Kay's Bar

We aren’t big drinkers but we do love a good nacho. The one on shoestring potatoes was fire! The fries were crispy, the pulled pork was tasty and perfectly cooked. The queso wasn’t too thick or too runny. Perfect for sharing. We come with our dog so we’ve never more than peeked inside. The bar is on a busy intersection so it can get noisy outside at times. But the server was fast and friendly. Definitely worth a trip

Great weekday happy hour! Best one in town. Fries are to die for and their burgers are delicious. Also they have amazing wraps!

Really good drinks especially if you love a mule style drink. Tons of variations. I ended up having one with a blood orange vodka. I believe that was absolutely delicious. Same with the one that is lavender focused. A little slow on the service for how busy it was but it was a hot day so I wasn't in a hurry to leave anyways 😂. Solid food. The large fry could easily be shared across three or four people and the mushroom burger I had was large and very juicy and had giant chunks of mushroom which I get is not everybody's cup of tea but I was very happy with it.

Staff was very friendly and attentive. They have outside seating in the form of classic wood picnic tables. We got nachos with BBQ chicken that added an extra 4 dollars. Worth every penny! Packed with flavor and a light spice. Seriously the best nachos I've ever had. Got the Buffalo chicken wrap sandwich and it was excellent. Highly recommend this place.

*Excellent* dive bar, exactly what you want. Great happy hour menu with $5 well drinks and amazing loaded nachos, pick the toppings. Perfect dark vintage dive bar vibe too!

This place is awesome. The nachos were amazing and the drinks were even better. What an awesome place to hang with friends.

I had a fabulous time at Kay’s bar, it was my first time there and for the most part it was great. The girl with pink hair was so nice and knowledgeable on the menu, however the second time we came, we sat outside and a girl with glasses served us. It was like night and day, she had no patience and was rude. It ruined the whole experience for us. We will return! But 10/10 I’ll make sure we’re not in her section again. Just such a bummer :/

Drinks and food are absolutely delicious, it's a shame that the staff is extremely rude, unfriendly, and unhelpful. I had a couple bad experiences here and after talking to some friends found out that I was not the only one getting bad service. In absolutely no scenario is it okay to curse out paying customers. Generally, they seem to have a vendetta against younger costumers and any party over the size of two. I will not be going back especially since there are so many other lovely dive bars in sellwood.

My favorite bar in the world. Delicious food. Real customers. Happy staff. No video lottery. Cozy. Warm. Welcoming. Great drinks. All good vibes. I'm grateful I have continued to come here for years.

Quiet Saturday afternoon stop in, grabbed a bite- while the menu isn't extensive there's some really good food to be had if the Governor Wrap is any indication: a pretty simple wrap, but executed very well and delicious and a HUGE sized "small" order of fries that were great tasting and plentiful. Service was impeccable, with the single bartender running table service for every customer there, including the outside tables. Said he worked the nights usually but was filling in, I'll definitely be coming back to enjoy again The interior would be at best described as "divey chic vintage", with old Schlitz beer signs and neons, and decor of wood shingles, advertising decor from the decades, and an overall look that says "welcome, but come in and act well, we don't tolerate fools"...wrapped in a cabin motif. I dig it, Kay.

I've been going to Kay's for years. It's always been my favorite bar in the neighborhood. However, last time I went in with my wife, some guy stopped us as we crossed the threshold and said there was a wait. He then gestured to a couple huddled in the corner, waiting, in "front" of us. I glanced around the bar and noticed that everyone was sitting, no one was standing, and I got the message that Kay's is no longer a fun neighborhood bar, it's trying to be a restaurant. I told the door guy, no thanks, we'll go somewhere else( there are several other bars within a 3 minute walk) and he said "you do that." A sad end for a formerly great place.

This is a great old fashion bar & grill. They have vintage indoor booth seating as well as pretty decent bar seating. Our go is outside at the tables watching the westmoreland wildlife go by with the pack while enjoying a classic smash burger.

Love the food, love the beers and booze, bartenders are properly Portland and they actually have servers! Also great for vegetarians! Great atmosphere, get there early because seating is extremely limited and it gets crowded.

Great ambiance and very laid back. We sat at the bar and loved the stools, feet perch, and arm rests on/at the bar top. We didn't have food but as the fries passed us they looked hella crispy which is my favorite! Bartender was very attentive and kind! Will be coming back!

