C J’s Saloon

Great dive! Bartenders are great and always pour good drinks. Not a lot of young A-​holes around to mess up the vibe so that’s good. Billards and darts and a claw machine with pornos in it,…what more could you want!

As divey as it is, I miss CJs since I moved from Concord. They have $ 4 jack and cokes-​poured with a heavy hand. The crowd is chill and friendly, don’t be intimidated by the motorcycle vibe.
It’s in a strip mall right next to Target and In N out. My favorite part is the friendly vibe and the cheap electronic darts and pool. The darts aren’t maintained the best (tips broken and flags tweaked) but it’s a cool electronic system and about $ 1/​person/​game. They have a change machine, lottery, and great daily specials.
The bartender is an awesome, extremely smart, strong woman who my girlfriend and I have had some great conversations with. I experienced one time where an older man was inappropriately hitting on a nice lady, before we had a chance to say anything the bartender handled it elegantly and the single woman was completely watched out for. Don’t judge a book by its cover here. I have talked to a PhD student, Doctor, and biker here in one night– it’s a chill mixed crowd.
The pool is cheap and available. A great conversation piece is the claw machine with whips, porn, and sex toys in it. This place is totally unique with a great regular crowd for any type of person. Jaguar karaōke is the parking lot over if your group feels the need (don’t go to 9 game zone)

Okay, I know some of you seen my check in for this place and must have been wondering…“Why is the Gold Chain Foodie at a bar at (6am) on a Tuesday… Well have a valid explanation for that, and one of them happens to be that it was Veterans Day, and my night crew manager happens to be a Marine Vet. So what better way to honor him and his service on this day, and to partake in a few drinks. Like they say in popular music today…“Let’s Turn Up“
CJ’s Saloon is open at 6am, I know some of you may be thinking…“Why in the heck is this place opened so early? Well you then have to look at the target market in the Concord, Pleasant Hill and Pacheco area first to understand. I’ll give you a brief understanding. Most people that live near or around this area are working class people. Usually working some type of night job or very long hour days. I’m not speaking for everyone though, but based of demographics «thank you Jon Taffer of Bar Rescue» I looked into it myself to make since of this. So it all makes since, and also when a lot of people may have weekdays off instead of the weekend «The Club going Up on a Tuesday!» isn’t to bad, some people have learned to make everyday the weekend. Thank God that isn’t my issue per say. But this bar has Fernet… Sooooooo I had to partake in like my headline says.“two shots at a time!“
This bar really is a saloon styled bar, everything about it screams as such, and to be honest and based off my check in’s, some of you all should see that pattern when it comes down to drinks and fun for myself. The décor of this place is pretty… saloon like, you have your pool tables, a small section of dance floor and space for live entertainment and lotto machines for those that like to have a few drinks and gamble at the same time. So with that being said, This place has appeal. It was very clean and tidy, maybe being here at 6am contributes to that factor. And like a saloon, the pours were heavy, but well balanced at the same time. So I had no issues, and like I said earlier… this bar has «fernet» Something that is hard to get a shot of outside of San Francisco or more… fancier establishments. If you like Jagermeister, then Fernet is a better version of it in my opinion. Now I don’t have to miss it outside my SF, San Jose or Oakland trips.
I use to think of CJ’s Saloon as a biker bar, and was always apprehensive about paying this place a visit, but i’m glad that I did at the end of the day. The crowd is pretty diverse and they have their regulars here. Yea, even at 6am. I honestly was pretty surprised to see how many people were there when me and my coworkers went in for some drinks. This place is located off the very busy Contra Costa Blvd. Lamps Plus and Chef Choy Chinese Food is in the same little strip. Pep boys is right behind it and Target, Toys R Us, Ross Dress for Less and Home Goods make up some more notible landmarks or popular businesses that are within close vicinity. Oh let’s not forget the California Grand Casino, Paddok Bowl and highway 680.
In closing, this bar is pretty darn good. Im sure my paydays will never be the same: D the basic well drinks are $ 3.75 for a basic, and 7.50 for a tall. My Fernet shot just like at most of my fave SF bars was $ 4 bucks just as expected for that strong, delicious goodness. At the end of the day, this is one of those «Don’t judge a book by it’s Cover» places. Don’t let what you see on the outside scare you off. This place has a personality all on it’s own. And being the only real bar in this area, aside from what you may have at the California Grand and Paddok Bowl. It’s getting the attention and buzz that it deserves. But don’t take my word for it, drop by and visit for yourself. And don’t forget to Unilocal your own experience.

