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    Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing

    4.8 (638 reviews)
    ModerateTattoo, Piercing
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Response time

    30 minutes

    Response rate

    100%

    Services - Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing

    Tattooing

    Gauging or stretching

    Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing Photos

    Portfolio From The Business

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    Reviews With Photos

    Post experience glow. Love.
    Todd C.

    Isaac did my son's earlobe piercings. He was fastidiously clean and organized. He was calm, calming, and charming. Highly technical in his description (we asked) and clinical in his execution. He's also done the second ear piercing for my wife and daughter. Highly recommend.

    Whitney W.

    I messaged the business through Yelp and they were very responsive and helpful. I went in to get jewelry change outs and saw Issac. He was extremely professional and very knowledgeable. He was very quick too which isn't common with piercings. He was able to adjust my wants/needs as he examined my ears and I am very happy with the results!

    Helix, flat, conch
    Jenna C.

    I was recommended to Isaac by a friend, and I have had an amazing experience at sideshow every time! It is on the more expensive side, but I don't mind since I know I'll get great customer service, quality jewelry, and a professional's experience. His station is clean and organized; he will make sure everything is properly sanitized. He is incredibly knowledgeable and makes me feel at ease. If you're a talker, he'll keep up a nice conversation. If you're not, he's makes it comfortable either way. If I have any questions he'll explain the process and give advice. The piercings were quick and smooth, about 6 or 7/10 pain, but I stop feeling in after an hour. I also appreciate the aftercare instructions and open schedule (usually works everyday but Tuesdays and Wednesdays). He even ordered koi fish pieces for me when I asked if they would get any in the future. I highly recommend Isaac to anyone looking for a professional and friendly piercing experience!

    Love piercing : )

    Amazing! Isaac did such a great job! I did not feel a single thing. He made sure to explain the process well and make me feel welcomed and comfortable. Thanks a lot!

    Bernadette T.

    Walked in to get my second lobe piercings on a Saturday afternoon. I was greeted and told that the wait was going to be about 45 minutes. There were about 4 people ahead of me waiting for a piercing. I had time though so I did not mind waiting, and I appreciated their transparency! But just beware that it might get busier on weekends. Also remember who is before you so you know when your turn is :) Once it is your turn, they'll gather some of your info and take a picture of your ID with the iPad. Isaac looked like the guy for piercings. Since I told him I wanted lobe piercings, he showed me their selection of studs. I chose a 3mm jewel with a flat back per his recommendation. The flat back is more comfortable to sleep in! The piercing process was pretty quick, about 15 min. I appreciated that Isaac took his time measuring on each ear. Once he is ready to pierce, he'll direct you with some deep breaths and pierce on an out breath. It only stings for a second but not too bad for the lobe piercing. I felt minimal pain after! The piercing + my jewelry section + neilmed aftercare saline spray cost about $168. Overall I was very happy with my piercing experience!

    Regine A.

    10 out of 10 would recommend this place. Bethany did an amazing job creating my me and my mom's first matching tattoos. She provided a great first experience for us. From making sure it was the size and design we wanted to assuring we were comfortable during the entire session. It only took about an hour for each of us. I loved how quick she was. The staff is friendly here & they take walk ins. The price isn't bad either! Heads up, there is a small credit card transaction fee of $3. Fortunately we were able to tip our tattoo artist via zelle and Venmo :) just ask.

    Tragus Piercing   jewelry, piercing, after care spray, tip = 80
    Xander B.

    Preface: First time customer, visiting SD. As a person who's worked in customer service for nearly half a decade. Isaac had a way with his services with my friends and I. The vibe of his piercing room is everything. Small, private and intimate. As for Isaac, you can tell he is knowledgeable and experienced with piercing. He can tell you wether your anatomy works with certain piercings and gives suggestions which jewelry works best with your current set or even skin tone. This was my 8th piercing, by far my most painful was my nose but when he did my tragus Isaac was gentle, and walked me through each step he was doing. Isaac is it! He's who you want your piercings done by. Isaac is the piercer you're looking for! #GoochGangster

    Moon with minimalist face and sparkles
    Ileana G.

    Amazing fast and friendly service ! I decided to get a tattoo on top of one I already had to make it fuller. Amazing choice to go to Sideshow Tattoo. Matt did it and it was so fast and a comfortable experience even tho I was almost naked since it was in my ribs/side boob area.

    Simona F.