I absolutely love Kay Bar! The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable. I can't believe I haven't written a review yet. We came for HH on a busy Tuesday late afternoon. We snuck in and took the last 2 seats at the bar. The bartender who was very busy greeted us. He took our order while multitasking which, I was very impressed with. We ordered 2 well Gin and Tonics and a HH Classic Deluxe 1/4 lb. beef patty with pickles, diced onion, & American cheese and fries. The drinks came quickly and were delicious! Kay's uses Gordon's Gin which is perfect for G&Ts. You really can't beat their HH prices for quality drinks. The burger came out within about 10 minutes. It was DELICIOUS cooked perfectly almost smash burger style which, I am a huge fan of. Excellent burger to bun ratio. Well seasoned burger with melty American cheese and a buttery bun that held together perfectly. The HH fries were excellent as well and a large portion. Shoe string style season well and crispy delicious. We love you Kay Bar you seriously have the best Happy Hour in town.

When I was a kid in Portland Kay's was a dive bar that was famous for chicken fried steak. At least that's my memory. Fast forward to more recent years. This place has simple, great food! There were 5 of us so we shared a nachos for the table with brisket. Oh my! Soooo good! My husband had the pulled pork sandwich and said it was oh so good! Our son had a hamburger and again, really great. The last two of us had wraps. I had the BLT wrap - which I would have again and again. Our friend had the chicken wrap. Again - shabam! So good! We wrap eaters had lunch for the next day. Service fast and friendly. Wine servings are kind of small. Beer is a good deal and they have interesting cocktails and moctails. We will try the happy hour next time. Looks good. Add this local place to your list of must try's. You will be a happy camper. They have picnic tables out side for nice days.

Hands down favorite burger in PDX! The waitstaff aren't the friendliest... we're regulars & every time we come there's zero recognition. Other than that - the burger is worth it! The classic deluxe is the bees knees, and the fries are TDF! (Order extra crispy). I do wish they were actually open the days/hours that are advertised... went yesterday & they were closed (said online open from 2:00 PM -12....this happens a lot)

I love this place. I was in search of good nachos and found this corner pub. I ended up getting the Derby nachos and the "nacho" something fries. I gotta say those fries were awesomeee. Both are large enough portions for 2 people each. Or for one person definitely. 1.5 needed for those hungry eaters. I had a good cocktail here as well. The wait is a bit awkward cause you sit yourself and stand around while it's busy. A couple walked in after us and proceeded to hunt down a table without asking us. The kind of awkwardness you will run into. BUT the bartender was nice enough to let us know the seating was available for us first. Thanks man.

Kay's is my new favorite spot. Plus it's also apparently haunted? (Rad). It's a cozy, no bullshit kind of place. The customers are kind, the food and drinks are great, and the bartender with the face tattoos is very kind and made me a cocktail after I told him what I was in the mood for. 10/10.

Maybe the best dive bar burger I've ever had. Great atmosphere! My review now has enough words.

I've never had a bad experience at Kay's and tonight was horrible. The staff and bartenders were rude. They wouldn't serve us unless we had a seat, because they were at capacity but then had big booths with 2 people they weren't willing to ask to move. I will not be going here again unless I'm desperate and I will not suggest to others. My burger was overdone and didn't even taste worth it. When I tried to talk to staff, they gathered together and whispered about our group, shooting rude glares. I even did them a solid and didn't make them split a complicated tab. The least they could have done is be nice, accommodating and understanding. Instead they lost business. Disappointing.

Kay's used to be the best spot in the neighborhood, in the past ~5 years they lost most of the friendly fun staff and good food options. The current menu is a stripped down version of what it was and often seems burnt / over cooked plus there are no longer any weekdays specials. Used to have great rapport with previous bartenders, never had any issues but with the current main guy I usually leave feeling like I somehow pissed him off even is just ordering food. I dunno tried a handful of times but I won't be going back.

Kay's bar has the best nachos out there!! SO GOOD i'm not sure what they put in them but man I'd recommend these to anyone and everyone. The food is amazing for being a bar. They always seem to be popping especially when the weather is nice!

Good place for me usually. However kinda awkward regarding bringing in ESA dog we say outside. Which was ok but sometimes we prefer to be inside with air conditioning. Maybe if they allowed pets to sit was us near the exit or something. Best of both worlds. Fries are a fav. Burgers ALL so good! Waitress was friendly once we established a solution with my lil dog.

