I've been wanting to buy knives here for years, but didn't have a good excuse until now. Over the course of two visits, I bought three knives here and a cutting board. Ended up with a 8" chef knife by K Sabatier (French) and 2 Japanese knives, each for under $200 each. I think given the quality, beauty, and sharpness of these knives, they were great buys. They also ship, in case you're only doing carry-on luggage and are from out of town. When you buy a knife from them, you get a card for one free sharpening. They do stone sharpening (no machining), so it's pretty hard core. You can ship it to them if you're out of town. The staff were all courteous and knowledgeable. It's quite a crazy selection so it was good to have their expertise. If you're new to knives, I recommend also allowed any extra $50-$100 for accessories, like a hinoki cutting board and/or honing rod. They do sell high-end versions of these, or you can purchase something on Amazon for cheaper. Regardless, once you get high-quality knives like these, you'll want to take care of them by having more forgiving cutting boards and keeping them sharp with honing rods. Bathrooms: None. read more

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Wow! Where have I been all this time?? I happened to walk by Bernal Cutlery and decided to take a look. Beautiful knives/tools covering the walls and filling cases. The folks working there were top notch with information, expertise and all around customer service. I look forward to going back soon when I have dedicated time to peruse and bring home a couple knives- and at this point another knife rack read more

This is yet another cool store on Valencia St. If you want your own custom-made cutlery then you should seriously consider a stop in here. Since most cutlery here is not mass produced, yes it has a higher price tag. Cost associated with custom made jobs are of course higher. As I was walking around looking at all of the beautiful cutlery, I overheard some of the in-depth conversations about the advantages of custom-made knives. I was impressed, and the salespeople here are very nice and knowledgeable. You buy, you buy, you don't buy, you don't buy. I was caught off guard because I was not prepared to buy at that very moment. But I did like the idea of having my own custom-made knives in my kitchen. Will I regret not buying, probably. I had the same feeling when I didn't buy cutlery on street behind Plaza Mayor in Madrid where the street is literally called the street of knives (Calle de Cuchillos). On this street there are several custom-made cutlery shops. But on the way out I did notice that they had a very nice selection of tin seafood (conservas) from Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Morocco for sale. This did not require much deep thought for me. I purchased several cans of high-quality seafood, which I could not wait to open upon my return. read more

Bernal Cutlery - Knife Sharpening Near Me - San Francisco, California

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While this is of course a knife and knife sharpening store, they also have a super cute market area with a bunch of items fit for a foodie. I came in while exploring the Mission and was tempted by just about everything in sight. They have a nice selection of chili oils, sauces, spices, tinned fish, and cook books. Totally worth the stop in to peruse this selection! read more

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Love this store! We were in the area so we walked in. Store is very inviting with many specialty items. I bought some tinned fish and my friend bought some serving utensils. Many knives here. Customers were picking up/dropping off knives for sharpening. read more

Bernal Cutlery - Many tinned fish options! - Knife Sharpening Near Me - San Francisco, California

Schwing schwing! I'm a knife guy, and this is certainly has been a sort of mecca for me whenever I come to the city. I do not know the most about knives and blades and steel types and all that, but I DO know that the BEST knife that you should pick up...is pretty partial to your own preferences. That being said, they could definitely help you HONE into your tastes. Wow, I'm on fire. I walked into the store, which looks quite exhaustive, I might add. It was really schnazzy. They've got Eastern knives on the left, and Western knives on the right. I was in the market for a western knife, so I went over to that counter. I had an idea of what I wanted, which was a blade of 4-6 inches to be used for prepping smaller items. I was given like 8 options to peruse, and ended up choosing the Bernal Cutlery and K. Sabatier collaboration petty knife. It felt really great in the hand, and it's my first carbon steel blade! They were very patient, and I was very very happy with my experience! You GOTTA give this a go, especially because these guys are just so happy to be selling knives! You can feel the passion. read more