    I got my ear pierced on Sunday by Issac and I could not be happier! When I first walked in I got greeted by some of the friendliest people I have ever meet at a tattoo shop. They got all my information and since I was a walk in I did have to wait but it was no more than 20-30ish minutes start to finish. Issac came and introduced himself and had a look at my ear. After the small consultation we picked jewelry! He was showing my a couple of different options for my second lobes. He walked me through all my options and when I had asked him what he thinks would looks best he recommended the black prong settings to fit my vibe and style. And to his recommendation I did decided to go with the black flat backs. And when putting the markers he made sure to measure so they would be even! Once I was happy with placement and everything it was time! He made the whole process a piece of cake! And with some breathing exercises we were done! He made it as painless as could be. The first picture is a couple hours after the piercing. Surpassingly it was not red or irradiated. A little bit of blood but was something I was expecting! Once cleaned it looked PERFECT! The second and third was the next day. Absolutely painless and looks amazing! Got so many compliments. Thank you Issac and Sideshow.

    Amazing tat by Jedi!  it!
    Moni G.

    This place is amazing for ink infusion! JEDI tattoo artist is amazing, thank you for my tat, I truly love it and your vibe is amazing, see you soon for for more ink therapy! Thank you!!!

    Morgan P.

    Believe all the good reviews! We walked in on a Tuesday afternoon and Jedi was the only one there- he had an appt coming in but when we showed him what we were looking to do (a few small tattoos) he was super accommodating and pushed his appt back to fit us in! He drew up our designs and we were in the chair pretty quickly. He gave us such a great experience, super friendly and genuine and enthusiastic about hearing about our week of adventures. My friend got her first tattoo and I couldn't have asked for a better experience for her than with Jedi. He was super gentle with her and did a test line to make sure she could handle it and was just so much more friendly than half the artists I've interacted with over the years. Clean shop, plenty of seating and a fun "get what you get" vending machine. 100% recommended and we will def come back to Jedi next time we are in the area!

    Love it
    Diana G.

    I went in last minute to get a rib cage tattoo. Damon took the inspiration photo and drew up several sizes for me. He asked many questions to make sure I was getting exactly what I wanted. Super professional and very friendly. It was a really good experience. Will definitely go back to add to the tattoo Damon started. 100% give 5 starts to Damon and his shop!

    Snug piercing

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    2 years ago

    My husband and i walked in and chance was able to do tattoos on us. We both are very happy with them.

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    Page 1 of 16

    Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing

    Can we get a tattoo of our own choosing during Friday the 13th?

    No traditionally we design them.

    Do you offer back dermal piercings?

    Not at this time.

    What is the shop's minimum?

    The shop minimum for tattooing is currently $100

    Hello, how much would 2 lobe and two helix piercings be including jewelry? Are there student discounts?

    All of your current prices are listed on our website and all prices will include jewelry :) We periodically offer discounts throughout the year, again I’d suggest checking on our website for posted specials.

    Hi - do you guys do single needle fine line tattoos?

    Yes we do, we have artists that specialize in fine line tattoos.

    Do y'all do blackout tattoos? Or maybe consultations to find out what would be best for a large coverup tattoo?

    Yes we do blackout tattooing. We take walk ins so come in at your convenience and an artist will look at your tattoo and give you several cover up tattoo ideas. If we can save it with a larger tattoo than you have you should, but if you want to do a… 

    Do you do the gym all get what you get tattoos?

    Hmmm.. well we do have a Get what you get tattoo gum ball machine. We take walk ins at our Pacific Beach location.

    So my question is who would be the person I ask for if I'm looking to get a piercing? My friend wants to get her nose done again and I was thinking about getting my nipple done.

    Do you guys have anyone there that does cover ups?

    Yes we do cover up tattoos. Come in let’s have a look

    How much do you charge for septum piercing?

    Septum nose piercings start at $70

    How much is the minimum for a one inch tattoo?

    $100

    Do you guys do fine line tattoos?

    Yes, this is one of our specialties. We love doing minimalist style tattoos. We have several experienced tattoo artists that only do this style as well as take the time and care in properly placing and sizing to your tattoo to enhance your body’s… 

    For ears piercing, do you guys use cream anesthesia before the procedure?

    For ear piercings not at this time. If you read our reviews almost everyone mentions how much the didn’t even feel pain when Isaac pierced their ears. So I’d say if you want an ear piercing that’s pretty pain free come see Isaac.

    Do they currently do walkins?

    yes they do!

    What is the standard size for first-time septum piercings?

    16g x 8mm is standard. Some wider septums need a 10mm width.

