McKenna's Cafe

Bad and awkward attitudes, no common sense or common courtesy and absolutely no customer service skills whatsoever. Its like it’s run by grumpy dorchester residents, FOR grumpy Dorchester residents. Overpriced food that you could literally make yourself. They get worse over time instead of better. I never feel welcome there (I’m a minority). We went strictly for the french toast but the quality has declined over the years. Today I got home and noticed a whole other mistake (wrong meat entirely) after informing them that they rung me up for the wrong item initially. They ended up telling me it was my fault for not specifying, even tho I don’t study their menu to have that knowledge and they obviously do know the menu so like…. ASK! But anyway. My opinion is I hope they close down. They don’t deserve all the business they get because its not many breakfast joints in the area, its by default at this point. They’re tiny and uncomfortable to visit and still wildly successful. Oh and they will force a tip on your TAKE OUT order no matter the total and even tho no one served you! :-) Edited to add: I called a bunch right before arriving to try and order ahead because its always a wait. I expected a line out the door. When I arrived there was not a single person in line and all the customers sitting down were eating and there were plenty of empty tables too. The young girl at the counter said they flat out don’t pick up when its “really busy” which they were not. The hispanic employee confirmed to me they’re not very busy at all, suggesting they remake it when I told them my order was wrong. I bet these cooks spit in the food! I bet the staff knows and agrees and laughs it off. I bet this place is way grosser than we will ever know. After reading more reviews I went so easy on them. Just wow.

Came for breakfast on a visit to see a friend. The breakfast burrito was super good. I've never had such big chunks of meat in a breakfast burrito before (this is a compliment). The French toast was also super flavorful.

Second time being here cause i don't remember how the food was the first time. it was OK. The pancakes are good, so were the tater tots but how could you mess those up? The eggs were bland and the turkey sausage was just not good, to me at least.

Would you like Hot Sauce with that? McKennas is a Boston STAPLE, and has been for decades. I’ve dined here at-least 30 times over the years and time after time they deliver. The pancakes, fluffy and large. Eggs - cooked to perfection. Service can be hit or miss but that’s life. Yet my #1 go-to favorite choice every time I go is the “Mayor’s Special”. It’s probably around 3 pounds of food for 18 dollars. In essence the meal is every breakfast item (except pancakes) stacked together in one giant heap of hearty excellence. Being a larger man this meal is the perfect choice for a working fella looking for the fulfilling meal he deserves. And no, I would not like Hot Sauce with my meal.

The aesthetic and vibe of this place is everything. The service was top notch, super polite, friendly, accommodating. My steak omelet was extremely dry and flavorless, my toast was burnt and I didn't recieve the baked beans that it said it came with. Parking was very tough to find, especially with construction redirecting you. I tipped well for the excellent service, but I wouldn't come back here to eat.

McKennas is one of the top choices for breakfast in Boston. The menu has a wide variety of choices for lunch also. The scenery is cool filled with old school classic diner pics. Everything I’ve tried was pretty good if not excellent. I like they have non dairy options for coffee and also vegetarian. Just get there early on weekends or be prepared for a light wait.

My favorite breakfast spot in Boston (Savin Hill)... they are popular place for good reason even though seating is limited. Great food, reasonable price and servers mostly friendly and efficient. Can be busy but worth a wait for one of those coveted tables.

I live in NY now, so it was great to be in the Dorchester area (I grew up in Mass.), listening to the accent I still have and am proud of! Very early breakfast, but filled up with workers and commuters during our meal. Waitstaff was very friendly and checking in with us as they made their way around the room. Cute nostalgic decorations, definately a local place, where people gather and chat before the day gets away from them. Would go again, for sure.

I always enjoy McKenna's, Avocado Benedict so good, sadly not happy about the tip being added automatically, I understand probably many don't tip , was surprised to see this and no notice of it!

Yesterday was my first time eating at McKenna's. I always drove by here when I lived in Boston, but it always seemed busy so I never got the opportunity to eat inside. My friend who lives in the neighborhood eats here often, and spoke highly of the food and service. It was fairly busy for a Monday morning, but it didn't take long before we were seated. The restaurant is pretty tight and you sit pretty close to other patrons which can be a tad uncomfortable if you prefer a bit of space between you and other people. Their menu is very extensive , and seems to have a lot of options for every eater. My friend got the huevos rancheros and I got one French toast, home fries, and sausages. I thought the servers were nice. They recognized my friend and checked in on us throughout our meal. The food was pretty good, and the portion on the home fries was massive!!! I wasn't expecting it to be so much, and I ate as much as I could. I don't think I ordered anything that isn't pretty standard for me to get a real feel of the food at the restaurant. I'd be curious to come back and try some other options in the future.