I'm a fan of all kitchen shops, let alone a knife shop, kid in a candy store vibe. Tons of great shit you don't particularly need unless you're a cooking dork and need all the tools, which I may need to admit myself, I am. Have bought an assortment of things here, from cook books, DIY Japanese import carving knives, multifunctional openers for under $8, to ceramic tinned fish holders to make my table settings pretty. Most recently picked up a chef press. Super super pleased with it and used it immediately for a steak I'd say some items are a bit expensive, while some are priced very well, you just need to have a think whether you'll use something more than a dozen times a week and you'll find that it's not that expensive at all. read more

Bernal Cutlery - Chef press 13oz, 2 new york strips - Knife Sharpening Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great little specialty shop with more than just cutlery! There's a great selection of cookware, Kit in tools and unique spices and sauces from all over the world. I saw a large selection of tinned fish including the brand I brought back as gifts from Portugal. read more

Bernal Cutlery - Knife Sharpening Near Me - San Francisco, California

Visiting from out of town with some chef friends and have always wanted to come here. Was looking to buy a new knife but wasn't really sure what I was looking for. We were assisted by Leo, who provided outstanding service and expertise. His knowledge of the knives, their makers, and their specific applications was impressive to say the least. He took the time to understand what type of knives I like and felt comfortable with and guided me toward the perfect knife suited for my needs. No sales pressure, just genuine love and passion for the craft. Leo also took the time and offered me valuable advice on sharpening techniques and stone maintenance, which I really appreciated. He even shared some excellent restaurant recommendations for us to check out while we're in town. Exceptional experience from start to finish. Highly recommend Bernal Cutlery and especially Leo. read more

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Customer service can improve. Some folks are nice. But most of the time my experience has been negative. People disinterested in helping, acting stuck up, or just plain rude. I can find and buy the goods they sell for the same price elsewhere without the off putting attitude. read more

"I'm sorry it's gotta be a little bit of a scary place to work. I don't know how you feel about it. You want to be standing there having people comming in all day going 'I need knives. I need more knives. Do you have any bigger knives? I'd like a bigger knife, a big, long, sharp knife, that's what I'm in the market for. I like them really sharp. Do you have one with hooks and gouges like blades and kind of serrated? That's the kind of knife I'm looking for. I need one I can throw. I need another one I can just hack away with. Do you have anything like that?' " -Jerry Seinfeld da Scene: Stumbled onto this great shop while exploring Valencia area, now we stop in everytime. Just tried out their knife sharpening service. da Work: Dropped off 3 of my heavily used knives. I've had them sharpened several times at local shops, farmers markets, even tried an online joint. I guess you don't know what you don't know... 'cause these knives have NEVER been sharper. Seriously, even new out of the box, they didn't cut this well. I'm totally stoked... Will bring another set for sure!! da Service: You drop off your knives, they give you an idea of the charges to expect, and send you a txt w/ order number. I opted for standard service, you can get express service for an upcharge if you need quicker. Mines took 2 weeks, wrapped up nicely for pickup. You get what you pay for as these knives have never been sharper! read more

Bernal Cutlery - Well packed! - Knife Sharpening Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My friend recommended this knife sharpening store to us, glad we found it. We bought our knives from Japan last year, and needed to get them sharpened again. I think for the 4 knives we brought in, including a pairing knife, boning knife, and two chef's knives, we paid about $60 for all of them. We did a rush job, 2 days, which was definitely worth it. Otherwise you can do a regular job, which would take 2-3 weeks. They did a fantastic job. I really wanted to check out their store, but for next time. It looked really interesting - lots of different knives for purchase, cookbooks, and kitchen items too. Until next time! read more

This place is great and I love that we have a place like this in the city. I especially love their fish wall, which is a very aesthetic looking set up of all kinds of canned fish (sardines, salmon, etc.) in a variety of different flavors and brands. I love looking at all the pretty labels and picking out the ones I think my friends and family might like. I also love Bernal Cutlery's variety of japanese bowls and kitchenware. They have a really good selection of cook books as well. Great place to pick up home ware and/or gifts! read more

