Tony's Cable Car Restaurant

CORN DOG & SOFT SERVE ICECREAM HEAVEN! NICE STAFF, SMALL BUT QUAINT EATING AREA INDOOR & OUTDOOR. PARKING IS VERY LIMITED. PUBLIC TRANSIT BUSES 1 BLOCK AWAY. PRICES ARE VERY REASONABLE & LOŴER THAN MOST DINERS. KID FRIENDLY FOOD & DINING AREA.

Very small with limited seating but the food was good and what I expected. They turned my large fries 🍟 into almost a bag full which was cool.

Food was delicious, portion sizing were good. We had steak combo meal & breaded chicken combo meal. Staff were friendly. Some outside seating which we enjoyed as the sun was out. There is also inside seating. Pretty good choice on food selection

Loved this old school, long time burger joint. A cheeseburger, fries and chocolate shake is my ultimate comfort food. Excellent! Really friendly service, too 🙂

Keep it in perspective.. this is a hole in the wall. Burgers, dogs fries, milkshake and the like. The price is fair, the portions are large and the people who work there are nice. It's not gourmet or artisanal or even special. It's good burgers served out of a tiny cafe with plastic seats bolted to the floor. If you're into that kind of thing, you won't be disappointed.

I come here really often. Something about it feels like home. The staff, especially the ladies at the counter, are very friendly and always have a big smile. They remember me and I remember them. The cuisine here is classic American favorites - burgers, hotdogs (which are some of the best in the city imo), chicken sandwich, steak sandwich, milkshakes, fries, curly fries etc. if you sign up, there is a reward system. I've collected on free fries before. The place is shaped like a cable car, it's a timeless design. Can order at the counter or at a digital kiosk for those of us with stage fright, though I recommend ordering at the counter, the staff develop a rapport with you and it's one of my favorite parts of coming here. This is to me what Bob's Big Boy was to David Lynch. Funny that they are both three word possessive noun phrases. RIP, I'm sure he would love this place as well.

I just moved from Toronto, Canada and this was the first place I tried and I gotta say that the food was truly amazing. I got the chicken tenders with onion rings and I didn't think it was possible but I actually was not able to finish the food, I had to take it home. The portions were amazing compared to what the prices are. Definitely my new favorite spot and very close to my university.

Been here about 3x already since I moved to San Francisco they have a nice selection of food on the menu at great prices and tastes good they have a cozy atmosphere and wonderful customer service one of my favorite go to places to eat in San Francisco

Great and adorable food. Always served with care and smile. I definitely recommend to stop by for a snack or a full meal!

We have been coming here off and on for years. The food is ok. Mostly diner kind of take out burgers, fries, hot dogs and shakes. I was craving the fish sandwich so I trotted over from the hospital after visiting a relative and ordered 2 cheese burgers, fish burger and 3 onion rings. The service is disappointing. A lady who got her chili cheese fries was upset the fries were thrown into a paper bag because they had no containers to hold the fries! She was told the cheese was mixed into the chili and not in a separate container. The staffer offered to refund her money but the customer declined and settled for an extra paper bag instead. When we got home with our food, I found a chicken sandwich on white sesame bun instead of the fish sandwich on wheat as I ordered. I suspect the staff could not keep the orders straight and gave me someone else's order. A huge mistake. I guess multiple orders are too complicated for them to handle. The onion rings were a bit too oily and could use more drainage on towels. The chicken sandwich was ok but dry. Cash only at window and if you use your credit card, you have to order on the pad like at McDonald's.

3 for most people and a 4 for me. I get here every so often and realized tonight it has been 7 years since I last wrote a review here. A great place for me when it is alone time and I want to eat some nostalgia on my own. My dad would sneak me here sometimes when I was a kid. Only locals , Kaiser employees and natives eat here pretty much. Been eating here since the Doggie Diner closed way back in the '70s. Service can be slow so be patient and give time. I ordered a dog and fries ahead of time and it still took me 20 minutes. So order ahead unless you have time. I just love how they stuff the bag with fries and their Schwarz sausages are so nice grilled.

