This is a long overdue review. I got two large koi fishes done from Joe back in 2017. We discussed about my idea, went over placement, and he designed both pieces beautifully. Each piece took about 6 hours in a two day time span. Joe was very professional and checked on me regularly to see if I was okay, especially during the second session when the needle was near my kidney and I looked like I was constipated during the finishing touches. Highly recommend this shop and would definitely come back! Thanks again Joe! read more

Got a tattoo today by Justin. He did an awesome job and really knew what he was doing. I came in with a design and had some specific colors in mind but he let me know that those colors wouldn't provide the best result for my skin tone. I asked him for his advice and I'm glad I took it :) Love my new tattoo! Everyone at this shop is nice and laid back and they made my experience comfortable/ enjoyable. The price was very reasonable. I will definitely come back here if I need any more work done! You guys are great :) read more

Rigers is the best. He reworked a number of pieces I had done perviously into one, amazing sleeve. He's creative, talented, patient and a true artist who works with you to give you exactly what you want. Thank you, Rigers! read more

I got my first tattoo at Moth & Dagger upon recommendation of a friend (and she is tatted up and down). I knew what I wanted and the artist respected my decision and choices while giving great feedback. He suggest I go slightly bigger and he was right. I really liked the quality of work and it was quick and reasonably priced. I'd definitely get another from them. read more

Can't believe my last review wasn't uploaded! Anyway, Nichole's comment below is absolutely right. Mario kicks so much ass. He is hilarious, kept me distracted while he tattooed a portion of my piece on my ribs (painfully funny), and oozes talent. I am so glad I came to Mario for my first tattoo because I felt worried about whether or not I would be satisfied with it. Mario blew me away with his abilities and exceeded my expectations ten fold and then some. I'll be back, Mario. read more

Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio - A tribute to my life changing experience in South Africa and wrestling with lions - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Dude this shit sucks! I got a tattoo of afro samurai on my ribs and dude totally shaded the hair dark then the FACE DARK AS WELL!!! ever heard of negative space... Or accent marks rather than darker his face so it's as dark as his hair.... Looks like a big ass blob of dark. Sucks!!! read more

Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I got multiple tattoos from Rigers and I liked all of them. It was very easy to schedule the appointments and Rigers was always responsive to my emails. The entire process of getting the tattoos was quick and the results were great too. The shop itself is very clean and all artists are friendly. read more

It took me around 3 months to finally get down to 4 places in San Francisco that I want to get my very first tattoo. Even though Moth and Dagger caught my eyes, I chose another shop with more reviews and yes, more expensive. Just in case. However when I got to that shop, talked to the woman ( by looking at her portfolio, I know she's great) she seemed to be uninterested and a little bit mean when I showed her my idea (NOT a star or anything stupid though just thought I would make it clear right there. It's just a handwriting word made by my dad) Anyway, her attitude really turned me off and when my friend told me that I should never get the tattoo from a person who didn't show respect to my idea, I immediately listened to my gut. Few weeks later, another friend told me about Moth and Dagger and my instinct told me I should give it a try. I went there, met Justin. He was so nice and friendly, especially when he knew that it was gonna be my first tattoo. He told me what to do before and after I got my tattoo and I was greatly appreciated. Weirdly enough, I didn't check his portfolio but my gut told me that this was it: I had to get a tattoo from this person. So a week later I came by and got my tattoo from him. He gave me some honest advices and thankfully, I listened to him. The tattoo came out amazing and I was so touched. It's my dad's handwriting and almost like calligraphy, it has a lot of curves and shading inside. The more I look at it, the more I can see how much devoted he was to my tattoo even though it was just such a small piece. The tattoo costs about $200 from the other shop but only $70 from him. I gave him $10 for tip. Cash only. I have introduced him to all of my friends and some already plan to get their tattoos from him so seriously, GO! I don't know Mario but I believe they will love your tattoo as much as they love their job. read more

AH-MAZING. Thank you, Justin, for my amazing tattoo. I APPROVE.

