Angel slapped some absolute BS on my arm. All jokes aside, Angel did an amazing job on my first tattoo! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Super friendly and super professional and insanely good at what they do.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Definitely coming back for more! read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - Finished linework, finished shading - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

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I went in for double lobe piercings April 2026. Josh was very nice & friendly, did a great job, & talked me through it. From there on I saw his wife Angel who is awesome! Did additional double lobe piercings with her. Very nice & friendly as well. Is patient with my concerns & impatience for wanting piercings sooner than possible healing wise & looking over my choice of flatback earrings that work for the anatomy of my ears. Will be getting piercing #5 in a month after my current ones heal more! This place has a unique awesome vibe to it with cool music always playing. I like going there early to sit & chill there. I highly recommend coming here for your all your piercing needs! The Golden Poppy by Josh & Angel, a great husband/wife team, is the piercing biz inside The Dogfather Tattoo. While waiting, I see tatoo artists seated working on their drawings. From what I see, come here for tattoos too! read more

josh is very good at his job if you get a piercing go to josh he's very precise and knows exactly what he's doing and [[HIGHLIGHT]]makes sure the client is very aware of any complications and with him taking the time to actually explain and care for the individuals needs[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] i will Not be going to anyone for a piercing but josh since i discovered josh i have regained hope in the piercer community. read more

I recently experienced some irritation with my two upper helix piercings after changing my jewelry, and I was incredibly fortunate that Josh was available following one of his appointments to assist me. From the moment he took the time to assess the situation, his professionalism, knowledge, and genuine care were evident. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Josh thoughtfully guided me through several suitable post options and took the time to explain the healing process with remarkable patience and expertise.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] His attention to detail and dedication to his craft immediately put me at ease. What stood out most was not only his extensive understanding of piercing artistry, but also his willingness to go above and beyond to ensure I left feeling confident and well-informed. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is rare to encounter someone who combines technical skill with such kindness and sincerity.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I am truly grateful for his assistance and look forward to seeing him again for future check-ins as my piercings continue to heal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Thank you, Josh, for your exceptional care, professionalism, and generosity. Your expertise and compassion made all the difference. read more

I came here few years ago for some tattoos and lived this shop! I came back today and had a 4:30 pm appointment with Josh. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I came exactly on time, no one greeted me. I sat and filled out the form. Josh passed me few times, no addressing, no being told he's behind on time.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I waited and I saw him take another person back and the time was now 4:57 pm. This was the most unprofessional and disrespectful experience. This place has gone to crap now. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Staff members are loud and having personal conversations. The weirdest environment ever.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I got a call from Josh apologizing but truly ruined my day.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Wouldn't recommend! read more

I got my dad' s signature done on my wrist - [[HIGHLIGHT]]Marcelo is the one I chose and he was amazing , quick and great at conversation while getting it done[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] . read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

I just realized - I haven't made a Yelp review for my ALL TIME FAVORITE tattoo shop!! Dogfather tattoo is the real deal, if you want quality, reliable work from ARTISTS. Every single person doing tattoo or piercing work in there is an ARTIST, in the truest sense. I've had a great deal of work done by Marcelo, who is one of the GOATs as far as I'm concerned. Not only does he do impressively good tattoo work, you should check out some of his freehand art. Very much a gifted individual, who I trust enough that I've literally let him freehand tattoo work permanently into my skin. Dogfather finished my right arm sleeve & very soon, they'll finish my left arm sleeve. TRUST ME when I say that I know about tattooing as 1. Over forty percent of my body has been tattooed over the last 25yrs and 2. I myself, used to tattoo many years ago, when I was much younger I learned quite a bit about the business side of tattooing... So I can be VERY picky, skeptical and cast judgment on tattoo shops. Dogfather, on all accounts of the tattoo business does it RIGHT. I even trusted them to pierce my son, when he was old enough to get piercings. I have been and will continue to get work from Marcelo & the crew here. You get guaranteed good, clean tattoo work, you also get hella cool people here too. Absolutely no shenanigans that you may encounter at some shops. They're the real deal. Locally owned & operated, founded by the legendary Bobby Cruz. You CAN NOT go wrong with them!!! And most importantly - the pricing is GREAT. Whether it's hourly rate or you're being quoted for the specific tattoo image you choose, rest assured they're giving you VERY fair pricing. Pro tip - it's a really, really good shop for first timers / folks nervous or indecisive about their tattoo. You can (and should) trust Marcelo & the crew... They will do right by you. read more