This place is a S.F. classic opening in 1972 . Known for the Burgers & hot dogs, fries & milkshakes, in an old-school diner with cable-car decor. I really was tryna see OG l. I do miss the large size order of onion rings too. This location has a iPad ordering system via Credit card and they also do have the old school walk in cashier. On the burgers they have temp levels and i ordered mines medium rare and it came out delish. This place is great for mellow vibes

Passed by this old-schooled burger/hotdog spot all the time either by walking, bus, or car in the past, but never been inside. Months ago, we finally went in and tried their jumbo chili dog. Yumm. Probably not a place I would frequent as my food restrictions wouldn't allow, but once in a while is a nice treat. Next time I may want to try their burgers and a shake. Also, it's not currently near any cable cars, but maybe in the bygone past, it was.

After taking my dog to her vet appointment, decided to give a place a try that I've driven by numerous times. This is definitely the no-frills, greasy goodness that is a stop if you are looking for burgers, fries and a shake. Since it was my first time, I decided to go with the combo with 1/2 burger, fries, and coffee shake. Plus adding cheese and bacon to the burger. If you've ever eaten at Sam's in SF, I'd say the quality and flavor are almost identical, with Tony's having a slight advantage. While it was massive and filling, I didn't find anything to be standout but it definitely left me full. It's a classic cheeseburger and gets the job done, however it's not something I'd go out of my way for. The fries were crinkle and fried to perfection. Perfectly salted. The milkshake was good, and served it's purpose. I also got some chili, which was alright as well. Not counting the chili, I ended up spending around $25 for the combo meal + tax/tip. If I came back, I definitely could get a meal for under $15 and skip the shake next time around.

I love this joint. Really friendly and helpful service. The onion rings and pineapple shake are the bomb !

Tony's Cable car has some of the best burgers in the Bay Area they also had other things in menu I can't wait to try! Great place !

Another wonderful local spot that has been around for a long time. It's definitely no-frills, but the inside is cool because it's a renovated cable car (hence the name of the restaurant). The food is great quality at a great price. The burgers are huge and the side of fries that you can get is enough for at least two people. Everything is also customizable!! One of the best veggie burgers I've had in the city. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. Would recommend!

I stopped Tony's Cable Car Restaurant for dinner after work with a friend Wednesday night, as a suggestion. It's a very small, red and yellow restaurant. Parking lot is small, but, was wide open when we arrived. The staff are friendly and we're attentive when I asked for someone to clean our table. Customers order at the window when paying cash or else use the tablet to pay by card. I ended up using the tablet. I ordered the BLT sandwich, curly fries with BBQ sauce, and a root beer float. (I was very hungry and didn't snap pics...sorry, y'all!) I will say that BLT sandwich was good enough to eat on its own! It was flavorful and I was pleasantly surprised by how much bacon was on it! These days, restaurants are skimp with ingredients, especially bacon. It's nice to see there's still businesses that make what you pay worth while! The curly fries were hot and crispy. The root beer float was made to perfection, with the perfect balance of ice cream and root beer. I was so full that I couldn't finish the fries and have leftovers! When we arrived, it was after 5:30pm. They close at 6:00pm. By the time my friend and I finished our food, they were getting ready to close. I look forward to eating here again!

I had zero expectations coming here for a quick lunch. If you have no expectations and just want a basic old fashioned burger you'll be very satisfied. This is definitely not a fancy place. The location is incredibly small and there are a few tables outside and inside as well. You order at the counter and they bring that food out to you. The menu is so crowded that it's kinda hard to focus. They have a little parking lot so that was a major bonus. We had a burger, fries and a strawberry shake. Everything was great. They really fill the bag up with fries too. They do not have a bathroom.

This has been a place I drove by so many times for decades. This has been lingering in my head to go inside this place to get some food. I had for years been procrastinating on trying Tony's Cable Car Restaurant. I finally came inside and purchased a burger and chili fries. It was a good cheese burger but nothing special. The chili fries were just above average. Overall at least try this place once if you been in San Francisco for decades and passed this spot over thousands of times.

