Well, if it says "dive bar" under category, I'm not sure what some people might be expecting in terms of service. In terms of beer, it certainly has interesting stuff that other places don't carry. But it was impossible to walk through, much less talk to the bartender, Saturday night around 10:30 and forget trying to have a conversation that wasn't a screaming match. The place is what you'd expect for a beer dive. It has a second room but you'll never get to it through the monstrous crowd. We came back after 11:30 and it was a lot more tolerable... actually even grabbed seats at the bar. Overall, I enjoyed the beer and hanging out with friends but it's not a place to get great service or sit and enjoy the atmosphere. read more

Great beer selection, for IPA lovers. Which I am not unfortunately. Pretty gnarly spot in the Haight. Obnoxious music so it depends what kind of person you are honestly. More like a spot for young punk rockers, not really a good spot to have a conversation and chill. Not sure if I'd come back but grateful for the experience. And pretty good LARGE Pilsner for $5. Can't beat that anywhere. read more

I used to love this bar but came here and ordered 4 beers that were warm and flat and asked the bar to replace it and was told the beer was supposed to be that way. I asked again for them to exchange full beers and they would not. read more

I visited my brother last weekend, and this is one of the places he took me too. We stopped in to Rosamunde first, got our sausages, and then went and had beers here. We went early (4:30-ish I think?), so crowds weren't an issue. The front bar was busy, but the back room was pretty empty. The 5 of us grabbed space in the back room - booth seating lines the walls, and there are a half-dozen tables and a dozen chairs or so scattered around the room. An overwhelming beer selection, and it was hard for an out of towner like me to decide on anything. I went with a local IPA (can't remember which), that was okay. The hops in this IPA seemed to overpower any of the other flavors though . . . Anyway, I liked the place (mainly due to the huge beer selection), and could see going there semi-regularly if I lived in the area, just to try all the different beers. Bringing in sausages from Rosamunde is a plus too. read more

No one is going to complain about the beer selection here. And if you're here during happy hour, you're getting some awesome beers for a song. As an added bonus, you can bring in any food you want so long as you keep drinking beer. Unfortunately, I'm used to much better service. The Peter Pettigrew look-a-like of a bartender couldn't care less if you were there. He was absolutely no help with any of the beers. I'm sure he knew his stuff, he just didn't give a rat's ass. Having to walk over wet floor to take a piss is pretty lame also. I just hope its water I'm standing on... read more

Somehow, I've managed to completely overlook reviewing this place. It's exactly as good as the other million reviews here say it is, so I'll keep it short and sweet and just provide some Toronado-related tips and tricks: - Most beers are $4-$6, most on the lower end of that, but note that even though everything appears to be the same price, the glass sizes are not at all consistent, so that's kind of how they can afford to sell you a portion of Angel's Share for $5. - Disregard any reviews that have to do with service. If this place improved their service the beer would become more expensive. It is fine the way it is. - The table situation may look really daunting, but there is a lot of turnover. Just be patient and you will get something. Hooray, Toronado! read more

Okay, okay! I've been on quite the hiatus. As a fellow yelper friend has mentioned, I go through phases. When I'm yelping, I'm yelping with a vengenence and I recall all of the great memories from all these awesome places I've visited with friends and family. Some time ago, I went to the Toronado with the Bestie and a few other friends. The bar staff was incredibly sweet! Selection is awesome (well, being a non-drinker, there's an incredible amount to choose from). Although fun and lively, it can get a bit on the crowded side on a Saturday night but good times! Again, I'm not a beer drinker but the Belgium beers I tried were killer. I also love the fact that they have a 15 course beer tasting (would that be considered a flight or just a quick way to get loaded)! Anyway, a great place to go with friends but don't try and bring a date here for some intimate conversation. read more

On my recent trip to San Francisco, my husband and I finally made it out to Toronado. We arrived on a busy Saturday night and like any other popular bar, it was difficult to make your way up to the bar to order a drink. We ordered our beers and definitely enjoyed them but my only regret was that we didn't save our visit for a lazy Saturday afternoon where we could sit at one of the tables to enjoy a few brews. I would come back though since they had a great selection of Belgian and wheat beers on tap. That's good enough for me! read more

