Happy to be back In the area near the dj clubs Garage food Got a gyro with meat Classic SF read more

Garage Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

Racist, homophobic or just moody, it'd take more than just my experience to know and so here's a review. To be clear the store is opportunistic because of its location. There's no other stores around for a 6-8 block radius. They make most of their money from this fact & the crowds drawn to neighboring bars & clubs. I lived by the store for a while, one guy who seems to be the owner, maybe not, was working on July 30, 2023, maybe he's just moody as he's not always this way but is when there's large groups of gays or minorities in his store but not necessarily if there's only one or two. So I'm thirsty asf & only have two dollars cash. The store sells mostly drinks & are along the furthest back wall. None of the drinks have prices listed. I in delusion grab an electrolyte replacement drink walk to the register and when he rings it up at $6.99 I apologize and say I'll need to grab something else & return the drink to the cooler. I then grab a small Apple Juice believing it to around 1.99, it was 2.99. I apologize again this time exclaiming I only had two dollars & again took the drink back to the refrigerator. At this point I start reviewing the water selection as a group of gays in fetish attire walk in and are also looking at the drink selection. I hear one of them also mention that the drinks do not have prices listed. I then realize to avoid picking a water that may cost more than i have cash on me I should walk to the register & ask what is the cheapest water they have for sale. I walk to the counter & ask what is the cheapest water they have & the person behind the register immediately accuses me of being angry. In hindsight it seems he assumed i would be angry having walked back & forth to the refrigerator several times & having heard the other customers mention the lack of pricing on items for sale. However i was just thirsty & wanted to prevent going back & forth to the refrigerator needlessly. I say to him i have no idea why you're assuming i'm angry I just asked you what is your cheapest water for sale. The store clerk immediately jumps to "I have the right to refuse service to anyone" which does anger me as I'm like what & why tf did that come out if his mouth. A shouting match ensues as he threatens to call the police but then refuses to do so. While he can refuse service at certain times what he can not do is refuse service because someone asked the price of an item he has for sale. Depending on jurisdiction not properly displaying pricing of merchandise for sale is a civil or criminal violation. Any business owner & most rational people can understand why its a discouraged practice for a store to not display prices on merchandise for sale as it encourages fraud. There are exceptions as in the fashion industry, custom work, etc. & those are often fraught with controversy. So maybe he was gaslighting, moody, uneducated in common business practices & law, i don't know. I know he wasn't serious about believing he was in the right & would face no negative consequences beyond a bad yelp review for his actions. Fact is because of the stores location & type of business its not likely a yelp review would effect his business as much as a investigation from various commerce & auditing agencies for calling the police on someone who asked the price of an item displayed for sale & then subsequently refused them service for having asked the price for various reasons the store should of had displayed eliminating the need to ask &/or the possibility of fraud by any party to occur. I had previously witnessed &/or experienced the staff at that store being weird & moody asf to patrons but then have returned and had many times with no issues. But this time in review i noticed that the times the staff has been hostile towards customers its been when theres been a group of gays &/or people of color & it was when they walked in that the store clerk/owners mood changed. It seems maybe he yelled at me because it seemed easier &/or more acceptable than yelling at them. Either way very strange experience. Also the cafe is now closed. Had decent food but also mostly took advantage of the limited options around. With the prevalence of food delivery apps many other cafes have been able to stay in business but it seems as thought they served decent there's no other reasonable option food. read more

Still the best little market in the hood and the owner is the BOMB. Hours may vary so don't show up and complain they're closed.Pandemic f*cked everything up, so best not to rely on what you see in reviews. Owners can open and close as they wish (any many through out the city do) depending on business.. It really ain't all that serious. LOL. read more

Really good burger and onion rings. Also not overpriced. The pastrami is also pretty great. Super nice guys in there asceell read more

See all

After driving 15 minutes to get here and then driving around to find parking, I get to the Garage Cafe at 2:30 pm and it's closed. They advertise to be open all day. So, that's quite frustrating. read more

Just had one of the best affordable cheeseburgers I've ever had delivered. Came with steak fries and everything was very satisfying. read more

Garage Cafe - Cheeseburger & fries - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

Since writing this review, I started getting the philly cheesesteak a little more often. It's delicious, just like the lamb/beef gyro. Usually served with fries, but the onion rings are the best side with the philly. Much love, Joe! read more