Ever since I moved away from SF, I haven't been by. I used to come here all the time after visiting Kaiser down the block. It's been a good old 5 years and I was craving Tony's Cable car burgers!! A lot has changed since then. Due to covid, they roped off all indoor seating. They still have outdoor tables if you wanna eat outside. They accept cash but there is an ATM inside. The greatest part is they now have a self order machine that accepts credit card! I quickly placed my order of curly fries, strawberry milkshake and a grilled chicken burger. My hubby ordered regular fries with a quarter pounder. We stepped outside to wait and no more than 10 mins, I got a text message saying my order was finished. The lady also called to us from inside and came through the little door to hand us our food. Oh my! The food was just like I remembered it!! Juicy burger, full of flavor and freshness. You can't go wrong with just the basics here, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, mayo and the perfectly grilled chicken breast! The curly fries were hot and tasty! I can't believe I waited so long to come back, they really are bomb and I hope they never change!

What a good dog. Really good boy lol. Ordered a chill cheese dog and some crinkle fries. Good customer service juicy dog decent chill and hot crinkly fries. Sometimes the simple things are the things you appreciate the most.

Usually pretty good food and service. Came in today just like all those other times. Had some extra add on to bother my burger and chicken sandwich did not recieve it. Make sure you check your food if you doing take outs like I did. I guess its less tips next round just for a safety net that my to go order might be wrong or missing

I came here after work for lunch and I ordered the 1/4 lb burger with cheese meal. The meal comes with a drink and fries. I upgraded to the coffee milk shake and curly fries. The portions were perfect! They give you a lot of fries and the burger was average size. I will definitely be back as soon as I can! Everything was amazing!

The food was ok ordered online,pretty fast service only hand sanitizer to clean hands no restrooms.Very crowded so order by phone or online.Food was ready when I arrived

Working in San Francisco on a project and decided to walk here for lunch. Let me just say the lady taking orders at the window was beyond rude. She gave me so much attitude that I decided to cancel my order. This happened on 7/11/23 around noon. If I'm going to spend my money, I expect to be treated better. I won't be returning. We treat folks better in Texas.

It's true old school. The menu is the same as when they opened in 1972, the same year I graduated from high school.

I've been coming to place for years! They have the most delicious milkshakes ever!!! Banana milkshake is my favorite. Very crispy and crunchy. The wait for the food may take a while fyi but very much worth it (:

The one saving Grace of cheap food should also be that it's fast. Yet another business that has gone all in on mobile ordering at the expense of their in person clientele. Order ahead of time otherwise, you'll wait forever.

The food may not be the most healthy but the service is good and its a goto here in the city best food here in my personal opinion is the chili dogs must have forsure...

Bought two chili dogs one order of onion two orders of onion rings one order of fries one water bottle and one chocolate shake I swear to you we all took one bite and through that s*** away that's how disgusting it was for 50 bucks so not worth it

For me, this place sets the standard for most of the dishes they serve. There's nothing fancy, but their hamburgers and fries, for example, are models of what a hamburger or fries should be. Also, their meat is hormone- and antibiotic free. It's a family-owned operation and the owners and staff take a fierce pride in their work.

I've been passing by this on the 38 Geary for decades. Never felt like walking down there until recently. I had to go to the bathroom, and I was craving a milkshake. Two birds, one stone. First red flag, they don't let their customers use the bathroom! How are they getting away with that and serving hot food? There is a Burger King (?) upstairs from a BART station in Oakland that does the same thing. They have a sign with some nonsense about it being an old building. So, they aren't required to have one. I didn't notice a sign like that at Cable Car, but for a restaurant to not have bathrooms customers can use to wash their hands before they eat or relieve themselves is terribly unprofessional and terrible customer service. Second red flag, ATM next to the cash register window. Which the owner probably owns or gets a percentage of. I didn't bother to look at the fee you have to pay to get the money to pay for your food! Because I had the cash. I didn't spend as much as I would have. Since I didn't get the milkshake. Because, I had to use the bathroom! The burger and fries I got were fine, but Shake Shack shouldn't be worried about the competition. While I was eating, I could hear a man coughing in the kitchen. He coughed multiple times at two different times. None of the coughs sound like he covered his mouth. I wouldn't know though. Since, you can't tell what's happening in that kitchen! I won't be making the trek down that hill again. They've got public bathrooms at Tar-jay!

