Dimples

The drink prices are high and you must spend at least $20 per person. If someone put a drink for you on their tab, you still have to spend $20 on your tab. My 2 drinks came to $29 dollars. karaoke 🎤 cost $5 for 2 songs. This prices are normal for SanFrancisco but outrageous to the average tourist. I had a great time! The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming.

not it. weird vibes and you have to pay to sing. $3 for one song $5 for two, but if you do the latter they bump your second song to the bottom. bartenders were super shady when I asked for water even after ordering drinks. sour energy

I wanted to like this place for a karaoke stage setting alone. But between the $20 credit/debit minimum for drinks, no ATM in the vicinity, having to pay cash for a karaoke spot and then watching the same KJ not bother to make it less blatantly obvious they were favoring people over others (could go an hour+ between song requests where others will go multiple times in that same period) I'm gonna hard pass on recommending this as an ideal karaoke bar. Getting up on the stage is fun, but not worth all the bs to get there.

A cool little place with great people who come to sing and support each other. But it’s annoying that you have to pay for songs—feels like the future hasn’t reached them yet!

We were in town to see a band and randomly came here after the show. The owners were so warm and welcoming. The bartender was funny and sweet. We sang new order and pulp for karaoke and had a blast trying the international spirits. If we lived here, we'd be there every Monday. Thanks for the memories! -Jess&Darren

What can I say, I love Dimples!! Such a fun atmosphere. I happen to love singing and appreciate the efficiency with which they go through the requests! Unlike most of the karaoke places I’ve been to, they charge for songs ($3 for 1 song or $5 for 2), but I don’t mind it much since I’ve definitely tipped KJs in the hope of a turn to sing. I loooove the owner and bartender Jen! I am constantly wanting to go back!!!! Also they have a cute pink bathroom!

we had a blast at dimples!!! Jenn the bartender is so sweet and such a party starter. we were there with only two other customers and we all quickly became friends- all singing together. it’s kinda hard to do cash only for the songs unless you know ahead of time (our group only had cards) but maybe having a company cashapp could help dimples makes it easier for customers to pay for songs? for now just know it’s $5 to sing 2 songs. we really had such a great experience and know we will be back!!!

Karaoke broke and took 1.5hours to fix on a Wednesday. One of the bartenders was so rude and complaining we weren't drinking enough since we had round of waters (after buying shots and beers) and when we asked a different bartender what their problem was it turns out IT WAS THE OWNER. I don't care how poorly your business might be doing that's a whack way to treat customers right in front of them. We still got another round even though the owner continued to be in a bad mood/rude. Save that attitude for somewhere else please!

Very cute karaoke bar in Japantown. The staff is super sweet and I would come back here just to see the bartenders. The ambiance is chaotic, fun and lots of energy!

[EDIT] Lowering from 2 stars to 1 because it's obvious that the owner is a complete dick. Just read his reply to my review or any of the other honest reviews below. Never coming back here with ownership that will surely run the place into the ground. ---------- I want to like this place but both times I've been here have been very disappointing. First of all, there is a clear and overwhelming layer of cigarette smoke that pervades the air inside the bar. It gets worse as you approach the bathroom area, and it seems that one of the employees or owners is constantly smoking somewhere in the back. It was obvious even when first walking down the stairs into the space. At some point, this disgusting smell got worse when it was mixed with what smelled like rotting seafood. There is no draft beer on offer and the bottled beer is overpriced. The bartender was not friendly or sociable at all despite us being the only two people at the bar at 7:30pm. $20 card minimum. The only saving grace is that the karaoke stage is fun (seems to start around 8pm), but otherwise I would be pretty hard-pressed to want to come back here.