I have gotten multiple piercings and jewelry here. My latest was Christmas 2025 and each time I was really happy with their service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I've been pierced by Josh and Angel and both of them are so nice and knowledgeable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They both wanted my ear aesthetic to be nice. Angel who did my piercings was so gentle and zen in her approach that the nerves were gone before she pierced me! Although I am done with my piercing journey, I highly recommend if you need piercing services. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Booking a tattoo appt was easy And they confirmed fast.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Marcelo was great. Had good conversation while getting tatted and he did a great job! Love the vibe of the place. It was chill and the decor was Would def come back especially to either cover up a teenage mistake lol or add to it. read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Another great session at DFT.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Another session in the near future planned. More color next! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]I've been here twice and got tattooed by Jen- she is an amazing artist and super cool to work with.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I would absolutely recommend her to anyone. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's other people in the shop that are really cool too- no one gives off a snobby vibe like in a lot of tattoo shops[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and the shop itself is absolutely beautiful. I will definitely continue coming to gym and recommend her to anyone. read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - Sunflower by jen - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

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My son and I got matching tattoos and I love my new tattoo. I highly recommend Dogfather tattoo they did a great job. read more

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This my local spot as recommendations by a friend about 3 years ago. [[HIGHLIGHT]]My artist is Angel Tiburona (check her on IG) She's probaly my favorite artist to deal with.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Always open to work with my ideas and she even did an early piercing for me beginning of this year.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] She has done a fantastic job on the two tattoos I've entrusted her with so far. Amazing work! [[HIGHLIGHT]]I love that she is engaging with me, whether it's music or my dark sense of humor which slide on satire.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The shop itself is a chill vibe with hoodies and other accessories to replace the Dogfather. read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - "Beautiful Sadness" - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

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Upcharged me for a piercing change here for $30 with my own jewelry not the vibe at all I feel like they make up prices on the spot because it's always fluctuating depending on whose helping me. read more

Josh is the best! I got my ear pierced for the millionth time, but this wa the first time I received a thorough consultation. He was very knowledgeable and patient, and it didn't even hurt :) read more

After searching for a new piercing location I came across this long time establishment. I loved the dark mysterious velvety feel Inside the shop. All I needed was some jewelry changed out. Angel was chill, professional and her station was super clean. read more

Came back again after my conch piercing years ago for some flat piercings with my girls! Walked in on a Saturday evening, no wait! We were greeted and ears assessed to make sure we can get the piercing we wanted. Angel and Josh are very personable and we had an amazing experience! Thank you for taking care of us! read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - 3 flat piercings done by Angel and Josh! - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

booked an appt for 1:30 but wasn't able to be seen til nearly 2; the piercer angel did apologize for the wait & let me know she was a bit behind though! [[HIGHLIGHT]]angel was super chill & made a point to make relatable convo about our dogs, movies, animal crossing, video games, etc~~ she could prob tell I was really nervous lol[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] got my lobes pierced here - specifically requested that she walk me through all the aftercare do-s and dont-s cus my only aftercare knowledge comes from Claire's like more than a decade ago [[HIGHLIGHT]]I didn't eat beforehand bc I didn't want to get the nervous tummy aches, but she was understanding & prepped me a bottle of cold water & a glucose tablet for afterwards (and good thing, cuz I was starting to feel dizzy!)[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] pricing for the earrings wasn't listed but it didn't end up being a big deal cus titanium threadless ones were only like 20 bucks :) and pricing for one lobe or two is the same - $60 read more