Been coming here for 10 years, the last time I ordered a 1/2 lb burger and received a 1/4 instead. Today I ordered a burger with no onions and got onions and no tomato. Decided to call them and ask for a refund since they've clearly gone so far downhill that they can't make orders correctly anymore, and I've been put on hold and hung up on multiple times over the past 20 minutes, they're just refusing to communicate with me. Avoid this place at all costs, the prices are a complete rip off for mediocre food and they'll screw up your order and give you awful customer service. Supporting local businesses shouldn't mean getting treated like garbage.

I came here one evening a little before closing. I ordered a chili dog and some fries. The service was a tad slow, but nothing major. Next time I'll order in advance. As for the food, get the French fries they are awesome! Perfect, crisp, crunchy, and just the right amount of salt.

You know.... I like this place. It is quite a unique building. Parking is a bit small and challenging to back out of. Because of COVID, the dining area is closed but they have a couple of small tables outside. I ordered a polish dog and they cooked it exactly how I like. The fries are so plentiful, they could be shared with two or three people. And, the prices are affordable. I'd return and I'd recommend Tony's.

Honestly just a typical burger spot but their milk shakes are super delicious !!!! The price is actually really good too! Super convenient to order on their website and just pick it up(: i think it's totally worth it for the amount of food, price, and taste! Since I live in the neighborhood it's a perfect spot for easy lunches or dinners!

I have been coming here off and on for years. Parking is a challenge, to say the least. They do have great, authentic shakes. Curly fries are FAB. Last experience w/my burger (2 weeks ago), will be the last burger I ever buy there. Let's see, I had a shake, fries and 1/4 lb burger combo for about $16.00 Nice to have inside seating again. Guy who took order was very nice. Food was hot and fast. Here is where it goes downhill for me. I didn't think to order my burger cooked a particular way. In hindsight, I should have. It was raw inside. Top bun was super high, bottom bun was flat like a tortilla. You must know where I'm going with this. The bottom bun literally evaporated from all the "sloppiness" of the condiments. Lettuce was limp, they put a WHOLE slice of white onion on the burger (not just rings); 3 pickles, 1 slice of tomato and it was smothered in mayonaise. And the bun was cold. I got about half way through before the whole thing fell apart and I kind of started to gag on all the goo, that was on the bun and the bottom bun disintegrated. I get messy, but this was disgusting.

I had always wanted to try this place. But, I am sorely sorry that I came here. First off, be aware that if you are paying with credit card, you have to order on a filthy, nasty, stain-ridden kiosk. Waited almost an hour for an order of 3 corn dogs, 1 plain hot dog (with nothing on it), 1 order of fries. Finally got the food and drove off only to discover that the hot dog was loaded with relish, onions, mustard. Drove back. Waited another 15 minutes. While waiting, I requested a fresh order of fries since the ones I was previously given were now cold. The short lady with glasses refused, saying that they did not have any fresh fries. This was at 1:45 pm - how could they not have fresh fries??? I was so disgusted that at this point that I really did but not want any of the food and was about to request a refund. During the time I was waiting another customer said that they had gotten his burger order wrong. Somehow they managed to give him a new burger before they gave me my new hot dog. She finally gave me the hot dog, but I ended up not eating any of the food because the rest of the order was cold, and I had lost my appetite. A total waste of an afternoon and money. What a mistake. Will never ever be back.

Simple, juicy, and downright delicious. I hadn't been to Tony's in a decade, and on the day I came back - all I wanted was a down and dirty cheeseburger. Boy did they deliver. It was fast, it was delicious, the fixings were perfect. Hot juicy burger on a cold fall night. I was very satisfied. Definitely will be back!

What can I say! I walked in and received great service. I get the steak sandwich on a French roll and two cheeseburgers to go. The steak sandwich was absolutely amazing with the French roll! Best bread ever and the burgers are fire! Come support this local restaurant and enjoy a fabulous meal!

Good burger and fries. The milkshake is too thick for the paper straw they give you, so ask for a spoon. I really liked my chocolate shake!

Been here a few times. First time I was not impressed but came back after hearing how much my friends enjoyed the food. Got a BLT and cheeseburger. BLT was good but nothing you couldn't make at home. Burger was pretty good second time around and was perfect for a quick bite. I would come back again for a quick lunch burger. Decent prices for SF which is also a major attraction for me.

