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    Hard Knox Cafe

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

    Order Hard Knox Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Hard Knox Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    HARD KNOX CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    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!

    Oxtails

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    2 months ago

    Food is great. But placed my order for jambalaya with rice and got pasta delivered to me. at least they got me condiments this time!

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    Hard Knox Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hard Knox Cafe

    Do they deliver?

    Only thru services not in house

    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 6 Questions

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    We had to wait in line at 9am for about 15 minutes, but once we were seated in this cute & casual…read morediner, we had a most delightful breakfast. The coffee was strong but smooth without any trace of bitterness. My omelette came with the best & most crispy hashbrowns I've had in a long time. The veggies in the omelette were plentiful & fresh & the salad was a healthy & tasty accompaniment. My side chicken sausage was ample & tasty with grill marks. Mom loved her toast, salmon & hash browns as well. Yvonne did a great job taking care of our table & she was also hostessing & helping to bus tables! Wow! I'm sad this place is not in my home town because if it was, I'd be a regular!! Peace.

    We ordered the chicken tenders & fries appetizer and the BBQ wings platter, and both were…read moreabsolutely delicious. The service was exceptional from the moment we walked through the doors. It was around 8:30 p.m., and after passing by this spot several times and checking out the menu, we finally decided to give it a try. We're so glad we did! The restaurant itself is beautiful, with warm, inviting decor and wonderful pictures of San Francisco throughout the space. It feels like the perfect romantic setting for a date night or anniversary celebration, and equally great for enjoying fantastic food and drinks with friends and family. They have three tv screens so we were lucky to catch a futbol game during our meal. Highly recommended!

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    Dinning Area
    Dinning Area
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    Dining room
    Four Chairs

    Four Chairs

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    Takes reservations
    Large group friendly

    I ordered the Creme Brulee French Toast and K-Bomb Benny to share with my girlfriend. This is my…read moresecond time dining and it was for my birthday. I can say this is the spot for delicious asian american fusion brunch that left me really happy throughout the day. Creme Brulee French Toast 5/5 Perfectly balanced sweetness. I could eat this all day without getting tired. K-Bomb Benny 5/5 Very crispy fried chicken that's also tender and juicy. The sauce is so tasty. Runny eggs and fluffy potatoes. Service 3.5/5 Very slow in terms of trying to get an order in, paying for my tab which I had tried eyeing or waving down a server or asking for small things like napkins. I could see that they're understaffed and wished they hired more help. I'd still come back for their brunch. Ambience 3.8/5 From our seating it felt very crammed, since we could literally hear the conversation of the table next to us. It also does get loud since it's very busy. I also think their tables are quite small for the condiments and plates, which I'm glad my partner and I didn't order another dish. These are just stuff to beware of. They do have beautiful wooden panels on the wall to look at. I highly recommend having brunch here and will be coming back when I'm in the area.

    Went here with friends on a Saturday afternoon and it was packed!! Luckily the line went by pretty…read morequickly Pacific Sunrise 8.5/10 -the sauce was good! would have liked a stronger tom yum flavor though as it just tasted like a slightly more spicy hollandaise -the amount of smoked salmon was good and really complimented the flavor of the hollandaise sauce Breakfast Chorizo 9/10 -solid burrito!! I personally appreciate the amount of sour cream in the burrito and the meat and cheese were evenly distributed throughout. -the potatoes were also crispy but could use a little bit more seasoning Mascarpone Pancake 9/10 - loved this dish!! the pancakes were fluffy and of a good size. I would have liked if the mascarpone was evenly spread between the layers and not in a circle. Overall: 9.5/10! -worth the wait! service was good and food came out in a timely manner. definitely will be coming back!

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    Chipotle Benedict, Mascarpone Pancake, & Chicken Apple Scramble
    Chipotle Benedict, Mascarpone Pancake, & Chicken Apple Scramble
    Four Chairs
    K-bomb chicken benny

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    Plow

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    Came for the ricotta pancakes and they did not disappoint! Highly recommend the plow as it has 2…read morelemon ln ricotta pancakes with potatoes eggs and choice of protein (we got bacon)! We also got the custard French toast which was soooo good. It would have been too sweet on its own for me but with the plow it was perfect! This is such a great brunch spot and the reason you will wait even 30 minutes on a Tuesday at 10am. Weekends get wild so plan accordingly. No reservation system! Lots of lovely outdoor and indoor seating! Great ambiance in portero hills. Will be coming back. Worth the wait!!!

    It seems the stars just keep lowering each time I come . ANY time I am in the city, I subject…read morewhoever I'm with to the wait with the promise that it will all be worth it. I fear this time, it was not. We waited 1.5 hours and honored our request to not sit directly in the sun but ended up sitting us VERY closely to the table next week to us. When my bf went to the restroom, it almost felt like I was with the other party. Not a sentence goes unheard. I get you are busy but don't ruin the experience for guests! Give us some space to breathe! Especially outside !!! The food itself was mediocre this time around. I kept bragging about the crispy potatoes but it didn't taste the same as the 7 times I've come before. Not crispy at all. The biscuit was also more of a crumbly coffee cake rather than a flaky biscuit. And not enough butter! The only thing that was still a 10/10 was the lemon ricotta pancakes. I'm sad that I will no longer be coming here but maybe it's time to start going somewhere with reservations!

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    Indoor ambiance
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    Buttermilk biscuit
    Buttermilk biscuit
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    Hard Knox Cafe - soulfood - Updated August 2026

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