The vibes here were fun earlier in the night, but as it got past 11 and very busy, the DJ got too drunk. He was skipping people's songs (which were paid for), turned people's music off halfway through their (again, paid for) songs, and then started taking bribes to get people's song requests higher up on the list. I understand that some songs are boring or performers aren't that good, but they paid for their time up there and were not given refunds. Thankfully my friends and I were able to request our songs and MOST of them got played, though some were skipped or not called at all in the 2.5 hours that we were there. Also, there were TV screens everywhere warning people to watch their drinks to avoid getting roofied. Despite being in a group of about 12, one of my friends did end up getting drugged. Not the bar's fault, but definitely keep an eye out. I was recommended this place by a friend, and that friend no longer recommends it to others based on those experience. From the other reviews, I know the owner doesn't respond well to criticism. Don't bother insulting me in the replies. I don't care.

If you actually read my review, I stated that we had all just purchased a round of shots. Your 2 drink minimum was met by my group and we were not kicked out. I was pointing out what I was witnessing happening to others. But sure, I'll take my friends to the library next time. Thanks Derek P, you just took an opportunity to make things better but just further proved the attitude problem and lack of customer service you guys have. Happy Holidays :)

My friends and I stumbled across this karaoke bar after dinner, and decided to check it out for drinks! The service was really good, and the drinks as well :) We also graced the bar with our subpar singing skills, but it was a very fun experience and I would definitely come back again! The ambiance is really nice, and I really enjoyed the lights and Christmas decorations :)

Karaoke queue wasn't so long on a friday night so that was nice. 2 drink minimum. $15 gin and tonic ... lots of seats around the bar and in the middle also a table on the side.

Cute little karaoke bar in Japantown - we stumbled across this spot after the original bar we were going to was closed and ended up staying for longer than planned. The ambiance is a bit chaotic but full of energy and I enjoyed our drinks and listening to others sing their hearts out.

Very fun karaoke bar! The vibes were great, $3 per song or $5 for two songs. They had a vast selection of drinks, and it was really crowded on a Thursday night. I would come back!

Trash place. Some employee was super rude, and drunk and cussed me out because he didn't have a song I was trying to sing after he spelled it wrong several times on the computer.... Because he was.,.. again... drunk.... Just rude and disrespectful. Left immediately after to Pagoda. Much better vibe there.

Vibes are great. Be prepared for hot close quarters. Solid music library. Drinks standard dive pricing and offering. Bartenders are nice.

My husband and I decided to stop by for a cocktail and sat at the bar. The "bartender" strongly suggested bottled beers but we said we wanted cocktails. I asked if she had aperol and she asked if that was a type of tequila. She said she's new and doesn't know how to make drinks...no wonder she was recommending beers instead. We left because we clearly couldn't get a cocktail...even if they were simple well ones.

Bartenders are incompetent. Charged our bill on someone else's card and vice versa. God mad at us over their mistake. This is the second time I've had an issue with the bartenders over the years. Avoid this place like the plague

We went there for a drink at karaoke bar! The ambiance is Great and the drinks menu has a lot of choices to choose from. The staff were friendly and welcoming. Great service as well. If you want to sing, just put in your request with tip. $5 will do. A lot of fun fun fun!!!

The bartenders weren't very friendly and the DJ wasn't very good. I also ended up getting roofied

amazing time. Derek the owner made me feel like I was at home, even though I was from Louisiana and very out of place. just a solid guy, with a great voice... the DJ and bartenders were also very personable and charming... just don't forget to tip, or the Mongolian lady will let you know. amazing time and a welcoming environment, that I'll be back for any time I'm in the area.

Our group was having a blast until we got cussed out for requesting a show tune? At the end some people in our party wanted to sing a show tune before we headed back to the hotel but it was during "rock hour". We were the only party in the facility and tried to request a show tune. One of the owners said "no f*cking show tunes" and made someone in our group cry. Will never go back when in town.

