The Dark Horse Inn

adorable local bar/restaurant! super grungey vibe with low light and cool decor. owned and managed by a couple (who serve and cook all the food). the husband even makes unique desserts regularly! service was efficient and food delicious, would go again!

It was a nice place, they have different of beers selection and nice alcohol drinks. Nice neighborhood bar for a busy day and kind of get a nice drink in good prices We got some food and it was all right, I will say food it’s not the strongest but if you’re hungry then grab a bit it’s okay. The service was good the guy was always making sure everything was all right with us. Adding photos!! Hope this help

Great 🍺 selection. Tried the Temescal Fall Aboard IPA and the Modern Times Spaceship Earth Pale Ale. Both were stellar. Ate the veggie burger and it was tasty but soft and messy.

Good chicken sandwich. Nice staff. Good beer selection--from 6 dollar standards to 30 dollar exotics. Bread pudding is excellent.

One of my top three favorite places in San Francisco. Food is amazing. Service is great. Local draft beers on tap are great quality.

Thrilled to find a place that still checks Vaccine records! The bar owner made me feel at home and served great Brisket! Thanks for being one of the safest places to dine in town!

Mushroom Cheddar Burger so good if you need comfort food

I love ordering online from the Dark Horse Inn. Their specials are excellent and the portions are generous. I also love going there in person. The restaurant is clean and they have a vaccine requirement that means I can bring my older friends and relatives who feel more secure about it. Friendly staff members answer all of our questions. The food always looks good on the plate and is delicious. The owners also volunteer in the community. Since restaurant owners have very little spare time, this is a big sacrifice from people who have generous souls and kind hearts. I love all aspects of the Dark Horse Inn!

This is hands down one of my favorite restaurants in the city. I've been going here for nearly 10 years and it's always been solid through and through. Food is fantastic, service is great. The vibe is on point and very chill but good for groups too. Don't miss their specials! My go-to is the buffalo chicken sandwich (I've yet to find a better one in the city) but whatever special they have going on is basically guaranteed to be awesome.

The food at this restaurant is a testament to the chef's and owner's passion, crafted with love and soul in every dish. The ever-evolving menu showcases their commitment to innovation and freshness, ensuring a unique and heartfelt dining experience with each visit. His business means a lot to me because I grew up in the Excelsior District. It's more than just a place to dine--it's a cornerstone of the community, reflecting the neighborhood's spirit and fostering a strong sense of local connection. The restaurant evokes the charm of an old-school dive bar and casual dining spot. Its casual, vintage vibe creates a nostalgic atmosphere where comfort and simplicity come together, making every visit a relaxed and enjoyable experience.

Three for dinner on a Friday night. Loved my burger and fries! I just started tucking away and didn't take a photo, but I thoroughly enjoyed my order. What made this meal extra special were the details - rosemary scented fries, fresh mint scenting the blackberries of the lemon blackberry cake, and cocktails made with care. The space is cozy and there is table seating as well as bar seating. Service was warm, friendly and prompt. I hope to come back soon and regularly!

Very difficult parking with a lot of homeless people around on the night I went. Quick service and an interesting variety of specialty packaged foods on their shelves. The food was mostly a miss. Really liked their stroganoff like sauce (only real reason for the 3 stars) but the pork was so chewy and tough that I couldn't eat it. Think of chewing on dry pork ends, and that's what it was like. Especially when there were hard pork ends in the dish along with the rest of the tough loin. Definitely needs more time to tenderize or soften it up. The sauce was great though, veey flavorfuland creamy. The potatoes were warm, but I would have preferred my food hot, and the cheese was barely melted, which I didn't find appetizing, so I scrapped it off. Tasted like cheap bagged processed shredded cheese that may work for someone drunk and without tastebuds, but wasn't working for me.

This place is such a hidden gem. I love checking their IG for their specials, which change all the time. It seems like the chef has a lot of fun because the specials and normal menu are quite creative! We have tried several things and would recommend: - fried pickles and peppers (fan fav) - smoked chicken sandwich - ahi tacos - burger - kimchi rueben - literally any special (from curry beef puff pastry to purple cauliflower soup, roasted carrots to carnitas tacos, we have never had a bad special) It's just a cool, little local spot. The servers are nice, and the food is insanely good for a place that seems like a little, local bar. Oh, yeah the drink selection is also pretty great too!