Me, my girlfriend and our friends go there all the time love it. Good bartenders and good atmosphere.

Great hidden diverse dive bar. We went in on a Taco Tuesday we had heard about and Chrissy was our bartender she was hands down the best bartender we had in a long time! As we gave this bar a second Chance we had gone in one time before. She made us feel so welcome and had a great personality and was very attentive while she was getting good ready and the tacos were very great! We will be back here, they have it every Taco Tuesday at 6:30 every week. No cooking for us!
How did I not hear about this place!

They are doing okay but it’s gone down a little bit. The bartender I’m not sure her name but she couldn’t make a Long Island ice tea for nothing it was horrible. You guys need some working on, on the inside

This was always a cool little spot to have a beer nice area to just go and sit down relax kinda just go casual good people talk to you

C J’s Saloon is an acquired taste even for a dive bar. most flatscreens are running infomerials hawking Ed Sullvian DVD’S and Wolfgang Puck ovens. interesting blend of regulars and irregulars.
6 microbrews on draft. the usual sierra, modelo, lagunista, …
brew: modelo draft (5)
–smooth, should have went for the lagunista
on draught
–drinks the usual mainstream beers, cocktails, hard liquor
–not much microbrews., so 3 stars
–4 stars for the friendliness and diversity of the patrons.

Great atmosphere, good prices and thursday is lingere night ;-) also if you like sports and pool its a great place to watch raiders fans and niners fans argue!

Oh, the good o’l dive bar days… boy, do I have some memories here… sigh
C J’s was one of the first few bars my friends and I used to frequent way back in the day… just over a decade ago… man, I’m feelen old. And although its been years since I visited this one of a kind place, after driving by it often, and having previously spent enough time there to know the place, I felt impulsed to give my perspective of the place, which of course lead me to write this long over due review.
Located in the shopping center just walking distance from Target and the previous Barnes and Noble (now taken over by Home Goods), this isn’t necessarily the kind of bar you would imagine to reside here. Very divey, very harley, blue collar; but not divey enough to veer away the white collard folks. Ambiance emits that classic dive bar façade. very 80’s; pool tables, juke box… ect
From what I remember, and what I still hear, they still serve STRONG cheap drinks. Unique mix of all sorts of folks… that’s what I remembered most about it and also what made it more intriguing. The rougher crowds tend to come in after 9:00, so I would highly advise if you are going to pay a visit, to make it early, and to get out before 8:00…that is unless, your feeling rebellious… or already used to it… just be careful :) And if your a girl, I would advise not going alone :)
And although the good o’l, dive bar hoppen, drunken pool playing days are well behind me, I am someday going to find a time to come on over and visit just for old time sake… and early it will be :)

This place was fun, until me and my friend got accused of putting a bomb in the claw machine for no fucking reason, we played pool for about an hour then tried the claw machine before we left a few times, lost about $ 3, then walked out. Then a guy who i am assuming is the owner but not sure came out and started asking why we were leaving and if the machine was going to explode, made us walk back in with him and asked what the problem was, we said nothing so he follows us outside again and then took a picture of our plates. wtf for???