Food wasn't all that good. Ordered a burger, fries, anda shake. Didn't really eat it after trying it. Wasn't horrible but I don't see myself going back to be honest

What I got: 1/4 lb cheeseburger Seasoned curly fries What I thought: I love old school burger joints like this. The food at these places are always on point! So many options and oh so satisfying. I've been on a burger binge and pass by Tony's cable car so often that I thought I'd give it a try. I wanted to order so many things on the menu, but I'm only one man and since it was my first time I had to go with the classic cheeseburger -- also added some curly fries on the side. I really like the portions here. The burger was decent sized and pretty good and the curly fries were amazing. Sooo deliciously crispy. Solid overall. Burger didn't blow me away or anything, but it was good. I'd definitely come back and try something else on the menu some time. Workers were nice, prices were right (cheap). No complaints here!

It's clear that part of the clientele stop because of curiosity, but it's the regulars that must keep this place in business. Located off of a busy road, Tony's Cable Car Restaurant has its own parking lot and seating for an easy quick meal. You can order at a computer or at the counter. The menu is full of greasy eats, though apparently they do have a veggie burger option, that surprised me. The food here was OK and it's a pretty dingy place but that's kind of the point of a greasy spoon, right? It's cheap and fast, and it's clear that they don't cater to high end personnel, but if you want a simple greasy meal, this is the place for you. I can't say anything but the gimmicks or the price stand out, but that's sometimes what you want out of a touristy city like SF, right?

Tried out Tony's Cable Car Restaurant last week and my only thought after was - "How have I never been here before?!" I stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and it was mildly busy. I placed my order right away - a cheeseburger, curly fries and a banana shake - and took a seat at one of the booths. My food came out relatively quickly and, dang, was it good. The cheeseburger was great - not too greasy but very tasty. The fries were also really good - I haven't had proper curly fries in a while! Last, but certainly not least, the banana shake was incredible. Definitely the best I've ever had in SF. I will certainly be returning to Tony's Cable Car and I'm looking forward to trying more items on their menu!

1/4 banconburger , shrimp&ships, egg muffin to eat there were a good experience for my girl and i the place is keep clean the amigo on service was on point the only detail that they don't have restrooms or any gel to clean your hands before eating. Una experiencia para mi chica y yo satisfactoria de unos camarones empanizados con papas una hamburguesa de carne con tocino y un muffin de huevo con salchichón el lugar lo mantienen limpio y el servicio fue agradable solo el detalle de que no hay sanitario ni algún tipo de gel antibacterial para antes de comer.

I had the best chilly fries with grilled mushrooms ever. It was cooked fresh and tasted really good. It was a match made in heaven which is two of my favorite foods together. Next time, I'll order it again or one of the burgers.

Born and raised in SF but DO NOT bother stopping at this place for any reason. Just keep driving. 4.3 stars on Google. Is that a joke. Worse burgers and onion rings around and expensive. Just go to Safeway and get a sandwich or burger at any chain joint because it will be better than this place

This place may not look like the gentrified SF apparent in most places; it's not particularly hip or cool, and the food is not trying to be the next Michelin star restaurant. This place knows exactly what it is: cheap grab and go food, and it doesn't pretend to be anything else. If you are looking for a cheap (for SF), quick bite between grocery shopping at TJs or target, this place does the job. I have gone a few times to get their fried burritos. They are good in a greasy sort of way. This place has a soft spot in my heart, but don't come here expecting a different restaurant from what it is. I will certainly be back.

Great guys and food! Local spot that's been here for ever. Got me through grad school

The food here is really good! Rare to find local burger joints in the city and this place is all of that and more. Highly recommend.

Chili cheese curly fries and burgers were good, great charbroiled flavor. Coming back to try their shakes next time.

Nice little hole in the wall burger place. Really enjoyed their options in fries and onion rings. Burgers were to the point. My son really enjoyed his crispy chicken sandwich after a long day site seeing in SF.

My husband has been coming here since his childhood. We had to come by and grab some burgers, fries and onion rings. They have GREAT customer service. NOTE: Due to COVID you can only order online or call. No walk ins. They are very safe. Love this little spot.

If you want that classic middle school burger and shake. This is the place to go. The staff have always been very friendly and for me it's very nostalgic to a Dairy Queen. No frills but tons of fun :)

Great burgers, fries and milkshakes. If you are lucky you can park in their limited lot.