MARIO= FANTASTIC. Super chill, very friendly. I knew what I kinda wanted (a quote, yes I know, but it was my first tattoo!), and he delivered! I didn't actually get the tattoo done until the next day because he had to close but he was super chill when I met him the night before. Instead of speaking to me like I was just another customer, it felt like I've known him forever! Signed me in for his last appointment and "discounted" my tattoo to $65. HEEELL YEAAAAAH. From Mario himself, "no other tattoo shop is gonna give you a quote tattoo for $65. Take it or leave it, I'm offering." The experience: I came in the next day and he was already working on what type of fonts I want. Quick, I chose one and he got me on the chair and starts preparing to work. I was nervous, not gonna lie. But he made it so easy and chill by putting on Netflix comedies and talked to me about various topics like other tattoos he's done. I laughed through out the whole thing because of him and the Netflix. In the end, it turned out to be exactly how I wanted it. :) NOTE: Cash only. I didn't know that, and I only had a card. My tattoo was already done so he told me to go to the Wellsfargo on Sutter and take out cash. (This guy trusts me to come back and pay?!) Of course I came back though.. and paid him in full $65 and tried offering $20 for tip and he threw back $10 and said the tip was too much. Now where else would you get that at? read more

Words can't describe how incredible of an experience I've had getting tattood by Rigers. Not only is he hands down one of the most talented artists and tattooists in San Francisco, he's also extremely kind, patient and has the best bed side manners. He's my go-to from here on out and I couldn't recommend him more highly! read more

Cant speak highly enough about Rigers! Hes a gifted artist and has done incredible work on my sister and I. On top of that he is so kind and patient and is willing to take as much time as needed to help us settle on exactly what we want. My sister and I will definitely both be going back to Rigers for all our future tattoos! Cant recommend him enough! read more

Mario = great work. Dedicated. Personable...albeit snarky mofo! Prices = reasonable, really! (If you're a first time customer, check into Yelp for the 10% off discount! New customers only.) Location = easy to find. Studio and office, next to each other. Gotta love the decor, and the old-school barber shop chair! (The place used to be one.) I've gotta get back here for touchups on my old tats. read more

So I've been tattoo'd twice by Mario...each time was great. Not only was I cracking up the entire time, I also have two really awesome tattoos! My first one from Mario was literally "My heart." (on my sleeve) that looks like a stamp. I still to this day get people asking me if it's real. The font is amazing, as is the line work. Such a steady hand! My second one is an Egg Beater, like the old fashion kind with the crank handle. I sent him a picture and Mario rocked it! He was also able to squeeze me and two other friends in and ended up staying open way late to make sure we all got what we wanted. The final thing is the atmosphere. Mario is hilarious. It's laid back and chill, and I've never left disappointed. Oh, they also have free tattoo day, but you have to follow them on twitter to find out when and what! I know I'll be back for more pain and torture from Mario (and will love every minute of it!) read more

Best Tattoo Shop in SF!!! No offense to the others. Im inked up and been around plenty of artists but Mario and the CREW do amazing work in there! The 1st door when entering may seem like thats all it but the real get down is in the room to the left. Mario style for you folks out there is very good quality, more of like vintage black and white with latin style, very clean lines are straight, and not a heavy hand at all, he's very easy with the needle and steady, does really nice potraits as well, recommended Mario and the Crew. For sure. There very confortable laid back, funny as hell, and all just a bunch a guys who love what they do and passionate about it. Plenty of friends coming in and out saying hi, neighborhood love. Nothing but great conversation positive energy everywhere. These guys are awesome and well worth it for quality work. Simple as that. No cocky: "I'm the best tattooest out there because my face is tattooed up - im book till next year garbage bullshit", these guys will get you in there fast as best as they can. Worth it. Also ask about Mario's "48 Dodge" Badass!! I came out all the way from the Eastbay to get excellent quality. read more