Amazing happy hour. Tasty food and excellent service. The happy hour pricing is outstanding. Thank you!

This is Cheers Portland. I think that's what they are going for and it really seems to work. I wish brunch was still a thing. It probably will be again. Portland is lucky to have places like this.

Staff were very rude and disrespectful. We walked into the bar ready for a happy friends reunion and immediately turned down because our group of 9 (to a bar mind you) were turned down because their policy says they only accept a group of max 6 people. To a bar? Not only did they ruin our plan for a night out but also lost a lot of money tonight. Do not recommend for a fun night out with friends.

The food quality and menu has vastly improved in the last year. Great neighborhood spot except now it's so good there's more of a wait time to get in!

The staff was incredibly rude to our group, we were excited to have a fun evening but Kay's staff ruined our evening.

Been wanting to try this bar for months. I work out in the area but always in the mornings. Arranged an evening appointment and headed to Kay's. 5:45 pm yet hoped to grab a happy hour drink and a burger. Wife and I sat there and kept looking for someone to acknowledge us. Young gal walked by us twice before we could catch her attention. No paper menu and we were having trouble accessing the menu with our cell. She could care less and left us to figure it out. Too many options to stay where customer service does not exist. Walked to another place and upon entering were immediately greeted and menus provided along with access using technology.

Had the weirdest experience in this bar. Hostess and bartender were so rude and immediately shook their heads (miming "no") when we first walked in. We stood waiting to see if they would seat us and a guy walked up and asked "why do you look so confused?" in aggressive way. We decided to leave as we did not feel welcomed or safe. Would not recommend, terrible service.

I used to come here often. I think maybe it may be under new management since I was in town a year or so ago. The servers used to be great. They were attentive, friendly, and accommodating. Not so anymore. There's clearly a different crop of servers here and I wouldn't recommend visiting this bar just based on the poor service experience alone. To top it off, the food has changed also and not for the better. I used to love the food here but I can't recommend it anymore. It seems the good cooks must have left with the great servers. Disappointing.

Oh my goodness, do I love being a Sellwood local, and do I love kay's bar. Just got out of Kay's bar just a few minutes ago and had to happy hour burgers. And boy they tasted so good. if you have an 11-year-old daughter, you can get some burgers to go, and boy, she will love them, they taste that good. everyone there, is a Sellwood local, like me, and we all enjoy ourselves. when I stepped in to Kay's bar, there was a man who was just leaving the table. he told me, we are just leaving, you can have this table. I thought I don't want to be in your way, so I will get some help finding an empty booth. The bartender, was very friendly, and assisted me with finding an empty booth. Once I sat down, I ordered my two happy hour burgers, with some water. Just a few minutes later, my masterpiece, arrived. and boy, they tasted so good. again, if you have an 11-year-old daughter, you can get some burgers to go, but you can't get the happy hour burgers to go, you will half to get the regular classic deluxe burger to go instead. but it won't matter, because any of the burgers that you get, taste good, no matter what they are. once my masterpiece arrived, I enjoyed the nice fresh flavors of the bacon and burger all on a nice fresh hamburger bun. total cost of the two happy hour burgers, was $14. And for happy hour, that is a very good excellent deal, for two burgers. all in all, long live Kays bar.

I feel as if every review I have given for the restaurants in my new neighborhood has been five stars. I am usually not someone who just gives out five stars, so easily. Insert Oprah Winfrey meme, "you get 5 stars and you get 5 stars..." But, Kay's Bar deserves it. From the outside it looks a bit sketchy. Or, I'm sure they would prefer vintage dive bar. That really does sum it up. When you walk in it feels as if you've been transported back several decades. The inside is very dark and very dive bar feel. That isn't a bad thing as it is on the trendier side of dive bar and not the motorcycle gang hangout, you're gonna walk out with five less teeth version of a dive bar. We chose to sit outside, which doesn't have a lot of seating but what it does have provides a very cool vantage point of the neighborhood. The menu is it going to blow you away but the food is really good. I had Kay's Wet Burrito and it was incredible. The mole sauce was perfect. Everything about the burrito was perfect and I found myself wanting to lick the plate when I was done. I know Portland likes to be weird but plate licking, in public, might push the line. If you are lucky enough to make it during happy hour, the specials are really good. This was our second attempt at eating here because the first time there was a long wait. I can honestly say that it would have been worth the wait, the first time. It's that good.

I went expecting total Dive Bar but was pleasantly surprised. The drinks were well made the service was great and the food was really good.

