I have been here a few times with my biker friends. I love the bar. The crowd is cool. The outdoor patio area is fun. I like the live music & watching people dance. Â The guy in the patio area grills up some pretty good food. Â It's a biker dive bar so it's not clean and the restrooms aren't clean, but I don't care! I love this bar!
Review Source:The kraken is an Cardiff must. Across the street you have some fancy pants restaurants with views and price tags to match so if you want all the kooks and none of the bourgeois and maybe just the sounds of crashing waves... This is your place. It's a beachy dive bar with live music often and the burgers in the back? Serious business and a surprise to non locals. Parking is a bitch, that's just the truth. Beers and picnic tables and Harley's, all along the coast hwy!
Review Source:Made my first trip to the Kraken this past weekend and it exceeded my expectations (granted I did not have the highest expectations to begin with)! Â It's a pretty sweet dive bar on the east side of Highway 101 just across from the beach in Cardiff. Â It's a biker bar, so naturally we rode our bicycles there during a birthday booze cruise. Â It was the last stop, so we chowed down on some BBQ (really great hamburger and tri-tip cooked right in front of you with all the fixings)! Â They also had a live band there which I could have danced to all night long. Â It's a bit of an older crowd, but everybody seemed friendly. Â
P.S. They don't have ginger ale here, but props for having ginger beer! Â
+1 - live music and jukebox
+1 - waterfront location in Cardiff
+1 - awesome, covered back patio with pool tables
+1 - reasonably priced drinks and BBQ
-1 - cash only
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. I'd give them 6 stars if I could. In fact the biggest shame of where I live (NP) is that this place is so out-of-the-way that I'd really be rollin' the DUI dice if I went there all the time.
The obvious good points about this place are: fantastic location... being a bar that has $5 beers and cheapish mixed drinks and is so close to the beach is unbelievable. Decor - complete hole in the wall, but behind the bar is a great-looking and well-maintained tropical fish tank with an octopus in it (THE KRAKEN HIMSELF!!) And finally the layout. Dance floor and stage? Check. Large bar? Check. Large rear "patio" area with pool tables? Yup. About the only thing this place doesn't have is a view.. and you ain't gonna need it while you're here ; ) Finally, the live music is excellent - lots of blues and old school rock groups play here.. and when there isn't a band, the music is very low-key. Finally, might be worth noting - it's cash only, but they have an ATM in the back near the pool tables.
Now, probably the best thing is the atmosphere/people. This seriously has to be one of, if not the most laid-back bar in SD. And almost everyone you meet here has got a serious story to tell.. I've met: Vietnam-era Army Snipers, ex-British SAS, tech startup millionaires, trophy wives, Russian mail-order brides, Alaskan fishing boat crewmen, and recovered heroin addicts here.. not to mention a dozen other types of folks. The bartenders are really nice and chill. And if you don't want to talk to anyone, that's ok too.. this is a relaxing place to just sit and have a drink. The only thing that is a (slight, imo) knock on this bar is that it skews a little older. If I had to guess I'd say the median age is 40ish. So if you're heavily on the prowl, you might wanna skip this spot.
But the bottom line is, if you're rolling by Cardiff and are thirsty for a beer and a really, really pleasant experience.. check this place out!
I also thought this place was super cool. You can roll out across the street and gaze into the ocean. The Kraken always has live music, the atmosphere is fun, the drinks are cheap, what's not to like? One of the times I came here the owner even bought me a drink. If I ever hit the Forbes List I'm buying The Kraken.
Review Source:It is a bit of a hole in the wall bar, near the beach. Â It used to be a biker bar I believe, but if you are looking for some live music they usually have a band there. Â They are a cash only bar, so make sure you have some money with you. Â And parking is limited so may have to search for a parking space along the be
Review Source:Going to the Kraken is a right of passage in San Diego. You simply must go there.
If you do not expect anything fancy then you will not be disappointed. People have asked why they do not have good wine, accept credit cards or have clean bathrooms. The answer is that they just don't. Do they accept credit cards? No. Â
The beautiful location, live music and the patrons somehow create a magical ambiance that is beyond description.
This Place is great I love the live music here the bar is just awesome bouncers, bar tenders and the locals. Total Trippy hippy environment lots of fun and good vibes all around. Don't miss Doug Allen on Monday and Tuesday for the open jam especially if you like blues jams 60-70's classic rock too! Catch him Thursday nights to at Peabodies in Encinitas.
Review Source:Finally braved this place with my guy after a few beach hours and 2 empty stomach's...The  grill food (esp. the tri-tip) was great, the dive bar was perfectly dive, the beers were cheap, and the music was perfect...
And most important, even though we stole one of the pool tables from he regulars 4 or 5 times (to my surprise) they were friendly, cool and fun to hang out with. Will go back again.
The minus 1 star is due to the bathrooms. Even dive bars should have a little better standard for their restrooms.
