Try Authentic Mexican Breakfast at Kekis Cafe in Fremont

Nestled in a historic brick flatiron building in downtown Fremont, Kekis Cafe has served home-cooked authentic Mexican and American breakfast and lunch favorites since 2022. The cozy restaurant delights customers with its signature chilaquiles (a food the cafe’s owners grew up eating), breakfast burritos, homemade pancakes and French toast, biscuits and gravy, and a full menu of other breakfast and lunch offerings.

Owners Dora and Jesus “Chui” Ortiz saw a need for Mexican breakfast offerings in the area after observing the popularity of Dora’s parents’ Mexican restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner, in Fremont. 

“It’s definitely a niche,” Dora says. “We noticed when we first opened, we had more American options being asked for. Now we go through a lot more Mexican than we did when we first opened.”

After the Ortizes bought the flatiron building at the corner of State and Napoleon streets, they renovated it, and Chui chose the bright turquoise accents to the brick building’s exterior, as well as the sunny yellow and dark and light blue colors inside. 

Dora and Chui named the restaurant Kekis because in Jalisco, Mexico, where Dora is originally from, pancakes are called kekis. There is no direct Spanish word for pancakes. Pancakes and French toast (Dora’s personal favorite at the restaurant) are among the top sellers at Kekis. 

The most ordered item is the breakfast burrito with chorizo (bacon and other breakfast meats are available too). The chilaquiles feature fried corn tortilla chips served with red or green sauce (or half and half), queso fresco, sour cream, onion, cilantro and beans. Eggs and breakfast meat can also be added. 

“People are surprised that Mexican doesn’t always have to be spicy,” Dora says. “That’s a misconception that people have.”

Nearly everything here is made to order. Kekis also offers daily specials, which have included cactus, fish tacos and more to keep things interesting for customers, some of whom come in daily.

“It’s so cool that something I have I can share and you like,” Dora says. “I’m super proud that I can introduce new flavors to people that otherwise wouldn’t have an option unless you go to a bigger city or you travel to Mexico.”

601 W. State St., Fremont 43420, 567/280-9229

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