Finally made it here after hearing about this place for a long time. After going here Thursday night, I determined it wasn't really worth going out of my way for it since there are plenty of other places in the city that have decent tap selections, but now I can say I've gone. One star for being right next to Rosamunde Sausage Grill which has some awesome grub btw and another star for allowing you to bring your freshly grilled sausage over into the bar and the final star going to a decent beer selection (read the current beer selection on the wall first so you'll be ready to order from the one bartender working the bar) This place was packed. I dislike packed places where you have to fight your way to the bar to get a beer or fight your way through the crowd to get to the back. My experience might have been better had I been there with a friend, but I was there on my own on a whim when I decided to go to the city after work from Berkeley. Quick tip: Bring Cash! - It's a cash only bar I may try this place out again maybe if I'm in the area or craving another gourmet sausage from Rosamunde next door. read more

What can I say about Toronado that 1233 previous reviews haven't covered? 1. Not only do they have Pliny on Tap but they also have Blind Pig and Damnation 2. They have 30+ other awesome beers on tap. 3. Bartenders don't take any guff from clueless customers 4. Happy hour all day on Saturday 5. They have Pliny on tap! Seriously, this place is on almost every list of the Top xxx places to have a beer before you dive. Bring cash, have an idea of what kind of beer you want before you step up to the bar and you won't have any problem. I ended up here twice during my week long stay in San Fran and I would recommend a visit by any beer loving American that is planning a trip to SF. read more

This place cracks me up. I will never forget the hour I spent here. It is something I will always look back and laugh about. I was in San Fran with my babe and we were visiting some friends. My babe is a beer nerd and was like OMG we have to go to Toronado. 3 of us walk in, 3pm, weekday and grab the last spots at the bar. The bar tender is rough and stern looking. He has very long hair and deep bags under his eyes. He walks over to us, points and says, "What do you want', after only being there 1 min, minute, none of us knew what we wanted. He walks away, nothing else said. We all stare at the big list of beers on hand. The bar tender comes back, and gives us about 2 seconds to tell him the beer we have chosen. He has no patience for the confused or undecided. He actually told our friend, "I do not have time to talk about beer". She was sorry she even asked him a question. We drink our beers, pay and leave. The bartender doesn't say anything else to us. We still joke about that man to this very day. Amazing beer list, great for the knowledgeable beer enthusiasts. Do some research, know what you want to drink. Ignore the rough crowd and smelly bar. This place is classic. It gets 5 stars for the laughs I have had telling this story to my friends. read more

Fantastic beer selection. Bartender who is one part Howard Stern and one part Soup Nazi. Cash only. German sausages next door. What more could you ask for? Of course, most of the beers are quite high in alcohol, so pace yourself a little better than I did last time I was there. For your own sake. Great place to get a drink and relax over a beer you've never tried, though. read more

BEER. PERIOD. Toronado is the easily the best beer bar in the city, with over 30 beers on tap, and a whole page front and back of bottled belgian beers. Try not to be intimidated by the WALL of beer that is the menu, though you almost certainly will be (I was). yes yes, people complain about the bartenders being beer snobs. They are, but they know their stuff. Don't panic. here's what you do: 1) When flagging down the bartendere, know what you like, if not the exact beer you want. Though the bartenders are beer-snobs, they're still friendly. If you don't know what you want to drink, tell them what type of beer you like, and they'll give tastes of a few beers before you buy. They are serious about their beer, and like it when you are too. 2) Don't ask for a PBR, Bud, or any of that shite. 3) If you have no idea what you like and want to earn the bartender's immediate approval, order an Old Stock barleywine (from the tap if they have it, otherwise just get the bottle). [I had a beer here from the bottle called JW Lee's I believe, that was brewed in LAGAVULIN (read: very smokey/peaty single malt scotch) casks, and it tasted like honey ham...delicious... I kid you not. Don't miss the barleywine festival. If you didn't know, Barleywine has like 15% alcohol, and is basically really really strong beer, that is usually really really tasty.] 4) Go buy a gourmet sausage from Rosamunde grill, next door, and enjoy it with your beer at the Toronado. Rosamunde rents their space from the Tornado, and the grillmaster at Rosamunde will even come bus tables in the Toronado every once in a while (though you really should bring the baskets back for the guy). My Rosamunde review (and guide) http://www.yelp.com/biz/g9LSMqUK5dkUcmpgTnU-dQ?hrid=hkxBnEpt1MAu_busmemIhg Attn: wine snobs...the Toronado will make you love your beer with a passion. read more