This one of the best cafes I've ever been to. The name is simple, Garage Cafe, side A is the garage and side B is the cafe. I been here once but I haven't tried everything on the menu. I should try ordering some new items on their menu the next time I come in here for lunch. I also like how Costco is just one block from this place! EDIT FOR 10/16/2013: The guy on duty here today was friendly. If you're nearby and in need of a quick snack, then you found the right place. read more

$22.87 for a Rockstar Sugar Free, a Ghost Orange flavored and a Ghost Sour Patch flavored and Chips, the kind to go with Salsa. And the chips weren't even that good, like "card board". What an over priced rip off, the chips were so meh. It would be justifiable if the chips were of one of the better brands. read more

Across from Slim's. A few doors down from Butter. We were too early for the Yelp Elite Event at Butter, so we came here to grab a quick bite. The 2 of us shared a Turkish Pie...I think. It was good, it had lamb...not sure what else...it also came with some yogurt sauce/dressing type thing which wasn't very good but it's suppose to bring down the spiciness. I prefer it spicy without the yogurt dip. It was good and there were plenty of seats. read more

Garage Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've always overlooked this place especially back in the day when the 20 Tanker was next door. The neighborhood is really changing now, with Loft, Bar Agricole, the Crepes truck, etc. Garage Cafe (and more importantly the liquor store) is a reminder of the old days past. You came out of a show at Slim's and you needed a damn beverage. And maybe a shwarma too read more

Garage Cafe offers pricey eats(hot dogs-6.5, burrito, 9) and pricey microbrews, wines, certainly not to go destination. probably appeals to evening clubbing patrons who have no other alternatives drink: organic "steaz" iced green tea w/ coconut water(2.75) -coconut flavors overpowdered tea flavor. -only 9 gms sugar, 80 calories whole bottle (a plus). take outs: -big place, empty post lunch. read more

It now has a Mediterranean fare to eat, & The owner, is a machine. Try the beef & lamb Shwerma is huge & tasty!

I would definitely not recommend coming here for anything, everything is so overpriced. I came here once and will never come back.. My price for a lesson learned.. read more

I just moved across the street from Garage Cafe and I've been to this restaurant twice now in the short time I've lived in the neighborhood. I've got to say, this place makes excellent drunk food. Hassan, who runs the show on the restaurant side, is always professional, courteous, and consistent. So far I've ordered the chicken caesar salad, pesto pizza, onion rings, and pesto fettuccini alfredo. All were delicious given the type of place this is. This restaurant is pricey and definitely takes advantage of the area and the demographic, which is basically the only thing that stops me from eating here every single day... but this is SF, so I'm not deducting points for this one aspect because I'm learning this is fairly common. My favorite part of Garage Cafe is the hours -- they are open until midnight on weekdays and 3 A.M. on Friday and Saturday. Bottom line --I will never go hungry with this place in business. Thanks so much, Hassan! I'll bee seeing you again soon. read more

love love LOVE coming to this liquor store. garage is my go-to liquor store when i'm on folsom street. used to come here all the time before the pandemic & joe always took care of me! such a sweet guy. him & ed offered to let me bring my bike inside because the area is notorious for bike thiefs, because division street aka skid row is just around the way. they always make me feel welcome & taken care of. the food is fire & the liquor store portion is always stocked with all of the things i could ever want to have an enjoyable night. thanks friends! read more

Best little hole-in-the-wall taqueria you never thought you'd go into. After trying this place once I was hooked. I eat here every week after class. Ignore the bums, there's no crack in the tacos. Just come in here between songs from one of the clubs and you'll thank me. read more

Giant and Delicious are the words I would use to describe the shawarma. I was starving and on my way to a show at Slim's. I decided to grab a wrap at this cafe as my friend went into the connected convenience store. This place was empty with nobody manning the food part until I walked in. This is around 9:00 pm so it is understandable. After I ordered the wrap I started to regret it because the dood behind the counter proceeded to slice chicken off of a spool which looks like it had been spinning there all day. He continued for quite a while to make this thing which just kept growing in size as he added the meat and other fillings. When he was done, I was given the Mission burrito equivalent of a shawarma wrap. This thing was big and filled with tender chicken. It had a curry based spice rub which was addictive. I let my friend have some because this was way more than I can finish. In the end I was not able to finish all of it even though I wanted too. I enjoyed this with a Mexican coke and that was also a good choice. I think this is the perfect place to get a bite before or after a show and drinks at Slim's. I would even stop here without going to Slim's read more

Lamb Shawarma for $7? Yes please! You can buy a beer from the back but you can't drink it inside. Get it in a paper bag and enjoy out front. I like watching the guy cook your order while you wait. read more

Not going to say much... Bought a bottle of juice and a bag of small chips for $7.50. Straight Taxin!