The food was great {"diner" food}. Service was good but brisk, they were very busy. Definitely a return for breakfast.

The food is generally good, but this is the second day in a row that I've ordered food from them, not only asked for but paid for extra syrup, and didn't get any syrup at all in my delivery. First time I chalked up to a fluke but after a second time in a row, they earned the one star as I eat dry waffles.

Came here for breakfast around 7:50am. Ordered the early bird special eggs bacon, home fries and a griddled English muffin! Also got a waffle! And a cup of coffee! Bacon was crispy and tasty eggs cooked over easy and home fries delicious moist inside and seasoned perfectly! Love how they griddle the English muffin! So good! Waffle was delicious and really hit the spot! Customer service was great! The server was welcoming and friendly! Still a great local spot in the neighborhood!

Great local spot!! Service was friendly and quick; food was delicious! Definitely getting the bang for your buck here. Can't wait to try their lunch the next time I stop in

I was so excited to try out McKenna's! I've been wanting to come here for years and decided to check it out yesterday and got their chicken and waffles and was very disappointed. The chicken wasn't actually friend chicken or grilled chicken but more so a chicken tender or chicken nugget and their waffle looked more like a frozen waffle. For the price I paid I don't think it was worth the $23. I could have easily made everything myself and to make matters worse I ended up getting really sick from the food later on in the day. I had really high hopes for this place and was really let down.

Again, McKenna's drops the ball. Insane how they just keep finding new ways to screw up and disappoint. Every time I think, "oh let's give them another try" they remind me that it is ingrained into their DNA to be dissatisfying and disappointing. This time, no meat in my breakfast burrito... it's literally three ingredients meat, eggs and cheese. Not rocket science. God this place really makes you question how the heck they are still open. Incompetence at its finest.

Simple but so good. I had the breakfast burrito with steak tips. Pretty much just steak tips with egg/cheese. The steak tips is always good here. So flavorful and we'll cooked as requested.

JUST A HEADS UP IT DOESN'T OPEN UNTIL 6 WEEKDAYS AND 6:30 ON SUN. The entrance is congested with food delivery people. Other than that the food is delicious and filling. The service is top notch! Once they deal with the congestion at the door it will be better. It's hard to get by it to enter the restaurant which takes away from the atmosphere. But once you get in it's a good experience!

Great service, friendly staff and huge food portions! Nice neighborhood diner. Highly recommend McKenna's!

This place you can only parked on side street and the atmosphere inside is small enough for 6-10 tables the maximum. The food is decent but the price a bit pricey overall.

Presentation WONDERFUL Food Full filling Steak EXCELLENT ! Eggs were okay hash browns mediocre at best My waffles were burnt and was flipped over But once again missing items in my orders does not make me to fond of big name places. Ordered and paid extra for a bagel(1.00) & Raisin (.50) that was never in my order. You guys gave me an English muffin. Not happy about that "The price of breakfast"

The BEST breakfast spot I have found. Starting with efficient and helpful staff who know the regulars by name. The coffee is really good diner coffee along with many requests for top off. My first two visits I ordered the steak tip burrito. Wow, eggs cheese and a ton of marinated steak tips. They were so good. Rarely do I try to eat a whole breakfast, even as big as it was, they disappeared. Their omelettes are huge and generously filled. My daughter loved her pancakes. I need to work the lunch menu (was told chicken parm is amazing) next. This place is so worth a few visits!!!