Mario worked closely with me to design the exact tattoo that I wanted. I had a design that I absolutely loved that I found on his Instagram, and he helped me shape it into something very personal. Mario is super professional, and extremely diligent about COVID practices. My snake tattoo has delicate, minimalist fine lines and it was amazing the detail, clarity, and skill with which the work was done. Thanks for the dream tattoo, and I would absolutely work with Mario again for other tattoos in the future. read more

@MothandDagger is legit, and Mario Delgado is a genius! I'm not going to lie. I like deals, and when my friend Alan L (who already has existing body art and experience with tattoo artists) purchased the maximum amount of Groupons (and beyond), I bought myself one as well. To up my confidence, we visited the tattoo studio to chat with the owner/artist and check out the setup - small, intimate shop with two chairs, no private room (private appts available on request), and pristine conditions. I was supposed to have gotten my tattoo back in May, but with all the travel and last-minute appointments, August became the next earliest window for me. From the first phone call to my periodic emails to the last check-up, Mario had been patient with me. I was very particular about specific elements - subtlety, color, size, and placement. Other tattoo artists would probably have dismissed me, but Mario was approachable, attentive, and understanding throughout my brainstorming and revisions. Three sketches later, what I received was more beautiful than I could have envisioned! With all of his Academy of Art expertise, he created a watercolor effect in tattoo form (see pics) and transformed a notion that previously resided at the back of my head (for the last 8+ years) into a reality that now adorns the back of my neck. That is talent, and those that truly appreciate body art recognize the talent immediately. From my observation, Mario specializes in realistic/color tattoos, and his partner Noel specializes in tribal tattoos. They both do custom tattoos so rather than picking from a generic template, each client works with the artist to create an original masterpiece. Prices are extremely reasonable, and they offer specials from time to time so definitely visit them if you are considering any form of body art. Since Moth and Dagger is a small shop, call first before dropping by so that they can make time to chat between clients. I lucked out in finding Mario without much effort and wouldn't trust another artist. Moth and Dagger gets 5 stars all the way. read more

Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio - my family name + plum blossoms inked by Mario Delgado (day one) - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My sister and I just went to Mario. Very happy with the results! He made sure we felt comfortable with the placement and the design. We were a bit indecisive for a while, sending emails back and forth, but he worked with us. Would definitely come back. Thank you thank you thank you! read more

Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here to get my first tattoo. Joe did an awesome tattoo for me. Great vibe in the shop and I would absolutely recommend him. I felt at ease and really enjoyed the process. read more

Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I don't write a lot of Yelp reviews, but I owe it to Mario, his shop, and anyone thinking about getting a tattoo here in the city to sing a few praises. After thinking and thinking and stalling and thinking about this tattoo I finally nutted up and walked in to talk to Mario about my ideas. I am HORRIBLE about asking questions because sometimes I don't even know WHAT I'm trying to ask, but Mario is super easy to talk to and he totally got what I was after and he worked with me on the look as well as my schedule. On the day of the shop was laid back enough so that I was nice an comfortable, but not so much that it was like he wasn't taking it seriously. Mario even sang an original song that I believe he wrote right on the spot called "I hate typewriters" as he meticulously inked each key on my typewriter tattoo. The end result was better than I could have possibly hoped and at least two people have called my new tattoo "sexy". Can't wait to get another piece done and when I do I'm headed straight for Moth and Dagger. tl;dr: Awesome service, beautiful art, friendly and laid back atmosphere. A+ times a million, eleven billion stars, would buy from again. read more

I thought this place was pretty rad, but I wanted to break the 5-star monotony with a 4-star rating. I visited this hole in the wall diamond with a friend from out of town who was set on getting a peacock feather tattooed on the top of her foot. The tattoo came out beautimously (yes, I know that's a made up word), and was illustrated by none other than that round guy, Mario. Mario and his partner (in more ways than one) onsite are very good conversationalists; I learned all about moose knuckles, camel toes, and poop noodles. I don't know if my friend (the one getting the tattoo) was entertained, but I sure was. I will consider this place for my next tattoo, my only fear is the ridicule I will receive from Mario and the other guy for wanting a Hello Kitty tattoo... Have a nice day. read more