Come for the large group karaoke, leave before they steal your hard-earned money I've been here a few times now... great place for karaoke for a large group (that's why I'm giving 2 stars in lieu of 1)... I came here for a drink before Benihana on my bday (see other review). My lady and I intended to have 1 drink each. We ordered a Casamigos on the rocks each and I said 'make them doubles' (bc I was a bit excited). We have a fine time, until the bill came out to be $80... that breaks down to $20/shot? Is there a fee for ice?! In conclusion, not a terrible place if you don't work for your money but not great value...

my friend got roofied here and instead of the owner being concerned at all or apologizing for her experience, he called her a liar and an asshole for getting ROOFIED at his bar. this is how they treat customers that didn't have a good experience. the owner's comment is still denying it because that's how much they don't care what happens at their business. what a horrible and pathetic place

I had the unique displeasure of visiting "Echoes Karaoke Lounge" last Saturday, an establishment that promises an uproarious night of musical escapades but delivers, quite frankly, a symphony of silence--at least for some patrons. Despite the glittering allure of its neon facade and the enticing promise of a stage where one could channel their inner rockstar, my companions and I found ourselves confined to the role of unwilling audience members for the entirety of the evening. Upon entry, the ambiance teased the potential for a memorable night, with a catalog of songs that spanned the decades and genres, beckoning the inner performer in us all. The crowd was lively, the drinks were flowing, and the air was electric with anticipation. However, this anticipation quickly soured to frustration as we realized the karaoke queue operated more like an exclusive club than a democratic selection process. We were greeted not by a warm host or a welcoming sign-up sheet but by a digital kiosk that seemed to play favorites, mysteriously bumping certain names up the queue while others, like ours, languished in digital purgatory. Time and again, we witnessed the same select few take the stage, their performances ranging from the tone-deaf to the surprisingly professional, while the majority of us waited, wallets steadily emptying on overpriced beverages and the fading hope of a turn in the spotlight. The staff, when approached, offered little in the way of explanation or solace, their responses a rehearsed melody of "Just a few more until your turn!" that played on repeat. It became increasingly clear that unless you were a regular with a tab to match or possessed the insider knowledge of how to grease the digital wheels, your chances of singing were slim to none. The evening wore on, and the initial excitement turned to disillusionment as the realization set in that our voices would not grace the microphone. The experience was akin to being promised a feast and being left to nibble on the garnish. "Echoes Karaoke Lounge" may well be a paradise for the select few, but for those of us relegated to the shadows, it was nothing short of a cacophonous letdown. In sum, if you're seeking a stage to showcase your vocal talents, you might be better served elsewhere. At Echoes, the only echoes you'll hear are the remnants of your own dashed hopes, reverberating off the walls of a karaoke bar that never lets you sing.

This place is so cute with a nice ambiance. Really great service too. Our bartender had long hair didn't get their name. Definitely a must if passing through japantown at night!

Not good.. aggressive owner spit in the djs face. 20 dollar card minimum ... really interesting and not good ownership

Random stop on my adventures around Japantown. No complaints about the karaoke - that's always fun! Loved the added touch of the bubble machine! The bartender was conversational (almost too conversational when you are with a group of friends), inexperienced and slow moving. Bar seating was full, so we sat at one of the lounge areas. As more people started to shuffle in we were abruptly asked by the owner (I'm assuming she was the owner) to move. The incoming group insisted that we not move, but the woman demanded and was quite rude about it. She shushed us to the bar area, where there were still no seats available, and stood awkwardly in the middle of the bar. I'm still confused why she did this. It's not like we weren't spending money (and paying for songs!)! We quickly vacated the premise and will not be returning.