Otherwise tons of fun with a great view front and back...even saw a paddle boarder paddling by the canal with his white goat on-board!
if you like dive bars, bikers and live music then this place is for you! This place is great for weekend daytime live music and hanging with a fun and entertaining crowd. Â Cruising in here late night would not be my first choice but is it great as a last resort. Â Just keep in mind that last call is at 1:30AM so plan your drinks accordingly.
Review Source:Dive with great nice friendly people. Â Open mic, good music, calendar of events on wall....on Wed. Â Did The Beach House, walked across to The Kraken, left to Belly Up and came back!!! Â To check out more good looking men..LOL.. Big dance floor, open, spacious, cozy and light. Â Good dancing......
Review Source:I get it, it's a dive bar. Â I love dive bars, but the wafting smell of urine adjacent to the fooze ball table is deathly! Â I will give them credit for the location (one of the best views in town) and the stiff drinks! Â Oh, and the hamburger stand on the back patio aint too shabby either. Â Not sure how they really taste, but anything tastes awesome after three drinks (or just one of theirs). Â If you're lookin' to meet the love of your life or the man of your dreams, this aint the place (especially if you're one of the youngins hangin' out here), but if you're lookin' just to have some strong drinks and enjoy the ocean breeze, albeit the aforementioned pee breeze in the back room, this is your place.
Review Source:The Kraken has been there since 1976. Â Besides the photos on the wall, I doubt much changed in all that time. Â The Kraken is fun, live music 7 nights, good drinks, reasonable prices, great accoustics. Â Just an old, fun beach bar. Â Ages seem to be 30's - 60's .. Â Pool tables, Juke Box and a food consession during the weekends. Open Jam with Doug Allen of the Mar Dels every Monday and Tuesday, the Brokers Band every Sunday.
Review Source:Even though it is called The Kraken Bar and Restaurant, I've never eaten here and to be honest, didn't know they had food??
The bar itself would be described as a "dive bar" at best which makes me feel right at home. Â The crowd is mixed but mostly locals and accepting of "outsiders" Â The Kraken offers a couple of pool tables and the times I've been there, I've never had an issue getting a playing slot. Â There is also covered outdoor seating which is nice when things are a little crowded on the inside and you want to catch your breath.
Drinks are pretty inexpensive and they typically are quite liberal with their pours.
The only problem I have with this is the fact that it is cash only as others have suggested. Â That would be the only downside in my opinion.
This place is Kraaaaakkkeeennnnnn. (sorry, had to do it). Gotta love a place that is not only super chill, but open on holidays. I think i came here christmas eve after church. Yep...after church...i said it.
The bands here are pretty chill. I mean, let's get this straight....dont come here if you are looking for class. This is a down right manly man bar. So why do i go?? Cheap drinks and i can dance like an idiot bc i dont really know anyone here.
NOt sure if they have food or anything but i probably wouldnt eat it anyway.
So get yo dancing shoes on, and get ready to dance to some jimmy buffet.
Cheers!
"Release The Kraken !" Hell. No.To this I say... Keep The Kraken ! In Cardiff ! Bikers,1 surfer dude, old biker ladies,1 Mexican dude, more biker dudes, myself and 2 gay guys in spandex chaps (?!)
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYMOqes6zwIk&s=887e97b83af6eb124e30dd4f895392a71ca87449d646f12ea53a61adaa1b81cd" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/w…</a>
I really didnt know what to think. I just kept close to T & A so that the regulars would know that I have back up, just in case something went down. It was strange. The atmosphere was calm yet volatile. Kinda like keeping tabs on Amy Winehouse, you just know that something epic could happen at any given minute.
I was fortunate enough to be here on their 34th anniversary, which meant that it was busier than usual and more importantly, FREE BBQ !! One thing that I'll say about biker dudes, they know their way around a bbq grill. The chicken was great and so was the brisket sandwich. I actually ate two plates, thanks to A Â for getting it for me !
Would I ever come here by myself? Absolutely not. Would I ever bring a group here? No way, unless it was a predominantly white group of friends. Would I come back here with T & A? In a heartbeat. They are regulars and that in itself makes me at ease.
Its in a great location. The only other bar that could compare to this place is Cheswicks, in OB. Very similar. Cash only, its by the beach and also full of tough looking biker dudes.
I cant even begin to comprehend what those two gay dudes in the colorful spandex outfits were doing in this place. They were standing next to me and it was so obvious that they were uncomfortable. They must have lost a bet or something.
Great bar! We were here last Friday night and had a great time! Drinks were yummy and the bartender was very cool, I thought! My hubbie didn't like him so much because he had to wait a little bit to place his order of drinks.
I think I heard Johnny Cash in the background too...by this point I had already walked "the Captain's" plank so I can't tell you if it was a juke box or a live band...geez, what a lush...I know, I know.
