Great service, friendly, comfortable bar that was very relaxing to catch up with friends in. Very comfortable booths, great aesthetics that remind me of the show Cheers.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Jasmeane Perez
Only a 2/5 stars
I’ve been coming here for years, after many burger places I can’t beat Kay’s having the best burgers in the Portland, with a comfortable vintage energy.
After tonight though, I don’t know who was the woman working around 5:00 PM on a Tuesday. She gave borderline abusive behavior and energy. She literally slammed down plates and drinks without saying anything, and even aggressively wiped our table after spilling a drink she had served us.
It was extremely uncomfortable and hostile. I’ve never felt treated this way at a restaurant before tonight.
Food was amazing, but waitress made it scary.
Weird thing is, the fries that were first given to us were extremely cold. Though, after requesting for another set of fries- these fries managed to stay warm even after finishing our burgers. Strange? Were these fries sitting behind the counter, for 30 minutes, before we sat down? Again, for years, we have had many burgers and fries here…
11/19/2025 In response to the owner: For anyone who wants the full context behind my experience and my complete response, I’ve shared everything on Yelp.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Paul Lewis
This is a great little bar. Had a couple of beers to see a friend off. He ordered food, insisted we have some of the fries. Absolutely delicious. Good service, nice laid back vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ian Michael
Kay’s Bar in Sellwood is one of those places that just gets it right every time. The food? Always on point. The drinks? Strong enough to make you forget what day it is. The energy? Effortlessly cool without trying too hard.
Krissi was the first reason I stopped in—she’s pure charisma with a side of sarcasm, the kind of bartender who remembers your name and your drink. Now I’m officially addicted to the food, the banter, and the laid-back chaos that makes Kay’s feel like home.
It’s not just a bar—it’s a mood, a comfort zone, and a guaranteed good time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mary Shakespeare
I am disappointed to be writing this, since the food and drinks are quite good, but after multiple instances of being treated so horribly, I felt these experiences had to be acknowledged. My first time coming to kay’s, I met two of my friends who prefaced our outing by saying, “the happy hour food is really cheap, but be careful because the servers are easily irritated.” I couldn’t have anticipated how true that statement would be. Apart from the general lack of respect that my friends and I are treated with almost every time we frequent the bar, there have been several interactions that were just outright rude and uncalled for.
On one occasion, my friends and I came with a friend from another country who had only brought their driver’s license. When we were asked for our IDs, they presented their license and were met with a blunt “We can’t accept this.” They then looked in their wallet for any other form of identification, very flustered and confused, as they had never been to America and did not realize they would need to show their passport. We then asked if a picture would suffice, and the server said “No, you guys need to leave.” Fine, I can understand that this is a bar policy and that it could get the bar in trouble, but we were all very clearly not trying to cause any trouble and just wanted to resolve the matter without having to drive all the way home. Nonetheless, we drove home and got the passport. When we returned, our spot outside had been taken, and there was only a smaller table open. We moved to that table, and I pulled up an extra chair. The waiter then said “You need to go put that back now! That is not our chair!” in a very blunt manner. When I apologized for the misunderstanding, she walked off.
Another time we were yelled at for having someone in our party whose ID was expired. Which, again, I understand makes the bar liable, but the utter disrespect and tone was shocking and hurtful. Another time, when I asked if there was outdoor seating when the bar was full, the server said “We are CLEARLY closed outside.” I’ve also been reprimanded for going inside to order a drink when I was seated outside.
