The restaurant is the brainchild of professional surfer and Encinitas local Benji Weatherley, a member of the iconic "Momentum Generation," who has transformed the 2,300-square-foot indoor-outdoor space into a laid-back all-day hangout. The concept draws inspiration from Weatherley's childhood in the North Shore of Oahu and his family’s former restaurant, also named Breakers, which operated in Haleiwa for two decades.
Open Wednesday through Sunday from 7am to 10pm, Breakers serves as both a morning café and a full-service restaurant and bar by afternoon and evening. The menu emphasizes approachable "Hawaii food" rather than strictly traditional Hawaiian cuisine, featuring dishes such as ahi katsu, garlic shrimp, poke and teriyaki bowls, Hawaiian-style ice cream, and island-inspired coffee drinks.
The atmosphere is designed to evoke the spirit of old-school surf towns, with a heavy focus on community and youth engagement. Breakers is already employing local high school students for food delivery and part-time jobs, aiming to recreate the feel of classic neighborhood pizza joints. Entertainment offerings include live music, hula dancing classes, ukulele nights, and stand-up comedy.
Adding to the nostalgia is decor salvaged from the beloved and recently shuttered Captain Keno’s dive bar, a longtime Encinitas staple. Visitors will find original Keno’s bar stools, dining booths, and even the quirky misspelled O’Hurley’s cocktail sign that hung there for more than 65 years - offering a tangible connection to the city’s past.
Breakers Café, Bar & Grill is now open at 481 Santa Fe Drive in San Diego's North County city of Encinitas. For more information, follow @breakerscbg on Instagram.
Open Wednesday through Sunday from 7am to 10pm, Breakers serves as both a morning café and a full-service restaurant and bar by afternoon and evening. The menu emphasizes approachable "Hawaii food" rather than strictly traditional Hawaiian cuisine, featuring dishes such as ahi katsu, garlic shrimp, poke and teriyaki bowls, Hawaiian-style ice cream, and island-inspired coffee drinks.
The atmosphere is designed to evoke the spirit of old-school surf towns, with a heavy focus on community and youth engagement. Breakers is already employing local high school students for food delivery and part-time jobs, aiming to recreate the feel of classic neighborhood pizza joints. Entertainment offerings include live music, hula dancing classes, ukulele nights, and stand-up comedy.
Adding to the nostalgia is decor salvaged from the beloved and recently shuttered Captain Keno’s dive bar, a longtime Encinitas staple. Visitors will find original Keno’s bar stools, dining booths, and even the quirky misspelled O’Hurley’s cocktail sign that hung there for more than 65 years - offering a tangible connection to the city’s past.
Breakers Café, Bar & Grill is now open at 481 Santa Fe Drive in San Diego's North County city of Encinitas. For more information, follow @breakerscbg on Instagram.
Originally published on July 19, 2025.