Wonderful night out with friends. Enjoyed the kimchi Reuben and the Mushroom Melt. House made ice cream was delicious. Rainy night, warm environment, and friendly staff. Fast service. The food delicious. Will be back soon.

We have heard good things about Dark Horse Inn and were excited to see them at an Excelsior block party. However, we were a bit disappointed by the burger quality. Maybe they are better at the restaurant itself and we'd be willing to give dine-in another try. THE COST $27.20 total for two burgers + a side of tater tots. THE FOOD * Smash Burger ($10.00) - 3 stars We found the patty to be overcooked and hard, and the lettuce and tomatoes not very fresh. Overall uninspired. * Tater tots - 3.5 stars Nice crisp, not bad!

We've been to the Dark Horse Inn a few times since the Broken Record closed. The first time we thought it was just OK, but with each visit, it's been growing on us and we've finally found the menu items that make this place a home run for us. First, this is a great place to stop in for a beer or a cocktail. The beer selection is always interesting and there is a small list of rotating taps and a larger list of cans that will allow you to always find something you're in the mood for. The cocktail menu is very good, and the lavender gimlet is amazing even if you don't like gin. On the food menu, the fish tacos look boring, but are simply delicious! Ahi tuna cooked mostly through with wasabi, lime, cabbage and some other seasoning makes for a savory and subtle mix of Japanese flavors that may be my favorite fish taco at the moment. The other great thing for locals is that the owners of the Dark Horse are really plugged in to the local community, and it's a great place to find out about events like free outdoor festivals that are coming up (like the Ever Higher festival in McLaren park that they sponsored.) Service is fast and ordering and closing your tab is easy since they use the Toast app. A great local joint that is highly recommended.

I had heard about this place for years and live in the neighbourhood so I thought I should give it a try. It definitely didn't disappoint. I got the kimchi Reuben and my wife and son got the buffalo chicken sandwich and both we excellent. The service was great and the little hole in wall had cool ambience. I would definitely suggest this spot to anyone looking to get a tasty meal and drink.

Food was good had chicken fried sandwich and fries but ambiance was a bit too dark for me.

I'll be generous with the rating, it was edible but I'd pass on a repeat visit as a ToGoodToGo customer. Parking was tight but I found a place to park on Mission, and the clients sitting down seemed happy so it's worth checking out as a regular customer. As for my order it was ready when I entered, and consisted of a desert that resembled Bread Pudding, with Pork Belly over a Slaw. The Desert was okay but I'd suggest serving it warm. As for the Pork it was okay just not my favorite preparation though the Slaw was very good. In the end it was acceptable, but I'd suggest checking out the regular menu. The Dark Horse has a steady following and that only happens when you are doing something correct.

The food here is consistently delicious. I don't remember leaving anything on the plate...whether I'm already full or not! Not sure how they keep the quality so high...especially on the chicken sandwich and specials, like a miso-glazed halibut with asparagus and wasabi mashed potatoes that brought tears of joy to my eyes (the spice level was not overpowering, and the flavor overcame all resistance once again.) A couple TVs for sports and one for old classic movies. Tasty mixed drinks and some good deals like the shot of corn whiskey with a big cold beer. I like ordering with Toast as we go, too. Efficient and effective way to keep the drink and food courses coming. Everyone please keep going here for date nights, or other excuses for dinner and/or drinks. Just save a seat at the bar for me if you can.

I'm always down for their burgers and fried pickles and jalapeños. Their other things are good, too, but I like their burgers. It's a dark, long pub with friendly staff. Plus, there's always easy street parking.

We always enjoy the food and beer selection as well as the overall neighborhood welcoming vibe but wanted to especially shout them out for another amazing Beer Week Maui Luau! Food was all top notch and great beer to perfectly accompany the food. Touchless ordering and pay very easy and efficient. Service fantastic and attentive!

Takeout for dinner during COVID times; food was ready when promised and nicely sealed in a paper shopping bag. We had read about the burgers and kimchi reuben, as well as the mac n cheese, so why not get all three! The reuben was excellent and spicy, along with a nice side salad. The burger did not quite live up to the hype in my mind; I thought it was a little dry inspite of being medium rare (as I ordered) and the lettuce was a white piece of iceberg. The bun however was nicely toasted and it held up well. Not a bad burger, just not great. The fries would have been better if not takeout no doubt so I won't worry about those - the flavor and freshness were good - just very soggy 15 minutes later. The mac and cheese however - wowza delicioso! Manhattan for 2 to go was fun and tasty!