CJ’s was the first bar I went to for my recent trip west and was the most drunk that I got on my journey. The local regulars were some of the most kind people that I met in a great while. Archie is a man who rides in a motorized cart. He kept saying how glad he was to meet me and how strange it was that I wandered into this bar. I couldn’t agree with him more. We are all thrown into existence and if we can meet kindred spirits in passing, it is a true blessing. I was thrilled to share the barroom with the gentlemen in the bar on that bright, Friday afternoon. I rifled about 10 dollars into the juke box and garnered instant respect and friendship with my selections. If you come to CJ’s, play «Mama Tried» by Merle Haggard, «Pancho and Lefty» by Townes Van Zandt and anything by David Allen Coe or Johnny Cash. I got into a slight disagreement with a local about David Allan Coe regarding DAC’s upbringing. He said Coe was from Texas. That is not the case. The greatest country musician of all-​time (David Allen Coe) is from Cleveland and Akron. I am proud to be an Ohio Boy myself.

good as it gets, weather you’re new to town or 8 generations of living around the corner, you will feel welcome here unless you sit at the bar away from everyone that is. This is not a club, this is not a cigar and brandy shop, its a good pub with a wide mix of people. Biker friendly and respectful to everyone.
Lol, just recently I ran into this chick named Robbin with two «b“s that could not shut up about the size of the owners manhood. She was obviously drunk as hell but very pleasant to speak with all the same. This dude Russell kept trying to convince me that spandau Ballet was the quintessential 80s band, and finally this dude Jody who is probably the most intelligent person I’ve met outside of nasa changed my whole outlook on life. His outlook on life gave me hope, hope in a world what has offered me nothing but pain and sorrow. If you’re down, come talk to Jody. Buy him a drink and he will disperse home spun wisdom that leaves you feeling right as rain.

Ladies, if you go here, be prepared to guard 1) your drink, 2) your bar stool and 3) your boyfriend. The women here have some serious balls. And I don’t mean that in a good way.
Men, if you go here, you will probably see a full on cat-​fight. And I don’t mean that in a good way.

The best staff! We have never visited before and they made us feel so welcome. Usually when you go into an established bar you get ignored. Mainly because the regulars keep the staff busy. But regulars and bartenders were so friendly! I recommend a visit!

Best Dive Bar in Plesant Hill! Cheap Drinks and a great place to watch an eclectic mix of people, from business men in suits to biker dudes.
Nice pool tables too! On Saturday Nights Pool, Darts and Juke box music is free.
Relaxed neighborhood joint.

4÷19÷12: Looking for a dive bar where you can get a cheap drink and do some awesome people watching? CJ’s! It’s one of those places that’s ultra fun to go when you’re gettting a little tired of the usual scene. It’s hidden in the back of the lot by Lamps Plus. There used to be an adult bookstore next door but that’s gone now.
The drinks are relatively inexpensive. AND there’s a skill claw in the back which will remind you of childhood — putting in 50 cents and trying to pluck a stuffed animal; but this one is filled with raunchy porn.
I’ve added «Hairy Asians» and «Big Gaping Holes» to my movie collection — and a couple cute, cuddly stuffed animals. Hey, any skill claw you can win something out of more than once is worth going back to! I thought all of those machines were rigged! Not true.
CJ’s used to have dancing on weekends — not sure if they still do. You probably don’t want to go there to dance but it’s worth going to watch the people that do go there to dance.
There are a couple of pool tables, electronic darts, and the owner (Shorty) makes appearances quite a bit. Super nice guy. More than once he’s put money in the juke box and let the crowd pick the songs. You get a lot of classic rock and country this way. I approve!
A $ 15.50 tab on 6÷2÷12 and I’d had enough to drink… that’s not bad!

I love this place! Friendly neighborhood bar. Not fancy but a comfortable safe place to stop after work or weekends for sports TV. They have 2 pool tables, a nice dance floor and usually have some kind of thing going on weekends. I saw Billy Martini here and there was no cover charge. They have spaces right out front they usually reserve for motorcycles.

The bartender told me that this place has a turn out of a crowd every 30 minutes. Tis, very true! She was right. Different mix of crowd. Neighborhood vibe. In the same plaza of Lamp’s Plus. It wasn’t so bad, But — their Jameson tasted watery. Just saying’.