These guys are the "Fudd" equivalent of the knife culture. They refused to sharpen a Microtech Troodon mini because "it's illegal." The knife was purchased from a reputable dealer in CA and is under 2", making it 100% legal. After I corrected him about his unsolicited legal advice, he still refused, saying, "Anyway, we don't sharpen OTFs." I then asked them to sharpen another folder. They looked at it for about five minutes, talking hesitantly about their inability to sharpen it because it was partly serrated and "not utilitarian" (lol?). Apparently, if they think your knife isn't used for cutting boxes, it's not something they want to touch. This was after he prefaced the whole thing by saying my other knife was illegal, followed by him looking at me like I'm a criminal for carrying a CRKT Hissatsu folder. If you have some cheapo pocket knife or kitchen knife you want sharpened, they'll probably do it. But if you have any decent folding knives, they'll either refuse to sharpen them because they don't look "utilitarian" or they won't do a very good job on them. These people are judgmental and dismissive. Don't let the misleading positive reviews trick you into thinking this place will take care of you. Look elsewhere. read more

Sharpen your knives, here! Taking them to hardware stores. The ones that contract outside sharpening service is NOT the way to go. Bernal Cutlery will loan you a knife if you need one before yours are done. Saved me! As turn around time was 3 - 4 weeks. Not saying that's the norm. They do have a rate for expedited service. Vaughn was so friendly and accomdating. I learned a few things about knives from him too. In addition, they accept knife donations. Used in their classes. Driving over the hill. Then, navigating the neighborhood streets is not my cup of tea. I will bear it when I take the knives back for the next sharpening. read more

These people know their top tier knives and even for beginners! I went in last year to buy my first top notch chefs knife and it didn't disappoint. It was also around $100 and it cuts everything like butter. I just went in to buy a second knife and went with a Japanese one around $300 that's made with powdered steel and looks awesome! These ppl also stand by their work and I appreciate their friendly and approachable customer service. read more

Bernal Cutlery - Knife Sharpening Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We dropped in while visiting town, just wanting to check out some German chef's knives to complement the Japanese collection we've pieced together. It was more of a fact-finding mission to see what was out there but the fellow helping us was so pleasant that we ended up with a Friedr Herder and some table knives. A really great experience - there was no hard sell or any lording of expertise over a couple of modestly informed buyers. We were afforded quite a bit of time to look over options, learn about the manufacturers, and walk through all of the feature and maintenance considerations. Would recommend a visit to anyone looking to make a purchase with confidence, whether it's for themselves or (especially) as a gift. Even just seeing the collection of inventory, which goes beyond cutlery, is worth a stop. read more

What a wonderful establishment ! This is heaven for people who are really passionate about cooking tools and anything related to kitchen/cooking. I came in looking for gifts to give my mom and Jamie (the nicest person ever) helped me tremendously! I had so much questions since I wanted to get the best curated selection and she was so patient and accommodating! They have a good selection of western, global, and Japanese knives, as well as good quality kitchen tools. Based on how I saw my mom cook and her preferences, I got 3 stainless steel knives in total: 2 Japanese (hitohira nakiri & naozumi nihonkou ?) and 1 western knife (French 6' K Sabatier Auvergne) to give her options. Jaime explained it is good for all-purpose uses such as chopping, prepping, and basic cutting of proteins. I added a Japanese stainless steel peeler as a gift to replace my mom's dollar store peeler lol. I asked to have everything wrapped in a Furoshiki cloth since I saw it displayed and it looked really nice :) Great selection of spices, condiments, tinned fishes, and they have matcha from Uji so I got some, plus yuzu concentrate as a personal treat ! Totally love this space and may come back for other lovely stuff! read more

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Loved this place. There are many interesting kitchen goods not just knives. Bought Japanese condiments.

Leo is the best! He sharpens my kitchen knives like no other! Hes very knowledgeable and great at his craft and thats a special thing!