Moth and Dagger is super official. Very talented artists, cool guys and nonstop all up in your ass action movies whilst getting your tatt! Can't beat that. I came to Mario with a sketch of a Japanese snake I found and he cleaned it up and flawlessly applied it the very next week. It's gonna take a few sessions and I am already eager for my next session. I am very impressed with his skill and how he made sure everything came out just as I wanted. Noel is also very talented, you can check out some of his work off their site, he does very clean tribal but is talented in other areas as well. I have found my new tattoo shop and would have a hard time being convinced to go anywhere else. read more

Got a tattoo done from Joe, it is one of my favorites by far. Joe was very professional, his art is amazing, & his attention to detail was much appreciated. Love my new tattoo more than words can describe, thanks Joe. Also my boyf really likes his new shirt he got from the shop. He made a point to tell me at least 12x. read more

Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I can definitely vouch for all the good comments that this place has received. I have been lucky enough to get blasted up by Mario a couple times, and each time I leave content and eager to come back and get more work done. The shop is top notch, quality of their work is first rate, and the dudes are good folks. What more can you ask for? Cheap tattoos aren't good and therefore good tattoos aren't cheap. You usually get what you pay for.. Make sure to call ahead of time and not try to just show up like a kook and try to get work done. These guys are usually booked (cause they're good at what they do) so keep that in mind. All in all, two thumbs up. read more

All I gotta say is that Mario is a good guy. Just be prepared to hear random things, because Mario does have a mouth that's entertaining. hahaa! I have been a client of Mario in the past, and he did my very first tattoo. I brought my ideas and pictures to Mario, and in the end, I was very pleased and happy with the quality work that was custom made, just for me. I still am! The tattoo studio is small and cozy, has large mirrors, with great lighting, comfortable furniture, with custom made artwork showcased and colorful all around. (No flash art on walls.) Staff is down-to-earth. AND...I think this tattoo studio wins in my book. I really think networking is important. I had no idea what was happening in SF until Mario told me. Mario, who is the owner of the studio, shared cool information with me, letting me know about one of his projects, that has deep meaning to me. Have you heard of any tattoo artist or know one, that has donated a whole sleeve, supporting a fundraiser for a non-profit organization? Well, Mario is currently doing that right now. For me, this is a first for me to hear and know...and I'm glad that my first tattoo, was done by Mario who is so cool. read more

I've gotten two pieces from Justin Davis in the last four years. One is a wrap around half sleeve. The other other is much smaller and simpler. Both times, Justin was amazing. The studio is tight on space, but clean and comfortable. Justin worked with my schedule and gave amazing and honest advice on the design. Not only can you trust him, the guy is an amazing artist. I get stopped all the time by people who want to know who did the work and I always send them Justin's way. The price is definitely reasonable considering the quality of work. I can't wait for the next one. read more

My BFF and I wanted to get tattoos together. This was going to be my second one, and I'm hella anal about who I let stick a needle in me. The place I wanted to get our tattoos at were pretty booked, so my BFF (who had gotten some work done at Moth and Dagger before) got in touch with JD. He responded right away that he had an opening that following Monday, so that's what I spent the weekend mentally preparing for. Upon entering the studio, I was introduced to JD and Mario. It's a small shop, but don't let the size fool you. These guys are extremely trained professionals and utilize the space well. It's also very well-lit and clean, and the guys are very welcoming. Right away you can tell that these guys are all about being honest with you and giving you what you want if they can. So it didn't come as a surprise when the other people entering the shop were obviously repeat costumers and the verbal rapport between everyone was lighthearted, witty, and hilarious. My BFF's tattoo took about 45 minutes and it turned out great. Because of the location of where he got it, JD instructed the BFF to check in with him in a couple weeks in case it needed to be touched up and the lines straightened after it's healed. I thought it a great customer service that he offered. My tattoo only took 25 minutes and I am extremely pleased with how it turned out. JD gave me great advice on how to deal with the healing (the itching was the worst). I love that he makes himself available and is pretty prompt about his responses in case I had a concern after leaving the shop. And what he charged me was really reasonable. Heads up, they're cash only. But they totally will let you leave if you need to find an ATM. That kind of trust is unrivaled. I will definitely go back or recommend to anyone! read more

