A hidden gem in SoMa for food and drinks! Came here on a Tuesday night with a couple of friends to catch up over drinks and snacks. We ordered a few things to share and enjoyed our evening. Ambiance - 5 stars. This place is cute and cozy. Open bar towards the front against exposed brick with a room at the bar and a bunch of high tables. Not too loud, not overly quiet, and a pretty friendly crowed. Burrata - 4 stars. A scoop of burrata, super creamy, a little salty, and full of elasticity. Served with slices of buttery bread, toasted on one side, soft inside but crispy around the edges. Accompanied by frisee, a few pieces of dill, and some kind of sautéed stuff... leeks? Olive? Caper? Not sure, but it was flavorful and textured and brought some earthier flavors to the burrata. Sweet Lou's Bangkok wings - 5 stars. Wings coated in Chinese black vinegar, thai byrd chilis, and sesame seeds. So sticky, so sweet, and a bit spicy. Heavy on the vinegar and sesame flavors, perfectly fried and crispy, and a decent amount of meat on the bones. The only thing kind of weird was that the wings weren't really trimmed, they were still all put together with the tips, but I didn't mind. Chef's fully loaded fries - 3 stars. Fries topped like a fully loaded baked potato. Sour cream, bacon bits, chives, etc. The dish was ok... I think it might have been good for other people but baked potatoes aren't my thing, so I wasn't really into it. I would have preferred cheese fries or chili fries but if you're into baked potato toppings, this is probably a great dish for you. Service - 5 stars. Our table server was attentive, kind, and made a few good recommendations. She kept our drinks full, our tummies even more full, and though she wasn't overly friendly, she did a great job. In sum, I'm glad I checked this place out. Now that I know about it, it's going to quickly become a favorite.

We went Louie’s about an hour ago because we wanted late night food and one of our friends recommended Louie’s burger. A staff asked for ID before he sat us down. My ID expired. I didn’t want to order alcohol and just wanted to have late night burger. I thought it’s a restaurant so it’s ok to just sit down and have a burger without a valid ID. Still I was asked to leave, the staff didn’t ask if I was going to drink or not, he just asked me to leave because I didn’t have a valid ID for a burger. We were shocked, we didn’t fight and just left(our friends stayed and they were served food). I didn’t know since when in San Francisco you needed a valid ID to get a bite. Since my husband was the only African-American at the scene and both of us were asked to leave just because my ID was expired (for food), I hardly to not to assume it’s discrimination. We will still find a chance to try the burger since we live two blocks away, but hopefully we won’t be checked ID for food. Anytime we would follow legal procedures but we doubt if it’s a legal move to ask customers to show ID for food.

We keep landing at Louie's Bar after work as it is close to our offices and has a space colleagues to mingle. But the more I visit, the more I'm weirded out by the imbalance of what is served. It is definitely a bar, yet, salad is the prominent menu. Unless you're going for the dinner crowd, why not focus on finger food that accompanies beer or cocktails well? The menu is really strange... salad, popcorn, and I guess the burgers are passable. And the beer selection ain't that great either with both the lager and pilsner running out on the day that my group visited. Again, this is not the first place that comes to mind when we need to go out for happy hour but I guess that's the benefit of the location...

Just got into town and went for a walk down Stevenson Street to see what's.cool in the neighborhood when we stumbled into Louie's Bar. We talk to Eric (our 90's hip hop expert and bartender) about their drink selection and mentioned we were only going to have a drink and move on as we were going to grab food soon.... "What are you thinking? This place has the best burger in San Francisco!!" Man was he right... that was a fantastic burger. Maybe it was the bacon BBQ Jam, maybe it was the expert grill master visible from the bar, maybe the the cow was blessed by an angel.... Who knows what the reason was, but you shouldn't pass up on it. The WiFi password is ilovewhales and have a vaccine card handy.

Yiahhh! If you expect to find a seat on a Friday evening around 5 pm, you'll be sadly disappointed. This place pops! . Some of the regular non-happy-hour specials are out of this world we know as San Franchesco, CA. Our favorite, as of this post (late February 2023), is the $10 pint of PBR and a full shot of Bullet whiskey. Totally unheard of in the especially expensive Bay Area! . We didn't have any of the food available, but from what we could see at other tables, it all looked good. . The atmosphere is inviting, nicely kept, and can get loud. No one seemed to mind at all, though. We didn't. We had a great time. . Highly recommended.