Extremely knowledgeable and helpful employees. Their selection of knives and other cooking tools is extraordinary, and their knife sharpening service is the best! read more

They have a really fabulous selection of knives and I loved their advising service. I had a budget for a gift but knew little about the different types of knives and what they were good for, so it was super helpful to have someone guiding me through my choices. They also have a wonderful range of cookbooks and other cooking utensils. Also so many tinned fish options! Haven't tried their knife sharpening service but I plan to soon!! Definitely wanna come back to buy something for myself! read more

Customer Service by all staff members in the Knives Sharpening Service component of the store needs to incorporated into their interactions with all customers. Questions are to be expected. Dismissive, condescending attitudes have no place in a business located in the heart of a community, namely the Mission District. read more

A few months ago I read an article in the Chronicle about Bernal Cutlery. Part of the article spoke about their intention to create their first custom knife. Kevin, my son-in-law, loves to cook and has a collection of high end knives. Christmas was coming and I thought that would make a special gift for him. I confirmed w/ Tammy that he would appreciate it and ordered one. I learned that the knife would be available between January 15 and February 15. Kev was happy to wait. Yesterday I received an email that the knife was being shipped. I figured it would arrive sometime next week, but to my surprise and delight it was on my doorstep today! I brought it in and unpacked it. It was securely packaged in the box, w/ paper packing materials. Not a trace of plastic. The packing materials are in the recycling. I am attaching photos I took of the knife in its box. I didn't take it out because that should be Kevin's privilege and pleasure. It looks incredible and I will take pleasure in presenting him w/ it. Here's the article if you're interested in reading the full story. https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/bernal-cutlery-knife-sf-18450719.php read more

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Stumbled across Bernal Cutlery during a day out with friends shopping for Christmas gifts! The shop is beautifully set up and easy on the eyes. They had goodies from all around the world, which is great if you're looking for a gift or kitchen wear that is handcrafted and unique to your taste. My friend and I both bought a Japanese stainless steel knife hammered knife with a beautiful wood handle. The employees were super kind and helpful- they answered our many questions and taught us a lot about knives to find the best one for our secret Santa's. read more

Bernal Cutlery - Knife Sharpening Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Was researching places to check out since some buddies wanted to explore Mission district one weekend and I figure I wouldn't be returning anytime soon. I stumbled upon this place, attracted by the different types of donabe they carried. There are a lot of different products packed in this relatively small space and the layout is like a big loop around the store so you can constantly keep moving, but at any given point, you still have access to an employee which is nice. Many of the employees were interactive and knowledgable about the products in their store. I enjoyed talking to one of the staff members about their collaboration with a Japanese family on yuzu salt. I caught a whiff from the open jar they had out and decided to treat myself, even convincing one of my friends to purchase one. I'm not sure if it's worth the $16, but it is nice to try at least once. The place also carries a bunch of pantry items like various chili oils, sauces, seafood, etc. that might be worth checking out. My favorite parts of the store were the corner with tweezers/weights/donabe and the wooden bowls/cutting boards section. This is the first store where I found an adjustable fluted pastry cutter, so I picked it up as a Christmas gift for my friends who love making fresh pasta. There's also some fancy ravioli molds, gnocchi boards, etc. for the pasta lovers. I also picked up a chef's press and some tweezers for fun. However, the items are quite pricey..for example, I already had this Japanese mandoline on my Christmas wishlist that I found online for half the price of what they were asking for in their store. I would come here only to find specialty tools (such as knives, they have a lot of those) that I could not find anywhere else. read more

I've had my knives sharpened here many times, but the quality of work is not exceptional. I've bought knives here, and I've never been satisfied with the price-to-value ratio in the end. I've bought kitchen supplies and snacks here even though the cost is usually sky high. But the biggest problem to me was when a member of the staff gave me completely incorrect information about the law on carrying knives in California. The staff here is never friendly, and I recall the employee that day was particularly rude (even as I spent a couple hundred on another knife), but the kicker was talking down to me... and being incorrect. This store benefits greatly from the lack of competition, for now. Recommend going anywhere else if you have another option. You'll have a better experience with more friendly and knowledgeable staff, and you'll probably get a better knife for less money too. read more

Amazing store with a vast variety of knives and related offerings. They even have a section dedicated to sharpening customers knives. Granted sometimes it take a while to get serviced because the lines are so long. This service is still very good so it's worth the wait. One of my favorite stores. read more

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This establishment is a joke! Left an email last week asking them can I bring several knives to have it sharpen and what is the best time in the morning. Of course with no reply even when you call the store. read more

Can't get enough of this place. They have so many great options whether its a bread knife or a paring knife and their sharpening team is next level. They knocked out my knives and shears so efficiently and were so kind to me. Look forward to visiting again. read more

