Hard Knox Cafe Reviews

best fried chicken ever

It's a small place, so took a while to get seated. Took over 10 minutes to get a couple beers while we waited for a table. Once we got a table, everything was good. Food was fantastic, service was fine. Nice little dive restaurant that I typically wouldn't have gone to.

Having just arrived in SF after a long flight, we took the recommendation of our Airbnb host and went to Hard Knox for dinner. A simple small place, but delicious comfort food! I had the pulled pork and my husband had the fried chicken. Both were delicious! And the corn muffins are some of the best I’ve ever had!

Spent the day in San Francisco. Stopped in for dinner. There were 6 of us and they were packed. My mother uses a cane. They asked if we could make it up the stairs with her. The staff was wonderful with us/her, always making sure she had room to negotiate where she was going. All 6 of us enjoyed our meals. The macaroni and cheese side dish was surprisingly good! Will definitely be back the next time we are in the area

This small restaurant offers so much good comfort food and great draft beer that it is unbelievable! The only complaint is that you usually have to wait in line to get a table. I absolutely love the fried chicken and waffle dish. You can ask for all white meat or dark or just get what they bring you. Of course the chicken is on the bone which adds to the flavor & mess. The corn bread and green beans are also excellent. My sister-in-law got the tossed sald with grilled chicken and liked that too, but you gotta try the fried chicken! The only food that I wasn't crazy about was the mac & cheese. That's just average in my opinion. Along with the great food, they offer draft beer, Andy Gator from Louisiana and their own label, Hard Knox. Both are great beers.

A piece of me I feel was left behind in this dainty, hole in the wall spot otherwise better known as "Hard Knox Cafe". The people who help make this establishment what it is can only be referred to as godsends, imo, since what they're dishing out can only be seen as "heavenly". EVERY thing I have had the pleasure of consuming has been absolutely amazing. Hands down my favorite restaurant in the history of restaurants. In an effort to paint a better picture of how serious I am about this place, I have been attempting to build a teleportation device just so I could enjoy their food whenever my heart desires.

Delicious chicken and waffles!! The sides my husband had (mac and cheese, mashed potatoes) weren't that great but the fried chicken made up for it.

Best fried chicken I have had in the city

Absolutely love the fried chicken here!!! Went with some friends, and immediately had to bring my spouse to experience the food that same week! The cornbread is yummy, too. Always a great place to find good food at a reasonable price. Have to put your name on a wait-list board, but a table usually opens up in a timely manner. Check out the restaurant hours- one location closes earlier than the other!

Truly "stick to your ribs" food. Whether or not that's a good thing is all up to you.

I lived in GA and one of the best things about that (coming from Denver, originally) was the southern home style cooking that sticks to your ribs. The comfort foods, if you will. New to the Bay Area my co-workers took me to Hard Knox cafe. First of all, the intense aroma wafting out of the door made my mouth water before I even got in the door. The mac n' cheese is well worth the calories, as is the mashed potatoes and gravy and their corn bread muffins are a must! I had the Fried Chicken Breast Sandwich, which was good, but I think I should have gone with fried chicken entree. I saw a guy sitting at the bar who had the country fried chicken smothered in white gravy- it looked amazing! We went there on our lunch hour. It was packed, with no place to seat 6, so we ordered it to go. It took nearly the entire hour to even get our food, so we had to eat at our desks when we got back to the office.

get the fried chicken...eat it...lick your fingers...and then tell me it's not one of the best fried chicken in the city. YUM!

For a place that advertised to be a Cajun restaurant I expected more flavor. Everything was under seasoned. The chicken was very bland. The chicken fried steak was mostly breading and the gravy was thin and bland. Maybe we just went on an off night. At least it's a local restaurant and all of the local places are better than any of the chains.

I have been coming her since 1996, and not once have I ever had a bad experience!! The foods is always on point! Down to every bone!! Customer service is perfect, served with a "Home Style" touch! Don't Knox it, till you try it!! Love❤ this place! Smothered chicken, collard greens, cabbage, corn bread and sweet potato yams!