There is NO food here. But, there is a great restaurant right across the street that has great nachos.
The plus plus about this bar is that it's not your typical 21 year old frat bar. There was a great mixed crowd ranging in all ages.
Parking is a little tight, but we seemed to park right out front.
I didn't give it 5 stars because of the no food, CASH ONLY, tight parking and hubby said "f that, I had to wait on my drinks."
Moral of the story...don't come between a man and his beer. gosh
MINUS 1 STAR
This place is out of a 1960's  bad dream.
Best dirt bag dive that doubles as an off track betting parlor..
Great if you want to "score" or need a fix near the backroom.
I do not think a penny has been spent on maintenance on this place in 30 years.
Wonder where all that "Cash Only" goes?
Hello.......this is the IRS Calling, can we please speak with the owner ?
Well ... it is a step up, ... for the parolee crowd that frequents this hole.
Do not attempt a bathroom visit.
Much better bars on the same street.
Yikes. Â I wanted to like you, but I just can't pretend. Â Even with 3 of my favorite people, I couldn't handle this place. Â I love dive bars, but this place is frightening. Â After some old man stumbled over and said "you're the best looking couple I've ever seen" and kissed my guy friend's hand, I knew this place was something special. Â I know lots of people love this place, but there are plenty of other dives I would choose over this one. Â I tried to warn the crew the Kraken may be a bad idea. Â Did anyone listen to me? Â Of course not. Â The upside? Â We met our favorite cab driver. Â Thanks Sam. Â We'll call you next time we want to go dive bar hopping.
Review Source:I guess I would call this place a friendly biker bar, that's right I said it. I struck me as being a little bit of a rougher crowed from the outside but that could not be farther from the truth. Everyone was super cool and I can't think of a time that I have not struck up a conversation with some random people at the bar. This is what a dive bar should be like cool bartenders and welcoming patrons. Parking can be limited but I guess if you go on the weekend you can park at the office building next door, you may want to confirm with the bartender. They have live music every night of the week and a gill in back that I think only operates on the weekends or during the season.
Overall this is the type of place you should go on a Saturday afternoon, order a Budweiser and take inventory of how awesome it is to live in So Cal. Â Check this place out.
Hey....we went here...my ex-girlfriend and I...on a Sunday. Â I'll never forget it. Â She found $40 at the ATM machine so that was a good sign. Â When we went to the Kraken..about 6 months ago (I shoulda wrote sooner), we had a blast. Â The people were very nice. Â There was a good band. Â It was warm outside. Â I played pool in the back...had a smoke, and several drinks...she made friends on the dance floor. Â We had a blast. Â We were social and friendly and mostly everyone else was, too.
I haven't been there since but I still recommend it. Â As dive bars go, it tops the list...and if your girlfriend (mine was cool) Â is too snooty or hoity-toity - do NOT bring her here..the bathrooms are kinda gross. Â Even I don't enjoy urinating in a trough.
This is your typical run-of-the-mill dive bar. Â The crowd is slightly older, with what appears to be a bunch of regulars, when I came in with some girlfriends on Friday. Â FYI my girlfriends and I are all late-twenties to mid-thirties working professionals, so when we came in, nearly everyone turned around, we heard catcalls, and several gentlemen offered right off the bat to buy us our drinks. Â Of course we're used to this kind of entrance everywhere we go (hahaha), we took no offense and instead enjoyed our new find for a couple drinks before deciding to go over to Yogi's for an ambiance a little more familiar to us. Â For a dive, it did the trick. Â I would come back here if in the area and in the mood. Â In other words, I'll be back!
Review Source:As a mid 20's young professional, I think I just may not be the target demo for The Kraken. Â I'm not wearing biker leathers, I'm not a 45 year old divorced woman, I'm not a fan of having said bikers drop huge stinkers in the bathroom. Â With a prime location overlooking Cardiff's beach, the place looks like a dive from the outside, not to mention the inside. Â There are always 10 choppers parked outside, and I'd estimate the average age in this place to be 38. Â Which is fine. Â I'm just not 38. Â Maybe I can start counting down the days when I'll be grown up enough to appreciate it. Â Maybe not.
For the time being, better options are found going a short distance either way on 101. Â In fact, I'd probably have a better time downing beer and margaritas at Las Olas virtually next door.
The Kraken fills a niche in San Diego for people who are not 21 but still want to dance and have a great time. Â The dance floor is a nice size and the bands are usually pretty fun. The people watching can be pretty entertaining at times.
The 5th star was lost due to the repulsive state of the bathrooms. Â Always quite stinky and gross. Â
Parking can be a big challenge, plan to get there early or walk a long way. The lot the Kraken offers is microscopic.