Idk if it's for everyone. I was in town for business, wanted a basic spot to have dinner by myself. The chicken sandwich - with the juicy heirloom tomatoes - was incredible and the popcorn was awesome (I think it was nutritional yeast on top). It was a little loud, and a little small, plus you gotta order at the bar, but it's an afterwork, catch up with friends, bar, that happens to serve great food from what I gathered. I'll probably go back the next time I'm in SF for work, but I'm not going out of my way for it.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Popcorn, Summer Chicken Sando

A group of us out of towners worked a 15hr day and got out around 11pm without ever having dinner. Not sure what else is open at that time but you don't need another spot. Not only are the people working here awesome but so is the food. The burger is top notch and the tacos are killer. If you are a local, you should check out this gem that more cities could use... Also I didn't catch the womans name working last night but she was a rockstar. Super helpful.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

I want to love this bar, but it's just too small. The drink selection is good, the food is tasty, but it's so hard to find any seating at all. The seating at the bar makes it nearly impossible to get served there, and there's usually only one person walking around taking orders. If you do manage to get a table by the bar, you can't take a bar stool to get a third seat at your table and clear some bar space, it's not allowed for whatever reason. There's not much they can do about the problems, so my advice is to get there early and claim your spot.

The bar is really pretty on the inside. There's no servers so you order everything directly at the bar. The staff was super nice and warm, I loved their attitude. The food was good too. They open until late which is pretty convenient when you're a traveler. It's a bit in the pricey side but you will get your money's worth.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: No
Takeout: Not sure
Delivery: Not sure
Curbside pickup: Not sure

Walked all over downtown looking for an open restaurant. Expected this to be one of Chicago's Bar Louie's chains, but way better. Diverse crowd, super-friendly bartenders (Daniel and Sarah), better than average bar food (had the short rib tacos), let me taste test till I found the draught I wanted, played the game on TVs but switched to music during commercials...comfortable oasis right in the middle of stuffy hotel bar section. Down an alley. Made me feel like a local...what could be more rewarding?

Perfect bar - food was fresh (even the salad), clock on the wall was busted, and the TVs were showing some movie with no commercials and the subtitles on. Plenty of drinks to pick from with a menu right behind the bar in big clear writing. Atmosphere was just right - loud enough without feeling overwhelming, the perfect place for a local or a tourist to blend in.
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Caesar Salad with Chicken

Thank goodness this team survived the pandemic... we need them now more than ever. Expensive beers, expensive cocktails, and expensive (but not overpriced) food is all delicious. The staff is overworked, and still great. Stop in when Armageddon is playing without sound. Have 3 world class beers and a $25 entree - I dare you not to cry when Bruce Willis stays behind to save his son-in-law. ...also, you're late for your meeting and just spent $60 on lunch. (Tip generously.)

Just as previous reviewer’s said……. Loud: a little but only because it’s busy and fun! Burger: Hell yeah, AWESOME!!! Get the egg! Beer: Pliney the Elder……need I say more Bartenders: friendly and fantastic Overall: Fantastic place for great food and drinks
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Not sure
Takeout: Yes
Delivery: Not sure
Curbside pickup: Not sure

It wasn't very crowded inside, but it was very loud and noisy. Beers were very cheap. I can say hamburger is the best hamburger in SF. But the chicken sandwich sauce was very bad and the chicken was dry. It is very difficult to understand the place from the outside, in a side street. It is very pleasant to eat and drink in the evening.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30

I may have had the best burger in my life here. It was only $12 and I ordered it medium-rare with sweet potato fries (+$2). It was juicy, flavorful and cooked to perfection. Pair that with one (or more) of the 10+ beers they have on the menu and you've got yourself the perfect meal! The wings, however, weren't so spectacular. Note: this place is usually pretty busy so be prepared to wait a while.

stopped by after a flight from KPHX shot and beer combos are great, a ton of good pours on the shelf too. weller FP was $30 for 2oz. Food is mid to light bites, but super good. Had the souther chicken sandwich and it was tasty. Great service, probably a bit busier in the evening but at 2pm we had an awesome bartender who was super friendly.
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

Great hidden spot. Late drinks and food that are definitely worth a visit. There's nothing else open around this late, but even if it was, this is better. Stop by and grab a drink. Casual environment. Great music and drink selection. The food was great. So sad I found this place on the last night of my trip. Next time I'll definitely be here. Get the burger. Medium. And sweet potatoes. Bomb!

Top spot. Incredibly cool vibe, very relaxed. Fun menu items but not tons in the way of hearty vegetarian or lighter options. Extensive bar selections, good varied drafts, and interesting beer+shot combos. Fire music selection too - rock and punk stuff! Love it. Tiny place w a lot of food energy.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30

Great hidden gem, after having drink u must order the ..... Pasole, extra lemon and oregano on the side. (If u know how to eat pasole)Skip the tortilla chips and ask for 3 cheese corn quesadillas. If u are brave ask them to use porkbelly instead of braised pork.shoulder. I asked for it spicy with extra jalapeños. Whiskey enthusiasts here. Talk it up!!!!