I have been trying to get to this restaurant for a while. After going there I am so upset that I didn't go sooner. The food was awesome. Every meal comes with the cornbread and they are delicious. I love my BBQ chicken platter and I had a taste of the oxtail. Both were a great meal and the portions are large enough to take home fort the next day.

Free freshly baked corn muffins, very generously sized portions will have you taking the left overs home. I had fried snapper, which was tasty but a bit dry, collared greens that had been cooked to far too long, and yams with brown sugar to die for. The food really only deserves 3 dots, but the funky corrugated iron walls, very reasonable prices, and the friendly staff made the dining experience 4 dots, the meal was fun and I left with a smile on my face

Their signature is fried chicken and waffles which is my "cheat day" food excursion. Less guilt inducing but just as delicious is there spicy chicken sandwich. And when I'm trying to be "good" I order their chicken salad.

Classic diner offering really interesting soul food. The spareribs was lovely and the corn muffins...yum. Definitely coming back.

This is the best place to enjoy soul food cajun style. My favorite is the blacken catfish with collard greens.

I was in this Cafe before leaving from SFO. A tipical place in wich you can feel the atmosphere of US. The food is good and the waitress is really kind. Really suggested

Very notable eatery in the Dogpatch neighborhood that serves comfort food in abundance. Huge servings of their mainstay, chicken and waffles, cannot be passed up. Light delicate waffles with flaky fried chicken make a unforgettable impression. Cornbread is yummy to begin with. Super selection of beers on tap or bottle originating from the deep South. Cozy atmosphere with good staff on hand. Just 5 minutes on streetcar from AT&T Park.

The place for southern cooking, fried chicken and sides. Great value without going all the way to bayview district(I try to avoid this area). I had the gumbo $6bowl - lo of meats, sausages and shrimps..spicy and yummy! Will come back for some ' po boy sandwich and they have huge burger! Interesting decor with corrugated iron and old tools and radios. And they have tacos - bbq pulled pork with coleslaw!!

Some one stole my line! I will just agree that it's the best fried chicken I've ever had :-)

On your way to or back from a Giants game, stop here for the fried chicken! I had the fried chicken sandwich - yum! I had a class so went here during the week for lunch and it was packed with locals who seemed to be regulars - always a good sign. All the good southern stuff was available...greens, mac n cheese.

Very much down home cafe featuring southern cooking from Louisiana. Corn bread is out of the world!!! Fried chicken is generous as well as the ox Tail and short ribs. Collard greens and beans and rice are excellent accompaniments. Located in 3rd Street Dog Patch corriedor.

We went at 4pm hoping to miss the rush. They seem to be busy pretty much whenever they are open, which is a good thing. This visit Ie had the Juicy Lucy burger, which came with 2 side dishes (red beans and rice), all included in the price of $9. Huge serving of food and you couldn't wish for more at this price. So, definite tick from me.

We've been coming here for years with my wife getting Southern soul food specialties and as a vegetarian I get the veggie burger. Good choice of sides with most entrees like corn or yams or delicious corn bread muffins. Atmosphere is very casual with nearly half the seating at the bar. No pretensions here whatsoever but good service and great food served quickly.

We went to the Hard Knox to celebrate my son's birthday. We were a party of five: my wife and I, the "Birthday Boy", his wife and our four-year old granddaughter. As is typical of almost all San Francisco locations, parking was in short supply. My daughter-in-law, the four-year old and I were dropped off in front to put our name on "the List", while the other two scouted the area for a parking spot. It was good that it was a sunny day in SF, since there was very little space to wait inside. By the time they came back, it was about ten more minutes until we were allowed in and shown to a table for five in an inside corner, next to the front window. (This allowed us to watch the passing parade, always a fascinating experience in SF. In turn, the weekend throngs got to watch us eating!) In a very short time, our waitress arrived with menus, a crispy corn muffin and a glass of water for the youngster. Great thinking! We scanned the menu choices for brunch which consists mainly of egg dishes. Since it was just after 12 noon, we chose to go with lunch instead. My wife and I both ordered pulled pork sandwiches, my son went for the fried chicken and waffles and his wife ordered black-eyed peas with rice and collard greens, planning to get a piece of chicken from her husband. .Granddaughter ordered a pulled pork taco with nothing but pork in it. Her appetite had already been satisfied to a large extent by that corn muffin! The menu offers a large variety of excellent beers and various alternatives.Our waitress was very helpful and answered any and all questions most patiently. Our food arrived and was quite satisfactory. The chicken and waffles were the stars of the show. Portions were generous. I had only one negative observation, which was that the BBQ sauce on the pork lacked "authority". A few shakes of hot sauce helped. We had sides of coleslaw and potato salad, of which the coleslaw was the better choice. The potato salad was of the "mashed" variety, with bits of red bell pepper and egg sprinkled thru it. I would have preferred the "San Francisco" style, but that is a personal choice. Everything else was fine, and there were more of those delectable muffins with lots of butter, honey and jellies available. I could have enjoyed a slice of dill pickle with the sandwich, but alas, none was to be seen. By and large, everything was satisfactory and we had "bowser boxes" to take home. Again, service was impeccable and all the staff very friendly. Our waitress was a gem! One other negative is that the noise level was such that it made conversation somewhat difficult. Reviewer: Mossback