Nice cozy bar. Great drinks and superb food. We had burgers and fries. The fries are homemade, in-house.

We drove out this way because Holler was on Alabama's site as a viewing bar and wanted to watch the Iron Bowl. They were less than accommodating, so we left looking for another option. Kay's was such a contrast. Welcoming. Very accommodating. Had zero issue turning a tv on the game for us. Very kind and attentive service. Plus a nice old school bar vibe.

Zach, the tall bartender, is rude to the point of socially awkward. Honestly unsure how he makes a living as a bartender. Food is decent for bar food, but honestly that guy was such so condescending and seemingly annoyed by our presence. I sincerely wondered if he had a personal issue with our table. Won't be returning.

Had a rude & racist server. She would check in and attend every table but ours. Never going back here again & wouldn't recommend to anyone of color.

Great service! Prompt and attentive. Server helped suggest a change to my basic cocktail that made it much more enjoyable. The menu was a bit limited. My chicken salad wrap was substantial, fresh, and delicious. I forgot my cardigan and the came out the front door to return it to me! That was fantastic customer service! I'll definitely be coming back!

An institution. The local bar, with signature food, plentiful drinks and friendly service. Kays has been in Sellwood for a long time and now that its a trendy neighborhood, Kays is thriving. We go when we want a good drink, a nice crowd, and simple atmosphere where you can hear yourself talk, and when your drink is low, the service is all over it. Highly recommended.

The food was amazing get the burgers!! We got two (vegan and meat) and loved them. 10/10 will return again.

The drinks and food are plentiful and tasty. Outdoor seating is nice but the benches could be a little uncomfortable after all while.

Love this place. Great beer. Best burger in town. New bartender (mullet, glasses) kind of sucks, but it so good u can can look past her ugly personality. It's that good. Long live Kay's!

Surprisingly good vegan food for a bar like this, great staff. Feels like the heart of the neighborhood.

First time we went, the bartender/server was very rude and told us they close in 30 minutes so we had to leave. We did not know how early they closed, but I was surprised we were getting sent away so much earlier than close, just for a few drinks. Second time we try go in, the same worker is again very snappy and giving us attitude. Not sure if this is supposed to be the vibe here, but it is very unwelcoming.

This is a nice "neighborhood bar" on a very prominent corner in West Moreland. This was our second time here this time just for a drink. They have a few tables outside funny we sat at the same table both times. Lots of people and dogs going up and down the street makes it a great place to hang out. The inside is very old but kept clean and very nostalgic of the 70's to 80's bars. The staff is very nice and the drinks are good. They have a very good happy hour too. First time we had food here and I apologize I don't recall exactly what we ate but I do recall I liked the food and would come back.

Good beer selection! The vegan burger was BOMB. Service when we were there (Sunday Evening) was super pleasant and friendly. All in al a great local spot for casual drinks with friends or on your own!

Great burgers. Nachos are unbelievably good. Great staff with excellent service skills. Dog friendly tables outside. What else do you want?

First time at Kay's yesterday and I was surprised how great it was tbh. My friend and I went for lunch and a drink while it was pouring down rain and it was a fun little escape. The place itself is small & your usual dive vibe with no windows, but it's not stuffy or gross or anything and it's actually quite cozy! Big booths & a bar top to sit as well as some the tables. It seems like everyone in there was a neighborhood local, which is cute. We each went for a mule to drink and split the buffalo chicken wrap and fries. The buffalo wrap was so good! Grilled chicken and I loved that they put the wrap on the grill top after it was assembled to give it a little toast / crispyness. The menu isn't big but everything they have sounded great, especially their burgers, which seem to be a highlight in themselves. I also want to try the nachos... They do happy hour Monday - Friday from 4-6 which I'll need to stop in for next time. Kay's might just be my new favorite dive bar for good vibes & food!

It was nice getting something different, but the grease taste was overpowering and it seemed like the oil for the fries was old and everything tasted the same. The burger was nice, I enjoyed the flat-iron style. Unfortunately, the fries were overcooked and the flavor for both the fries and burgers wasn't good. I will try again in hopes that it was a fluke...but I have my doubts on it changing. Nevertheless, you can't judge a place by one meal alone. It was meh.

