Kal's Bar-B-Q

Really wanted to like this place. Came in for breakfast and the owner was pushing the steak and eggs. First of all, it was $35. You read that right. I should have balked but I said why not let me try it. Had eggs over medium and sourdough toast as well. It also comes with hash browns. I ordered the steam medium rare and it was cooked perfectly but it was a very thin steak and there was zero seasoning added -- not a grain of salt or pepper so I had to add that myself and the meat was fine. The eggs were perfect but again no seasoning at all applied. The hash browns were okay-- they were a bit crisp but could have been better. They were too oily though. So maybe I just shouldn't try breakfast here and next time stick to burgers and steak sandwiches.

Had lunch here for the first time in years. We had a Cheeseburger with onion rings that was good. We also had the BBQ chicken sandwich on a french roll. It was good except that the french roll was a lot longer than the chicken, as you can see from the picture. I've never eaten anything on a french roll that didn't cover the length of the roll. You can sit inside or outside.

If you miss a legit Mesquite charcoal grilled burger, this is the place for you! So many places out there with flat top or gas grilled burgers with that bland taste I just got used to. I had forgotten that smoke-infused deliciousness that only comes from real charcoal. With the cities cracking down and wanting electric everything, Kal’s is a breathtaking culinary trip to simpler times that you won’t find in newer places. I got the cheeseburger, medium and fries. All cooked to order. A separate station lets you pick and add the condiments of your choice. It was delicious old-school goodness. Having passed the taste test with flying colors, I’m going to return to try the rib-eye. Highly recommend the burger.

Kal's is great! I love this place. It's a beautiful 1950's time capsule breakfast and lunch diner. They've been here since 1958 and still look as fresh and spotless as if they just opened. Food is excellent and they have all the classics to get me started. A genuine "Mom and Pop" restaurant and a joy to hang out with friends and sip coffee, chat and relax. Outdoor seating too. Support this cool locally owned business.

Kals nearby restaurant to my home in Sunnyvale. Kimmy and I walked over for lunch. I had a burger and kimmy steak. We both loved it. Sat on patio to enjoy at our leisure. Highly recommend. Kimmy gives two paws 🐾 up.

So delicious…No 1 Best steak burger ever👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 so kind service and clean. Fresh materials and rich taste.. so goooooood!!!!! Thanks for best service in SF. Best parking!!!!

Great burger and my husband's ground sirloin was done to his liking. We will definitely be coming back here!

11/23/2024, new owners, grilled on wood charcoal. Added your own condiments. Actual hours different fron street sign.

A shout out to fast disappearing establishments from a different time in Silicon Valley. Used to work in Mathilda about 20 years ago, and this was a joint we would frequent for lunch. This area was not as built out then. Now the place looks like a little oasis in the middle of a shiny new concrete buildings (with empty parking lots - thanks WFH) They still have the vibe from several decades ago - I do t think the interiors have changed in 50 years. It seems like the owners are still an elderly Asian couple. I can't seem to remember them from when I was a regular, but looks like they have had the place for a while. Got the BBQ pork sandwich- and was just as good as I remember. Place is pretty much self serve - and you can load up on the fixins for your sandwich from the counter bar. Ordered the fries and they were perfect. The Cole slaw was mid. Overall a decent lunch. Not the best BBQ, but we are also in Sunnyvale - I will take what I can get. Too bad I don't work in this area much, or I would be stopping by more for a burger or something. I hope they can keep the place going. Would love for some Bay Area history to stay on in this part of the valley.

This place is a hidden gem been here for a long time but you might miss it but if you wan a good steak sandwich or breakfast you must come here still old school but the food is great cmon bye steak breakfast is bombbiggity