Every time I come to Kay’s I feel infantilized and as if I’ve done something extremely wrong. I understand someone having an off day, but this seems to be a problem with the whole establishment, as it has happened with different servers on many occasions. This repeated pattern is also evident in the way the owner responds to negative reviews. I don’t think I can support a business who calls their patrons “idiots,” “ignorant, knuckle-dragging imbeciles,” “ignorant, selfish members of the public,” and who finds it “enjoyable” to cuss at customers and tell them to “start taking their meds again.” I cannot understand why the employees are filled with so much anger, especially towards people who are giving them money and trying to have fun with their friends.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
Gretchen Collins
I came here to meet my friends for drinks on the Saturday of Halloween weekend. I was only in town to see my friend for the weekend so I didn't have any other experiences previously. But the minute I came in to meet my friends they informed me that the staff was being unnecessarily hostile and condescending. I could tell form the 20 minutes I was there that that seemed to be the case. I went up to the bar with my friend and tried to order food and they seemed extremely put out that we even asked. I wasn't there long but it just seemed like the waitress and the bartender were waiting for a fight meeting every question with sharp rude remarks. Apparently my friends were greeted by saying they could either stand in a corner (not at the bar which was not full) or they could leave after simply asking for a table. On multiple other occasions they came by the establishment and were met with extremely unnecessary aggression. They kept coming back for good cheap bar food hoping that maybe the instances before were flukes but nothing seems to be changing. It seems from the other reviews that they have a pattern of discriminating against younger women at their bar and this time was not the exception. I would not recommend coming if you are a pretty young women trying to exist without getting continuously tormented by the bitter staff. I am the last person who thinks you need to plaster a smile on your face all night to provide good service but this is just ridiculous. There is no reason to belittle the people simply trying to give you patronage. Very disappointing.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Lilly Borrud
I’ve tried giving this place multiple chances, but each visit has been disappointing. The atmosphere is unwelcoming, and the staff are consistently unfriendly - at times even hostile. On one occasion, I met friends for happy hour outside, and when the staff noticed that one of my friend’s IDs had expired by a month, the waiter told us we had to leave or they would call the police. We apologized and got up to go, but while we were waiting outside for the rest of our group to finish, the same waiter came back three separate times within the ten minutes we were there, repeatedly telling us to move away from the bar or they would call the cops. The whole interaction was unnecessarily aggressive and uncomfortable. There’s no sense of hospitality or respect for customers here. Even though the drinks and snacks are inexpensive, the rude and hostile service completely ruins the experience. I don’t plan on returning - Kay’s has continued to disappoint and upset me every time.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Donald Wheeling
Wanted to stop for a bite to eat after scaregrounds pdx yesterday. Was greeted by live music, great bartenders, good prices. Would definitely recommend to anyone in the area
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sangdy Lang
Another business I wanted to go had put the wrong closing hours on Google. Kay’s the night for my bar/restaurant fries craving. Herb garlic mayo is delish! I need that in a sauce bottle for my fridge.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Abigail Indorf
If you like Tex mex GET THE NACHOS AND THE BURGER, you won’t regret it. The chips are made in house and I friggin love them! Also, had a great experience with an hilarious server Darbie, so hope you get dinner and show with her!
Cheap as all hell with great hours and a killer happy hour menu. The burger is as good as you could expect for a $5 (thats right, $5) burger and the atmosphere is cozy. The best of its kind in Portland.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Robin Davis
Kay's is the best! Always the most amazing service and the food is delicious. A must stop anytime I'm in the neighborhood.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mercedes
I was considering going here for my birthday with my friends but reading the reviews, looks like the owner is pretty RUDE, and I would never want to give my business to such a person. I highly recommend learning some customer service skills.
Jackson Witter
burger left heavy metallic taste in my mouth for hours. drinks and service were great, no complaints on that end, would come again, just weird tasting burger. solid spot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
david bussell
One of the best happy hours for food in Portland...service was very good.
Great service, friendly, comfortable bar that was very relaxing to catch up with friends in. Very comfortable booths, great aesthetics that remind me of the show Cheers.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Only a 2/5 stars
I’ve been coming here for years, after many burger places I can’t beat Kay’s having the best burgers in the Portland, with a comfortable vintage energy.
After tonight though, I don’t know
who was the woman working around 5:00 PM on a Tuesday. She gave borderline abusive behavior and energy. She literally slammed down plates and drinks without saying anything, and even aggressively wiped our table after spilling a drink she had served us.
It was extremely uncomfortable and hostile. I’ve never felt treated this way at a restaurant before tonight.
Food was amazing, but waitress made it scary.
Weird thing is, the fries that were first given to us were extremely cold. Though, after requesting for another set of fries- these fries managed to stay warm even after finishing our burgers. Strange? Were these fries sitting behind the counter, for 30 minutes, before we sat down? Again, for years, we have had many burgers and fries here…
11/19/2025
In response to the owner:
For anyone who wants the full context behind my experience and my complete response, I’ve shared everything on Yelp.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
This is a great little bar. Had a couple of beers to see a friend off. He ordered food, insisted we have some of the fries. Absolutely delicious. Good service, nice laid back vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kay’s Bar in Sellwood is one of those places that just gets it right every time. The food? Always on point. The drinks? Strong enough to make you forget what day it is. The energy? Effortlessly cool without trying too hard.
Krissi was the first reason I stopped in—she’s pure charisma with a side of sarcasm, the kind of bartender who remembers your name and your drink. Now I’m officially addicted to the food, the banter, and the laid-back chaos that makes Kay’s feel like home.
It’s not just a bar—it’s a mood, a comfort zone, and a guaranteed good time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I am disappointed to be writing this, since the food and drinks are quite good, but after multiple instances of being treated so horribly, I felt these experiences had to be acknowledged. My first time coming to kay’s, I met two of my friends who prefaced our outing by saying, “the happy hour food is really cheap, but be careful because the servers are easily irritated.” I couldn’t have anticipated how true that statement would be. Apart from the general lack of respect that my friends and I are treated with almost every time we frequent the bar, there have been several interactions that were just outright rude and uncalled for.