Cheap. Easily accessible. Lots of liquor. Lots of smokes. Right before a concert. Right before hitting Slim's. The boys got their larger beers served bum style in a paper bag while I purchased a small bottle of Acai Berry fortified with anti-oxidants. All this drinking and smoking I was around.........had to make sure my immunity was willing! The man behind the counter was nice to me, even smiling, as I paid him out in cash. I wandered over to the tables and I heard him chirp at the guys. "Can't drink inside. Take it outside." There was a large sign on the wall that read: "No Alcoholic Beverages Inside" We moved outside and I noticed another sign that read: "No Open Alcoholic Beverages 60 ft from the Store" I felt really classy. read more

My boy Joseph is the MAN! .... I just pop in my order via phone and BOOM...there it is! Must admit, if you're pressed for time, not an ideal spot. Joseph really goes out of his way to prep a zesty sandwich, just give him the time an it's worth every dime! His chix-sand is off the hook but than again, I go when he's not bombarded by the ecclectic crowd. One luv Joseph! read more

Garage Cafe might not have the best food, but it offers things you can't find elsewhere. Namely, decent food until 3am on the weekends and a really good (if overpriced) beer selection. Warning: Beer, wine, and alcohol are only sold until midnight. In case the hours still won't update, they are: Sunday until 11pm, Monday through Wednesday until midnight, Thursday until 1:30am, and Friday & Saturday open until 3am. The gyros here are decent, the owner is extremely friendly, and they have all sorts of other Middle Eastern dishes such as Tabouli, Dolmas, Baba Ganoush, and so on. I live less than a block away now so perhaps I'm simply ecstatic to find something open late when I don't feel like making food, and don't really want a crepe, but I enjoy what I've had so far. read more

Watch out this place seems cool but they are very selective of clients. Refusing service to some but literally allowing others to purchase after literally kicking other people out. Place needs new management. read more

This one goes on my mental list of Places to Try While Intoxicated. Just kidd- no, I'm totally serious. Only because I've read that others have done it. I walked here from work one day because I was craving a gyro and there is NOTHING to eat in SOMA on the number streets that is not Burger King or my other local shady liquor store or that hell hole aka Harvest (hate you). I bought a lamb gyro for $6.99 but also got two drinks to go with it. The damage was $13!! But I forgave them because the guy working there was friendly (or maybe just amused that I walked in after lunch hours and talked a lot to him and ate in the empty store by myself and told him that I found the place on Yelp. He really liked that). And to their credit, the gyro was HUGE. I only ate half that day and still had enough for my midday meal (I eat 4 meals, not 3). It was mildly spicy, like I had asked, and despite the desolate state of the kitchen (they could have filmed I Am Legend in there..), the ingredients seemed fresh. So, in conclusion? Supremely sketchy place with decent food and even more decent customer service. I'll be back! read more

I'd give five stars if the convenience store didn't stop selling alcohol past midnight. They should put up a sign or something (unless my beer goggles missed it), because it's really a tease when I eye something, walk up to the register, and get the bad news. The five stars go to the best tacos that have ever landed on my taste buds. I'm sure they're enhanced because I only ever come here after having a few drinks at Audio next door, but nonetheless, that $%*# is fabulous!!! You can choose from several different proteins, but the best part is how much guacamole they give you. Not stingy like most places, whereas most places don't even put guac on their tacos. You can tell them how spicy you want it, too. They're $3 each and so worth it (cash only). They have many other options besides tacos, but all I want are the tacos. read more

Those cheese pie thingies? They're behind the counter, but they're not on the menu or anything, so you just have to look. I asked the guy what they were, and he just said, "Oh, that's a cheese pie." It's not really a pie, but it's more like a semi - personal pizza, with delicious homemade bread dough instead of regular pizza crust. It is one of the most delicious things ever. Oh my god, there are herbs in there, there are several different kinds of cheese, there are roasted peppers, olives, and other things, but it is fucking amazing, and everyone mus try Garage Cafe's cheese pies. The place...I don't understand why this place isn't busier! Everything is awesome, and they have a huge selection. It looks like a regular old deli with a liquor store in the back, but it is truly a hidden gem. I will have to hit this place up pre - Slim's sometime. I like the name, too. Gets to the point. read more

Just steps away from my work Wide variety of Cold ass beer Its-it ice cream sandwiches and kick-ass customer svc. Is what makes me stop in atleast once a night that I work. read more

