Tommy's Joynt

Brought the entire extended clan to try this San Francisco classic hoffbrau. Our group ordered a variety of plate dinners...the pastrami, the beef brisket, and the corned beef. We also ordered a pastrami sandwich on a French roll and the Roasted chicken dinner (Sunday special). We even had a couple of especially hungry individuals who ordered slices of cheesecake for dessert. The masses were appeased!

I heard this phrase repeated throughout our meal..."I've seen/driven past this place a million times and I always wondered what it was." Well, now we all know. I cannot add say any more great things about this "joynt" that has not already been said. If you enjoy a hearty meal where you get all the bang for your buck...try Tommy's Joynt and experience a part of San Francisco's history!

Nestled in the heart of San Francisco, Tommy's Joynt is a revered institution. However, my recent visit left me with mixed feelings. While the brisket dinner plate and sloppy joe were satisfying, they didn't quite dazzle my taste buds.

Service was adequate, but what really caught my attention was the menu--unfortunately, not for the right reasons. Its layout was surprisingly challenging to navigate, which detracted from the overall dining experience.

One notable aspect was the surcharge for using cards, which was a bit unexpected and somewhat off-putting. Despite these shortcomings, Tommy's Joynt remains a quintessential San Francisco experience, albeit one with room for improvement.

I only tried the sandwiches (pastrami and brisket) it was okay... it's no Katz deli but the Au Jus was nice! Wish they had pickles for the sandwiches. meat was a bit dry for both without dipping in the au jus.

But for the price and if ur craving it, then it's good. Everyone inside was eating the oxtail pasta... I should have gotten that. It looked and smelled good.

This place is so camp. Lovely vibes, the baked beans hit. I am vegetarian so I just got a cheese sammitch and it was tasty LOL. It's cheap too. and we had a beer. This place is fun y'all should pull up

I thoroughly enjoyed this meal. My fiance and I shared 2 plates, spaghetti and meatballs, which are all beef, as well as the lean brisket plate with mashed potatoes and baked beans. Both entrees come with a sourdough dinner roll. I was blown away by how delicious everything was. The meatballs were decently sized and broke apart very easily, the spaghetti was not mushy and was cooked perfectly, which is something that I often struggle to find when dining out for spaghetti. They cut the brisket in front of you and slice it very thin, coating it all in barbecue.
The inside is dark with very low lights. There are 2 service sides, one for food and one for the bar. All the staff was very friendly and engaged with all the customers.
I will be honest I was not expecting to like this place, but ended up loving it. The vibe is very cozy with hot homestyle meals.

My husband and stopped here for lunch. We thought the outside of the restaurant was very interesting and we waited for 15 minutes outside for the restaurant to open. The place is dimly lit and has a lot of interesting things to look at. The food courter is right inside the door and is serviced Hofbrau style.

The men working there were all really nice and the service was good. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the food.

We ordered turkey sandwiches that came with a cup of Au Jus on the side, which I thought was kind of odd. After taking one bit of the sandwiches I understood the need for the au jus.

This was the driest sandwich I have ever tasted. At first I thought the roll might be causing the dryness, so I took the sandwich apart thinking I'd just eat the turkey. The turkey had zero moisture in it and was completely dried out. I try pouring the au jus over the turkey meat but nothing could save this sandwich. I left the sandwich there and I hope it got the proper burial in the trash can that it deserved.

This place might be okay if you're looking for a cheap drink, but I cannot recommend the food here.

Starving at lunch time. Smelled the aroma of bbq.near geary and van ness. I've walked passed many times and looked at their specials. Lamb shank on Tuesdays. Walked in and saw their slim plate. Asked what's good and he said brisket and roast beef. The slim plates $13.50 didn't include daily specials. Decided on brisket slim plate. Got at least five big slices, mash potato with gravy, green beans, and a sourdough bun. Ahh. Smelled really good. Went to catch the bus. A big dog got on the bus and he immediately went for my box of food. He literally licked my hand and the box. Luckily the owner got him away from me and my hot box of food. Got to work and was so happy with food. Got two meals out of that box.

Tommy's is an SF icon. We were lucky enough to find free street parking on a late Sunday afternoon. Area is not the best, so if you are a tourist definitely remember to not leave any valuables in your car.

The decor is a vibe in and off itself. Nostalgia everywhere! Service was super friendly and helpful- meats are carved to order & the sides are always solid. Don't forget to get the complimentary pickles out of the huge pickle jar when you're paying at the counter!

I live for places like Tommy's that have been around forever, yet haven't steered from the standards that gave given their restaurant longevity. If you're in the downtown SF area, definitely stop in!

Yeah, I gave this place 5 stars because it deserves it. Tommys Joynt is that hole in the wall that I love. Rainy cold day, hot Tommys meal just hits the spot.

I call it the poor man's House of Prime Rib. Tastes just as good, half the price, less pretentious crowd, and they have a full service bar.

In a world of posers, Tommys is legit.

I have lived in the SF Bay Area for over 40 years. I have driven by Tommy's Joynt 100's of times while ok Van Ness Ave and have always wondered what it was like in here. Yesterday, prior to attending a gig at the Great American Music Hall, where I saw the Swans, I finally got here.

I enjoyed the experience. TJ has great music, mostly classic soul. When we walked in, "Kiss and Say Goodbye" by The Manhattans was being played. Totaled set the right vibe.

Food wise, TJ offers precooked items and you order from one person who scoops up what you want, puts it on a plate, gives you a tray and then you pay the man next to him, sit down and eat.

The Standard Dinner costs about $17.99. With that, you get 6 ounces of meat and two sides.

I had the Roast Beef with mash green beans, potatoes & gravy and was not disappointed. Did not have a ton of flavor but was hearty though could have been hotter.

Still, enjoyed my stay here. Inside, it has a classic rustic almost late 60s Summer of Love vibe about it. Would definitely come here again. Two shots and two beers costs around $20 which is pretty cheap by SF standards.

All in all, a fun place to eat and socialize.