The word Amazing is what comes to mind as it relates to the food at McKenna's. I was home for the holiday and my Bestfriend has been talking about this restaurant for the past 2 years. The morning I was flying back home we decided to make time to stop in before I headed to the airport. Upon walking in the staff was very friendly and pleasant we were able to be seated immediately and the waitress was at our table to get our drink order. The menu is full of options. I mean true OPTIONS. There is something for everyone. I decided on Bacon, and Home Fries. The Bacon was cooked to perfection. A true cut of quality meat made to sizzle perfection. The home fries, oh me oh my. The home fries literally melt in your mouth. Soft in the middle with the crunch I requested on the outside. The best part about it is that they came seasoned. I didn't have to add any extra and that put a big smile on my face. The establishment has a good "home" feel and has the device and quality to match it. If you're in the mood for some great food made with care, and quality ingredients, you MUST stop in. Environment- Inviting, Casual Food- 10/10 Service- 10/10

Had about 3 slices of sausage that I found. Couldn't eat this, it tasted like burnt butter and cardboard. Do not suggest!

Service at this place sucks...we waited an hour to seated of a party of 4... several other groups after me was seated and also with a party of 4... as I approached the server to ask her why that is... she respond with an attitude and said "don't worry I'll have someone seat you" I've been want to go to this cafe for a while and the first time I actually go, this service experience will make me never go there again... Other than thee BAD SERVICE... the food was actually good... thank you to the cook 08/10/23 We got the -savin hill scrambler- early bird special- steak tips &egg- and -little leaguer.... Because of the person I am I even added additional tip even tho SHE didn't deserve it!!! Take this into consideration from someone that works in costumer service... FIRST EXPERIENCE IS KEY... YOU WILL EITHER HAVE A REGULAR COSTUMER OR FRUSTRATED ONE TIMER .... And it's all because of YOUR SERVICE!!

Steak and eggs better than any place I've been in a while, the steak was cooked to perfection and the flavor was perfect not to much of any spices just enough for good tasting

A local place with old fashioned Irish bacon, beans and pudding. It's also a small local diner with a hometown feel. Not many places offer the US Irish version of beans and bacon. This is a treasure for those that want a taste of the old days. Interesting is that there were other ethnic types of eggs such as Mexican huevos rancheros, which was tangy and delish. I definitely recommend.

This place is clearly a local favorite! The staff was extremely friendly. Coffee was decent. Breakfast was great! Loved the spicy chicken omlette!

It had good reviews so I popped in for a quick brunch on President's Day! It was PACKED. I sat at the bar and ordered coffee and a muffin. It was DELISH. The cranberry muffin was toasted and buttered and the coffee was hot and fresh x This place definitely has diner vibes. The menu is actually quite expansive and has a few traditional Irish dishes you wouldn't get in many spots like black and Irish pudding which you can also add to combos and sandwiches! They also offer Turkey bacon - which you don't often see- and choices of bread and cheese. This is a solid diner. Homey food, tight space, but decent menu selections. I'd definitely go back and the coffee is FABULOUS.

If we could give this place a zero-star review, we certainly would. As restaurant owners ourselves, we rarely leave negative reviews because we understand the challenges of running a restaurant in the US. However, our recent experience left us incredibly frustrated. We waited for 15 minutes despite several empty tables being available. When it was finally our turn, as the first group on the waiting list, three young girls walked in, and the waitress seated them without taking their names. She then proceeded to call out names on the list, completely overlooking us. It felt like we were invisible to her. If she were our employee, she would have been terminated immediately. This isn't the first time we've had such an experience, but it will be the last. We can no longer support this local business.

The best for breakfast! Quick and delish. An easy choice with lots of options from decadent to healthy.

I haven't been eating out much these days given COVID however, I've been making a conscious effort to support local and growing businesses. McKenna's is one I've been meaning to try as they usually have a long line / wait time during non-pandemic times. The service was great, super attentive personnel and a friendly waitress. I had the eggs Benedict but substituted the bacon for Turkey sausage. It was tasty and warm. The eggs and sausage came with crispy home fries and baked beans. The beans were classic Boston beans therefore very sweet and soft.

It's way too overpriced. The wait was so long for take out, i waited for more than an hour for my takeout food, which is understandable because it was very busy on a weekend morning. However, I ordered a stack of french toast and it come with 3 pieces costing me more than $18. I bought it anyway because they charged for "real maple syrup" and I also got strawberries with it. However, when i received my food, it only has 3 french toast with no strawberries and the "real maple syrup" taste like regular syrup. I also found out that they charged 10% take out fee later on which I have never seen before at a restaurant. $18 is a ridiculous price for three pieces of french toast.

sooo good come here every time i'm in the area the fruit crepes slap and the huevos rancheros is good too. come here seriously also good coffee

Omg omg the BESTTT breakfast. I love the hashbrowns, pancakes, Irish food, etc. the ambiance is that of a cozy cafe. The service is quick and efficient.