Tasty food from a short menu with nightly specials. Friendly staff. Lots of beers. Nice vibe. Occasional live music.

My favorite casual dining spot in the Bay Area. It's just a great neighborhood pub. Excellent food, good cocktails, great beer selections, great service with friendly folks, and they have a real heart for the neighborhood. Highly recommend!

Absolutely fantastic place. The food is always delicious, large selection of beers, great cocktails, and everyone is always welcoming. Dark Horse has a delightful neighborhood vibe. Great for pick up as well. We try to make it a Friday night regular spot (mostly pick up during the pandemic). I very much appreciate that they've been very careful with vaccine requirements and masking. I feel much better always about going to a place that takes the pandemic and it's affect on all of us seriously. It can't be easy for a business to turn away customers, but making sure that when there you feel as safe as possible in these times really makes it worth it. Highly recommend the Kimchi Reuben. It's worth making the trip out even if you don't live in the neighborhood.

For many years, I have come to this bar. My two cents are in response to some recent negative comments. In the first place, there is an epidemic taking place; respect the owner's safety protocols. Furthermore, some people just seem to love complaining. Perhaps they are bored or just looking for a free meal? Andrea and Sean are both hard-working and good people. Their burgers and fries are impossible to beat! There's limited eateries in this area, if you prefer junk food or bad Chinese. I even brought a date here and he liked it. If you think this place is pricey--it's not, this is the going rate.

This has been a regular stop in my household for years, but an especially bright spot during the pandemic. Aside from a brief time where eating indoors fit our risk profile again (at place that cared about vaccination proof, like this), we're still doing takeout from here ~1-2x/month. It's almost always ready on time. Given the somewhat limited menu, you'd think takeout might get old, but there's a solution: unless we're craving a regular item, we order on a Fri-Sun when they serve specials. While it's generally true that fried/toasted items get soggy quickly in takeout boxes, I recently discovered I can revive them like-new with a few minutes in my toaster oven at home-- this has opened up options on this menu I'd previously avoided entirely for takeout (like the portabella melt, fries, etc). The best: - The fish dishes are reliably delicious and most Sunday dinner specials are generously sized enough for me to share... or send me into food coma. - The sandwiches are solid greasy comfort food. - My nephew has loved the burger & fries since he was half my height (he's now ~3 inches taller and counting. It might be the only consistent favorite in his palette over the years!) The worst (for me): - they're serious about anything called "spicy" (thankfully excepting the ahi tacos) - I find the salads are often overdressed (easy to order on the side though), - the chicken available to add-on to a salad is usually too salty for me (but I am more sensitive to salt than most - I just get the ahi instead) I appreciate the compostable and reusable packaging options. The small grocery add-ons are so smart. I do miss the fresh to-go cocktails, but I look forward to a great manhattan or gimlet when our household heads back to the bar.

Great beer and cocktail menu with great food. Specials every day (including fish Friday and a comfort food Sunday dinner) and a great staff make it an awesome hangout for neighborhood locals or for anyone visiting the area.

Do you love Reuben sandwiches? Go to Dark Horse. It's worth the drive from anywhere in SF. Not a Reuben lover? Then, this place is still worth a visit for folks in the area. I've been going more often since Broken Record closed. I used to just go when I was in the mood for a Reuben. The five stars are for the Reuben. The other menu items feature quality ingredients and they're done right. The chicken sandwich is big and crunchy. The mushroom sandwich features lots of cheese. Good cocktails. They use toast, so you order and pay on your phone. To me, that feels a little impersonal for such as small place. Service is fast, so I guess the Toast thing means good service even when it's pretty full. I added a cocktail in the middle of the meal, and it appeared in minutes.

Love this place!!! The food is fabulous the staff is wonderful. Old movies or sport on the TVs give everyone something to look at.

Great food, family friendly, delicious drinks, and nice staff. Love this place; a community jewel.

This place is like a portal to a simpler world. Once you step in, you forget you are in San Francisco. I came here on a week night to catch up with a friend and it was super chill - A couple of locals were there. I got the kimchi reuben sandwich that was fantastic!!! Really takes it to the next level. No outdoor seating. Parking can be tough but doable if you're willing to walk maybe 1 - 2 blocks. No outdoor seating. Good for dates if all you care about is your date and great conversation you two will have on a weeknight.