Not sure why everyone's calling Kay's a "neighborhood bar" unless that's just code for a friendly dive. Because Kay's is definitely a dive - it's no-frills, it's dark, it's a little sticky and shabby around the edges, and it's awesome. It's not bigger on the inside, so it does tend to get rather crowded, and the party spills onto the sidewalk on warm days. Prices are pretty reasonable and there's a decent tap list. The food is quite legit, too, for a dive - ahem, neighborhood - bar. Last time I was here, I had the blackened mac & cheese, which I don't usually eat when I'm out but something about spicy chicken and cheesy goodness was calling my name. It did not disappoint. The chicken brought the heat, and the portion was generous enough I took some home for lunch the next day. My friend had the BLT+A and really enjoyed it. Kay's isn't the sort of joint one would drive across town for - and it doesn't need to be. Every neighborhood needs one of these - someplace casual and comfortable when you're feeling relaxed and just want to hang out somewhere with a pint and a bite. Huh, I guess that's what makes it a neighborhood bar.

Supporting local businesses during COVID-19. You can order online and select curbside pick up or free delivery in the Sellwood/Moreland area which is pretty convenient during this time. Went to go pick up our order - timing was right on the mark and ready to be picked up when we arrived. Ordered two burgers and were packaged nicely and just as good to go as they are eating in. Food was still warm when we got home as well. Fresh and salty burger - perfect for our Saturday night in to quarantine and chill. Thanks for being open during these tough times, we will always support this local favorite!

Great (no beef) burger and ridiculously huge amount of fries. Had a drink while waiting for take-out. Good vibe.

I used to come here all the time when I was younger and I brought some friends by and had a incredibly rude and racist bartender. It was a Wednesday evening and he was tall, white, and had short hair or a shaved head. i found out from Kay's Instagram is name is ZACH. I've worked the service industry for over 10 years and I've never encountered such rude service. I absolutely hate Yelp but this experience was so horrible and he was so rude I thought I'd share. It is important to note that a separate group of my friends came in a few minutes earlier and sat inside (three white women) and reported that they were treated fine and he was nice to them. We were a group of 7 people of color and he treated us like shit. We came in on a weekday evening and asked to sit outside. We sat at one table and the bartender came by and said "you chose the only dirty table, huh?". And I said we didn't wanna set near the door (to limit Covid traffic) but we were happy to deal with the crumbs or wait for it to be wiped we were easy. He rolled his eyes and said no I guess I can go back inside and get a rag (he went inside and came back out without a rag) and with much snark pointed out that there was a secondary door near the same table. We get it dude-- you're an asshole that's fine. When he came out after he checked IDs I guess he counted that it was seven people and told us he couldn't sit groups over 6. That's fine we get a company policy. I also have an OLCC license and understand we can't stand with drinks-- but when I asked if we could split tables he said "nope". And walked away and slammed the door without another word. Regardless we went to cosmic lounge and had a great time. Never going back to Kay's ever again. He clearly did not want to serve us-- and made this very clear to us. It was nowhere close to close it was before 9pm.

This is a bar that gets Better with age. The only thing I did not like was the overcrowding at 5pm on a weekday. *The bar is clean, *bartenders are friendly *drinks are good * layout is good *food is good, although sadly they didn't have prime rib when I was in. I think it's a cool local Sellwood-Moreland bar. I would come back here and feel safe and welcome.

I was pretty excited about this place based on reviews and photos. Waitress was wearing short shorts and a tee, which is fine, but later it added to how unprofessional the whole vibe was. She side eyed me as I walked in and didn't take another look at me as I stood by the door waiting to be seated. She walked past me 2 times and didn't say anything even as I was obviously trying to get her attention. I stood a foot behind her as she was cashing someone out and still she didn't say one word. I was the only person standing, very clearly at the mouth of the door. 3 guys working at the bar also looked at me once without acknowledging me at all. Seriously? I ended up walking away after waiting nearly 5 minutes for someone to just talk to me. It doesn't matter how busy you are...if you walk past a customer that many times, at least acknowledge their presence and make them feel welcome.

I think I had one of the best Mac and cheeses I've ever had here. It was called the Kay's Mac and it came out piping hot and delicious. The fries were thin and perfectly cooked and the spicy avocado mayo they came with was bomb. This place is clean! I was expecting it to be divey but it's not at all. Usually when I order sour beers at places that aren't breweries they turn out to be pretty weak sours. I got the Marryin' Berry sour and it was fantastic. Not to mention the bartender with short blonde hair was really nice and accommodating and good at her job. This place has great vibes and amazing food, so glad to have found it.