If you’re in the mood for some authentic soul food, Hard Knox Cafe is a great place to get your fix.
Located in the Dogpatch area of San Francisco, Hard Knox is a small, unpretentious diner nestled among bland industrial buildings. Once you walk though the door though, you’ll be struck by the warmly-lit space filled with kitschy signs all over the corrugated walls and a friendly, welcoming staff.
The menu is simple and straightforward. There’s a variety of sandwiches and over a dozen old-fashioned Southern-style entrees. The sandwiches all sounded tasty but when I realized the entrees came with cornbread, I knew the sandwiches would have to wait for another day. Their cornbread is delicious and I was sold after my first bite. You will become a fan too after experiencing these warm, moist muffins with just the right amount of crust on top. Good thing everyone gets two!
Their fried chicken is notable and you can request white or dark meat. I decided to try their country fried steak as I haven’t had any in years and it did not disappoint. But then again, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with fried food in my book. For those of you who are more health conscious, there are some slightly lighter options like the BBQ ribs or meatloaf. Honestly though, if you want to eat healthy, you probably shouldn’t go to Hard Knox as the words “fried” and “smothered” appeared quite frequently on the menu.
The sides are varied and cover the usual gamut of Southern options. I had the the yams and the buttery collard greens, and also sampled the mashed potatoes and corn. Everything hit the spot and I was reminded of when I was in Georgia and ate massive amounts of soul food.
The only real disappointment on the menu was that they did not have any form of sweet tea. If you’re not a tea fan or have not had actual sweet tea in the deep South, then you don’t know what you are missing. I tried emptying a lot of sugar packets into the regular iced tea, but it just wasn’t the same.
The sandwiches start at $6 and the entrees top off at $13 so you can enjoy an affordable lunch or dinner here. Unfortunately there are no drink refills but they do stock an impressive amount of Thomas Kemper and Stewart’s sodas.
Although the restaurant is small, it’s a great place to go to with a group of friends. Bring big appetites and be prepared to share food as well as steal from your neighbor’s plate. All the dishes look tempting and the plentiful availability of butter only adds to the overall enjoyment. Your waistline might not thank you the next day but your mouth will be glad you went to Hard Knox.
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Hard Knox Cafe2526 3rd StreetSan Francisco, CA 94107(415) 648-3770www.hardknoxcafe.com