    Do you guys do uv tattoos?

    some artists do them. Call ahead

    Do you guys offer dermal removal under the corner of the eye/ high cheek area?

    Yes, we do dermal removals.

    When are walk ins for piercings available?

    We take walk-ins Daily no appointment needed.

    Do you guys do nose piercings and if you guys do how much?

    Nostril is $70 including jewelry.

    What's the price on earlobe/cartridge piercing?

    Lobe is $40 for one, $60 for both, and a basic helix piercing is $60 including jewelry.

    View All 39 Questions

    Review Highlights - Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing

    Since, (in great part because of Isaac) I have had over twenty and I still plan on a few more!

    Mentioned in 202 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Enigma Professional Piercing Studio

    Enigma Professional Piercing Studio

    4.4(954 reviews)
    7.5 miNorth Park
    $$$

    I recently had Evan pierce my belly button and thirds on my earlobes, and I couldn't be happier…read morewith the experience. From start to finish, he was incredibly friendly, professional, and attentive. He took the time to help me choose the perfect jewelry for my anatomy, and the shop itself has an impressive selection to browse from. As a nurse, cleanliness is extremely important to me, and Evan truly prioritizes it. He showed me that all the jewelry was sterilized and worked within a proper sterile field during the piercings, which immediately put me at ease. The actual piercings were quick and effortless--no fuss, no discomfort, just smooth, precise work. I definitely recommend Evan to anyone looking for high-quality piercings in a clean, welcoming environment. I'll be coming back for more piercings in the future! Thank you Evan for doing my piercings!

    I waited to write this because I wanted to be fair and factual. Unfortunately, I would not return…read moreto Enigma after my experience with an eyebrow piercing. My piercing became infected shortly after it was done. I don't necessarily blame the studio for that. Piercings can develop infections and I treated it. What concerned me afterward was that the jewelry continued to look extremely snug, with essentially no room for swelling. I went back to Enigma specifically because I was worried the barbell was too short. The first piercer I spoke with agreed that it looked borderline and said they could change it if I wanted, but since I'd never had an eyebrow piercing before, I was looking to them for professional guidance. Another staff member then looked at it and reassured me that it was normal, talking to me about blood-pressure fluctuations and "piercing anxiety" and suggesting that staying calm was important for healing. I trusted their professional judgment and left the jewelry in. The pain, swelling and redness subsequently returned. I went to another established piercing studio for a second opinion. The piercer there removed the jewelry and found that the ends had been embedding into my tissue, leaving indentations. There was pus underneath the jewelry. He replaced it with a longer barbell and the pressure and swelling began improving almost immediately. What upsets me most is that I had already identified the problem and specifically returned to Enigma for help with it. Instead of addressing my concern about the jewelry fit, I was reassured that what I was seeing was normal and had my concern characterized as anxiety. It wasn't anxiety. There was a physical problem with the piercing that ultimately required intervention elsewhere. I trusted this studio with my body and then trusted them again when I came back because something didn't feel right. I'm very glad I eventually trusted my own judgment and sought a second opinion, but I shouldn't have had to. Unfortunately, I can't recommend Enigma based on that experience.

    Photos
    Enigma Professional Piercing Studio - Conch and helix piercings

    Conch and helix piercings

    Enigma Professional Piercing Studio
    Enigma Professional Piercing Studio

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    Lions Den Tattoo Studio - Work from Brenda! And a Diet Coke :)

    Lions Den Tattoo Studio

    4.8(275 reviews)
    4.1 miOld Town
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free estimates

    The best experience I've had. Took a concept and brought it to life. Steve is an extraordinary…read morevisionary and artist and the whole studio of artists treated me like family. I couldn't recommend them more. If you're thinking of getting your first tattoo or looking for your next, visit Lionsden. You will not be disappointed. Epic attention to detail, amazing atmosphere, kind professionals and talented artists.

    Terrible attitude + subpar tattoos. If I could leave 0 stars I would. They're welcoming at all…read more There's an ongoing joke that tattoo spots these days make it feel like they're inconvenienced by walk-in and I never experienced it until I visited this spot, except I was attending a Friday the 13 flash event. The tattoos were not great quality either. My artist which I believe is the owner or one of the main guys gave me attitude when I asked if he could make my tattoo half and inch small. Then I asked if he could rotate it as in physically turn it before placing it and he got annoyed again, said I'd have to pay extra if I'm going to be asking for all that. I explained it wanted it at 90 degree angle vs how how was going to place it. He wouldn't need to make any further changes. Obviously it was a misunderstanding but the way he spoke to me was not friendly at all. But the real issue was how bad the tattle was, didn't look like what was on the flash sheet at all. On the sheet it looked like fine line and well. Just look at my picture to see the issue. You can hardly read the inner part which was supposed to say Veneno. Overall it just came out sloppy and I'm genuinely embarrassed by it. I lie to folks and say that it's supposed to look like that to give spooky vibes but in reality that's not how the tattoo was portrayed on the flash sheet, I think they tatted a little too deep too.

