Hot Johnnie's Smokehouse

Great food with a covered back patio with games and a table table table.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Waffle Fries

Ordered the pastrami on Dutch crunch. Bread was stale and dry which wasn’t helped by the pastrami which was dry and lacked any noteworthy flavors. The back patio is a great place to lounge on a sunny SF day. Ordered a few drinks that never came. Tried to notify an employee of the situation but they were all hidden away (no one at the counter or kitchen). I eventually found someone in a back room prepping the brisket who then called a coworker to make and deliver our drinks. We were one of only two parties there, so I can understand the employees taking a longer break. But overall the experience was not positive.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 2

Surprisingly delicious, even for a vegan!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I almost NEVER leave reviews but I have to after eating here. The owner and chef, Johnnie, was up front and went over some of the different options to chose from. He was absolutely awesome! We settled on a chicken parm sandwich with bbq chips, the fried chicken with ginger rice, and my son had the pastrami fries. We all LOVED our food. My wife let me have a bite of her chicken parm and it was one of these I have ever had. I will definitely be going back and hopefully I can sit on their back patio and enjoy some more food. Highly recommend!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This place seems unassuming from the outside, but the smoked brisket is excellent (there is huge variety on the menu), the service is attentive, and the back patio is quiet and comfortable (covered and heated), with smooth jazz playing. It’s especially nice to have a place to enjoy a meal in the Castro where you can also have a relaxed conversation, not having to compete with blaring music.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Looooooooce hot jhonnys one of the best places to eat in the

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Every time I visit San Francisco, I always strive to visit Hot Johnnie’s. The love he has for pastrami really shows in his work as comparing between more than 2 years results in just being terrific. The atmosphere in the back as well as the hospitality created a warm and welcoming atmosphere to enjoy pastrami. I highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pastrami on Rye

Super yummy!! (got the dutch crunch with waffle fries :P ) Def recommend swinging by for a great sandwich and Johnnie is also incredibly kind, hospitable, and friendly.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pastrami Sandwich on a Dutch Crunchy Roll, Waffle Fries, Marble Rye, Dutch Crunch, Pastrami on Rye

Awesome place! Try the pastrami and the chicken sandwich it’s amazing

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Waffle, Waffle Fries, Dutch Crunch

Amazing Food! This might be a tiny place but huge over the top customer service the food was sooo good. We tried a few things Reuben with waffle fries! Ribs with fried rice and coleslaw all delicious! Again I can’t express how friendly and accommodating the owner was.

Kid-friendliness: Would be a good place to take a kid to eat outdoor patio with heaters

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Rueben, Waffle Fries

I was excited to see that there was a place in the Castro that made vegetarian sandwiches but I probably won’t be going back. It is a total ripoff. Each of these sandwiches was $21 and they are all extremely meager portions with a few sad looking slices of vegan pastrami and not much more. The Dutch crunch was mostly lettuce and the other two really didn’t have anything in them except the few pieces of meat. It is crazy that they charge this much for a sandwich. $63 (plus tax and tip!) for three sad tiny sandwiches and a few potato chips. There are many other delis in the city that make much better and larger vegetarian/vegan sandwiches for way less. Unfortunately none of them are in my neighborhood. I thought I would save money by getting food in my neighborhood before going to the airport but this is actually more than I would have paid for a few sandwiches at the airport for way less food. I think we tipped well for a takeout sandwich order but that didn’t seem to improve the service at all.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 2

The Dutch crunch was the best pastrami sandwich I’ve ever had.

Met Johnnie. Really nice guy and he helped us through the menu. Food was amazing.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Dutch Crunch

Great customer service, and delicious sandwiches!!! I love the outside patio in the back. I definitely recommend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Sourdough, Pastrami Sandwich on a Dutch Crunchy Roll

Portions are a bit small for the price but everything else is incredible; flavor, atmosphere, service. Love the patio

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5