Kono's Cafe opened in July 1991 near Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, started by Kathy and Steve, who had previously owned Lamont Street Grill. They set out to open a Mexican restaurant inspired by a small eatery in Ensenada, serving cone-shaped tacos — the source of the name — but renovations on the historic 1920s building weren't ready in time, so they opened instead with classic American fare carrying a few Southern California twists.
The egg burritos came from the owners' summers in Baja, where fresh tortillas accompanied every meal, breakfast included — a rarity for San Diego at the time. The menu now runs five sizes of breakfast burritos, built on fluffy eggs, house salsa, and fillings like smoky sausage, fried potatoes, and avocado, wrapped in a warm flour tortilla.
Surfers were among the first regulars, and the crowd still lines up early and stays through the close of the kitchen in the afternoon. Kono's has operated continuously at the same spot by the pier since 1991.
The egg burritos came from the owners' summers in Baja, where fresh tortillas accompanied every meal, breakfast included — a rarity for San Diego at the time. The menu now runs five sizes of breakfast burritos, built on fluffy eggs, house salsa, and fillings like smoky sausage, fried potatoes, and avocado, wrapped in a warm flour tortilla.
Surfers were among the first regulars, and the crowd still lines up early and stays through the close of the kitchen in the afternoon. Kono's has operated continuously at the same spot by the pier since 1991.