Since my son had a swarm of swim meets plus daily practice time in the pool 90 minutes to 3 hours,…read moreI gifted him my Groupon hot stone massage. He'd never had a massage and Castro Star Massage mostly has staff who speak Mandarin. Language gap for me/opportunity for him, win-win! Problem is, this is a much more expensive habit than his sinking into an Epsom salt bath at home! Castro Star Massage is a small, no-frills space; they can accommodate drop-ins if you happen to time it right.

Avoid at all costs. This place is a joke…read more They did not speak any English, their credit card machine did not work, tried to pay using Venmo and they did not know the last 4 digits of the phone number connected to the account. Five minutes into the Massage he used Google translate to ask me if he should apply pressure to my bladder - I think he meant spine,but still it got me thinking what type of massage I was going to receive. Another customer kept asking for less pressure and they did not understand the word. My person went out to help her pay, the woman giving the other massage came in and started working on me, but with the type of pressure you would apply to dry a car after washing it! Absolute disaster. Be warned.

Today was my second time going here, this time with a friend, and we both loved it. The service is…read moregreat, everyone was so nice. The services are more than affordable and it is great. We got 60 minute Swedish massages and they massage your head, face, and full body. They do cupping and hot rocks as well. Great experience.

A lot of fake reviews by friends…read more I made 2 hours reservation with JP. He was not there when I arrived and almost got baited and switched. After insisting on getting JP. He showed up after a little while. When I tried to tell him where my problem is, where it hurts, his first response was, "shhh dont talk so loud". Really ? Okay this is already a huge red flag. After 2 hours of him massaging me and using hot stone without my permission. My pain did not improve even a little bit! Why ? Because he didnt take the time to listen to me, where my pain is. He did not know any pressure points, he did not try to feel out where the muscle knots are. I was in constant pain while he massaged the wrong areas. He did not care and the massage session was over. Horrible stay away. Beware of all these fake 5 star reviews by his chinese friends. This is not someone who knows what he is doing. Just another scammer from China.

Parking isn't the easiest here, but at least street parking is free in the neighborhood. I had no…read moreproblem booking a massage days in advance via phone call. I got the 70-minute combo massage, which includes both foot and back treatment. This occurs in the shared community space with clothes on. I was the only one there on a Saturday late afternoon, no other customers present during my session, and I'm pretty sure my masseur (possibly the owner) was the only worker on site. He had his phone closeby during the massage, which he checked once when it beeped. But he ignored it the rest of the time. Soft music played in the background, but all of the sounds from the street outside and through the walls could still be heard. I didn't mind, cuz the massage was really good which is what matters most to me. My masseur had a unique method of applying pressure and strength, using mainly elbows and knees on my back. Be aware that the back massage was done over a fairly thick sheet/blanket, but the pressure was deep enough to be effective. He was thorough, especially on my legs and feet. Targeted my hamstrings, shins, and outer muscles of the legs which is where I needed it most. The fast rubbing made me a bit numb, but when he slowed down, I was on cloud nine. And he applied pressure to all the right parts of each foot, too. None of it was painful. It didn't feel rushed either, so this place gives a true "foot massage". The guy was friendly, and prefers cash payments, but I only had enough cash for a tip. I was able pay with a credit card for the massage itself, with an additional $2 fee for the charge.

Been seeing Tommy for 3 years now, which is crazy to think about. One word for Tommy- healer…read more Truly. It seems like he can exactly feel where I'm most in need of relief. Forever grateful to him for helping me feel better when my back is hurting. I've gotten massages from others here and those were great to, but Tommy is the guy. Dude deserves a raise. Service is always great, friendly staff, and just overall a great place to go on my day off after a long work week. Thanks Tommy!

Had a great massage with Anthiwat. I booked it last minute glad to discover a new placeread more

I got the Deep Flow: Thai-Inspired Bodywork for 1 hour. My masseuse targeted all the spots I asked…read morefor and she was working with a lot of intention. They gave me tea before and after the massage. Great service, a comfortable space, I will definitely go again!

Very good massage for deep tissue and an excellent value. My girlfriend and I each had a 90 minute…read moremassage for $105 each and it was a good value. Not much atmosphere though - no light music and no scent.

My masseuse focused on my lower back as requested and was attentive throughout my 90 min full body…read morewith firm pressure. My masseuse spoke English and was professional and friendly. Their facility is clean, no frills with private rooms, and prices are comparable or average to other reflexology services in the area. Offered a small water bottle after session and they prefer cash for tips. I plan on returning and treating myself to sushi next door after my next session. Best to call ahead for an appointment.