1 star for the horrible customer service. They seem not to answer their phones regardless of the time! My fiancée & I decided to place an order from Uber eats & a BIG mistake was made. she ordered a chicken Caesar wrap but who ever received the order decided to add "No meat" so we ended up with a wheat wrap with lettuce & dressing... who's going to eat that? So we called no answer, next day still no answer. We probably had a record breaking 50 attempts!! We are obviously calling because of this mistake but seems like they could careless.. we won't be ordering here again... let alone the fries that we ordered was beyond soggy!! (617) 825-8218 someone let me know if they got through.

They don't answer the phone and the old lady at the front is rude. You would think she be nicer

They stay on point, polite person took my order over the phone, even though it was long with patience. I appreciate that and everything was in order.

I have been going to McKenna's for five years now. I was absolutely blown away by how down hill it's gone. During covid they started doing Uber eats and all of the other services which I totally understand being a crazy time to depend on diners coming in. But now when people are back in restaurants...the focus of the business is solely on these delivery services. I watched the kitchen crank out food and at least 70% of it was put in to go boxes. Once I sat down I listened to every table comment on how long they've been waiting and how they also saw all the food being picked up by Uber eats drivers. The staff seemed so burnt out and defeated. I can't imagine tips being good when you're putting take out as a priority over dining customers. I truly hope that management dials the take out back and puts the focus back on what made this place great ...DINING IN.

Edit to respond below: first thanks for the birthday wish. Second: a medium is 3.50 because the cashier rang up 3.50. When he went to pay w a card the total came out to be $5. Not sure how tax is calculated but let's just say at 4.01 he should not have been charged $5 pre tip. For the record when I go I always tip from my own free will... not already included in my charge. To add in December when I got my coffee it was 3.50 pre tip. Happy to tip when the price is accurate. ----- So it's my birthday and I asked my husband to get me ice coffee from there (don't often go there anymore so I figured why not). He was charged $5 for a medium. He also used a credit card. If they overcharged him bc he used a credit card then that's theft and illegal. I don't know how a local establishments can cheat people like that. Absolute shame.

IM OBSESSED WITH THIS LOCATION. i thank google for the recommendation, i was in town and had to come here TWICE. the french vanilla ice coffee and the steak & eggs are MY GO TO! the food comes so fast and it's so fresh. I love how the employees are really attentive when it comes to your needs/ want. this is my favorite spot everytime i'm in town now!

Another trip to McKennas, another upcharge for an item that is included per the menu. Some might call this dishonest or deceitful, but realistically it's incompetence.

A nice neighborhood breakfast and lunch restaurant. Small inside so there is usually a short wait for a table. Many people call in orders and pick up or have delivered. We waited for a table for breakfast. The menu is large for breakfast. We had French toast with a side of corn-beef hash and I had the daily special of sweet potato pancakes with fried apple compote and syrup. I tasted the French toast and it was good. The pancakes were delicious. The OJ is fresh and the coffee is good. Prices are very reasonable and service is friendly and quick. An enjoyable meal.

This is a great place for homey energy and great staff. The food is generous and made me feel at home!

It was a fine diner close to home. Nothing extraordinary. Got a cheeseburger club which was pretty good and a steak quesadilla which was not as good. All and all don't run here but if you end up here it's good.

I placed an order through Postmates. The delivery time kept changing, ending up in the delivery being picked up for delivery, very late. In fact, it was over an hour late. I assumed since the order was late going out. My food would at least be warm. It was barely lukewarm at best. This is so unlike McKenna's. Dissapointing. To be fair, the pumpkin pancakes and sausage patties would have been fine if they weren't lukewarm.