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As this review is long overdue, I wanted to give a big shoutout to Angel and Josh for being such amazing, knowledgeable, and skilled piercers!! I have been to Dogfather Tattoo so many times, I've already lost count. I've gotten a nostril piercing and conch from Angel. I plan to get 2 more conches, stacked lobes, and more because I trust Angel and Josh 100%. Let me explain why I trust them both so much. I had not one, not two, but THREE piercings that randomly got embedded. When 2 of my flat piercings on my L ear, which I had gotten from Taiwan a year ago, randomly got embedded within a day. This is with titanium jewelry from Junipurr (bought from Dogfather). Of course, the pain was pretty nuts and I came into the shop the next day in a panic. Josh saved me that day. He was so patient and gentle as he explained each step of what he was doing. The backings were pushed back out and the jewelry was replaced with simple titanium balls with longer bars. The overall procedure went smoothly and was much LESS painful than I expected. The swelling and pain immediately was reduced within the next few hours. Months later, they're back on track to healing nicely. Thank you Josh!! Less than a month later, my R conch began swelling...and I just knew it embedded, ugh. The next day, I went to the shop and was greeted by Angel. She was amazing and fun to interact with, as always. Again, the procedure went smoothly and after replacing the jewelry with a longer bar, my conch has also been healing nicely since! I'm basically a regular here and will continue doing so because they carry Junipurr jewelry hehe. I'll be back again to get some more piercings after I heal up!! :) read more

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I came here to get my nose stud changed to a nose hoop but also get help getting the stud taken out since I struggled to do it myself. Definitely call beforehand to check if they're open for walk-ins and luckily the day I called they were very available for walk-ins. Though do expect to check-in and wait a bit since when I arrived there were other people coming for walk-in piercings. When it came to my turn Josh helped me and asked what's going on since I was asking for help with a jewelry change. I let him know how long I had the piercing and the history (since I had pierced it a 2nd time) and he addressed so many of what might have happened the first time I let my nose piercing close and even gave me a lot of advice and a kit so I can make sure I don't have issues ever again. He's the first person I've ever met to utilize calipers to measure and ensure he is putting in the best size jewelry for placement and share the measurements should you purchase your own jewelry. He definitely understands changing your own body jewelry is a big intimidating and gives advice should you decide to change your jewelry on your own. read more

Owner of the shop did a wonderful job with artwork for my tattoo as well as reassuring me the whole way as this is my first real tattoo. The aesthetic of the place is nice and everyone on staff team is quite friendly :) read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - dancegavindance tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

Walked in with the intention of getting an industrial and tragus piercings. Spoke with Josh who mentioned that I didn't have the proper ear shape necessary for them, so he walked me through a couple ideas and we came up with the triple ear lobe piercings! I love the outcome of this and I can't wait until they fully heal so l can play around with other jewelry! Josh was also really patient with letting me decide what I wanted to do. I look forward to getting my rook and conch done in the future! Also would like to note that Angel did my nose piercing sometime last year and the healing process went smoothly! read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - new triple lobe piercings by josh - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

Went here to get a cover-up tattoo from an old old tribal band that I had done many years ago. I went to Marcelo. He did the damn thing! Check out the before and after photos. I'm definitely coming back for more work. Go check Marcelo out y'all! read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - Before and after. Great great work, I must say! I've gotten so many compliments on my tattoo! - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