    Photos
    Lions Den Tattoo Studio - What a honor! We just won San Diego's best tattoo shop voted on by its readers - Incredible! #besttattooshop #besttattooartist #walkintattoo

    What a honor! We just won San Diego's best tattoo shop voted on by its readers - Incredible! #besttattooshop #besttattooartist #walkintattoo

    Lions Den Tattoo Studio - Black and grey work from Nancy

    Black and grey work from Nancy

    Lions Den Tattoo Studio - Traditional Tiger piece by Henry

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    Traditional Tiger piece by Henry

    Nothing Sacred Tattoo - Original design

    Nothing Sacred Tattoo

    4.4(138 reviews)
    7.9 miGaslamp
    $$

    Great shop and Toni is top-notch with fantastic listening and artistic skills making possible what…read moreothers said isn't. Highly recommend - you won't go wrong here!!

    0/10. Do NOT come here…read more I found this artist through Instagram for anime tattoos. His work looked good, so I reached out. He was quick to respond and asked for a $200 deposit, which I sent via Apple Pay on March 5 to the shop owner. We booked for March 16. Leading up to the appointment, he would send random updates on the design, but nothing was finalized. I gave feedback and stayed patient, even knowing they had a Friday the 13th event going on. I didn't hit him up again until March 15 (the day before my appointment) because we STILL didn't have a finished design, which is wild. He tells me he'll have it done that day. Cool. Then a few hours later, I get a generic email saying my appointment is canceled. No explanation. Nothing. So I reach out to the number I sent my $200 to asking for a refund, and instead of handling it like professionals, they get confrontational and start acting like I'm the problem for asking for MY money back. They try to hide behind a "no refund" policy... even though THEY canceled on me. Make that make sense. I added my conversation with the artist, since the owner wants to claim harassment. Judge for yourself. No policy was ever clearly shown to me, and communication was trash the entire time. Instead of owning their mistake, they blamed me and got disrespectful. I only got my money back after I told them I'd file a chargeback with my bank and take them to small claims court. Go read their bad reviews--you'll see a pattern, especially with how the owner talks to customers. Super unprofessional. Save your time, save your money, and go somewhere else.

    Photos
    Nothing Sacred Tattoo
    Nothing Sacred Tattoo
    Nothing Sacred Tattoo

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    Enigma Professional Piercing Studio

    Enigma Professional Piercing Studio

    4.5(761 reviews)
    1.0 miPacific Beach
    $$

    I came to enigma to change out my jewelry. I had a threaded stud that was literally stuck in my…read moreear. I had tried and tried to take it off but it wouldn't, so I thought "it's time for the professionals" LOL anyway i walked in and was immediately greeted nicely as they were finishing up with another client. Ruth was the piercer I saw, and was laying down on the table with my head turned to the side. i was prepared for the experience to be difficult and unpleasant since it was so stuck. I kid you not, I didn't feel anything ?? genuinely, ruth took out the stuck jewelry then put in two hoops (2 helix piercings but one stuck) and all i felt was her gloves brushing against me, as it normally would. By the time she told me was done I thought oh maybe she forgot the second piercing but sure enough she had taken the stuck stud and put in 2 hoops. TL;DR All I know is Ruth is incredibly gentle and fast ! Definitely coming back!

    Brought my daughter here for her first piercings. We had an appointment with Franceska and she was…read moreso amazing with my daughter. She explained the full process to her as it was happening to help ease her anxiety. The place was clean and very relaxing. The two ladies who helped us check in were also super sweet with my kid and answered all of her questions regarding the piercings and options. I saw that maybe the biggest complaint was the price, honestly, while it was pricey, it was worth it. I know we got a quality product, highly hiegenic, and well done (by a professional). I am looking forward to returning in the near future.

    Photos
    Enigma Professional Piercing Studio
    Enigma Professional Piercing Studio
    Enigma Professional Piercing Studio

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    Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing - tattoo - Updated September 2026

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