Sitting on the back patio wall we glanced down toward the river mouth and there we see it. Loch Ness monster? No. Jaws?? No! Something far worse and way too close for comfort... the top of a mans head just below us. Not a dead man but a Biker laying a stinker right below us. WTF!!! They have toilets here. Seriously! Pants around his ankles and wiping his ass as he raises, closes up shop and walks away. Â Kraken just lost a star. Other than that I had a good time but if this is the type of people or animals they attract, I'm downgrading it.
This after thought added 7/30/08.
After pondering what we had witnessed on that perilous day,
I must re-think the star I took away. (OK brain... is this gonna be a poem?) (Todd this is your brain speaking. Talk to the hand) Â Whatever!!!
I don't know who's in charge here but at the Kraken, after all
I no longer feel it is a reflection on management or the owner if some $hit for brains decides to leave half a mind coiled up behind the patio wall. (Quit that rhyming) (brain again - $hit it's just timing). (Did I take my meds this morning???)
Therefore I give back the star I took away.
If this incident doesn't qualify the Kraken as a dive bar I don't know what would anyway(Crap! You win brain). Â Â Kraken is back up to 4 stars.
I looked up the slang word for dive in the American Heritage dictionary:
Slang; Â A disreputable or run-down bar or nightclub.
A run-down residence.
Underneath were examples. Â I think I will get in touch with AH and leave Kraken Bar & Restaurant as a Top 10 dive.
Danced, played pool, drank beer...what more can I say
.....I came alive in that sweet little dive.
Naming this place Kraken "Bar and Restaurant" is a big stretch. Â There is no kitchen. Â There is a BBQ on the patio run by BC and OMG his tri-tip sandwiches are knee knocking, ass shaking, screaming orgasm delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Â Seriously one of the best things I have ever had in my mouth!!! Â (Sorry Todd) Â I would give this place 5 stars for the that sandwich alone.
But all in all a typical dive bar. Â Cash only which bugs me because the owners are sitting on a goldmine and can sooo totally afford to accept credit cards. Â But then again the majority of the clientele probably don't have a credit card. Â I like coming here on occasion because they usually have good live music and there is usually a friendly crowd. Â I usually bring my friends who visit me from Hemet here because they always feel right at home and I always feel so incredibly beautiful. Â Except for that one hottie who was playing pool there Friday night. Â Sweet Jesus, she had some legs on her. Â And she was offended for some reason when I told her I wanted to exchange bodies for an hour so I could run around naked. Â Or that could have been when I said I wanted to decapitate her and sew my head onto her body. Â Huh? Â Not sure which freaked her out but she pretty much avoided eye contact with me for the rest of the night.
This place is deserving of more than 3 stars but I just can't get past the most totally vile, disgusting, pukerific, gawdawful bathroom I have ever been in. It almost makes me want to wear Depends to avoid using the rest room.
So YAYE for the TriTip sandwich, pool room, bands, service and
NAYE GAK GAK BARF BLECK PUKE for the bathrooms.
Okay - It looks like a dive from the outside, it looks like a dive from the inside.... by george, it's a dive!! Â That being said, it's a pretty friendly place. Â Hang out back & play pool, that's my suggestion. Â If you want quiet, or clean, or pretty, you might try other joints, but personally I don't think you can be a local and not try the Kraken out for size. Â You deserve it. Â Not a place for groups to go together - just not enuf space!! Â Better for a night out with a friend than a night out with three friends, if you understand me.
Review Source:This is a true dive but it's friendly and non-threatening.
Cash only--don't forget!
The live bands are almost always good and usually danceable. Â The servers are friendly and the mood is cool. Â
The restrooms are a horrorshow, but most are these days anyway.
Give it a try. Â You've passed it 500 times and probably always wondered what it was like. Â It's friendlier than it looks from the outside.
I can't believe this place hasn't been reviewed. This is a total dive place right on the 101 in Cardiff. Its right across the street from the beach.
I have only been here on Thursday nights. I have a friend that lived in Cardiff, and I've them talk about this place. So one night, after Station Sushi, my girlfriend and I decided to come here afterward. We didnt know what to expect, and from the outside, we were scared.
Once we went inside, we were still a bit hesitant. It is very divey. The front area has a little stage area with a dance floor and s bar with a fish tank in the middle. Then the middle room has a foos ball table. The back porch is covered, has heat lamps and pool tables. You can also smoke in the back patio.
This place usually has live bands that play almost everynight. On the night we went, it had a great 80s cover band. We had such a good time dancing and just hanging at this place. The crowd was fairly mixed, tho more leaning towards younger since the band. The drinks were pretty cheap here, at least to me since I'm used to downtown pricing, so $6 for a Grey Goose Redbull wasnt bad.
I've heard that there are nights where this place is like a biker bar. But it seems as tho everyone is pretty chill when they come here.
Yes, its a total dive bar, but its fun.Oh yeah, no credit cards accepted. Cash only for your drinks.
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