Eric was a great bartender. This place was recommended to us by a guy from at&t. I had lost my phone and was bummed and this was the spot we were told would bring our cheer back; it definitely did. Eric listened to our needs and mixed us the perfect cocktails to meet our moods. We were laughing and eating and enjoying the day once again. Thanks to all!

Wonderful "neighborhood" bar in the San Francisco financial district. Nice food, good array of mixed drinks and beer. Great place to hang with friends and friendly bartenders!
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Brisket, Tacos Barbacoa 3, Carnitas Taco, Pastrami Sandwich

Was here the other night my gps was being a dick as usual but I had seen the positive reviews and saw they had test looking eats. Super friendly service upon my arrival up until, which was about 3 hours. I ordered there pozole its so so good I highly recommend it I will definetely be back to try there other eats & the Pozole of course.

This is a small place that's great to visit during lunch. They are constantly packed during lunch, but the wait time is minimal, and the staff are very friendly. My go-to menu item is the chicken sandwich, which is so tasty! The menu is small, but what I have tried, I liked, so they do it well. Convenient location makes it nice too.

Tucked out of the way in the post pandemic wastelands of what was a vibrant but albeit unsustainable climes of SOMA (aka the "East Cut") lurks defiantly and triumphantly.... "Louies" - featuring Korean chicken sandwich that is tender and singularly delicious and a way above average beverage menu that should keep most folks happy.

Caught word that the Breaking Bad stars were visiting. We just missed them but had a great time anyway! Drinks were delicious, staff was awesome and the kitchen turned out some fabulous last minute fries before shutting down! If I'm ever back in town, I'm dropping in for sure. Thanks for being a great memory of my San Fran trip!

Louie’s Bar food and cocktails were incredible. Our bartender, Ryan, was very friendly and made great drink suggestions- Love and Thunder is a must try! The burger and fried chicken sandwich were probably the best sandwiches we had all week. Short walk from nob hill, may go back before our trip is over if we have the chance!

The guy with the beard and pony tail was freakin awesome! Great service, friendly, quick drinks and food, we chatted about a concert I was seeing tonight and his excitement went 1,000x great spot with a great staff! Also those chicken nuggets ssssccchhhmmaaaacked!!!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

We stopped in for a shot and a beer, and were pleasantly surprised by how amazing the food ended up being! We got the chicken sandwich, and it was absolutely delicious. Service was great, and they had a really nice selection of drinks. We will definitely be back!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

A nice "hole in the wall" type of bar from the outside. From the inside, it's much nicer with a substantial draft beer list. Awesome menu- try the brown sugar butter popcorn and the fries. The wings are also quite tasty. Can get very packed quickly, so show up on off hours if you want a seat/table.

great place for after office. a lot of people. a bit hard to order but this is where you are. a bit hard to sit around. But food was great. big potion. nice burger.(ask medium well or welldone) for soda, a bit too much water. not strong sparkling. but still good choice of after 7pm place.

Service is good. Price is nice and food is fine. I've been in a Monday's late night bar was not full, it should be a good place to take friends and relax. I've ordered Buffalo wings but felt the chicken could've been more fried. After ordered fries and it was very nice. I recommend.

Locals only! The food is great (same people as Box Kitchen). Popular watering hole for a bunch of bartenders, waiters, etc from nearby establishments -- which means it is usually a mature and low-key crowd. They have a very solid beer selection, and creative cocktails on rotation.

Good for a late night bite in the city. Burger is bomb and the fries are crunchy. Beer menu is passable, couple tvs with sports on. Wasn't too busy on a Tuesday evening but there were a few tables.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20

The food is absolutely delicious! Had the famous burger, and these guys know how to cook them! The food is definitely several steps above "pub fare". Lots of good rotating beers in tap. Liquor selections are average, but have a few specialty creations that are intriguing.

Really good food and open late. This is a after work tech meetup spot, very business-y. The beer selection is pretty standard, nothing special
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 3
Recommended dishes
Potato Skins

This is a great spot if you're hungry and it's already late) I came to SF for the first time and it was my birthday Was hard to find a place that serves food at 11pm) This place is awesome, very tasty burgers and beer Love it …

Great place to grab a beer and delicious food. It is usually pretty busy around lunch. If all tables are full and there are 4-5 people in line, expect to wait 15 minutes or so. They have some really great food and one of my favorite burgers and fries.

So much fun. We only had cocktails so I can’t speak to the kitchen. The other patrons and the bartender were so fun to talk to. The staff were welcoming and friendly, and they play the most ridiculous horror movies on the tvs. Llamaggedon? Okay.