It was a great experience receiving a Thai Aroma Massage at Iyara Traditional Thai Massage. From…read morethe moment I arrived, the check-in process was smooth and efficient. I appreciated being able to identify specific areas of concern on their client intake form, which helped personalize the treatment. The massage room was clean, spacious, and relaxing, with a pleasant aroma throughout the space that enhanced the overall atmosphere. My therapist, Paula, focused on all the areas that needed attention and applied the right amount of pressure throughout the session. The massage was incredibly relaxing, and the time seemed to fly by. After the session, I felt refreshed, relieved, and much more relaxed. I highly recommend Iyara Traditional Thai Massage, and I look forward to returning for another treatment.

I'm originally from Thailand and I'm also a massage addict! I have been looking for Thai massage…read moreplace that can give the ambient that is the closest to Thailand, so I can feel like home again :) and Iyara never disappointed me on that! I brought a friend with me as well this time :) I really need to spot on some parts of my body because I went to the gym last Saturday and practiced my yoga yesterday plus a very long day at work today, I finally got a great treat for myself! I usually go to the one on Geary and this is my first time trying this location. The interior was so great! The paintings, the decorations, the music, the lightings, the mood and feel are amazing! It does really create an ambient that I can feel like home! Thank you so much for that! My masseur's name is Fon! She is amazing! If you really need a massage that really focused on trouble spot that you have, you won't be disappointed with Fon! Her skill is great. I requested the pressure to be Gentle to Medium because I really need that and she did great! Her pressure is so good! Not too strong but also not too gentle. It is just perfect for me! My friend's masseur's name is Tara. My friend told me that she was great too! But I really recommended Fon if you are looking for some cure for specific spot! I gave her tips to express my gratitude as well :)) She really deserved it!! Highly recommended for athletes and gym sharks! :)

Just had one of the best massages I've experienced. I came in looking for a walk-in massage in…read moreJapantown because I'd been dealing with shoulder pain for the past few weeks that was even causing migraines. When I arrived, the neighboring business let me know the owner would be right back, and after about a 5-minute wait, Jan welcomed me in. As soon as I explained what had been bothering me, she immediately knew what to focus on. She carefully assessed where my muscles were tight and customized the entire 30-minute massage to target those areas. I also tried the cupping service, and she thoroughly explained that some bruising afterward was completely normal. Throughout the session, I felt genuinely cared for and listened to. Some of the pressure was painful at times, but it was the kind of pain that felt necessary and effective. By the end, I felt incredibly relieved as my pain points were finally addressed, and I walked out feeling so much better. I'll definitely be coming back and making this part of my regular routine.

This place is very mediocre. We got the foot reflexology, and it was just fine. The place is kind…read moreof grimy/very bare bones. I think if you desperately need a cheap foot massage, this is not a bad place to come, but if you're expecting any understanding of pressure points/a nicer experience, then this is absolutely not it.

I had a fantastic Deep Tissue massage (55 min) here with Tanya! I set the bar high coming in…read morebecause I wanted to see if most all my body could get some TLC in just 55 min, and Tanya did an awesome job of covering all the areas and covering them really well. I was very happily surprised! She was great at applying strong pressure throughout and really working at the knots in my back (I didn't know there were so many, but she found them)!! At the end, I definitely felt looser and more relaxed. It had been a while since my last deep tissue so I was also so so sore, but that was only more proof that she really got in there! I enjoyed my massage so much that I came back later that week :) I didn't get the name of my masseuse that time, but she was similarly wonderful! Aside from the actual massage, I love the use of the hot towels at the end. It's a great way to soak up the oil they use and it's also really relaxing. The vibe of the place is very cute and calming. One note is that the room walls don't go all the way up to the ceiling. I didn't find this an issue because they are usually very quiet in the lobby, and I personally can't zone out anyway during a deep tissue, but just something to note if you think that will affect your experience! Finally, the staff are all so thoughtful, welcoming, and sweet. Last-minute reservations are usually possible, which is a huge plus for me. I highly recommend this place!!

I get massages every 2-3 weeks to help with neck and shoulder tension from being at a desk job all…read moreday, so I appreciate firm pressure and massage therapists who can feel out exactly where you need work with very little direction from you. I tried Crown Thai on a recent visit to SF from NYC, and loved my experience with Tanya! I usually avoid Asian massage parlors because they use too much pressure on the wrong parts of my back, don't seem to intuitively know where to target, and don't ask questions about desired pressure or target areas as they go. Tanya made sure to ask if I wanted my back walked on beforehand (thank goodness because I really don't like that!) and, after she asked about target areas, gave me the best deep tissue neck and shoulder massage that ironed out my knots but was relaxing enough that I fell asleep! Head massage was also superb! It was a perfect balance of muscle work and de-stressing. Their homemade ginger oil left a nice lingering tingle on my neck and shoulders while she worked on the rest of my body. $175 for 85 mins for this quality in this neighborhood: A+++