this is mr. jams! he's from sheena's halloweenie flash. i was looking for spook themed tattoos to get in october and found her sheet on instagram. scheduling my appointment was easy. i was comfortable the whole appointment, she's super fun to talk to. i never knew that such a simple thing as a blood sausage could bring me this much joy. every time i don't wear sleeves at work i get a few compliments on him!! i may get the shading touched up soon since i was a bit lax on the aftercare (don't slack on it) but he healed amazingly. thank you!! read more

Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Mario is an amazing artist. I was just tattooed by him and I love it. Everyone who works here is great. Everyone makes you feel comfortable and their prices are great! I am extremely happy that I went here. I would definitely recommend checking this place out. read more

So I was a bit hesitant to even attempt fixing up a not so great tattoo I had done about 2-3 years earlier. It was one of those "hey lets go to the beach but let me wear my jeans in the sun cuz this tattoo is so bad" kinda feelings. My coworker recommended I see Mario because she said it was great work without being an arm and a leg. I had a super easy scheduling and "brainstorm" idea with Mario and this tattoo came out better than I had even hoped for. I'm no longer shamed at the mess on my leg because now it's amazing. Mario is super chill and friendly, not like some tattoo artists who knock your ideas to your face and feed you garbage. He was also SUPER NICE even though I missed my 2nd follow up appt. because I wrote the wrong date down :( (I know how it feels to have a no show and I felt terrible about it but he was ok. I think.) Considering this is a pretty large tattoo and the original hurt HORRIBLY, this wasn't as bad. I didn't feel like the gun was going through 10 layers of flesh and into the bone which is a plus. Anyway, great shop, everyone there was friendly and its not super crammed and filthy. The quality of work and the color and "revamp" of my tattoo is amazing, I'll have to update with a photo but I am certainly going to come back when I'm ready for my next. read more

Let's get one thing straight: Mario is THE SHIT, mmk? Not only is he not pretentious, he actually has a sense of humor which is all to rare of artists these days. He sat through my indecisiveness like a saint while I made him re-position my stencil about 8 times before settling which takes some amount of saintlyhood to pull off. He does clean work. He knows his stuff. And he's an all-around great artist. WILL be coming back. read more

Travelling here from Australia, definitely worth it! Mario is a fantastic Tattooist, he was patient, listened to what i wanted done, and made sure i was happy with size and placement before touching ink to skin. hes a nice guy too, none of the snobby wanker attitude that a lot of tattoo places have these days. if you are thinking of getting a tatt done, you owe it to yourself to see these guys first read more

Kind of upset with my session today. I wanted a simple lotus and I sent Joe a picture too. He wasn't very friendly and when I tried to make conversation he gave one word answers as if trying to end it. The lines were not crisp and there are places that are thicker. Some of the point are rounded and he just seemed like he didn't really care. read more

Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Can't say enough about Moth and Dagger, it's an awesome shop! I spent about 27 hours over 6 months to get a sleeve done. JD did an amazing job on my tattoo and I love it. He was very responsive to e-mails and text messages when planning the tattoo and was constantly hitting me up with ideas and directions on where to take the art. The shop is tiny but very clean and a very comfortable atmosphere. Also very easy to get to by transit. Not your typical tattoo shop, the guys are really friendly and really easy to get along with. Considering how much time I spent there for my tattoo it's awesome to have a place to just chill while it's getting done. Prices are also very reasonable which is a bonus especially if you're getting a large piece done. I'll be back again there soon to get more work done for sure! read more