Two stars instead of one only because I liked the open karaoke bar and ambiance of this dive bar. Service was great, but they severely overcharged us for 2 shots of Don Julio ($15 each), the $7 beer (standard in SF), and a Moscow Mule ($13, also standard for cocktails). They charge $3 a song too but we only requested one. If the $12 on the page reflects that, I'm not sure what we paid for... Overall the handwritten receipt should only total $62 NOT $92. I get the bar was getting busier as the night went on, but we also tipped them a generous amount, totaling $108, which is almost double of what our total should be. Would like to recommend here, but not if they're constantly ripping people off like this

Awww, I miss Dimples! I like the set up and ambiance they got going here. They have an actual stage for karaoke with one of those vintage dynamic microphones, stage lighting, and a bubbles/fog machine that goes off intermittently. The place has a cocktail lounge vibe complete with red cushy seating. How it works: Pick out two songs from the songbook. Write down your name and the song number ID of the songs on a piece of paper. Give paper slip and $5 to the staff member and they will put in your songs for you. Makes me sad to see the negative reviews, but can't go discounting others' experiences. I haven't run into the female bartender/owner other Yelpers have mentioned so unfavorably. The staff I interacted with were nice and will also sing a song here and there. I also don't order drinks here since I'm already paying for the karaoke, so I can't attest to them changing up the prices/overcharging for drinks, but hoping they can improve their customer service and be more consistent with their pricing if that is the case. It's been too long, Dimples. Would definitely like to stop by again some time in the near future.

I came with a group of friends for karaoke and for 4 people our tab was over $300. They ar charging $14 for jameson and fernet. It's very unfortunate bc the vibes were great and the bartenders were awesome. But when we addressed the owner about her ridiculous prices and she was extremely rude. It's very sad that this place steals your money because it has so much potential. DO NOT GO!

This is a pretty fun Karaoke dive bar. You can tell the the regulars here are very loyal and the regulars loves to perform. Get here early if you want a seat. Oh, the smoke bubbles here do kinda stink (go there and you'll know what I'm talking about).

If I can give them ZERO stars, I would but sadly I have to give them one. Do not go if you want your money to be basically stolen. They're charging $14 for a shot of Fernet. The bartender was cool and the karaoke dj was so dope but wow. I won't ever be coming back. The woman owner was soooooo rude. I'm sad that this was our experience.

Love it. Karaoke sounds great. KJ is great. Owner is great. Just know it's $5 for 2 songs, but you get your songs in. And they sound is amazing.

Friendly and Courteous Service in a setting of an excellent musical atmosphere. Unusually arranged stage and sound system keeping focus on a performer desiring to interpret a song and improve regular performance.Excellent Lounge and Efficient Service by Waitress.

well, as others have said, they steal your money. $14 fernets? Who ain't no hotel or bougie spot it's a dive bar karaoke spot.. bartender was super dope and the karaoke dude was awesome. Spoke to the female owner and she couldn't give a darn

It is a fun place to be after you have a nice dinner in Japan town. The DJ is fun and professional. Even though it costs $5 for singing 2 songs ($3 for 1 song), it is still worthy. The sound system is nice. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars for my review because they allowed people to smoke by the entrance where there is a sofa and table. My two guests were very bothered by the cigarette smoke and we had to end our party for the night because of that reason.

I must echo the previous reviewers about this place overcharging for drinks. My friend and I ordered four gin and tonics, and when I got my bill, I saw that each one cost EIGHTEEN DOLLARS. What we thought would be a pleasant, affordable visit to a dive turned out to be a gigantic rip off. The bartender also charged ALL of my group's drinks except for one beer to my tab (despite explicit instructions to put the 2nd round on my friend's card), so my friend was forced to order another drink to put his tab above the $20 card minimum. Coincidence? I used to like this place, but next time I'll go to the bar at the Kabuki hotel across the street, where I can at least get a bespoke cocktail for my 18 dollars rather than a weakly made G&T served in a cheap glass. I recommend you do the same.

