Kay & Dave's Cantina

(310) 260-1355

262 26th St
Santa Monica, CA 90402 34.0478 -118.4914

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Neighborhoods: North of Montana, West LA

KAYNDAVES.COM

Price:

$

Last updated 8.11.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Family-Friendly Dining, Lunch Spot, Group Dining, Brunch

Cuisine:

Mexican

What People Are Saying About Kay & Dave's Cantina

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – A colorful array of pinatas and miniature ukeleles hang alongside vibrant creations drawn by Kay & Dave's preschool-aged customers. Unlike crowds at most margarita-fueled Tex Mex spots, the stroller-pushing folk here are more concerned with keeping free Crayolas out of the salsa than sipping frozen libations. – – The Food – Home-style cantina dining takes a hint from the "fresh Mex" restaurant chains. Nearly every dish is made with as little fat as possible, and even lard-free tortillas are available on request. The guilt-free spinach tostada is heaping…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
From appetizer platters to full-service catering, Kay & Dave's helps throw a party. They'll even let you take over the restaurant.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. They also have a small enclosed outdoor patio section out back that is really comfortable, lots of plants, bright and they have heaters too.
  2. good atmosphere.
  3. The food both at this location and the one on Pico is fantastic!
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. Paper and crayons keep the kids busy while the parents can enjoy a glass of decent wine or a margi, and yummy chips and salsa.
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. Great food and great for kids!
  2. have never had a bad meal and I have eaten here many times over.
  3. Inside boasts an open bright dining area, friendly staff and good food.
  4. This place is not bad for groups and the prices are reasonable but for really good Mexican food, look elsewhere.
  5. The food at this place is pretty standard American Mexican food.
  6. great food, great service, and on tuesday, $1 tacos, the best time you can have and still be rated PG.
  7. Also - If you like cheese on your tacos, be sure to ask for it (they charge you) as they don't automatically give it to you.
  8. Always delicious, always fresh, always a wonderful experience!
  9. love salsa and they have some of the best around.
  10. The food both at this location and the one on Pico is fantastic!
  11. Everything is fresh and co.
  12. We've dined here several times and have had consistently excellent service and food!
  13. At a reasonable price you get some of the best tasting Fresh Mexican food and it's not that heavy stuff that uses animal fat in everything.
  14. Paper and crayons keep the kids busy while the parents can enjoy a glass of decent wine or a margi, and yummy chips and salsa.
  15. It's a perfect meal at a perfect price.
  16. The food is fresh and the pomegranate margarita is yummy too!
  17. Great fresh mexican food
  18. The best food in L.A. is found at Kay 'n Dave's!
  19. fresh healthy delicious mexican
overall
100.0% positive
  1. The portions were great and the place is very kid-friendly without being too childish for parents to enjoy.
service
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. We've dined here several times and have had consistently excellent service and food!
  2. great food, great service, and on tuesday, $1 tacos, the best time you can have and still be rated PG.
  3. great service.
  4. The owner, Dave, asked if something was wrong & we explained about the poor service.
  5. Inside boasts an open bright dining area, friendly staff and good food.
  6. The portions were great and the place is very kid-friendly without being too childish for parents to enjoy.
value
100.0% positive
  1. The portions were great and the place is very kid-friendly without being too childish for parents to enjoy.
  2. At a reasonable price you get some of the best tasting Fresh Mexican food and it's not that heavy stuff that uses animal fat in everything.
  3. It's a perfect meal at a perfect price.
  4. Check out their happy hour during the week, great margarita and appetizer prices.
  5. This place is not bad for groups and the prices are reasonable but for really good Mexican food, look elsewhere.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/19/10

Best Homemade Tortilla Chips

by DebbieMarketing at Citysearch

Great local, no frills (and less grease) Mexican place. They make their own tortilla chips- not greasy and so tasteful.

  • Pros: Delish, Decent Prices, Low Key
  • Cons: None
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/05/08

Kid-Friendly, Kid-Easy!

by promomaven at Citysearch

Haven't been to the restaurant on 26th, but often go to the one on Pico with my 4 year old and his friends. Why? Because it is the best kid-friendly Fresh Mex restaurant on the Westside. Paper and crayons keep the kids busy while the parents can enjoy a glass of decent wine or a margi, and yummy chips and salsa. Food isn't anything to get excited about, but it's good enough, and the price is right. Plus the kids love it. The wait staff is kid-tolerant and friendly. Thank goodness for Kay n Daves.

3 Star Rating: Average

01/17/08

Very average Mexican food that lacks flavor

by jeffusc1 at Citysearch

This is a fun place but the food is very ordinary. I have tried several different things and everything has been very average and lacking in flavor. It can also be quite crowded at dinner time and the seating process is not real efficient. This place is not bad for groups and the prices are reasonable but for really good Mexican food, look elsewhere.

  • Pros: Friendly service, fun atmosphere
  • Cons: Average food
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/13/08

Dining out shouldn't have to be that hard!

by starblossom at Citysearch

Started out with the worst Mojito I ever tasted - pure sweet-&-sour mix with limes. It was so sour I had to send it back. I told the waiter I'll take a beer (in a bottle) instead, which came well after the food arrived.

The food arrived with the order mixed up with my companion (who wanted no beans, double rice). Rather than letting me keep my meal, and just bringing me a side of beans, they took my meal back to the kitchen, which wasn't re-served to me until my companion was half way through with his meal. Meanwhile they didn't offer to exchange my companion's order so he could have what he actually ordered.

Between the two of us, they brought 5 tortillas. The norm is 3 tortillas each. I told the waiter they shorted us tortillas. So he brought another order (of 3) and charged me for it. I just wanted my 3 tortillas total, that's all. He brought us the check and then left us high and dry. He never came back to pick it up, which was a problem because I wanted to pay by credit card. So I just left cash, and left the restaurant, vowing never to return. Mind you, there was only one large party (with it's own separate servers), and hardly anyone else in the restaurant (just before 3pm on a Sun. afternoon). Dining out shouldn't have to be that hard!

  • Pros: The Fajitas were good. Chips and Salsa were good.
  • Cons: The Fajitas were over priced. The chorizo was not very good, but you get what you pay for.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/06/08

Great place for adults

by rtnla at Citysearch

This is a cool small place on Pico. You have to keep a sharp eye out for it or you'll miss it. Inside boasts an open bright dining area, friendly staff and good food. They also serve brunch on the weekends and that's worth a visit too.

They also have a small enclosed outdoor patio section out back that is really comfortable, lots of plants, bright and they have heaters too.

Check out their happy hour during the week, great margarita and appetizer prices.

Also - If you like cheese on your tacos, be sure to ask for it (they charge you) as they don't automatically give it to you.

  • Pros: Food, Happy Hour and nice outdoor patio, VERY friendly staff, kid friendly
  • Cons: bar area is a bit to small, parking (read the signs)

The Details on Kay & Dave's Cantina

Place Categories:

  • great standard american mexican food
  • cool small place
  • great service
  • reasonable price
  • enjoy kids
  • great pomegranate margarita
  • co. everything
  • never bad meal
  • really comfortable small enclosed outdoor patio section
  • decent wine
  • like cheese
  • friendly staff
  • excellent steak de arbol
  • decent margi
  • perfect spot
  • great tacos
  • love little place
  • worst mojito
  • fresh healthy delicious
  • delicious always
  • great dave s
  • full salads
  • yummy chips
  • yummy salsa
  • good atmosphere
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