Full disclosure, I'm a vegetarian with an egg allergy, so I came here with coworkers who were craving old fashioned burgers, and Kal's apparently delivers on that well. For the plant-based folks, Kal's "Garden Burger" on the menu is actually an Impossible patty (or at least was when I went). They grill it on the same grill as everything else, so if cross-contamination is a big deal for you, you're SOL here, but the nice thing is that they don't add anything else to the burger--you do that yourself to the right of the register & pick-up area for lettuce/toppings and then behind you for ketchup and mustard (press ALL the way down on those pumps), next to what probably used to be a salad bar (but is now not used). No accidental mayo-drowned burger here! If you want cheese, you add it when you order and I believe they'll apply it at the grill. It's a pretty straightforward burger, and I suspect that is part of the old fashioned charm of their animal meat burgers as well, being unfussy and not complicated with spices/flavorings. The salad is pretty standard, but they didn't have a vinaigrette ready to go--I asked and the lady at the register kindly went into the back and pulled out a bottle of balsamic vinaigrette for me to apply to my salad, and I was grateful since I think all of the dressings they had ready to go in little cups had egg in them (and I'm allergic). Thankfully it has little bits of carrot and red cabbage to brighten it up, because like most BBQ places, the food is aggressively beige & brown, LOL. The fries are a good thickness (not shoestring, but not wedges) and have a good crisp to the outside, but come unsalted. Overall, the sole vegetarian meal option (unless you count a grilled cheese sandwich) is a solid 3-star meal. The place itself is deliberately dated, and has the grill right there by the entrance. There's a TV in the corner with closed captioning. The parking lot is full of large trucks with immaculate truck beds, but the spaces seem wide enough to accommodate them. Vegetarians and vegans pretty much know to expect disrespect when entering a BBQ establishment, but the lady at the register didn't bat an eye when I asked about the garden burger listed on the menu (was asking if it was made with egg) and answered my other questions with no fuss at all. And she went in the back and found the vinaigrette for me when I was worried about the salad dressings, as well! Neither she nor the grill cook rolled eyes or sneered or scoffed at my order. I was treated like a human being in spite of being a vegetarian at a BBQ joint, and for that, they get a WHOLE extra star. Given my dietary restrictions, I don't think I will be back on my own, but knowing what I do now, I would not be opposed to coming back if I am with a group with a hankering for old fashioned burgers and/or BBQ. Kindest BBQ place, for sure!

Four stars for the burger only because I forgot to ask for it to be cooked a little rare. No stars for the onion rings. Couldn't eat them. They were petrified. Dried out and old. Been going here for almost 40 years. May stop.

The steak sandwich is fantastic, and my kids love the burgers. The owners are incredibly friendly. I was introduced to Kal's in 1999 when a group of co-workers took me there for lunch, and it remains a favorite, even though we moved away from Sunnyvale years ago.

This is my second visit here, after years of driving by when I worked nearby; the parking lot was always packed! Now that WFH is so prevalent, I guess, they're not as busy at lunchtime. Last time I got a grilled cheese, which was fantastic - very old school and perfect. Nowadays places are often trying to "improve" a classic by making it three-cheese, four-cheese, five-cheese, and while those can be good, they're not necessarily "better." What I got was exactly what I wanted and very reasonably priced. This time I wanted some steak and went for the ribeye steak sandwich. It, too, was classic, simple and perfect. The steak was so tender I was able to cut it in half with a butter knife! All the condiments and fixings are separate, serve-yourself, so I didn't have to spend time peeling off things I don't like, such as raw onion or limp lettuce. The inside is all wood and rustic decor, but it's clean and comfortable, and the staff (owners, I believe) are very friendly and helpful. There was a miscommunication between me and the cashier but they didn't fuss and just made it right, which I appreciated. I should have asked for a receipt and I would have seen the error before having food in front of me and wanting to dive in! Definitely becoming a go-to spot for me when I'm in the area and wanting comfort food!

I really wanted to like this place. I heard good things... and I tried it before and it was "ok." My ex brought me a sandwich from here a year or so ago and it was pretty good. Simple, plain, but a good slab of meat. Flavor was decent and the portion was wonderful. I came back with my work group about a week or so ago and left just so disappointed. While the service was great-- they were friendly and quick.... The food itself just didn't hold up its own side of the bargain. I spent $25 on a small, flavorless and chewy pulled pork sandwich with a child-sized side of potato salad and a drink. I left still hungry, and a bit confused about what I had just eaten. Ill put it this way... BBQ is supposed to have flavor. Zest. Maybe some heat. (All on its own). But this is so far from that. If you want flavor you have to add BBQ sauce-- which at this establishment is nothing more than Heinz. Such a bummer.

The only place left to get a real steak sandwich! Fantastic! Very friendly staff and places to sit inside. Substantial menu with all the condiments as well. I've been going here for 50 years but I heard there are new owners now. It's a great place with great food!

Great country style breakfast, friendly staff and very clean restaurant to dine with good prices

The food is great and the service is usually pleasant. However, one time, the owner rudely flashed the lights on and off to encourage us to leave because we were wasting electricity. If they don't want to stay open they should set their closing hours earlier!