They price gouge you here I came here with a group and we ordered 2 bottles of soju. The bill came out to $60... you can buy these bottles for $5 at ranch 99

Reposting from Google reviews to deter people from getting harassed and cheated by the staff: Dimples staff are crooks. They refuse to serve you water. The aged Asian lady who seems to run the place told me "This is bar, no water, drink beer".I was forced to order beer to hydrate myself, which is ridiculous. The karaoke host also announced to the crowd "If u want water, go home". They also put extra charges on your bill with no explanation, and refuse to give u an itemized receipt. Drunk bar staff claimed my friends were on my tab, but when I asked who, he said "I don't know". They also make you pay for every song you sing. This place is no fun.

They overcharge for drinks - plain and simple. Looks like a trend based on past reviews as soon as a few hours ago... this place is terrible now! Also, they charge cash for karaoke ... who does that?!

The staff is friendly and the place is relaxed about the rules which is the only reason they got two stars. I went here for my birthday with a few friends and ordered some drinks. My friend ordered an old fashion which looked good and he only paid $12 for it. I decided to get one myself and I was charged $14 for the same drink. We left and went to Benihana's across the street for some food and decided to go back to the bar. When we returned I was charged $16 for the same drink (old-fashioned). The karaoke was a joke. They picked who was next VS going in order. I paid $5 for two songs (which is a joke because the artist isn't seeing a dime) and I only got one song. I won't go back unless my friends really want to. And when I do I'll be sure to bring up the pricing.

I really never write Yelp reviews but I just really felt compelled to share this so that hopefully it can help warn other people reading. So, I went to Dimples last night for karaoke --we had a private room and were singing in there all night and were honestly having a great time. After about 1AM, we noticed no one was in the main karaoke lounge area so we decided to go there to sing --I just left my stuff in our private room since it was only about 10 feet away. I then noticed this lady (who I think is the owner) go into our private room while we were singing in the main lounge but I didn't think anything of it. After I was done singing, I went back into the private room and magically, my button-down shirt and jacket that I'd left on the couch were nowhere to be found. I then asked that lady if she saw my stuff in there and she weirdly snapped at me. In my head, I was like "what the hell was that?" but I just kind of ignored it. I then asked my friend if she saw my stuff and she was like "I haven't but right now, they're trying to double charge us --I think this place is a bit sketchy". At that point, I was getting a bit suspicious because I'd looked everywhere for my stuff (the private room, the lounge, the bathroom, inside my car, etc.) even though I knew it never left the private room. Then after that same lady finished yelling at all my friends over the bill, she snuck into this other separate room --she was about to close the door but I quickly intercepted and walked in and there on the couch, next to PILES of other random clothes, laid my button-down shirt and jacket. She tried to stop me but I quickly grabbed them and of course she started yelling at me again. She was like "stop! You can't take that! What are you doing?" and I was like "these are MY clothes! What are they doing in here?!?" and then she was like "do you really think I'm that desperate that I would try to steal from you?" and I was like "well why would you take my clothes and then when I asked you where they were, get angry at me for no reason/tell me that you didn't have them and then sneak off and hide them in this random room?" After that, she weirdly said "how do you know they are yours?" and I was like "BECAUSE I WALKED IN WEARING THEM. I LITERALLY HAVE PICTURES ON MY PHONE FROM TODAY OF ME WEARING THEM" --and the whole time, I kid you not, she kept trying to grab for my clothes in my hands. You can't make this stuff up. Anyway, at this point the other employees working in the lounge were like "I'm so sorry, she's really drunk". And I was like "what is going on? Why did she try to steal my clothes? What was that random room full of other people's clothes?" Anyway, I do wish I didn't have to give this place a 1 star because the karaoke was actually fun but my god that was absolutely awful. Would very much not recommend to say the least.

My absolute favorite bar- a true gem. The co owner derek is a lovely man, as are the bartenders Lee and Brandon! I've lived in the city for 4 years and this is a true gem.

The owners are very nice and friendly. We did karaoke and they gave us a deal on that. We noticed four separate groups of people coming in. 2 pax, 4 pax etc. every group came for only one drink and left. The prices are waaaay to high. I drink all over SF, from Cocktail bars, to wine bars and dives.. this is without a doubt over priced. I guarantee If they lower their prices they will have much more people drinking here. Return customers and higher drink sales PP.

