Hard Knox Cafe Menu (Update 2025)
Introducing the menu at Hard Knox Cafe, a Southern, breakfast, brunch, and soul food gem in San Francisco. With options for vegans, vegetarians, and meat lovers, this spot offers a variety of comfort food choices. From crispy fried chicken to tender oxtail and flavorful red beans and rice, the dishes are generous and delicious. The must-try cornbread is hot and buttery, and the BBQ pork ribs are flavorful and tender. The service is prompt and friendly, making for a pleasant dining experience. Whether you're craving classic Southern dishes like chicken and waffles or looking for a new favorite like the crab cake benedict, Hard Knox Cafe delivers soul-filling soul food in a bustling, welcoming atmosphere. Be prepared for a slight wait on busy days, but the efficient staff ensures a smooth and enjoyable dining experience. Don't miss out on the mouthwatering fried chicken, cheesy mac and cheese, and sweet yam fries - it's worth every bite.
Sandwiches
Hamburger
Half pound fresh-ground chuck grilled on an open flame with mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles. Served with choice of one side.
Juicy Lucy
Half pound fresh-ground chuck with melted Sharp Cheddar cheese in the center with mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles served on a toasted bun. Served with choice of one side.
Po'Boy
Cornmeal-battered, fried catfish fillets or tiger prawns, mixed greens, lettuce and tomatoes served on a toasted roll with house-made spicy remoulade sauce. Served with choice of one side.
Spicy Chicken Sandwich
Grilled spicy marinated thigh meat, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and roasted peppers served on a toasted roll with house-made spicy remoulade sauce. Served with choice of one side.
Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich
Grilled boneless chicken breast, mixed greens, lettuce, tomatoes, and roasted peppers served on a toasted roll with house-made honey mustard sauce. Served with choice of one side.
Pulled Pork Sandwich
Slow-cooked BBQ pulled pork shoulder and coleslaw served on a toasted bun. Served with choice of one side.
Garden Burger
Meatless patty with mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles. Served with choice of one side.
Fried Chicken Breast Sandwich
Fried boneless chicken breast and coleslaw served on a toasted bun with house-made aioli sauce. Served with choice of one side.
Crab Cakes
Fresh house-made crab cakes served with spicy aioli.
BBQ Shrimp
Tiger prawns served in a spicy Cajun sauce with toasted baguettes.
Cajun Shrimp Balls
Fried shrimp, corn, rice, and cajun seasoning served with spicy aioli.
Buffalo Wings
Eight Wings tossed in a tangy and spicy sauce served with ranch dressing, celery, and carrot sticks.
Pulled Pork Taco
Each taco. House-made pulled pork shoulder and coleslaw in a fresh crunchy taco.
Red Beans & Rice With Spicy Sausage
Red beans and rice with Louisiana hot link sausage.
Appetizers
Soups & Salads
Pear Salad
Mixed greens served with sliced pears, toasted walnuts, crumbled Blue cheese, and lightly tossed in a lemon dressing.
Cajun Shrimp Salad
Cajun shrimp served with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes with a house-made shallot dressing.
Cobb Salad
Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, hard-boiled egg, Applewood smoked bacon, grilled chicken and crumbled Blue cheese served with Brown Derby dressing.
Gumbo Soup
Shrimp, chicken, and beef sausage served with rice.
Hard Knox Caesar Salad
Crisp hearts of romaine lettuce with shredded Parmesan cheese, croutons, and a house-made creamy Caesar dressing.
Chicken & Waffle
Regular or spicy. Three pieces of our famous fried chicken served with a buttermilk Belgian waffle. Served with corn muffins.
Fried Chicken Pot Pie
Boneless fried chicken, roasted pearl onions, potatoes, carrots, and herb gravy topped with a house made puff pastry
Jambalaya
Pasta or rice. Linguini pasta or rice, shrimp, chicken, and beef sausage sauteed with onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes in a Cajun tomato-based sauce. Served with corn muffins.
Southern Specials
Entrees
Oxtails
Braised so tender, the meat falls off the bone. Served with gravy.
Fried Chicken
Three pieces of our famous fried chicken. Served with choice of two sides and corn muffins.
Spicy Fried Chicken
Spicy version of our famous three piece fried chicken. Served with choice of two sides and corn muffins.
Catfish
Farm-raised catfish fillets, seasoned, then fried with a cornmeal batter or pan-fried on an iron skillet with blackening seasoning and butter. Served with choice of two sides and corn muffins.
Veggie Plate
Choose any three sides. Served with corn muffins.
BBQ Pork Spareribs
Oven-baked for tenderness, then barbecued and topped with a light mopping of BBQ sauce. Served with choice of two sides and corn muffins.
Country Fried Steak
Breaded cubed beef, fried, and served with country gravy. Served with choice of two sides and corn muffins.
Beef Short Ribs
Oven-baked tender ribs served with gravy. Served with choice of two sides and corn muffins.
Fried Pork Chops
Two center cut pork chops seasoned and fried to perfection. Served with choice of two sides and corn muffins.
Family Style, - Meats & -Sides
Two-person minimum. Served with corn muffins.
Family-Style
Sides
Collard Greens
Coleslaw
Fresh-Cut French Fries
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Mixed Garden Salad
Corn Muffins
pieces.
Belgian Waffle
With seasonal fruit
Red Beans & Rice
Stewed Cabbage
Potato Salad
Yam Fries
Black-Eyed Peas & Rice
Rice & Gravy
Coffee
Sweet Tea
Numi Hot Tea
Just Brewed Iced Tea
Half lemonade, half iced tea.
Fountain Sodas
San Pellegrino
Arnold Palmer
Half lemonade and half iced tea.
Fresh Lemonade
Beverages
Brunch
Beignets
French doughnuts served with seasonal fruits.
Corned Beef Hash
House made corned beef hash served with two eggs any style and choice of toast
Crab Cake Benedict
House made crab cakes served with poached eggs, hollandaise on English muffins, and choice of hash browns or grits
Belgian Waffle
With seasonal fruits.
French Toast
With seasonal fruits.
Eggs () Any Style
With hash browns or grits, and a choice of toast.
Meat Lover's Scramble
Pork links, bacon, beef hot links, onions, spinach and Cheddar cheese served with hash browns or grits and choice of toast.
Veggie Scramble
Mushrooms, spinach, onions, tomatoes, and Swiss cheese, served with hash browns or grits and choice of toast.
Eggs Benedict
Poached eggs, Canadian bacon, and Hollandaise sauce on English muffins served with hash browns or grits.
Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict
Poached eggs, house-made BBQ pulled pork and Hollandaise sauce on English muffins served with hash browns or grits.
Eggs Florentine
Poached eggs, sauteed spinach, tomatoes, and Hollandaise sauce on English muffins served with hash browns or grits.
Hard Knox Omelet
With choice of sausage or bacon, spinach, tomatoes, and Cheddar cheese served with hash browns or grits and choice of toast.
Veggie Omelet
With spinach, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and Swiss cheese served with hash browns or grits and choice of toast.
Applewood Smoked Bacon
Pork Link Sausages
Chicken Apple Sausage
Fried Chicken ()
Three pieces of our famous fried chicken.
Fried Catfish
Farm-raised catfish filets seasoned then fried with a cornmeal batter or pan-fried on an iron skillet with blackening seasoning and butter.
Eggs
Fresh Fruit Bowl
Hash Browns
Bowl Of Grits
Belgian Waffle
With seasonal fruit