Dark Horse is a gem! When indoor dining was possible, the unique atmosphere was such a draw (black and white oldies on one bar TV at all times, and beer taps along the wall). The food though, is what keeps us coming back, even when we can't lounge at the bar. The Kimchi Reuben is a regular favorite, as are the Seared Ahi Tacos. The specials are always delicious as well (pictured here, the Miso Black Cod, which was exceptional, and yes, I plated it at home). Thank you, Dark Horse, for being a mainstay as everything has gone upside down this past year. The neighborhood wouldn't be the same without you! Yelpers, help support this awesome local joint with your business. You won't regret it!

Phenomenal food, good service, quaint place. I don't think there's anything bad on the menu. Waitress let's you stay as long as you want. Definitely go if you're in that part of the City..

Had dinner at The Dark Hourse Inn and enjoyed it. We order the Fish Tacos Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, Cobb Salad, The Dark Horse Burger and it was very tasty. The food was fresh and well made. Customer service was also good. The staff at this restaurant is very welcoming.

An excellent local place with great ambiance and a rotating menu. Awesome service, big selection of craft beers and cocktails.

Why have I never written a review for The Dark Horse? We go here almost once a week. It's one of our absolute favorite restaurants. The ambiance, service, food, beer selection and cocktails are second-to-none. I'm not even going to beat a dead horse... Partially because there's just too much to say, so how do I pare it down, but also because don't come here. I don't want to have to wait a long time for a table. Just kidding, you can come, it really is the perfect restaurant. Oh and save room for dessert! Specials change daily; I've never had anything that didn't blow my mind here.

Today was my fifth visit to the dark horse and their menu and beer selection were on point yet again. Solid across the board and recommended. Every dang time.

THANK YOU!! Today is Jasper's 10th birthday and we had to go to San Francisco to pick up something and we took him along for a ride! We decided to order us all birthday burgers and you did NOT disappoint! Soo yummy! Thank you for the cute drawing too! Stay safe and we look forward to coming in for a drink and burger in the future!!

Have enjoyed eating at the Dark Horse Inn since well before the Pandemic started. My family and I love the food and drink selection! Ordered many many times when it was take-out, only. Especially enjoy the Fish specials on Fridays.

The Dark Horse Inn is a little gem in the neighborhood...the food is excellent and 'upscale' compared to some of the places in the outer mission. There is always a good beer selection and they also make terrific mixed drinks....kudos to the chef!

I'm happy I gave this place a try. I truly enjoyed the delicious food and good beer. The staff is pretty friendly and I met some very friendly customers at this bar. I had a really good vibe.

A few days ago, I met a friend for dinner at one of our faves, the Dark Horse Inn. We had a couple of good cocktails and then a fabulous dinner. I had the smoked chicken sandwich which was dynamite. My friend had the delicious brisket sandwich. Lucky me, I'm close enough to walk here. The true proof of how good The Dark Horse Inn is, is that my friend has to take a one-hour Muni bus ride to get here! I offered to meet her halfway somewhere else, but she wasn't having it. Bonus, they ask for proof of vaccination. Thanks for looking out for us DH!

The service was on point. They cut on the final 4 NC vs Duke for us. The TV was off before being seated. I ordered the buffalo chicken sando burger or whatever with a side of fries. Fries was smackin'. The sando was juicy with a nice crispy batter. The bread hella soft. The buffalo sauce had a nice bite to it. Wasn't too hot. The chicken breast was doused in sauce. Got the blue cheese on the side, used as dipping sauce for the fries.

Neighborhood staple with great food and beers and atmosphere....They also really have back by selling essentials at cost when they were hard to find at the beginning to the pandemic.

Good food in a fun, casual setting. Excellent beer tap list. Friendly and welcoming staff. Get the burger or smoked chicken sandwich. Always check the specials!