Amazing karaoke bar. I've never had a bad time here and my songs always are able to get picked, even when it's crowded. I love the owner - super friendly. Best karaoke bar in the city (and I've been to all of them!).

Hear me people. I think sometimes bars get a little rowdy and accidents happen, but when they continually happen all night long it becomes a trend of rude disrespectful and unfair behavior. Dimples did a horrible job of treating us with kindness and inevitably shamed us for accidents they made. 1) we ordered two songs and paid to do karaoke. When the 2nd song came up the person inputting the songs put in our 2nd outlast song incorrectly we assumed she made a mistake an politely continued to sing the song anyways. In the middle of our song she came up and shamed us for stealing others songs and blamed us for a mistake she made. Even after when I went back and confirmed on the paper that there were two songs and she input them wrong she blamed me for stealing the song and refused to either give me my money back or just allow me to play another song for free. Instead she doubled down and said we weren't allowed to sing again. 2) at the end of the night my buddy went to go close out his tab. They apparently didn't have a tab or his credit card so we left. But little did we know l, the next day they charged us twice for that tab and doubled down on it. This is a shadey establishment with less than ethical or even fair practices. I write this not to be mean but just to warn people to be safe and keep an eye out for this behavior. Hope you have a great night singing!

This is the place to go. Dimples is in the middle of the Fillmore District, in Japan Town. Dimples is an evening setting to relax. I love this place called Dimples Cocktail Lounge. A place hide and enjoy. Herman Jones

After months of begging my girlfriend, she finally agreed to go to Dimples with me. It was pretty much what I expected. Divey basement karaoke bar with tons of interesting characters. Given the overall quality of the place, I would have expected drinks to be more affordable. They were pretty pricey all things considered. Bottom line: don't go here if you're looking for classy drinks as part of an important date. But if you're trying to get drunk and have an interesting night, Dimples isn't a bad option.

This place is great! The staff will take care of you. Please don't come in expecting top notch service, when you're being privileged, and you can't even remember the staff's name. Be better

This place has previously been shut down by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for charging customers extra without customers knowing about it (do a Google search). I didn't know any of this before going in one evening and spending 45 minutes here and having four drinks. The cost? $99. For. Four. Drinks. When I saw the bill, I knew it was a mistake immediately and told the very drunk 60 year old, Asian female bartender, who I assume was the manager or owner. The karaoke DJ, male, Asian, 60s, very nice - maybe the other manager/owner - noticed and apologized for the mistake. He was sitting next to me the whole time in a bar with four people in it, so I'm sure he knew how many drinks I had, particularly since we talked to each other throughout the night. After apologizing, he offered to buy me a shot, which I accepted. They corrected the bill and I still left a $10 tip on the four drinks. When I got my credit card statement, I found out they had still charged me the $99. Read the other reviews here. This place is disreputable and has a long history of shady practices and overcharging. Don't come here unless you want to end your night with drama and haggling and months of credit card disputes.

This place is what I would called unique Korean bar. You need to get to know the owner to have a good time at this place! It's not like any other dive bar as their price is higher but overall it's a fun place if you know the owner and bartender. Always had a great time!

Great place had a amazing time for such a lame holiday last night. Owner was very much alive and kept the party going. Bartender was very attentive and professional for such a large crowd. Very fun will be back !!!

Great place for karaoke! Bartenders were both extremely friendly and service was extremely quick. If you're down to blast yourself vocal skills to the entire bar this place is definitely the spot for you. Inside atmosphere is also pretty modern and cute.

Shady owner, stay away! She accidentally pours an extra drink which we dont want and charges us for it. Given this sizeable "mishap," i leave zero tip. The shady lady then changes the tip on the credit card receipt!! Im appalled and shocked people do this. SMDH