Nearly all my family and I were visiting from all over the country to lay a beloved family member to rest in the bay. Myself and my two older brothers were determined and inspired to no longer procrastinate on our sibling tattoos. We decided that we would make an appointment while in the bay and we were all together and no longer put off this idea that we've had for a long time! We decided we would officially get the 3 Spongebob houses. If you're not familiar it's Spongebob, Squidward, and Patrick's homes all in a line. We chose a simple version of their houses with thin line work. Marcelo told us he could fit us in and he would be honored to help bring our dream to fruition! Even though it seemed like a silly thing to get tattooed it was important for me and my brothers because we had lost our family member and this felt like a good homage to their memory to seize the moments we had together. Marcelo was the BEST! Along with the rest of the staff too, but Marcelo did our tattoos SO lickity-split, and had a great touch. The fine lines turned out flawless and before we even started he started playing the Spongebob theme (which was simultaneously amazing and hilarious!) it really made for an awesome experience because he has a such a great attitude. I have A LOT of tattoos and if the artist is a grump it can really sour the mood. Marcelo was the complete opposite of a grump and I was so grateful to have had him as our artist! I hope to get more work with him again when I visit the bay to see my family again... Also unrelated there is an ice cream shop across the street and it was AMAZING also, and all the staff at the Tattoo Shop recommended it lol! So get a tattoo from Marcelo and make sure to get some ice cream too! read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - This is while in the shop, Marcelo knocked this out with the quickness! - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

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This is just an in-progress review and will update later on. I saw this place had good reviews and was the first to message back. Very friendly workers here and it was a bit spontaneous since I came on a Thursday lol. Angel was very friendly and made sure my bleeding was treated. Also good advice she gave was the piercings are brothers not twins, so expect similar but not exact placing on both ears. The piercing hurt but was still as pleasant of an experience as one could get. Marcelo gave me the tattoo although there was wait with quite a few people in the place. Everyone is wearing a mask also. I gave the suggestion and he wrote out the names and suggested the placement. Very detailed and skilled. Both of the people gave great advice on healing and this is a pretty decent studio. Interesting gangster vibes. read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - First day healing - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

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Came here on a Friday Afternoon, and there was a bit of a line (45 mins waiting time). But, there is ample seating and all the staff were still super friendly and helpful. They don't have appointments, only walk-in, so make sure to call ahead of time for timings, piercer, pricing, etc... Also, don't forget to bring your ID; if you're under 18, you'll still need some form of identification. I got a nostril piercing, which was $50. I also asked about ear lobe piercings and it's also $50 for one or both lobes. The actual piercing experience went great. Angel was my piercer! She was super patient and helpful when answering my questions, and she walked me through the whole piercing process, so it ended up being very quick and painless. One thing to note is that the piercings they use are made of titanium and are nickel-free, which is great if your skin is sensitive to nickel like mine. Overall, I had an amazing experience here, and I would come here again for any future piercings! read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - Inside the store (counter) - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

Be warned - VERY EXPENSIVE!! I got 5 small stars, 2 tiny hearts, and a tiny sun, and it was...$250. The artist was sweet, the tat is fine, but the cost is outrageous here. read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - $250 for THIS!! - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

i got a tattoo here on my finger yes i know finger tattoos dont last or heal right whatever but they messed this one up bad i think an apprentice did it but when i went back in to have it fixed the owner said he wouldnt fix it unless i got another tattoo which i thought was really unprofessional. i have another finger tattoo done years before and it doesnt look like this one at all. the middle is supposed to be a heart J and C this looks like a child did it. i added the other finger tattoo i had done years before and you can tell the artist knew what they were doing the one that has "8:05 PM" was done by another tattoo shop twisted illusions in hayward. the j c was done at dog father. years apart and the j c one looks like ive had it for ages even though its the more recent if youre looking for a professional place i wouldnt go here read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

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In January an infection was discovered in my spine. I could no longer walk and was paralyzed from my chest down. They did X-rays which did not show the infection it one surgeon strongly suggested an MRI. There he discovered the infection. I had to have a 16 vertebrae fusion the next day. This infection could easily have gone to my brain and killed me. Spine surgery saves my life and I'm walking again, albeit slowly and with a cane. My paralyzation is diminishing. I asked Marcelo to design something bright and beautiful to commentate my journey. He did just that. When I saw the drawing with my favorite flower, daisies, I literally teared up. This is my third tattoo from Marcelo and I wouldn't dream of going anywhere else. read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - Spinal cord with daisies - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

Got my helix pierced by Angel and she was amazing! She made sure we were on the same page and I understood the procedure. I recommend this place! read more

