Oceanfront, surf-themed bistro Kono’s Cafe just gave birth.
The new arrival has been christened Konito’s Cafe.
Tucked away at 1730 Garnet Ave. in Pacific Plaza, Konito’s is in a rear courtyard behind the Starbucks and Jamba Juice.
Konito’s is a chip off the old block. For one, the new eatery is being managed by Joe Bettles, son of Kono’s founder Steve Bettles. The senior Bettles has partnered with longtime Kono’s manager, Pablo Sanchez, to open a second, satellite restaurant.
Though the two restaurants are open the same hours (7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends) and have virtually the same menus, their clientele isn’t the same, though there’s significant crossover between the two, said Joe Bettles.
“Ours is a real local’s restaurant, which is different,” he noted, adding, “Every local in PB knows this (shopping) complex, and come here for something or other.”
Noting Kono’s caters more to the tourist- and vacation-rental crowds, Bettles pointed out Konito’s appeals more to PB residents. And it doesn’t hurt that Konito’s, being much further from the beach and in a strip mall, has more available parking and shorter lines drawing appreciative customers.
Joe Bettles said Konito’s has added three things Kono’s doesn’t have to its menu: a chicken quesadilla, a veggie scramble and a chorizo breakfast sandwich. Like its parent, Konito’s also is adorned with beach art and runs surf films non-stop.
“We kept the Kono’s style and logo,” noted Joe Bettles, adding the beach vibe, obviously, is also similar.
There is a huge beach scene on one of Konito’s walls from local surf photographer Jeff Devine showing a crowded summer beach. A huge table inside Konito’s is also made from the same wood used in Crystal Pier. There is also a fish carved from a surfboard made by another local artisan.
The story of how Kono’s got started, and had an “offspring” nearly 25 year’s later, is a fascinating one.
Joe Bettles said his dad Steve had previously owned Lamont Street Grill, now The Patio at 4455 Lamont St.
“They had always been in the evening restaurant business, and they were tired of working at night,” Joe Bettles said, adding there was a cantina where Kono’s is now next to Crystal Pier that became available.
Joe Bettles said the original idea when his dad first opened up Kono’s was to serve “cone-shaped tacos” that were all the rage in Baja, California at the time in 1991. But it was finally decided to go with a more traditional American-style breakfast menu adding Mexican influences, particularly breakfast burritos that were popular south of the border but practically unknown here.
So how did Konito’s come about a quarter-century later?
“My dad had never been interested in another location, had always wanted to focus on the one location they had and making it as good as it could be,” said Joe Bettles. “Then he was convinced by Pablo to find a second location, which they looked for for about two years.”
Joe Bettles stressed Konito’s is now part of a coalescing “restaurant row” around Pacific Plaza, which includes two bagel places and Broken Yolk across Garnet Avenue. He added the outside courtyard fronting his bistro is also becoming a big draw luring folks in for breakfast and lunch.
Sandwiched in between a dry cleaner and a shoe repair place, Konito’s is near Vons and other shops in the strip mall.
Bettles concluded it’s great to be in Pacific Plaza, which is sort of your one-stop shop.
“It’s kind of the perfect, day-off place to go if you need to do errands,” he said. “You can have breakfast, get filled up, and then go shop.”
For more information, call 858-230-7355 or visit konoscafe.com. Konito’s Cafe
Where: Pacific Plaza, 1730 Garnet Ave., between Kendall and Jewell streets.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends.
Info: 858-230-7355, konoscafe.com.