The number of beer choices makes my head spin. I drink IPAs and haven't been too happy with the choices at most SF bars. Toronado has at least 6 or 7 good selections. I probably won't ever come here just to hang out and drink, but with a sausage from next door it hits the spot. read more

Beer? They've got it, and boy do they have variety! Decor is simple, old-school bar, nice wood everywhere. Comfy seats/stools. Great friendly (snarky) bartenders. Decent prices! read more

So what they say is true! This dingy Haight institution has a helluva draft selection packed into a stinky, endearing little dutch door-ed heaven. The bartender meant business as he asked for our selection: Delirium Tremens They have this stuff on tap! It's hard to find, has an obscene amount of punch, and is named for my favorite life-threatening manifestation of alcohol withdrawal! Keeping us company were all sorts of characters, both human, canine and in-between. All that would have made this perfect would have been a sausage from next door. Next time, as I will return. read more

This is definitely a business where it is more important to look at what people write, rather than the rating they give. Different people prioritize different things. I'll admit it; the service in this bar is terrible. You might stand at the bar for a good 10 minutes before someone helping you. And you'll probably have to stand. It's extremely crowded. All that aside, it has an absolutely incredible selection of beers, and lots of great special events. Granted, I live half a block away so I come here all the time, but even if I didn't live in the neighborhood, it'd still be worth the trip when I'm looking to try some good beer. read more

Quirky regulars and droppers-by. Big beer selection - presented big board-style. Half the fun is just reading all their names. Gets pretty busy weekends and holidays. There's a scary and dark alcove in the back if it's full in front. As casual as casual gets. It helps to be here if you've got knowledgeable beer folk with you. read more

I've been here a couple times, including last Friday night. I love the beer selection here. It's huge. It's got your local beers and your international beers. It's always has whatever I'm in the mood for. Also great is the fact they mythic pizza and Rosamunde are nearby. If you find you need a little food to sop up the beer sloshing in your stomach you are set. I don't particularly like the layout of the bar, lack of seating, or unfriendly bartenders (This is the only place I've ever had a bartender roll his eyes at me). That being said, if my friends suggest trip to this place I will happily oblige, but I am not going to go out of my way to go here. BONUS TIP: Rosamunde & Mythic Pizza are both next door. So you're one of those people that needs some tasty, greasy food to soak up all the beer sloshing around in your stomach at Midnight you're all set. read more

I wandered in here after bay to breakers, it was crowded, but it was tolerable. There was a doorman keeping the completely wasted people out, which was nice because people were still tripping into me. I like the ambiance of this place, super casual, lots of beer, encourages drinking. Can't really compete with that! read more

Great place, we went here one night for a good beer. You can get a hotdog next door and bring it to this bar to eat with your beer (they allow that). I would suggest the rare red poppi beer if its available! The bartender was so happy that I asked for it that he even had a glass with me. I love the wide selection of beer here and the wall of stickers is always entertaining to look at. read more

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This is a dive bar. It's also one of the best bars in the country. The prices are good, and the tap selection is amazing. It offers something for everyone, with the entire world represented well and some incredibly rare beers. Drinking here will make you never want to leave. read more

Huge selection of beers on tap. Most beers are $5, and all are $1 off during happy hour, which makes this place one of the most inexpensive places to get your drink on if you like delicious beer. Grab a sausage from Rosamunde next door, and bring it into the bar to enjoy with a pint. Ah...life. Pro-tip: The beers in green are organic. read more