Got my nose piercing here, 3rd attempt my previous ones haven't worked out for me. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Requested josh from reviews and had a long discussion about ways to prevent bumps, cleaning, jewelry type and piercing methods.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]He calmed my anxieties and make the whole appointment super smooth, i appreciate his time and effort.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Was really happy with the results and its a week later now and still doing well! read more

Angel is such a sweetheart! Her vibe is what I needed lol. I decided to get a double nose piercing and she did exactly what I wanted. She was pretty thorough! I'm glad I went to her for my piercing! read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

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Started as a walk in. Met Marcelo who inked me up pretty quick and hooked me up with other artists. Have more than 10 tattoos from this place alone. Memo is my go to guy. Great vibes, great work. Will return for more! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]I scheduled an appointment over the phone with Marcelo, and the staff was incredibly friendly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Being my first tattoo, I was a bit nervous, but Marcelo did an amazing job creating the perfect design based on what I had sent. [[HIGHLIGHT]]He made me feel completely at ease throughout the process.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The session was quick, and he provided clear aftercare instructions. I also loved the studio's interior--it was beautifully decorated and impeccably maintained. read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

The shop is super nice and clean . [[HIGHLIGHT]]With an incredibly friendly staff![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Emma did amazing on my tattoo and made sure I was comfortable the entire time. Will absolutely be back! Thank you! read more

I got my ears pierced here, and the process was great. The piercers are very thorough, have good vibes, and walk you through the process as they are doing the piercing so you know exactly what is going on and what to expect. I had a great experience here with piercing. read more

GREAT FIRST TIME EXPERIENCE GETTING PIERCED BY A NEEDLE! I went in to get my third lobes pierced on both ears -- no appointment needed. Crystal was my piercer and she was very sweet and fun to talk to, which definitely helped take my mind off of the process. She took her time marking up the ears and making sure I liked the placement before proceeding. You don't get to choose the jewelry here (they use surgical steel), but it was $50 for both ears including the jewelry. read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - Third lobes - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Got an eyebrow piercing done with Josh. Incredibly professional and guides you through each step he does.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] (helps that he has an ASMR voice). No problems with infections or healing, everything was sterilized. They don't have AC in the shop so just avoid scheduling in the shop. Great experience overall though! read more

I came in wanting double helix/flats and i got exactly what i wanted!!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Angel was super kind and made me feel welcomed and appreciate too!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Amazing vibes overall!!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]And the girl at the front was very kind as well and helpful :)[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The Dogfather Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Fremont, California

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If you are interested in getting a piercing or a tattoo get it HERE! Actually, i came here to get my nose pierced, but if they have the same service as the person who pierced my nose; then it's a for sure thing to come here! First things first, make sure you call and ask them about the prices for whatever you're looking for. For example, I was interested in getting my nose pierced and I called them ahead of time for the price and what the waiting time is. I called on a Thursday but they were not doing piercings for that day. However, they do walk in piercings on Friday once they open so I would suggest coming in early or they may have a wait. I actually waited for an hour and a half but it was fine because I allotted that time to get my nose pierced. I talked to Robert at the front who gave me the run down (pricing and the over all vibe of the shop). The quote i was given was $50 for one or $50 for two EAR piercings. That was one thing I clarified because my goal was to get my nose pierced. It was men handling the front end of the shop, but it was ANGEL baby who was handling the piercings at the back. I actually did not mind the wait because I know that she was doing her due diligence and making the clients comfortable and truly getting what they wanted. My experience was awesome. I wanted to get two piercings on my right side of my nose and i already had a piercing on the left. Angel took out the piercing on the left so that she would be sure that the right side would be even. She gave me choices on what color i wanted for the nose ring and overall she was very professional and sweet (don't forget to tip them for their good work!). For my nose piercings, she is only able to do studs that are L shaped. Healing time is about 3 months then you are able to change it out. My total for just piercings was $70 for the piercings + tip. I also got 3 nose rings for $10 each which i was really happy about because I have had quotes at different shops and they were pricey. Overall, 10/10 would recommend you guys to come here for your piercing and tattoo needs. Special shoutout to the crew!! read more