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AMAZING shop; knives, sharpening, and so much more. The front of the shop has dried and canned goods. A lot of it is locally produced with a standout being the large selection of Korean sauces made by Queens market in SF. Knives: they have everything you can think of, high end kitchen knives to cali-legal everyday carry knives. I'm sure their sharpening service is fantastic and I kept wishing I knew we would come here beforehand so I could bring some of our knives. Accessories: Lot of nice kitchen accessories. A coworker ended up with a wasabi grater and I bought a nice $4 peeler made in France. They have a huge variety of quality looking cutting boards as well. It is on Valencia street so parking can be challenged, it looked like a lot of locals just walk over which would be ideal. read more

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Excellent service . On time priced right . What else do you except me to say . Perfect prefect perfect

Great service! They have a nice variety of knives and culinary items. We found exactly what we were looking for.

I don't usually cook. It's not like I can't cook, it's just that when I do my food turns out to be inedible. I'm known to mess up tapioca and even Rice-A- Roni. But, I have to be self sufficient some time and not always rely on eating out. Goodness help myself when I do. My latest cooking endeavor was to start making salads, which would save me close to $12 each time (ordering out). So, I needed a vegetable knife that would be able to cut tomatos, onions, cucumbers, beets, etc. I came here and was amazed at the selection. I've been using a $20 Amazon knife this whole time and my vegetables looked like Freddy Kruger cut them. Choppy and messy. Thank goodness for this professional knife store where they can answer all your questions, sharpen your knives (not for free though), and where you can pick up other things like cutting boards and sanding stones. They don't pressure you into a sale, in fact they're just the opposite. They take out knices for you, are relaxed, and just let you browse and buy or not buy. This is the second knife I've bought here. I bought another knife for trimming fat off of steaks and man, both have made cutting a whole lot easier. They have a cool selection of knives for all your needs from cooking to whittling wood, so if you need a knife this is a cool place to check out! read more

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I brought in a knife to be sharpened. I had had it for several years; it was a gift from a dear friend who visited me from the Netherlands, so I have a bit of emotional attachment to it because of the friendship. Vaughan, the operator of the business, is friendly, knowledgeable, and skilled at doing his work. Dealing with Vaughn and this business makes me think of the way things work in small towns where locally-owned businesses are the norm. I was beyond pleased with every aspect of the transaction. read more

The best knife I've ever owned. Also the most expensive knife I've ever owned. Worth it. Knowledgeable staff if you can convince them you can afford a good knife. read more

Great and fun store to shop in. More than knives, it has cookware, specialty food items and lots of sardines too. Marco was really nice, he was very knowledgeable and helpful. Gave me a bunch of knives to try out within my budget. He also gave my knife an initial sharpening, so it's good to go. read more

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I love this store!! I admit I have never gotten a knife here but I love it nonetheless. They have a variety of curated artisan goods such as spices, sauces from Queens, soy sauces, vinegars from Taiwan, and Japanese cookware. Of course they have a huge selection of knives of various types and origins, and multiple workers to assist in knife selection. They also offer knife sharpening services. I got a $10 bag of dried Irwin mangoes from Taiwan and I was skeptical at first cause it was expensive, but they were so good... Overall, a super nice store to browse if you are into food. read more

This is an awesome shop on Valencia. They have a variety of kitchen utensils, mainly specializing in knives, but I'm drawn in by their massive collection of tinned seafood and chili crisps. I hunted down this spot because they carry Boon sauce and Kari Kari chili crisp, but upon setting my eyes on their beautifully displayed cans of seafood, I knew I would be a regular. The workers are super nice, always giving recommendations on their favorite foods sold in the shop. It's comforting when you know that they've sampled and can stand behind their products. And pricing is really fair. A lot of the items cost as much as the original price online without the added shipping fees. I will definitely be back one day to pick up my own knife. With the way Bernal Cutlery is set up, it would probably feel like picking out a personal wand from Ollivanders. read more

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Very knowledgeable staff, patient, able to talk me through purchase of 2 starter Japanese knives for teenage daughter just exploring her culinary interests. Did not try to upsell me in any way and actually found a very nice knife that was a prior trade in that was a great price point. read more