Upon entering this spot, it's easy to miss. There's a bar upfront and a couple tables in the back, which we stood around for a bit until they seated us. Although the spot seems like an old, dark pub, I was pleasantly surprised with their service and food. To start off, our server checked up on us in a timely manner and was great about suggestions for us. Upon deciding on our meal, we could already tell from the servers' facial expression that the mac and cheese here was a must. We decided on ordering the Macaroni and Cheese ($8.50) with Spicy Pulled Pork ($3 additional) and Buffalo Chicken Breast Sandwich with Bleu Cheese Dressing and Fries ($13). The mac and cheese was cheesy and filling, but can get overwhelming on its own. The added spicy pork gave it texture and extra flavor, which was perfect; it was even layered into the mac and cheese instead of being just topped. As for the buffalo chicken sandwich, it came with pickled onions, tomatoes, lettuce and bleu cheese. The pickled onions are strong, but complimented the buffalo chicken as that was strong in flavor as well. There's definitely a good kick of spice in the buffalo flavor though, which I really enjoyed. It was a good burger and fries, which I couldn't even finish. To pair with our food, I got the Lindeman's Framboise ($7). Since it was my first time having it, I had no idea how fruity and sweet it would be. It's only 2%, so it literally tasted like juice --or even sweeter than that. It came in a fancy corked bottle though. Meanwhile, he ordered one of the strongest beers on the menu that came boxed and poured into a wine glass. Let me just say, we both weren't expecting to order beer but found them both to be more like wine. Good, but unexpected. FYI: We came here to watch the game. Although they have TVs, the sound is off as they're not exactly a sports bar.

Great selection of beers. A jewel in the neighborhood and tasty food too... drop in for a drink and snack

This place is good, but not as great as I was hoping it would be based on its reputation. I ordered delivery through UberEATS, so I'm not grading them down for the fries not being piping hot or some other ridiculous thing some people might complain about because I know that's impossible. I was really looking forward to the Kimchi Reuben, and while it definitely had some strong points, the overall profile was way too salty. The combination of the pastrami, kimchi, and sauce made for a very powerful flavor that ultimately finished with a rush of pure sodium. The bread was perfectly crisp yet soft and the pastrami when I tasted it on its own was quite tasty, but as a full package it was just too much. The fries, which are very standard but well executed, were also very salty. The Buffalo chicken sandwich was a much more balanced dish with a great spicy flavor that channeled hot wings perfectly. The blue cheese slathered lettuce, pickled onions, and fluffy bun were great counterparts to the meat, but it had one glaring issue as well - it wasn't crispy at all. Again, I ordered delivery so I'm keeping my expectations realistic, but the chicken had zero crunch to it and biting in at times felt more akin to a cafeteria chicken sandwich than the $13 one I ordered up. The flavors were terrific, but it was hard to escape that textural downfall. I enjoyed elements of the food here, and I think I would return if the opportunity arises, but the execution fell a bit short all around. Also, we requested ketchup for our fries and they only gave us two of the smallest packets I've ever seen for probably around 200 fries - a minor but notable accent on my first experience at the Dark Horse.

Dark Horse Inn is a local favorite and not too far from our Airbnb so we decided to stop in. I got the buffalo chicken sandwich with fries. The shoestring fries were yummy with just the right amount of salt. I kept on getting tastes or cardamom maybe infused in the oil? Or... I could just be going crazy. The chicken was fried well with a nice crunch. My boyfriend got the pork chop which had some fried sage as garnish. Some grilled vegetables the carrots were my favorite. I can see why this place draws a lot of locals out. It's small, the service is good and the food is good too. It just doesn't have that jaw dropping wow factor for me.

I've been coming here fairly regularly. Great micro beer selection. Best in the neighborhood. Great food. The kimchi Ruben is my favorite. During COVID, they stepped up and provided pantry essentials. Now they're respecting their customers and ensuring our safety. Great food, beer, service, and respect. Happily support my neighborhood pub.

Great food. we lived in the neighborhood in 2021, and by far this place made the best food in the area. The special is a different dish every night, and they post great pics on their IG. we would regularly check their IG and order the special based on the food alone. definitely a talented team of chefs there.

Owned by a wonderful couple with really amazing food. I just love this place! And you can't forget to try their Mac & Cheese it's so incredibly off the hook and always available is a nice beer or cocktail if you so please. Definitely recommend!!!

Wonderful spot with a great cocktail and beer selection plus I delicious and interesting food.

Nice local vibe. Very relaxed atmosphere and they seem to have a nice selection of beers, nonalcoholic drinks, and cocktails. I personally really enjoy their lavender gimlet (has alcohol) and their burger called The Burger. I ordered it medium and it was nice and juicy. Great place to go solo as people are nice and mind their own business. Also great if you want to go with company.

I chose Dark Horse to celebrate my birthday with friends, I appreciate the local bar vibe and it's the staff are friendly. Note the cocktail list which is really inventive. I got the lavender gimlet and the flavor was complex and of course... the color! Ordered the fried peppers and pickles- it's a good thing the bowl is huge because the four of us were devouring it. The burgers are great- a home-on-the grill flavor I really want in a burger. Overall great meal and casual vibe.