I came here with some friends when in SF. Pretty solid menu with good sides and beers on tap as well as bottled. I had the spicy fried chicken with a side of collard greens and rice. It was cooked well, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the sides were tasty as well. I would give this a 5 star but parking was a little tough and there is always a wait. But otherwise give it a shot.

Waitresses very friendly, warm atmosphere, and generous menu for a fair price ( $4 a pint haha) ... It's more because of this than just the food you will come back! -------------- Super ambiance à l'américaine, de même que le menu. Les serveurs étaient très agréable, et la pinte est à 4 dollars ;) Sorte de cantine pour les habitués.

I can't believe a Vietnamese man owns this soul food restaurant. I can't wait to try the new one on Clement!

This is an amazing, cozy and yummy place to go out for a low key, but delicious lunch or dinner. Traditional southern, hearty and delicious bbq and home style cooking. It is one of the authentic dog patch restaurants, with charm and charisma, that I hope survives the transition of this to a more expensive area - without increasing their low prices.

We had a lovely take out meal from here and quite honestly could not finish it all, the portion sizes were enormous. If you get the chance certainly visit.

Just happened to pass by (as I have so many times in the past) at the end of my walk with my dog, Zoey. And I thought, what the heck! So I went in and ordered the Fried Chix Sandwich with mash potatoes & gravy and an additional side of red beans & rice with spicy sausage. Place was a little busy, but the nice gentleman that took my togo order couldn’t have been nicer. Waited about 15 minutes (as they had said it would take) and I got my togo order. Food was absolutely delicious…. I see why the place was so busy. I’m a new fan. Will be back for sure 😋

This is the best southern food restaurant you can find in bay area! Their fried chicken and corn bread is so delicious! The space is small but very much feel like a home kind of place.

fried chicken at it's best! get the combo-- it's an amazing deal and you may be able to get two full meals out of it because it's so much food (3 pieces of fried chicken, 2 sides, and mouth-watering cornbread for $11). best to have about 5-10 napkins on hand.

A return to Hard Knox was a pleasant visit. Took reservations on a Saturday night and waited only 15 mins. Had the fried chicken collard greens with beans and rice! Corn Bread with meal was a great accompaniment!, could not finish the overly generous portions and had to box for next meal at home!!!

Great food and a great value. This has to be the best soul food I have had west of Houston, TX, and definitely the tastiest in NoCal. A dinner plate can feed you for 3 meals, if you can only hold back from eating it all at once.

This place is family owned by Vietnamese Americans from the South. They really make great food from the Chicken, Shortribs, Mac Cheese, Burgers and of course the free corn bread that they gave us. You get great value for the money with large portions.

Huge thanks to my friend who introduced me to this place. The service was great. Vibe and atmosphere was awesome BUT its the food that was the best part. The chicken and Waffles were amazing. The artwork on the wall was cool as well. Our waitress was busy but attentive and great. This is a must when visiting the City

We arrived as it was opening at 11 am on a sunday. Our service was excellent. I had the ribs with greens and mashed potatoes and I was impressed. I usually need to add extra salt to my food but the food here did not need it. Very tasty. All meals come with nice moist corn bread and honey/butter. My husband had the fried chicken, (their signature dish) and he was not as crazy about it as I was about my ribs. Our friends had the meatloaf and the spicy fried chicken and they enjoyed their meals. This spot is very laid back and I would definitely return for the nice atmosphere and the quality of the food.