On one occasion, my friends and I came with a friend from another country who had only brought their driver’s license. When we were asked for our IDs, they presented their license and were met with a blunt “We can’t accept this.” They then looked in their wallet for any other form of identification, very flustered and confused, as they had never been to America and did not realize they would need to show their passport. We then asked if a picture would suffice, and the server said “No, you guys need to leave.” Fine, I can understand that this is a bar policy and that it could get the bar in trouble, but we were all very clearly not trying to cause any trouble and just wanted to resolve the matter without having to drive all the way home. Nonetheless, we drove home and got the passport. When we returned, our spot outside had been taken, and there was only a smaller table open. We moved to that table, and I pulled up an extra chair. The waiter then said “You need to go put that back now! That is not our chair!” in a very blunt manner. When I apologized for the misunderstanding, she walked off.
Another time we were yelled at for having someone in our party whose ID was expired. Which, again, I understand makes the bar liable, but the utter disrespect and tone was shocking and hurtful. Another time, when I asked if there was outdoor seating when the bar was full, the server said “We are CLEARLY closed outside.” I’ve also been reprimanded for going inside to order a drink when I was seated outside.
Every time I come to Kay’s I feel infantilized and as if I’ve done something extremely wrong. I understand someone having an off day, but this seems to be a problem with the whole establishment, as it has happened with different servers on many occasions. This repeated pattern is also evident in the way the owner responds to negative reviews. I don’t think I can support a business who calls their patrons “idiots,” “ignorant, knuckle-dragging imbeciles,” “ignorant, selfish members of the public,” and who finds it “enjoyable” to cuss at customers and tell them to “start taking their meds again.” I cannot understand why the employees are filled with so much anger, especially towards people who are giving them money and trying to have fun with their friends.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
I came here to meet my friends for drinks on the Saturday of Halloween weekend. I was only in town to see my friend for the weekend so I didn't have any other experiences previously. But the minute I came in to meet my friends they informed me that the staff was being unnecessarily hostile and condescending. I could tell form the 20 minutes I was there that that seemed to be the case. I went up to the bar with my friend and tried to order food and they seemed extremely put out that we even asked. I wasn't there long but it just seemed like the waitress and the bartender were waiting for a fight meeting every question with sharp rude remarks. Apparently my friends were greeted by saying they could either stand in a corner (not at the bar which was not full) or they could leave after simply asking for a table. On multiple other occasions they came by the establishment and were met with extremely unnecessary aggression. They kept coming back for good cheap bar food hoping that maybe the instances before were flukes but nothing seems to be changing. It seems from the other reviews that they have a pattern of discriminating against younger women at their bar and this time was not the exception. I would not recommend coming if you are a pretty young women trying to exist without getting continuously tormented by the bitter staff. I am the last person who thinks you need to plaster a smile on your face all night to provide good service but this is just ridiculous. There is no reason to belittle the people simply trying to give you patronage. Very disappointing.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
I’ve tried giving this place multiple chances, but each visit has been disappointing. The atmosphere is unwelcoming, and the staff are consistently unfriendly - at times even hostile. On one occasion, I met friends for happy hour outside, and when the staff noticed that one of my friend’s IDs had expired by a month, the waiter told us we had to leave or they would call the police. We apologized and got up to go, but while we were waiting outside for the rest of our group to finish, the same waiter came back three separate times within the ten minutes we were there, repeatedly telling us to move away from the bar or they would call the cops.
The whole interaction was unnecessarily aggressive and uncomfortable. There’s no sense of hospitality or respect for customers here. Even though the drinks and snacks are inexpensive, the rude and hostile service completely ruins the experience. I don’t plan on returning - Kay’s has continued to disappoint and upset me every time.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Wanted to stop for a bite to eat after scaregrounds pdx yesterday. Was greeted by live music, great bartenders, good prices. Would definitely recommend to anyone in the area
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Another business I wanted to go had put the wrong closing hours on Google. Kay’s the night for my bar/restaurant fries craving. Herb garlic mayo is delish! I need that in a sauce bottle for my fridge.
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you like Tex mex GET THE NACHOS AND THE BURGER, you won’t regret it. The chips are made in house and I friggin love them! Also, had a great experience with an hilarious server Darbie, so hope you get dinner and show with her!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Classic Burger
Restaurantji Recommends
Cheap as all hell with great hours and a killer happy hour menu. The burger is as good as you could expect for a $5 (thats right, $5) burger and the atmosphere is cozy. The best of its kind in Portland.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kay's is the best! Always the most amazing service and the food is delicious. A must stop anytime I'm in the neighborhood.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was considering going here for my birthday with my friends but reading the reviews, looks like the owner is pretty RUDE, and I would never want to give my business to such a person. I highly recommend learning some customer service skills.
burger left heavy metallic taste in my mouth for hours. drinks and service were great, no complaints on that end, would come again, just weird tasting burger. solid spot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
One of the best happy hours for food in Portland...service was very good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
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