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Party Earth Review A bare-bones dive in the heart of Chinatown, Red’s Place is perpetually brimming with intrepid tourists and loquacious locals – some toothless ‘n’ smoking, some dapper ‘n’ swilling – who sway to the beats from a surprisingly... ... read full review
672 Jackson Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
415-956-4490
Daily 1pm–1am
Chinatown, San Francisco –
A bare-bones dive in the heart of Chinatown, Red’s Place is perpetually brimming with intrepid tourists and loquacious locals – some toothless ‘n’ smoking, some dapper ‘n’ swilling – who sway to the beats from a surprisingly shiny new jukebox atop squeaking vinyl stools.
As regulars lock in for another round of Liar’s Dice, first-timers pick from the roughly three dozen brews on hand, or get more adventurous with some mind-scorching shots of Maotai, a 106-proof Chinese liquor that’d peel the paint off an engine block.
A couple of waiting room chairs, Tsing Tao mirrors, a broken payphone, and a lone poster of a sexy goth Asian gal account for most of the ramshackle décor, while a single gaming console beckons to players with Lady Luck on their side.
Midweek finds an older crowd of Happy Hour seekers hanging out at the tiny bar or selecting tracks from the eclectic jukebox. Though the music’s never pounding, a steady beat of classic rock and Asian anthems sets the tone for the scene, punctuated by a dependable din of back-slapping, guffaws, and the wet thud of bottles hitting the bar.
Fridays bring a flood of shoulder-to-shoulder barhoppers as grungy hipsters and wide-eyed suburbanites alike join the fray.
The oldest bar in Chinatown, Red’s Place has an impressive history of more than sixty years in the beer-slinging business, and offers an authentic slice of SF life without coat checks, coasters, or cheap tricks.
Crunchy hipsters, dive lovers, adventurous tourists, weekend barhoppers looking for a taste of Chinatown, and lots of middle-aged Chinese men, late 20s to how-can-you-still-be-alive?
A few TVs tuned to sports, though mostly muted and ignored.
Modern Jukebox stocked with large selection of U.S. and world music.
Entertainment console featuring various puzzle and strategy games. Free Wi-Fi.
Plenty of free bar snacks in the form of Chinese-themed Chex Mix provided in little wooden bowls scattered throughout the bar. Happy Hour M–F 4–6pm.
Beer $4–$5, cocktails $6–$8, beer and shot combos $5–$7, special shots $20+.
Casual: jeans, t-shirts, button-downs, sneakers, blouses, cute skirts.
Thursday and Friday nights for the rowdiest and most crowded scene, though the majority of folks are there to drink and talk rather than party down.
Lun Ting Cafe (670 Jackson Street) has been serving cheap grub for more than a hundred years, and is a great stop for some authentic eats pre- or post-boozing.
Red's Place User Reviews