2/16/2023 Kal's Barbecue 425 N Mathilda Ave Sunnyvale, CA 94085 The Wifey and I went here for lunch on a Thursday. There is parking around the building. It's a clean diner setup, the menu is on the billboard, you order and pay at the front counter and I was called to pick up our order at the front counter. There is a well stocked condiment station with tomato, onion, various pickles and etc. My Fish Sandwich consisted of two breaded fish fillets (frozen) which I topped with tomato and onion slices. I expected a fresh filet, battered and freshly deep fried; so it was disappointing and I wouldn't order again. Her steak sandwich was pretty good with a strong smoky charcoal flavor. The steak was on the thin side with lots of Rib Eye fat, which I like. Although my fish sandwich was just okay, I liked the steak sandwich (pricey) and there are other barbecue offerings I'd like to try so it's repeatable.

It's a stand alone building with it's own parking behind the building. We were there for breakfast on a weekday morning. Quickly got a table of our choice as they were not busy. Service was old school and by that, i meant great and personal. The owner Dave gave best service with refilling our coffee every 10 minutes!! That's an exaggeration but we got attention if needed! Over easy eggs were done perfectly. Price was reasonable and service great. Had one TV in a far corner which was nice as you are able to talk with your friend/group versus watching the TV and yelling over the TV! Country decor probably needs some uplifting but it's more like an old-fashion diner. Will want to go back to try their mesquite BBQ for brunch! Overall, a good experience and will want to go back!

The closest thing you're going to find to a legit hamburger place in this whole town!

Steak sandwich. Didn't expect it but it was shockingly good. Something about the mix of chunks of fat in a chewy steak on a hot buttered toasted bun. Add the onions, lettuce and tomato condiments. Creates a hot and cool texture on the sw. Steak is barbecued on a wood fired grill. Can taste the smoke. So good. Little expensive. About 25$ depending on tip. The fat and meat blend well together. I tried making these at home; not even close. This is the last restaurant from the 60s. Different era. Mostly steak and potatoes back then if you had the money. Everybody had more than 2 kids, no processed food and people were skinny. They still have the original style of furniture. Big picnic table is table style. Benches built out of 2x6 for big raucous families. Build it from solid big wood pieces so the kids can't wear it down. The old guy/owner died 1.20. His family or relatives still own and run it. Longhorn and Clarkes are gone. Better than a burger. Something about the chew. Better than the brisket bbq places. No sweet sauce on the sw. Even though this is a restaurant depot steak. All the bbq places if you don't want a hotdog or pork or chicken are 30$ for a meal now. Wifi,.. can work there. Low volume;covid safe.

Service was super great! Family owned business and they were super sweet. I hear they are known for their breakfast and would recommend trying that!

Extremely disappointed. Fryer is broken. Only sweet coleslaw or potato salad with burger. The meat was chewy and tasted old. It looked kind of grey. The condiments are left out- a bowl of mayo on top of ice. They ran out of barbecue pulled pork they were smoking outside. So I opted for the baseline burger, but then the fryer is broken so no fries. The one slice of American cheese coagulated on the corner of the bun. Chairs are old and torn. The place looks tired. The steak sandwich had so much fat it was inedible.

It looked like the kind of place to serve a hickory smoked burger! Unfortunately it is a greasy spoon style burger. Poor quality beef with no flavor, just grease. It's pretty sad that the menu consists mostly of burgers, and they are garbage. It as so bad I couldn't finish the burger.

Nothing 'foodie' or 'chefie' about it. Order at the counter and wait bit. Pick up your food. Sit. Eat. That's what I did for this visit and rare follow-up review. This time by passing the burgers and getting something that I have wanted to do for a long time. Kal's Steak and Eggs For about thirty and some change you get a plate of lightly buttered toast, unremarkable hash brown potatoes and eggs cooked to order. Sunny side up of course and rib eye grilled medium. Mine wasn't of the choicest cuts almost resembling a chuck steak but still good. Not much has changed since my last visit except for the plexiglass at the counter and the condiment bar residing in the same space between the register and the fountain. The coffee pots looked inviting but skipped that since I already caffienated earlier that morning. The trolley that use to have the condiments sits abandoned save for the ketchup and mustard stand right next to it. And yes you can get your slices of tomato and some peppers to go along with your steak and eggs. So just a nice late breakfast/lunch on a lazy weekend.