We walked by, there was place, so we gave it a try, and the food was good, the service was good, fresh, tasty, quickly served... great experience!

Walking past, you could almost miss this place, but don't! Great southern food, generous portions and chill vibe. Tables turn over quickly but if you get there earlier you can walk in straight away or sit at the bar. It's only small and the menu is simple, but that's part of its charm. They are know for their Chicken & Waffles for around $14 and big (see below). Actually easy to get parking or public transport to the area.

I had the burger with chips and several house reds. They supplied complimentary corn muffins. If you are on a budget and want quick tasty food with atmosphere, this is the place. They are busy so it would be wise to book.

This is the IT spot for soul food! We were thoroughly impressed by the service and food and will certainly return (we actually visited twice before leaving Cali). I recommend the fried catfish/the fry chicken. This place was AWESOME!

FWii (For What It Is): South of ATT Ballpark in the gentrified Dogpatch area, Hard Knox Cafe has SF's tastiest soul food. Best fried chicken, best turkey wings---choose two sides like collard greens, mashed potatoes, mac-n-cheese, red beans/ rice..... Fabulous corn muffins (2) are complimentary. Many other entree choices---like waffles/ fried chicken.... All goes well with draft beer. Small cafe with counter, booths and a few tables. Decor is funky industrial with metal siding walls and diner art. Located along the T-Third Metro Line. Parking is doable---but challenging. All kinds of people come here, but Afro-Americans' know soul food and they come here too---although I think Hard Knox is Asian-owned.

I'm loving it! Every honest to goodness scrumptious fork full is like manna from heaven. There is absolutely no rubbish in here. The staff are pleasant, helpful and oh so attentive, wow! But the star of the show here has got to be the food, blackened fish, ribs, creole, fried chicken, fried pork chops, macaroni salad, greens, french fries, burgers..all wonderfully fresh, tasty and the portions are ENORMOUS. A real gem in Dogpatch. I hope to be back real soon!

I’ve never actually been inside, but I’ve ordered through delivery apps several times. The ribs are always cooked to where it almost falls off the bone. Sides are good with many options. The pulled pork tacos are amazing, with their cole slaw on top and crunchy shell. The portions are also generous and prices are quite reasonable. I also like their barbecue sauce, corn bread and salads. Only thing they could do better is include a honey packet to put on the corn bread; But they’re pretty close to perfection, in my book.

The best southern food I have ever tasted. The service was very friendly and efficient. I had the pulled pork sandwich quite frankly it was delicious with a capital D. For my taste it was the perfect amount of sweet.

Stayed in SF only for a couple of days in an Airbnb stop. Out host recommended this place and were they right? Yes they were. Easy parking right outside. Easy to find. Queue to get in, always a good sign. Staff were great and gave a good indication of how long the wait would be and were spot on. The place was full but not uncomfortable. Sat at the bar to eat, staff were knowledgeable and helpful. Picked out good beer and each had a meal the other probably wanted too, so great for sharing. Not a long wait for the food but worth every second, generous portions of great food. Good value - I'd go back here in a blink.

Hard Knox delivers very tasty southern-style comfort food, with plenty of options. Their cornbread is terrific, and their chicken, collard greens, meatloaf, and pulled pork are all solid choices. They usually have some very good beers on tap too. I'd say it's a little pricey for what it is, though the portions are generous. Limited seating so there's often a wait for table or spot at the bar during busy times. Good spot for an informal lunch or dinner in the Dogpatch area.

Can't go wrong with Fried chicken or Oxtails dinner. The serving proportions are generous and worth every dollar.

My boyfriend and I ate here for Sunday lunch and really enjoyed it. The place was pretty full, but it was possible to sit and eat at the bar. Being from Savannah, GA, I really wanted my Italian boyfriend to try authentic Southern food. Hard Knox ticked all the boxes. Large portions of tasty soul food and a very reasonable bill at the end.