cafe lunch during our brief San Diego trip and I couldn't be happier that we did. While the first visit was pleasant, the second was divine. My roasted veggie salad leveled up with slightly meltier cheese, slightly heavier garlic vinaigrette and more brassicas in the ratio of Brussels to broccoli and cauliflower. The ingredients were greater than the sum of their parts. Basically the platonic ideal of a drizzly afternoon comfort meal. The picture is the dish after I've cut up all the vegetables more and spread the cheese more evenly throughout the greens, which I'd recommend as optimal preparation for both eating and viewing. There is a warm communal buzz inside the cafe that is purely organic, and we look forward to returning during our next trip to town. read more
I've been here a couple of times always hoping that I would find something to love about it. Unfortunately the food is just ok. The ambiance is nice with tons of dog friendly outdoor seating and the service was great! But the food is disappointing. We had the vegetable plate, one pancake and the ceaser salad. Everything was pretty boring. If they amped up the flavor a bit this place could be a real winner. read more
4 months ago
Brunchin' in Kensington never looked (or tasted) this good @kensingtoncafe From the crispy, savory goodness of the chicken & waffles to the fresh summer salad and those comforting biscuits & gravy -- this spot is serving up all the brunch feels. Come hungry, leave happy... because brunch is always a waffle lot of fun read more
Visiting SD and came across Kensington Cafe on Yelp. Plenty of street parking all around the cafe. They have seating outside as well but with a party of we sat inside. Right away service is awesome! We also noticed the staff interacted with a lot of regular customers. I asked our server for recommendations for both drinks and food. We ordered a Banana Bread Latte, Amazon Bowl, Lox Toast, Kids Pancake & Parkside Scramble. Everything came out pretty quick and it all looked so yummy! The latte was really good and I got it half sweet which was just right for me. I was expecting the lox toast to be smaller but it was a good size and tasted really good. The bread didn't get soggy at all. The acai bowl was the perfect size and the consistency was creamy vs. a sorbet which we like. The side potatoes came with a mix of purple yam too which was unexpected! The scramble was definitely enough to share as well as the "kids" size pancake. Everyone enjoyed the food. Again I can't say enough about how awesome the service was! Sadly I didn't catch our server's name but she checked on us very often and was just so happy and super nice! Highly recommend Kensington! read more
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. read more
Business owner information
Vy T.
Hi Linda! Thank you so much for the great review and kind words, we…
7 months ago
First spot we hit for brunch on my birthday trip was Kensington Cafe in San Diego. I'm glad we arrived when we did because we barely had any wait time it definitely looked like it gets busy.. I ordered the hot honey chicken and waffles, and it was so damn good. It honestly left me wishing we had a location near me! The waffles had such great flavor that I didn't even use the syrup I just added butter. The chicken had the perfect crisp, too. I would've loved a little more hot honey, but that's just me. For coffee, I went with a vanilla cappuccino, which I also really enjoyed. Overall, I had a great meal at Kensington, and if I'm ever back in the area, I'll definitely be coming back. read more
4 months ago
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. read more
1 month ago
Let's start off with a positive. I have been here numerous times and always had delicious food. This sandwich is by far one of the worst clubs I have ever had. It was so dry. The Gorgonzola spread? Non existent. The flavor was lacking. I threw away the other half. read more
Business owner information
Vy T.
Hi Chris, thank you for coming back to see us over the years! I’m so…
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! read more
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. read more
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. read more
6 months ago
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! read more
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. read more
2 months ago
Favorite breakfast/brunch cafe ever. The food is delicious, their cappuccino hits the spot, and the staff is extremely attentive and so nice! Kensington Cafe has such a cute and cozy feel from the patio and inside seating. You have to try their power bowl with chicken sausage and cinnamon roll pancake it's DELICIOUS! read more
9 months ago
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! read more
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. read more
Business owner information
Vy T.
Hi Kim, thank you for your review. We are sorry our food was not up…
1 year ago
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. read more
Business owner information
Vy T.