Got a foot tattoo done here a couple of weeks ago during their toy drive event. The owner Mario seems like a genuinely charitable guy who was just glad that I brought in a toy--(and he even offers to do free ribbon tattoos for cancer survivors) pretty cool. There's a place in Sacramento that does a Toys For Tats event once a year and they actually hand out free tattoos, so I thought the $5 discount for the toy was a little menial considering I drove all the way out to SF for it. He was kind enough to bump up my discount to $10. =) After much debate about whether or not I could even get a tattoo on my foot (I know some places refuse to do it bc the tattoos don't stay well and then they blame the tattoo artist for a shotty job) Mario finally agreed to do the tattoo after giving me sufficient warning. It was pretty busy at the time, I actually had to leave and come back later, and Mario ended up having to stay past 8pm that day. I appreciated him sticking around after hours and he was very efficient--the piece was small so he got it done in about 10-15 mins. I was really happy with his work and he gave me a free bottle of their special oil-free lotion to put on my new tat. Almost 3 weeks later and I'm happy to say my ink hasn't faded into a sloppy mess yet! I'm hoping it stays on my foot...but I might have to come in again for a touch up. I'd say if you're going to get a tattoo here try to get Mario to do it...(or it seems like Justin Davis also does great work judging by his portfolio and reviews) but I wouldn't go to the third guy, I forgot his name but he was frankly being very impatient and kind of condescending to me. read more

Mario rules. Never in a million years did I think my 18-year-old, sun faded tattoo (originally done by a Venice Beach chop shop) could actually look good - but Mario's fix-up job surpassed all my hopes! He made my back look pretty again...when I've spent the last several years of my life regretting that I ever even got that tattoo, because it looked so bad. He even managed to save the faded, blotchy face - which every other artist told me was a lost cause. I'm going back as soon as I can to see what he can do about my ankle tattoo, that also needs retouching. I don't think I'll go to anyone else, ever again. I'm totally serious. Mario is a master. read more

I walked in to get a small tattoo and the girl at the front helped me right away. She asked me what I wanted and I showed her a picture and then she gave me the paperwork and things were off! She started drawing it out for me after and was super nice. After waiting for a little bit I went into the other room and put the sticker on. Then I liked it and so she just did it! It was the easiest thing ever! I thought getting a tattoo would be a little more difficult but it wasn't at all. In the end I paid her and she gave me her card and we left! Her name is Sage and is super nice. My tattoo looks amazing and I couldn't have asked for a better walk-in appointment! read more

Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio - Cross and semi colon tattoo on my wrist! Turned out beautifully! - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

My 3 sessions with justin is awesome! Highly recommended! Book ur appointment or consults by calling or email first! Ask as many question as possible specially if this will be ur first tat! Make sure to check their portfolios as well! Follow him @ Instagram: sweetmiserytattoos / FB: moth and dagger tattoo studio/ or contact him via email: sweetmiserytatto@gmail.com. I'm definitely Happy with my ink! Will probably be back for more! Maybe a back piece this time... read more

Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio - Love the ink ur in! Kois -by Justin Davis - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Moth & Dagger is the real deal, does great work, is reasonably priced, in a great location, and won't take months to get an appointment. I've had alot of tattoos and this was handled very well. Justin is the guy you want: very careful, patient, methodical, and very experienced. He also likes to do alot of prep work prior to your appointment, which is really helpful in nailing down exactly what you want and making you more comfortable. I highly recommend doing this and getting a consultation with Justin before your actual appointment. Justin has been there 6 years and I feel very confident in his work and process, like knowing you have the top doctor in the country when you go into a scary hospital situation! He's also a great artist. Chase read more

So now that I've lived in the city for about a year I feel like I should update this. Justin is fucking amazing. He has done a bird on my inner arm, a (lock and key) heart on my elbow, and most recently he finished two Alice on Wonderland tattoos one on each leg. Justin is funny and talented. He will help you get the best tattoo possible. Any time I came to him with an idea of a tattoo he told me the truth about coloring, shape and where to put it. He will give you his honest opinion on the piece so that once you've got it you will truely love it. Go see Justin, he'll get you the best tattoo ever. read more

Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio - Justin did an amazing job on my Alice in Wonderland inspired tattoo. - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

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