I was in town for GDC and only came here for lunch every day. The service is spectacular, the food amazing... The tacos are very good, the pozole is even better, and the fish and chips were some of the best I've had. They have shot and beer

My favorite venue in downtown San Francisco. Above and beyond staff, incredibly affordable drink prices for the area, and welcoming regulars. There’s always a dice game going and the music/movies are nostalgic. I accidentally left my bag

Super chill bar I went to for a couple nights when I visited San Francisco. It's nice to get away from the clubs. They play great music, a lot from the 90s. And for some reason they play the best movies on TV. Excellent choices!

Food is better than most pubs you'll find. It gets very loud and lively during peak times and you'll have a hard time finding a table or stool. Popular among locals and younger crowd. Good beer selection and for sports viewing.

Super attentive bartender. They make posole until midnight ! The onion rings are distinct.
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Tecate and a Shot

Popped in for a quick beer with a mate of mine. It was a very pleasant experience. Beer was cold and the service was great. A super cool pub to have a quick beer. Service was also very good. Awesome place to visit.

Never had food here, but I like the atmosphere. Service is good as long as you don't mind walking to the bar. It is a nice that it is slightly off the more trodden paths.
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5

Not what I was expecting. Pleasantly surprised! Food was fantastic and atmosphere was cool. Definitely recommend
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

They wouldn't let me in because my driver's license was expired Having an expired license doesn't mean your birthday is expired - you were still born the same year. Really odd staff. …

Great hole in the wall. Excellent bartenders, good food, fun atmosphere. What more do you want in a bar?
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Awesome bar for a visit. The food was lush and the bartender did a Stirling job keeping us topped up
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Came for a drink and a snack, but stayed for the hot sauce! Down to earth vibes and ambience, but that hot sauce was worth a purchase to take home. Recommend just for the hot sauce.

Very nice bar. Lovely people, good burger and tacos, lovely people. We liked it. Would come back again.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$30–50

I love the hamburger in this spot, really delicious. People are nice too! Definitely will come back
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30

There's nothing to complain about here. Daniel the bartender was cool as hell! Just great service and amazing specials. The food ugh so good. I found my favorite spot tbh.

Everything was great - chicken wings, fingers, fries. Beers on tap are impressive. Bartender was very friendly.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

The food is outrageously good. The atmosphere is fun and friendly. They have lots of craft brews for discerning beerthusiasts. Cool place. Can't wait to go back!

One of my favorite bars. Their burger is one of the best burgers in the city!
Service
Dine in
Price per person
$10–20
Features
Dine in: Yes

This is a great hole in the wall classy restaurant and bar. I almost didn't want to leave a review for fear of other people finding out about this place.

The bartenders are always getting wasted drunk and can be kind of rude but the burger is good.
Price per person
$30–50
Service: 1

Loved this bar, the staff is super friendly and the drinks are so good. It gets a little crowded but it's worth it. You will have a great time

Popular spot. Very busy, but waitress was very attentive and engaging, and our group really liked the apps. And was able to watch the game.

Lively bar atmosphere. Perfect stop for a drink while on foot. The Burger looks thick, handmade, and flavorful. Next time I guess. More

I'm a fan, good food, cold beer, NOPE on the TV.
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

I underestimated this place...the food blew me away. The burger is close to being one of the best I've had. Definitely coming back.

Great Bartenders! Spectacular Menu! Open late for food. In the heart of FiDi so pretty busy with the work crowd, but worth it.

Great place great fun great drinks!
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Cozy bar with great burgers and a nice selection of beers. Prices are very fair compared to other locations close by.

Friendly. Comfortable. Lively. Nice selection of craft beers. Good hamburger. Kitchen open late (e.g. till midnight).

Great Cocktails, Great Service and a menu to make your mouth water. Try the pork belly quail egg potato skins …

Fried chicken sandwich is pretty delicious. Great pub-like vibes, good staff, good food, often packed with techies.

Decent food and drinks. Great for kicking it with the homies.
Food: 3
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 3

Lively bar scene at this small venue. Tasty cocktails and fully loaded fries with TVs for sports watching.

Great large place with high quality bar faire. A few interesting well done drinks on the menu as well.

Was passing through town for work, great bartenders, people were friendly, food and drink were great

Best place for very-late night snacks
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Sarah was great. Very attentive. We love having girls night out here at Bar Louie.

Very nice place with good quality clientele. You can't go wrong with it .

Great hole in the wall. Friendly barkeeps. And cool bathroom art

Enjoyed the food and San Francisco IPA (8.5%)

Great place, good local brews, and fun food.

Great food. Nice beer selection.