Quite disappointing with the food. Medium burger and fries looked like a kids happy meal. Nothing unique or special about it. Fries are just frozen and fried. Burger just had the buns, cheese, patty and lettuce and pickles in the side :/ not coming back. I've been passing by here for many years and finally came but wouldn't recommend. My husband loves to bbq and try new places. He gave this a rhumbs down

Used to eat here a few times a month in 1990-1994. They had the best steak sandwich. Glad to see it is still in business. Gotta get back there soon.

For 28 dollars I could certainly cook my own steak and fries with a roll. Basic. Simple. Plain. Hardly what you think of when dining at a "B-B-Q" joint. Although at first glance driving by you'd think it would be what to expect. Charbroil is advertised but 90% sure my steak was cooked on a stovetop grill. Environment of a BBQ style restaurant but fell very short on delivery to expectation. Friendly people, hurts to leave this review.

Wonderful owners so pleasant and accommodating. The food here is delicious all charcoal grilled very good quality food. The dinning room is so very clean And the atmosphere is perfect. Thank you for having such amazing establishment Stacey

Delicious burgers ! Loved that you can put your own lettuce and tomatoes and things . They have a family friendly spot and the service was nice .

The friendliness of the owner is so special, always makes us feel so welcomed when we come. Love their breakfast menu. Service is very fast. The restaurant is decorated nicely and clean. Thank you thank you for your warm welcome

Delicious steak and eggs and fluffy pancakes. Kind staff, wonderful space, yummy food.

The nicest people and the most delicious food. I really love this traditional steak house. You can't find many places like this anywhere. My grandparents and wife enjoyed a delicious breakfast here.

Indoor seating is back. It was a pleasure to eat inside. The staff were warm and friendly. The food was delicious. I highly recommend.

Even though they're a little expensive, their food is great! I not only like their Steak Sandwichs but I also love their breakfast.

This is a dive with pretty good food. Run down but not dirty. Has a big menu. Would be best for breakfast. Ribs were a little tough. I would NOT call this a bbq place.

Hi, Honestly had not been in bout 4-5 years, Covid n all, but the steak sandwich used to be the bomb great, had today and will not go back the steak was almost inedible, I had a huge mound of un-eatable fat/gristle on my plate that way outweighed the eatable part of the steak. I know that getting thru Covid has been hard for lots of little mom n pop places, but this was so dis-appointing, cuz it used to be sooooooo good. Sorry for the bad review but just could not leave a good one....Moe

We had lunch here after 5 years break... New ownership and I must say - friendliness makes a difference! Very very nice new owners and we ARE coming back even so it's a long way from Burlingame where we live! My husband had pork sandwich and I had beef. Both good! They have a big TV, fireplace and Christmas tree. Hoping they will add the brisket to the Menu! :)

Good steak sandwich however at $ 16.00 I don't think I'll eat one again and the fries are very good but th people preparing the fries add too much " Salt " lastly when people say it pricey but worth it Good Burger's and Steak sandwich doesn't have to be " Expensive "

Good food but way to pricey. Wish there was more deals or lil lower on prices Lil dry with the food

I would order this again! I selected the ribeye steak medium rare. It was cooked perfectly. It was served on a bun. I added a few items lettuce, mayo, jalapeños onions. The meat was tender!

After passing this place for years I finally stopped in for lunch. First thing to know is that it's more of a burger place than BBQ place. Service was fine. Burger was tasty, nothing special. Seemed like a frozen patty that the guy grilled up for me. Fries also seemed to come from a bag, they weren't very tasty. Overall it was ok, but it wasn't worth the $16 they charged for the burger and fries (not even a drink). I would skip it.

Great place to get a steak sandwich. It's massive! Essentially they just give you a giant steak and bread, and then you can go add your condiments and vegetables yourself. I honestly think this was the best steak sandwich I've ever had. Grilled to perfection right in front of us. I wish I lived closer, I'm sure their breakfast is also amazing and I definitely want to come back and try it.

It's not an authentic BBQ place I really want like the restaurant but they were kinda frugal with the items even sauces not much foot traffic, looks good from the outside but very limited menu ran bye and older Asian couple not worth $20 meal burger fries and drink? capitalizing on American bbq couture not never again!

