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    Hard Knox Cafe

    3.8 (2.1k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Hard Knox Cafe Takeout or Delivery

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    HARD KNOX CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Hard Knox Cafe

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    Stef M.

    I've been going to this place for a long time .When ever I feel like some heavy comfort food that's close this is it . I do not do Uber Eats. The service is fair usually good workers. The place has a sort of southern decoration it's clean and welcoming. They have a nice breakfast Benedict s my favorite and a few other high cholesterol treats . So once in a while I'm here . Like last night open only till 9 but that's what it is . They have a steady run of daytime clients like regulars that enjoy their food . The parking is really hit and miss but not too bad . Prices have gone up recently on the items I like but that's life . They also have a tasty beautiful pear salad with a little blue cheese if your in to a healthier alternative

    Fried Chicken plate with sides
    Robin H.

    Staff was friendly and inviting. Ordered the fried chicken with sides of red beans and rice and Mac and cheese. Came with a side of cornbread. Chicken was hot and great! Red beans and rice were also quite tasty. Wasn't a fan of the Mac but my taste buds have been off lately so I will chock it up to that. It was too much food and staff suggested on a future visit to order ala Carte and customize. Would definitely go that on a return visit.

    Oxtails, mac & cheese and greens
    Marquitta H.

    Let me start my review off on a positive note, the staff is really friendly and nice. However, that's about the only positive thing I can say about this restaurant. I ordered takeout after searching for soul food and most restaurants were closed. I seen that they were open. I live in the East Bay so I took a drive after seeing the pictures on yelp of their food. I ordered the oxtails mac & cheese, greens, fried chicken, yams, and red beans and rice. I have never had anything like this before. I wouldn't consider this soul food. The flavors were really off the mac & cheese taste like it had nacho cheese on it. It was just not good to me. I didn't like anything that I ordered.

    Jambalaya over linguine
    Glenmarie J.

    Parking was a headache. Once we found parking, we had to walk about one block which wasn't bad at all. We were greeted and seated in a timely manner. Was seated in a comfy booth, but lighting was a bit too dim for us. There were some tables that had different brightness in light so not all tables had the same lighting. Our server was kind and attentive, checked on us a couple of times and refilled our beverages without being flagged down. EVERYTHING we ordered was delicious and my kids were very vocal on how they enjoyed their dinner. We also have alot of leftovers for tomorrow.

    Chicken & Waffle 2 orders  @rosyeatssj
    Rosalind W.

    Came in for Sunday dinner. Was greeted and seated immediately. Loved the decor. Service was very friendly. We enjoyed: Hush puppies Chicken & waffles Fried chicken with Mac n cheese and fries Oxtails with collard greens and rice & gravy Country fried steak with candied yams and collard greens All the meals were served with corn muffins. The corn muffins were soo good. Oxtails were fall off the bone tender. Large portions for sides.

    oxtails with mac and cheese and collards
    Geri S.

    Friendly service is foremost at Hard Knox on Clement Street. We are welcomed and seated and served warm corn muffins with delicious fried chicken, oxtails, and shrimp po'boy...generous sides of green salad, collard greens, mac and cheese, red beans and rice to satisfy our lunch appetites. The menu entices us with breakfast favorites...corned beef hash, CFS - chicken fried steak, and chicken with waffle for another visit.

    Corn meal muffins
    Donna L.

    Eight of us came for lunch. The corn meal muffins were nice, but wasn't fresh out of the oven. Most ordered the fried chicken. We thought the chickens were pretty small. My oxtail was pretty big for 2 pieces. The catfish looked good too. It's a lot of food so everyone took half their meal home. Our waitress Susan was so friendly. I didn't know you can ask for certain pieces of fried chicken - like all wings or 2 thighs and a leg. She also offered gravy for the fried pork chop and kept coming by to refill our hot water with lemon. An excellent dining experience!

    Yuri P.

    A very interesting place! Atmospheric in its own way. At first glance, the interior doesn't really stand out, but after the first bite, you start to sink into the experience and see everything from a completely different perspective. The food is delicious, and the staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended.

    Candied yams
    Brian G.