Epic. And epically expensive. Epic part. One of the best chicken kebab lavash wraps I've ever had courtesy of Jafa Cafe instead the Garage Cafe. Meat was methodically grilled from scratch, nurtured to the perfect flavor unleashing temperature. Plenty of veggies were added, along with a dash of hummus. Thing was bursting rolled up, I'd go as far to say it was almost twice the size of wraps elsewhere, and at $7 and change, less expensive. Simply outstanding. Epically expensive part. Was so enjoying it that I missed my bus to get me to where I needed to go. Crammed for time, I had to take a taxi. Worth it? You better believe it. read more

Chicken Gyro is incredibly huge and delicious!! Place is clean and efficient. You can purchase alcohol inside as well on the other side to take home with you. read more

Garage Cafe - Chicken Gyro! $12 - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Great neighborhood corner store. Only problem is it's not on a corner. When you walk in the first thing you will see is junk food and alcohol. They have that and more. They have TERRIFIC SANDWICHES hot and cold. I've only tried the cold turkey, cold pastrami, and hot chicken breast which was marinated in lime and olive oil. I live in the area and find this place to be great. Great friendly service as well, they have a TV with sports and a dining area also if you are in the neighborhood. read more

The burritos here are amazing. The outter burrito is fried so its crispy, the insides have REALLY fresh ingrediants like freshly cut avocados, fresh chicken, cheese, rice, orgasms... On par with some of the best places to get a burrito. The place is really clean too. AWESOME!!! read more

OK, how can I give a liquor store with some food 4 stars? Well, I get booze there, the guys are supper friendly, and my BF has gotten some winning lottery tickets there! Never ate the prepared food, so can't comment. read more

2:30 AM drunk gyro?! yes please. other times of day you might want to explore elsewhere but the gyro is good enough to be a viable lunch option if you're in the mood for it. read more

Great cheap place to find real Eastern Euro/Mediterranean food! 1. Cacik/Tarator/that ubiquitous middle eastern yogurt-cucumber-mint-garlic-dill soup: they were out of it but made me a yogurt-cucumber salad instead to make up for it 2. Chicken shwarma wrap: delicious. 3. Ayran: I didn't get any tonight, but they also have this stuff. Impressed. read more

based on their location, i'd assume these guys see more drunken antics than hungry customers. the garage cafe is located in quite possibly the best place a liquor store can be placed. every other establishment on the block is a club or bar. most of the time, someone in need of smokes or a quick "preparty" before they venture into the depths of $12.00 cocktail land can be found inside the garage cafe. calling the garage cafe a liquor store would be like calling an automobile a stereo. sure it plays music, but it's got more to offer than just music. the mediterranean food here was delicious! and it was fairly priced. the fact that i live quite nearby also makes it !! too bad i didn't take a pic, next time ;) read more

Garage Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow. This place is completely different than when I went over a year ago. I work a few blocks away and just haven't made it back - until today. It's renovated so the restaurant is up front and the convenience store is in the back with a wall between. Which is nice because you no longer have to eat at a convenience store which was slightly strange the first time I went (and possibly why it took a year for me to return). Back when it was kind of dumpy and sold subs and burgers the name "Garage" Cafe seemed appropriate. Now that it sells Mediterranean food...I think it needs a re-brand. Anywhozinhowzin... They no longer sell burgers. Wah. Now they are Mediterranean. Yay. Some of the best spiced Mediterranean food in SOMA too. Better than Gyro King (http://www.yelp.com/biz/gyro-king-san-francisco#hrid:6O88Y5EC6DBOhOv66r8NLQ/src:self) and Mediterranean Fresh (http://www.yelp.com/biz/mediterranean-fresh-san-francisco#hrid:GPEyne9eWvHx2_AlDVYRUg/src:self). read more

The Gyros was HUGE and TASTY and only $5.99!! Sure they thought we were drunk and tried to charge us more just because it was late, but hey, if it's worked for them in the past . . . Oh by the way, note this place is not by any means a "destination" eatery. Just go if you're in the hood. Absolutely don't make it an event. You'll see why when you go. I'll be back for more gryos (seriously it's like 4 meals worth for me.) Don't go to the sad re-heat the crepe place next door. Come here for some grub, or wait out the deep fried goodness at Butter. read more

Great little hole in the wall liquor store w Mediterranean food A little creepy after dark But we needed smokes and this place is always open Thanks read more

Open late for food and grocery High prices on beer, but great selection read more