Hi Jiselle, thank you for your review. We are sorry that our food was…
2 months ago
Great local café in downtown Kensington with plenty of food options for everyone, all in a charming, walkable neighborhood. read more
2 months ago
1 year ago
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! read more
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!! read more
9 months ago
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. read more
1 year ago
This was my first time here. There is a little wait because the restaurant isn't too big, but that's okay. The food and service were worth the wait at least. There is plenty of parking around the area too. You might have to walk less than a block, but at least it isn't meters or paid parking lol. I'd come back and I'd recommend! read more
2 years ago
In the area and hungry for breakfast we stumbled upon this local spot. Parking is only street parking. They have a large outdoor patio for you and your fur babies. We were greeted by Jessica as soon as we opened the door. Trying to eat healthy I choose off of the scramble side of the menu. It was more of an omelet. I decided on the tree hugger which included mushroom, spinach, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and avocado scramble. Included was toast and cubed potatoes perfectly cooked. The portions were a great amount. I should have given into my inner hungry hippo and tried the hot honey chicken waffles. I am excited to try more on the menu next time. ** they only do scrambled and poached eggs. read more
We came on a Sunday morning and got seated immediately. There's both inside and outside seating. Parking on the street wasn't hard to find! Our server was super attentive and sweet. Our food and drinks came out very fast! The strawberry matcha was really good! I got half sweet and it was perfect. My fiance got the Mexican mocha and it was good as well! For entrees, we got the cali burrito and the baumann. Both items were okay. There wasn't any WOW factor to it. The side of fruit was really small but the fruits were super sweet. Overall it's a cute cafe to have brunch at! Maybe we'll try the pancakes the next time we visit! read more
1 year ago
Kensington Café is such a gem, and I'm lucky it's only about 10 minutes from where I live. I stopped by after Pilates and was seated right away with no wait, which was perfect. Even though I was by myself, I felt totally comfortable and welcomed. My waitress Parker was incredibly friendly and gave me a great food suggestion that turned out to be just what I needed. The vibe here is warm and easygoing, and the staff make you feel right at home. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to often since it's so close. read more
3 months ago
Business owner information
Vy T.
Hello Madz. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your…
1 year ago
NEW FAV San Diego brunch spot! We got the cinnamon roll pancakes, cali burrito, the chicken apple sausage breakfast sandwich, a snickers milkshake, and the strawberry matcha!! everything was a 10/10 our waitress was so nice and welcoming! totally coming back read more
2 months ago
came here on a saturday morning with my kiddos, fully prepared to wait in line - we were seated immediately and it was so nice. the host was delightful and joked with my son while we were settling in at our table. our waitress was jessica - she was so lovely and friendly. i got the lox on a bagel instead of bread, my kids got the kids pancakes with berries and whip, and my partner got the pulled pork hash. it was all delicious! we'll definitely be back. read more
8 months ago
Great and fast service !! I got the cali burrito and decided to add asada for extra protein, it was amazing ! read more
I tried this spot a second time as a quick bite to eat. Parking in area can be challenging with the neighborhood, so we did walk quite a bit before putting our names down. The wait was about 20 minutes to go inside which we did not mind. The restaurant is quite spacious, and we were seated inside against the wall. The food was good, but sadly my latte did not hit. Nonetheless, the food is chill and the space is nice to check out. read more
2 months ago
2 months ago
Business owner information
Vy T.
Hi Paul, thank you for sharing your experience. I’m sorry your visit…
1 year ago
Very nice staff! They had nice outdoor seating with a chill vibe, though I'd avoid sitting next to the hostess stand bc ppl will hover over you. Giving a low rating bc the chicken and waffles were really not good ): tasted like the chicken was j a reheated frozen chicken tender, not freshly fried + the waffles were mid. My friend ordered asada hash and it was good - I'd stick to ordering more traditional egg stuff and steer away from the chicken and waffles!!! read more
2 years ago
I woke up this morning with my mind on Kensington Cafe. Once my boyfriend and I were ready for the day we skipped yoga and came here for breakfast and me oh my it was scrumpdidlyumptious!!! Wait time was nonexistent and we were seated almost immediately. Service was superb, I wish I got our servers name but she was absolutely wonderful. She wore a cute orange jumper and had tattoos, so friendly! Everything tasted amazing. I had the mimosa flight, baked French toast, and hash bowl!!! read more
1 year ago
We were the very first people in. The place was quiet and warm and they made us feel so cozy and welcome. We loved the softness of all the decor. Our server was so thoughtful and patient with our kiddos. We all enjoyed a cinnamon roll pancake, a stack of the brown sugar pancakes, a plate of avocado toast, and some warm croissants. Everything was great, the portion size and the flavor pairings made us all happy. We will definitely come back! read more
Business owner information
Vy T.
Hello Eden! Thanks so much for this wonderful review! The pictures…
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More info about Kensington Cafe
4141 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA 92116
Kensington
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(619) 640-0494
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http://www.kensingtoncafesd.com
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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.
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