This place is the worst place customer service I LITERALLY CALLEDD THIS PLCE ten times in a rom they let it ring till the last ring , they don't answer the phone ATTTT ALLLLLLLLLLL this isn't the only time they done this but then if you pop up there it's LIEK nothings going on I guess they only services those who go in person ! They don't answer the damnnn fucking phone and I'm calling about my ordered but their funbasszzz sitting right by the phone ignoring it wtf is wrong with themmm !!!! I'm so confused

McKennas is a neighborhood staple. I have been to this place maybe 30 times and every time it is packed, and I mean people waiting outside in a blizzard we don't care if it's cold WE WAITING packed! The food is always pretty good but the service no matter how packed it is is always great. It's funny because depending on the season there will be a completely different staff but they still keep everyone on the same page. Ok ok ok, the food, the chicken and waffles is pretty good but obviously not the same if you have them delivered (soggy party). One of my favorite dishes is the benny, I've had the crab cake which is always good but I take it with scrambled eggs (try it just once, so good). I had lunch a few times, burger which was pretty decent, fish and chips not bad, but probably the best thing I ever had here is the crunchy French toast, it's so good but huge, I can just finish one (lightweight I know)

The past two times I have ordered the pancakes, the order isn't correct and theyve tasted very sour. I don't know why. It's very disappointing because this was my family's favorite place to order breakfast. Can enybody explain the sour taste to the pancakes?

Good food in big portions highly recommend Thursday and Friday open late good atmosphere nice people

Do not go here!!! Food took over an hour- ONE chicken Caesar salad wrap. Staff could have cared less.

The owner has menus with lower prices than I was charged. When I complained about the overcharge, he said: it's only $9.89. That is nothing. That is practically free." When I said I would post a review about this insulting behavior, he said, "look at that line. Do you think I need your business?" My guess is that advertising incorrect prices is unlawful in Massachusetts . I am so insulted, i plan to investigate.

Great food and great service every time I go there. A local neighborhood restaurant that is full of energy and always has something going on when you arrive for a delicious meal. Definitely recommend this place to all my friends and family.

The long wait time almost turned me away, but luckily my friend convinced me to stay and I'm glad we did! The waiting area is tiny, but we came on the morning of the first Boston snow so luckily we were able to wait inside (presumably because everyone was at home trying to stay warm). Make sure you make your way to the front to you write down your name on the legal pad along with how many are in your party. We waited about twenty minutes for our table. If you have a party of two, you are much more likely to be seated quickly than larger parties. A party of eight near us said they had been waiting for almost an hour in the small restaurant! They have a to-go counter for you to order at if that's all you need, which is a much shorter wait time. I ordered a bowl of chicken and rice soup, which comes with the MOST DELICIOUS toasted French bread I think I've had. It's pressed flat and isn't great to look at, but it was so flavorful...especially when dipped in the soup! The soup itself was fine, lightly flavored but much more exciting with a bit of hot sauce. My friend ordered the crab cakes Benedict which came with home fries and baked beans. She really enjoyed them and said the beans were a nice touch! The downsides were the wait to sit, the wait to get our food, and that we asked for small coffees and were given/charged for mediums.

I was hesitant to write a review after seeing the responses by the business owner. However it has just gone too far. You should never respond to Yelp reviews or any customer with aggression. Customers should not have to "stop ordering online and for delivery" in order for your kitchen to be under control. It sounds ridiculous to tell people to stop ordering online. You are a business and online orders are a huge chunk of that business. Instead try to utilize Toast. You can change the wait times on online takeout orders and well as delivery apps. This would alleviate the stress on your kitchen and in turn would reduce the amount of unhappy customers/bad reviews. I've ordered takeout 3 times recently and each time it says the wait time is 15 minutes and when I arrive I still have to wait 30-40 minutes for a breakfast sandwich to be ready. The final straw for me was a few weeks ago when I came in for breakfast early on a Saturday morning and there was an 18% gratuity added to my check. Added gratuity to a larger party is standard but a party of 2 at 8am? Why? If you're servers are being stiffed to the point where you need to "add gratuity at a manager's discretion", you should be looking into the servers and not your customers.

I decided to come to McKennas and was very disappointed. The iced coffee with cream and sugar was way too sweet and wasn't mixed at all. The burger was flavorless and over cooked. The home fries were salty yet lacked flavor and depth. The service was excellent though and I really liked my waiter, just wished the food was better.

This is a great spot for brunch! I always get their eggs benefit(this time I got the salmon one) with sweet potato fries. Their sweet potato fries are to die for! They are so crispy and the perfect thickness as well! We also got the steak tips and eggs, the steak was tender and well seasoned, and also waffles with strawberries. I always come back just for the sweet potato fries they have a wide variety of breakfast dishes to pick from and they are decently priced! It's definitely worth a try!