My post-doc tipped me off to the existence of the Toronado, with it's large list of beers from all over. It's been a long time since, but I'm really happy I finally got to drop by and try their wares! It's such a packed dive bar, with a bouncer at the door, loads of stickers on the wall, and lots of beer memorabilia everywhere. There's a heavy rock ambiance, and the crowd reflects this. There is a decent amount of seating and space, but it can quickly disappear as the sun falls, and the locals rush in for a drink on a Saturday night! I really enjoyed my German beer. It was dark and slightly sweet. Wasn't there for long, but I'd love to return to try more of their beers. I recognized a few, and was happy they had them. It just proved to me that they have stuff for everyone - beers that the new and experience would enjoy wetting their palates with! read more

This bar is a must do if you're in The Haight-Ashbury. Tad and Lindsay are incredible, and very welcoming. The clientele and staff are extremely friendly, the prices are great, and the location is perfect. Another plus is Toronado is inclusive to everyone. You will not leave without a smile on your face. read more

Updating this just because I left a 1-star review 12 years ago in a snit. It's a righteous beer bar, decent selection, not pretentious. At the time this was a rarity. Now that good beer is more common it's still a good option. read more

Yeah, the guys that work here can be a little gruff, but that's the charm of this place. There's oodles of fun stuff on the walls and on the bar stools to look at. Not a place to pick up chicks or win a popularity contest, but its the beer lover's answer to the growing trend of 'too-cool-for-school' wine and cocktail bars. They really do have an unparalleled selection of intensely good beer. They have beer, beer, and nothing more than beer, but feel free to bring back some Memphis Minnie's or Rosamunde's to complement your Double IPA or Oatmeal Stout. read more

This place is just a solid. I love beer, and this is THE place for beer in San Francisco. It's a complete sausage fest--and I am not talking about having Rosamunde next door (which is fantastic). I mean it is just full of guys, and the women are few and far between. Also, if you are a woman, the guys are not the best looking around. BUT, that's not why you come here. You come here for an INCREDIBLE selection of beer on tap, and a grungy-hip vibe that certain people (like me) love. Nothing is better than a night out with some friends, beers at Toronado, and a surprise visit by the Tamale lady. read more

One of the best bars in SF for all sorts of reasons but the top four are thus: 1. Cheap 2. One of, if not The, best tap set in SF 3. Loads of character 4. Rosamudes sausages for the drunk munchies read more

Despite the divey atmosphere, what a lot of people don't seem to understand is that Toronado's the beer version of an upscale wine bar or cigar shop. If you don't know what you're up for, the condescending bastards behind the bar will be sure to remind you of it. All that aside HOLY MULTITUDE OF BEERS TO BEAT YOUR LIVER INTO SUBMISSION WITH, BATMAN! Not only are there a load of beers on tap, but they constantly rotate. So you have to keep going back, and going back, and yeah. A couple of winning aspects: They have Cask Ales. That's right, that gross, flat room-temperature stuff that comes out from a hand pump. Beautiful! Also, one of the nicer laundromats in town is across the street. Go put in a few loads, get loaded, and call it a great Sunday afternoon. read more

One of the best beer bars in SF. Next door there is an awesome sausage shop. Get a brat and take it back to Toronado and savor it with a fine glass of beer. They just opened a Toronado in San Diego, and I love it. The place doesn't have the feel of the original Toronado in SF--but how could any place replicate the essence of the Haight? read more

Toronado carries an eclectic selection of libations that are well tuned to introduce both the casual and the seasoned beer/ale fan to many non-mass produced beverages. It's tactical placement immediately next to Rosamunde also is most fortuitous, for what better companion to a world class ale than a equally delectable sausage? While crowded, it is an inimical part of what it is to be a late night beer/snack joint. While I'm far more partial to low-key, spacious venues, the combination of these two little venues right next to each other is enough to draw me consistently. read more