    This is the spot for comfort food. Soul food always hits, just be ready to work off those calories from all the fried stuff and rich foods. Here's how I rate all the dishes I've tried. Hush puppies: B Cajun shrimp balls: C Mostly rice. Shrimp flavor is there but pieces of shrimp are not noticable. Gumbo soup: B Chicken fried steak: B Cornbread: A- Candied yams: A Mashed and heavy on the cinnamon and sugar. Loved how this tastes, although it's almost like a dessert! Collard greens: A- These taste great and are super tender and umami. Mac n cheese: B- Pretty cheesy, macaroni was quite soft. Potato salad: C- Too sweet for my preference. Amazing service every time we've been to this location. Huge portions too!

    BBQ Pork Spareribs Black-Eyed Peas & Rice with yams.
    Nichole B.

    Walked in and everyone that worked there greeted us as well as helping us figure out how to put our name in the list and where to wait. They checked on us frequently (we only had to wait 15mins on a Saturday night) they sat us and helped us with the menu right away. If there's one thing you MUST try it's the GUMBO!!!!!!!!!!! Do not miss out!!!!!!!!! We didn't even get a picture of it because we devoured it so quickly lol. All the food was incredible. I need to go back asap. The whole inside has a classic look to it and makes you feel like you're right at home. A big thanks to our server Nora who treated us like VIPs

    Corn Muffins
    Laila K.

    This is one of my long time favorite spots in the city! Discovered it about 10 years ago. Perfectly nestled in the central Richmond neighborhood, blocks away from the stunning Baker Beach. It's a cute and small spot but still spacious. They now have some outdoor patio seating as well which is lovely on a sunny day. The service is always a hit. Yesterday my server was fantastic and made sure I was well taken care of the entire time. The food is the reason I keep coming back - those corn bread muffins are out of this world!! With some melted butter on top, they are to die for. The fried chicken is perfectly crispy and juicy, and the waffles are made just right. If you're ever in the area and in the mood for Southern cooking, I'd highly recommend Hard Knox.

    Fried Catfish, Red Beans & Rice, Collard Greens, Hushpuppies
    Emanuel L.

    It was a gut punch learning the 3rd St. location had closed. So, I took my valentine to the Clement St. location. Pains me to say it, but this was a complete let down. We both got fried catfish. Catfish 2.5outta5 Fried perfectly but had no seasoning Collard greens 2.5outta5 tender cook but no flavor & lukewarm Red beans & rice 2.5outta5 No seasoning Hushpuppies 4outta5 nice cook, nice flavor Potato Salad 1outta5 Bell peppers, diced onions, grainy potatoes, a very off-putting bite. We've never had potato salad like this. It's not a southern recipe. We passed. Cornbread muffins 4outta5 Attentive & prompt service, chill atmosphere but the food left a lot to be desired. No comparison to 3rd St. It could've been an off day for the kitchen.

    Corn bread
    Kaela N.

    Went to Hard Knox after work and had some amazing comfort food! I went around 6pm on a weekend and there was no rush. Although there is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. There are TVs if you wanted to watch a game and have some good comfort food. I love the portions--well worth the price. Not only do you get to pick what types of cuts for the chicken but you get two generous portions of sides (I got macaroni and collard greens) and the best part, two warm corn bread muffins. I will definitely come back!

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    Hard Knox Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hard Knox Cafe

    Is hard Knox Cafe on clement closed? I see recent reviews.

    No they're open for pick up but hours are different than what's listed on google. I ordered from them Friday 7/17.

    I just found out about this place. I'm originally from Texas, this is the kind of food I grew up eating. Any recommendations?

    Yes, my husband also grew up in Texas eating this stuff. Oxtail!

    How spicy is the etouffee?

    Mildly spiced but not spicy hot

    View All 5 Questions

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    Brenda's French Soul Food

    4.2(12.8k reviews)
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    I still love Brenda's!!!!!!!…read more I haven't been back in a few years, but I am happy to report: they are still just as great! It was my daughter's first time and she loved it just as much as I did. We came during restaurant week so we decided to get the Creole Sampler so she could try a bunch of different items. (Sampler included red beans and rice, collard greens, fried catfish, hush puppies, plain beignet and gumbo). We also ordered the beignet flight and shrimp and grits. Plenty of food for the 2 of us, plus we had left overs. I can't not order the shrimp and grits. It's just so damn good! It's so rich and flavorful! It came out SUPER hot. Grits and cheese still bubbling. My daughter and I were both surprised she liked the collard greens. She's usually not a fan. She also liked the red beans and rice and she doesn't usually like beans either. That just goes to show how amazing the food is here! We came in around 4something pm on a rainy Sunday. There weren't many people there, but by the time we left it was more than half full. Service was friendly, and there was a band playing, which was a nice touch.

