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Hard Knox Cafe
Southern Food Restaurant$$$$
Dogpatch, San Francisco
This Southern food restaurant is famous for their Southern food. It's one of the most popular in the city!
"The best collard greens I've ever had"(10 Tips)
"Corn muffin's very nice and fried chicken even better"(7 Tips)
"I'm from Alabama, and I think that's the best cornbread."(13 Tips)
"Chicken and Waffles with Macaroni and Cheese - delicious."(7 Tips)
102 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- Southern food
- fried chicken
- soul food
- cornbread
- collard greens
- (15 more)
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Pei 👻 WenApril 11, 2016If you want to try something that's not fried chicken, go with the ox tail. So damn good. And the cornbread was one of the best I've ever had! Alert: huge portions so be prepared to share or take out.
Traci WilbanksAugust 12, 2013A little slice of the South in SF. The corn muffins ARE as good as they smell. Get some collard greens and add some Cholula hot sauce. The catfish poboy is tasty as is the roll it's on.
Ms HeleneMay 27, 2018Blackened snapper with 2 sides of candied yams and collard greens and 2 cornbread muffins $15. Worth the trek!
Ricky SherrillNovember 16, 2016I am from the South and these guys serve up some of the best southern cooking I have had. Great portions, service, friendly people too.
Ian CheeAugust 7, 2023Excellent home style Southern food. Southern fried chicken is the star; have it with waffles, delicious sides or in a sandwich.
Our regular place to kick off the weekend. We order the same every week and wait staff knows us. Sounds boring, but the food isn't. Very good red beans and rice, and I'm from New Orleans. Thumbs up!
What's not to love here. Can't go wrong but I'm partial the the fried catfish with crystal sauce. Side of greens and red rice and beans. Good beer and root beer on tap.
Mark Del LimaJune 18, 2013Fried chicken or oxtail are the clear winners. We always resolve to order something else and then we arrive and can't resist and order fried chicken and oxtail again...
Kirk HerlitzMarch 1, 2018I'd never had oxtail before, so I figured this was a good place to try it. So good! If you like braised short ribs, give the oxtail a try!
Andrew SandlerFebruary 19, 2016Muffins are great. I really like the collards. And it's hard to go wrong with spicy fried chicken.
Sydnie CollinsSeptember 13, 2011Its a really good place to eat fried chicken. I would recommend the the 3 piece fried chicken with three different entrees. I would also recommend the chicken and waffles!! yum
Steven WakuuJune 11, 2018God, this place is delicious. Still dreaming about their chicken and waffles. Not really the healthiest food, but definitely amazing comfort food.
Celine HOctober 9, 2018Massive portions and everything I ordered was delicious! Definitely get collard greens and mac n cheese for sides.
Dan KimOctober 2, 2013$12 for a very large platter of 3 pieces fried chicken, two sides (mac n' cheese and collard greens, mmm), and two pieces of cornbread. Wash it down with an ice cold beer.
Delicious and friendly service! Ox tail and fried chicken are amazing! Also free wifi which is their phone number
Daniel PlemmonsMarch 30, 2015Used to be a regular for lunch. Mac and cheese + collard greens + the smothered pork chops are fantastic.
Michael CoxMarch 2, 2016Spicy fried chicken or country fried steak - but get the collards either way!
Marshall St. ClairMarch 26, 20157x7 mag recommends for southern comfort food "exceptional waffles paired with crisp fried chicken and cornbread"
Mike SmootMay 7, 2017Great food good quality customer service.Ive almost tried everything on the menu so far it's been all good.
Chad BFebruary 23, 2016They're known for their friend chicken, so have them when you're dining here. 😄😋
Fried chicken with a buttermilk waffle. Heavenly! Collard green, cabbage, yam... all the side dishes are delish, too!!
Charlene NaughtonSeptember 19, 2022You should definitely go with fried chicken here. Skip the string beans and opt for the collard greens instead.
Patrick SAugust 28, 2015You can't go wrong with the fried chicken, the short ribs or the blackened snapper.
Don't mess around and just get the fried chicken. Also, a tip for those rare hot days in SF: there's no A/C!- Bennett W WongNovember 3, 2014Chicken and Waffles with Macaroni and Cheese - delicious. Friendly staff and good service.
Ros HodgekissNovember 10, 2014The original down-to-earth bar and BBQ. Treat yourself to fried chicken and all the fixins.- Jessica BaldwinMarch 13, 2013I'm from Alabama, and I think that's the best cornbread. Wish they'd add some fried okra ;)
Alix MorleSeptember 6, 2012The waitress here is a sweetheart, she is super friendly and very efficient. The Hard Knox IPA is pretty decent... Try it!
Tim BolusJune 5, 2013Try the oxtail and some red beans and rice with a side of corn. The cornbread rocks!
AuraFebruary 16, 2014Come on Sunday at 11am for quick seating & great service. They do not take AMEX but Visa & MC.
Rosemarie McKeonJanuary 13, 2013Great spicy chicken sandwich - someone told me to remove the green chilies which kicked it down to a good hot
Connie ChenAugust 17, 2014Corn muffins, freshly squeezed orange juice, Mac n cheese, fried chicken — all legit.
GenieFebruary 1, 2012Do not order the green beans, nor the Cajun meatloaf. The mac & cheese is fine with a hefty shake of Crystal hot sauce. Cornbread? Delicious.
fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, rice and gravy. cron muffins to top it all off. bam!
You're cheating yourself if you don't try the fried chicken. Also, when they have it, the gumbo is fantastic.
Chefs FeedAugust 22, 2014Matt McNamara, chef of Sons & Daughters, eats here on his nights off. He loves the Blackened cat fish. Read more
Nik AhPoDecember 12, 2010the 3-piece fried chicken and Mac and cheese are must haves! although everything else is almost just as amazing.
Try the 3 piece fried chicken with a buttermilk waffle, and sweet tea to wash it down. Good music and service, too.
399 Photos
Foursquare © 2025 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Closed until 11:00 AM (Show more)
- Mon–Sat
- 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
- Sun
- 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
(415) 648-3770
Features
Reservations
No
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Visa & MasterCard)
Wi-Fi
Yes
Outdoor Seating
No
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Dining Options
Bar Service, Take-out, Delivery
Parking
Street
Restroom
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Drinks
Beer, Wine, Full Bar
See More
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- 8.5
"The new brunch menu is awesome. The pork belly sweet potato hash was perfectly luscious."
Kate McKinley - 8.1
"Delicious chicken and amazing waffles are capped nicely with the always fresh fruit salad."
Mauricio A. - 6.9
"Sides are excellent, especially mac and cheese, collards, red beans and rice and black-eyed peas. Bonus: The fried fish is terrific too."
SFGate
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- 9.0
"Extremely solid beer selection. Two nitro taps, underrated local selections like Red Seal, German classics like Bitburger and Erdinger, plus London Porter and more."
Matt R - 9.1
"The food is really good, very tasty, excellent chef"
Andy Rayner - 8.6
"Great drinks. Unpretentious staff. Love this place! Good thing I live right around the corner"
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