It's crowded, it's loud, it's crowded, it's cash only, it's crowded, it's great! I don't like beer. It doesn't go well with my taste buds and doesn't go down smoothly for me. But my friend suggested I try Lindemans Framboise - a raspberry beer, light like a cider. It was awesome! Like drinking fruit juice. Very smooth. I would totally get it again! and again... and again.. It's so easy to drink! :D Also sipped on a few other beers just to try them out.. and man, the KICK, the bitter BITE that beer gives me makes me scrunch my face. Sorry, I'm just a complete and total beer noob. I do not mean to offend - I am still learning! Next time I visit the Toronado, I know what I'm getting! Anyone else have some great suggestions for newbie beer drinkers? read more

The beer selection here is as amazing as the sausage selection next door. Both places are divey and cheap. Love it. However, don't try the pomegranate cider. My friend and I both ordered it, independent of each other, and we both didn't like it. It was way too sweet. read more

Officially now one of my favorite bars...anywhere... Stopped in on a work (shhh!) trip to sample some west coast brews and was not disappointed. We stopped in around 4 which was perfect as the bar wasn't crowded at all. We were also pleasantly surprised to find that everything was a buck off for happy hour. I mean, seriously, I would have paid twice as much as the regular price just to sample some of these legendary beers! There were three or four Russian Rivers on tap and also two or three of the NorCal cult favorite Moonlight. I found the bartender to be extremely helpful in helping me make the most of my 30 minutes at the bar. I can't express to anyone how great this place is and anyone visiting San Francisco, especially if you're not from the west coast, should make it a must-stop. Oh, and try to sausage spot next door...grab a sandwich and eat it at Toronado's! read more

Excellent beer selection. The bartenders here can be short if you're not ready to order, but they're also super helpful if you need a beer recommendation. I came in on a post-work Thursday, was able to find a seat at the bar and even sample a few beers before my friend arrived. The music is a little loud out front, so we went next door to Rosamundes, grabbed a sausage and found a seat in the back. It gets crowded later, but is still a great place for happy hours and anytime you're craving a good beer. You'll also always spot the tamale lady here! read more

Me: Franziskaner Him: Sculpin IPA Salute, Sláinte, Fisehatak, Skål, Oogy wawa ("cheers" in Zulu in case you're curious) Solid beer joint, ass-holish bartenders with almost an east coast edge. Not offended, just sayin' read more

Oh Toronado, how I wish there was one in my city. While on a self guided beer tour of San Fran, Toronado was our first stop and I am SO glad it was. The bartender was awesome. I knew going into this place they might be a bit anti tourist and they also might be low on patience but order your beer, drink it, don't bitch, don't waste their time and your good. I'll be back, many many times! read more

The Setting: Grabbing a couple beers with my brother during March Madness tourney. The Vibe: 2 Stars - Kind of reminds me of a smaller version of the "Alibi" bar from the TV show Shameless....grimy bathrooms, lots of locals and hipsters with dogs, no real penchant for cleanliness. But the crowd is pretty friendly. The Beer: 4.5 Stars - Their stouts and IPA's are top notch, they have Piney the Elder on tap, and my brother the beer enthusiast says it's the best selection at a small local bar that he's ever seen. The Service: 2.5 Stars - Kind of slow, no waitstaff, and.....they only take cash. Look, I understand the desire to avoid taxes, this being California, but it's 2013, start accepting plastic and pass the fee along to customers! The Bottom Line: A run-down local bar in a great location with superb selection. Don't dress up for this place...and try 21st Amendment if you wanna upgrade the decor. read more

Beer Stop 26 --- Toronado is a great place. Sure, it can is cramped and can be sweaty, but if you come at the right time, you can grab a seat at the bar and watch everyone else struggle to order a drink. This place is a beer geeks palace. While the beer is mainly from the US, they did have a few Cantillon bottles hidden away. The bartender was able to find one and it was pretty good. After that, my girlfriend and I enjoyed a few beers on tap. The selection is pretty wide and it shouldn't be too hard to find a beer you like. Some of the reviews here point out that the bartenders are very rude. I didn't experience this at all- The bartender was very friendly and she even enjoyed a drink with us. It just comes down to how YOU act people. hi5. read more