    I am speechless! I saw the rave reviews for Brenda's French Soul Food and had to try them out for…read moremyself. And, my goodness, I was not disappointed. Let me start with the star of the show - the Shrimp & Grits. The flavors blended so well I did a little dance in my seat. Creamy, savory and delicious! I will be dreaming about the Shrimp and Grits from now on. The Bananas Foster French Toast melted in my mouth. So yummy. I wasn't a fan of the Crawfish Beignets. It was something about the flavor of the red powder/ seasoning that left me underwhelmed. All in all, one of my favorite stops while I was in town.

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    Dining area and entrance

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    Touch of Soul - Oxtails Thursday was on point

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    We were in the Bay area for a getaway, and we really wanted some good soul food, especially after…read morebeing disappointed by going to Y's Choice Soul Food Restaurant, the day before. Touch of Soul Soul Food Restaurant delivered one of the best comfort‑food experiences we have had in a long time. Every dish tasted like it was made with care, tradition, and a whole lot of love. The catfish was perfectly seasoned with a crispy golden crust and tender, flaky meat inside. The chicken wings were just as impressive --well‑seasoned, juicy, and cooked to perfection. The sides were the real stars, though. The yams were rich and buttery with just the right amount of sweetness. The potato salad was creamy and flavorful without being heavy. The greens had that slow‑cooked, soulful taste you can't fake, and the macaroni and cheese was exactly what mac and cheese should be--cheesy, comforting, and baked just right. And those corn muffins? Soft, warm, and the perfect finishing touch. From start to finish, the meal felt like a true home‑cooked experience. If you're looking for soul food that hits every note--flavor, comfort, and authenticity--Touch of Soul is absolutely worth the visit. The foot is priced just right, especially in today's economy. One last thing, the service was AWESOME!!!!

    My experience with this restaurant has been inconsistent, but my most recent catering order was…read moreextremely disappointing. The first time I visited, it was late in the evening and they had already sold out of several items. The food I did try was average at best--about a 2.5/5. The second time, I went with someone who knew the owner, and the experience was completely different. Everything was excellent--easily a 5/5. Based on that visit, I felt confident enough to place a large catering order for a Black History Month event at my job. I ordered yams, dressing with gravy, greens, mac & cheese, fried catfish, fried chicken, cornbread, peach cobbler, and German chocolate cake. The total came to $590, which I paid immediately after confirming via text. I requested that the food be ready by 2 PM since the event started at 3 PM. When I arrived, nothing was ready. There was also confusion about my order--they initially only prepared one dessert, even though I was charged for both cobbler and cake. I had to show proof of my order to resolve that. As the food slowly became available, I was handed trays one at a time with no assistance, meaning I had to carry everything to my car by myself. On top of that, the cornbread I ordered was never provided. The food wasn't fully ready until around 3 PM, which caused delays for my event. Unfortunately, the quality didn't match my previous experience either. The fried catfish pieces were extremely small--more like nuggets than full portions. The dressing was undercooked and even had large turkey bones in it, which was unacceptable. The greens had excessive liquid, which I had to drain before transporting them. Overall, this was a frustrating and disappointing experience. Order accuracy was a 1/5, timeliness and service (including lack of assistance) was a 1/5, and food quality was about a 2.5/5. Based on this experience, I will not be returning. For catering orders or anything from a local soul food restaurant I'd highly recommend Ys Choice.

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    Touch of Soul - Kanaani was nothing short of amazing, working the entire counter herself with such grace and professionalism!!!!

    Kanaani was nothing short of amazing, working the entire counter herself with such grace and professionalism!!!!

    Touch of Soul - 2way combo with greens and red beans and rice !

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    Old Skool Cafe - Our Family Meal is a great deal! 2, 4, or 6 entrees, plus sides and dessert!

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    Hard Knox Cafe - soulfood - Updated May 2026

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