Don't waste your time OR MONEY! I love BBQ food. By far the worst I've had in the Bay Area. I will not get into all the why's behind my review. Just DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME

Kal's is a must go. Literally one of the best steak sandwiches I've ever had in my life consistently I go there a fair amount and every time the steak sandwich is out of this world. Still run by the family and still friendly and eclectic as ever LOL. If you want a really good steak sandwich this is the spot to go!! The service is always nice too.

The food was horrible. Worst bbq food I've ever had. Super expensive. It was filthy. Not recommend.

Nice old style place, the food was just ok. Way over priced food. A half pound burger is $16 not including fries. Fries are $5 and they only give you a hand full of small bottom of batch fries. Very disappointed, especially since I paid $25 for a combo. Jeez that hurt. I won't be going back. I should have saved myself $18 and went to BK.

With new ownership, this place has improved a lot. The steak sandwich hits the spot and is delicious. The staff is cordial and friendly. It feels like you're at some kind of retreat since you feel right at home when you walk in. Came in a couple weeks back to watch the world cup, and I've been coming back weekly for the steak sandwich. Glad there's something worth eating near Apple. A neighborhood gem worth checking out.

This place is definitely different then it was 10 years ago. First time I came hear was was in the late 90s , the food tasted like it was cooked with charcoal because it was. I think they are using a gas grill now. It's not the same .

I tried their famous steak sandwich that I read so much about, and I really didn't think it was anything special. The size of the steak was large, but not flavorful, just placed in between a plain roll. The condiments that they provide really didn't do much to improve the flavor. The French roll was plain and I felt it could of been better if it was toasted with garlic butter. That would have given it some flavor. The steak was tender but did have some gristle on it, which I expected. I ordered fries on the side and a medium Coke. The whole bill came to $28.00,. I felt that it was a bit pricy for what I had. I would probably not order it again. Had it come with a salad, garlic bread, and fries, it would have been a better meal for the cost, and probably more enjoyable...

This kind of place makes me sad, once an institution and with so much potential to be good. But it's not. My guess is they can still pull off a reasonable breakfast but I came for lunch today and it was pretty much a fail. I came in near closing time but still within opening hours yet the fire was almost dead and most things (e.g., condiments) were put away already. Thinking broad menu and small crowds are a bad combination, I ordered a cheeseburger. After literally fanning the dying embers for a while he cooked it, but it felt more slow-grilled than grilled. It arrived on a cold not particularly fresh bun with a cold unmelted piece of American cheese. I had to ask them to take the condiments back out to get some tomato and onion. They never got me the lettuce I requested. This restaurant feels end-stage terminal to me. If you want a similar experience that a place that's also slowly dying (it's really the genre) but much earlier into the process, I'd go to Clarke's on El Camino about 15 minutes away. Way better food, busier and more crowded and some outdoor seating to boot.

Kal's Bar-B-Q is an institution. The fact that it's been around over 50 years makes it older than most of the office buildings in the area. You could be forgiven if you assume that this place sells southern barbecue. There's an odor of charcoal and the place looks like a squat red barn. What you get instead is meat cooked on a charcoal broiler, what BBQ purists would describe as "grilling". Since it was my first time here, it was recommended I try the steak sandwich. The food was done fast, and I was presented with a thin steak sandwiched roll with a pile of fries on the side. You can add as much or little lettuce, tomato, and other condiments at the condiments bar. As for the taste, it was good! the steak, although thin, was done to a perfect medium, and it was juicy and tender. The roll itself was fresh and soft. Fries were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. As a bonus, the staff is really friendly. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but if you're around the area and craving a decent sandwich/burger, this is a great option.

Tried the steak sandwich. Very bland. Frozen turkey burger. Onion rings are awful. It's not a bbq place at all. There's fruit flies flying around the condiments. Not coming back. Oh and it was pricey for what we order. Don't spend your money here. Ps. The Asian women at the counter knew how shitty the food was and took advantage of our group by trying to sell us on on how good the steak sandwich were. They were looking for a quick profit. This is a location that deserves new ownership with people who cares what they serve.

Best steak sandwich and steak cut fries around. Been coming here for almost 25 years. I don't live/work in the area anymore but whenever I'm around, I make it a point to stop by because they are just that good!

This place is a bit of a let down. The staff was very nice but the burger was lacking. The burger only had beef and cheese, and bread nothing else not even condiments.