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Hard Knox Cafe on Clement Street, San Francisco, CA

Hard Knox Cafe on Clement Street

4.9
4.9
153 Reviews
$30 and under
Southern

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 1 time today
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Innovative
  • Good for groups
Hard Knox Café offers San Francisco diners the best in southern home-style cooking. It is sometimes said that someone has gotten their education from the school of “hard knocks” meaning one born from experience rather than classroom training. Southern cooking is much like that as it is most often learned from family and growing up southern rather than a culinary course. Southern cooking also means lots of stick-to-your-ribs goodness and great hospitality. Both are in great supply at the Hard Knox Café. Great soul food like gumbo, po-boys (shrimp or catfish), pulled pork, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, oxtails, BBQ ribs and fried chicken are good for what ails you. Catering services are also offered by the Hard Knox Café.

Dining areas

Additional information

What 153 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Neighborhood gem

  • San Francisco

    Best Overall

  • San Francisco

    Kid-friendly

  • San Francisco

    Neighborhood gem

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Hard Knox Cafe on Clement Street delights with its "amazing hospitality" and "exceptionally wonderful service." The "delicious food" includes standout dishes like fried chicken, waffles, and flavorful Southern sides. The outdoor dining option and friendly atmosphere make it a perfect spot for family gatherings or casual outings.

153 Reviews
  1. Jeannie VIP

    San Francisco31 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This place is full of heartwarming flavors of Southern comfort food. Definitely a neighborhood gem. Every bite feels like a warm hug from home. The menu was full of classic favorites and the service team was friendly and attentive. They checked in with us often, perhaps a bit too often however, their dedication was not disappointing. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance of kindness and wit, offering a welcoming space for laughter and great conversation. It’s the kind of place where delicious food meets delightful company, making our visit a memorable one. The corn muffins are out of this world, adding butter and honey. The fried chicken was crispy, moist and flavorful on the inside. BBQ pull pork sandwich was perfect, tender, tangy and sweet. Side dishes were macaroni & cheese and collard greens, prepared just right. Parking can be a challenge, street and meter parking. They accept reservations through OpenTable.

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  2. Kathie

    San Francisco144 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on January 14, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always wonderful service, deliciously made and served comfort food. Thank you for yet another enjoyable experience.

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  3. Paul VIP

    San Francisco32 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on January 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice surprise of a good restaurant in that part of town in SF. And it was worth it. Delicious!

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  4. John

    San Francisco48 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on January 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    This is a down home kinda restaurant that is very good at what it does. When you're in the mood for Southern (or even Cajun/Creole) cooking, come here! We enjoyed blackened catfish with corn muffins and other delicious sides. Already want to come back to try some of the other sides they offer, hushpuppies, and - for a real indulgence, maybe after a trail race someday - fried chicken and waffles! Our server was warm, patient, and knowledgeable. She seemed to truly enjoy providing Southern hospitality.

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  5. J. Alan

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on December 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The server Jake was great. We ate at the Dog Patch location (last day open) The food was exceptional. I am looking forward to visiting the Clement location in the future. All the best to the owners and staff at Hard Knox. Merry Christmas. Thank you!

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  6. Nicole VIP

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on December 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding comfort food! Large portions! Excellent service by Wilbur!

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  7. Robert VIP

    New York City19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on December 22, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food. Have gone here for years. Best fried chicken in town. Good service and reasonable prices 👍

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  8. Daniel

    Hawaii1 review

    5.0

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Service and food good as always. Chicken and waffles excellent.

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  9. Laura

    San Francisco1 review

    4.0

    Dined on November 20, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    First time at Hard Knox Cafe. We chose it because of the reviews and its proximity to the Legion of Honor. We met my niece and nephew and the staff was very accomodating of guest arriving at different times. The food arrived quickly and was very hot which was terrific. The portions are very generous and we had dinner the next night on the leftovers. The food was flavorful without being spicy. We ordered fried chicken dinner with yam fries and salad; ribs with corn and coleslaw; spicy fried chicken with collard greens and another vegetable; and a pulled pork sandwich with fries. We all enjoyed our food and will definitely be returning.

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  10. Kathie

    San Francisco144 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on November 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always wonderfully prepared comfort food , served with a smile and a bit of conversation. A wonderful neighborhood main-stay!

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FAQs

Hard Knox Cafe on Clement Street does offer delivery in partnership with Chow Now. Hard Knox Cafe on Clement Street also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 752-3770.

Hard Knox Cafe on Clement Street is rated 4.9 stars by 153 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 1 time today
Google Map for Hard Knox Cafe on Clement Street

2448 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Southern, Comfort Food, Soul food
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 11:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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