Club Kristi

Yikes,…but it’s a dive bar in the tenderloin.
Locals, great jukebox and the bartender was the sweetest lady. Cheap drinks and off the street… away from the wind.
I wouldn’t go back but I can see how locals could dig the place.

Quick service, good selection of drinks
Great staff. Very cute Korean ladies, but there are other ladies with different ethnicity.
Even when its busy it’s not like you have to wait long to get a drink and there always seems to be space to you and your friends somewhere in there.
Sometimes you have that bad day like at work or you got a speeding ticket or whatever, then you come in and those cute smiling faces just make your day/​night. You relax and it’s truly healing. Makes you forget about the world outside.
Don’t be afraid of the folks outside. They stand around on the streets all day, but they keep to themselves.
I have been here nearly 100 times, always 5 stars! Seen some unpleasant stuff happening outside but like I said they keep to themselves.

Club Kristi is one of those bars that I enjoy, but can’t exactly recommend. Have I had a good time here? Yep. Are there a whole lot of better bars within blocks? Yep. So, I leave it to you. If you’re a dive-​bar explorer, this is another one to try. I put this in the same ilk as Castle Club, Hanaro, Chelsea Place, High Tide and to a lesser-​extent Outsider.
I like dive-​bars. This is most definitely a dive-​bar. Located on one of the less glamorous blocks in The Tendernob, my impression for a long time was that this place was likely super-​sketch. It’s not. They open at noon — it’s no frills. The beer comes in bottles here. I give it solid marks for the bartending. There are a couple of really nice bartenders here that I enjoy seeing every so often. I think the crowd can be interesting, nothing really seedy. I haven’t really identified a core of regulars, which is atypical for a place like this that I would think needs a regular clientele. Overall, it’s actually pretty low-​key — I’ve never seen it hopping. Normally it’s just a few other patrons.
You probably won’t ever see a free-​drink out of this place even if you’re there for a while — maybe I’m spoiled, but I don’t know too many bars that charge you full-​price if you’ve got a decent size tab. They also have a set price for buying a bartender a drink. I’m not so wild about those types of things — but as a bartender in the TL once told me: That’s Tenderloin business. To be fair, they are not obnoxious about the «buy me a drink» game — which some places are. On the plus-​side, they have free food for a 4^th of July party coming up, so there are a few bonuses for the regulars.
Overall, I think it’s at its best for a few quick beers on the way home every so often.

Club Kristi has an odd arrangement for a bar, wide open door and a long bar. not so good on a cold day.
haven’t been here in decades.
as with many «korean bars» the bartenders will ask you to buy them a drink. either cognac with a coke back (drink the cognac, and spitting it out into the coke while pretending to drink it.) or a shot of capt. morgan rum.
i used to. after awhile, i just said no.
decades ago, it was cheap, $ 5, i think. then there’s the «tip».
no microbrews in those days, just heinken, lowenbrau, cognac, crown royal, jack daniels,. grey goose…

It’s obvious that I don’t play the «buy shots for the lady bartender «game. So I don’t expect to have my hair played with etc. etc. Regardless, this place still sucks as a bar. There are no beers on tap and they charge double of what they should for bottled beer. There is no reason to come here.
PS-​Out of all of these types of bars, the souls in here are ESPECIALLY sad. Poor dudes in here are trying sooo hard to spit game… like they actually have a chance. Keep buying those shots casanova… maybe she’ll give you her number! I’ll be at a bar with real drinks at a reasonable price.
PPS-​The extra star is because one of the lady bartenders IS pretty hot though (not the fat one).

Hahaha divey place. The owner and her daughter are nice. Just hate that bums walk in asking for money.

Definitely at first glance, a strange bar. However, the patrons definitely are characters… The bartenders are friendly and willing to drink.
I wanted to give this place a 3 at first, but the patrons really made the place fun

I have a few nicknames, and «Dive Bar Diva» is one of them, With that being said, I should live up to that name as it’s been awhile since a dive bar Unilocal,so here goes.
Club Kristi, located in the Tenderloin, has always intrigued me. I finally had an opportunity to check it out. The dynamic duo sat at the end of the bar, flirting with the hottie Korean bartender gal. Of course, she garnered the attention of all the dudes (5 to be exact) inside. She’s friendly, charming, and hot, and understandable why she has at least #21 suitors (and counting! *Warning fellas, take a number and get ready to throw down some cash not only for your drinks, but hers as well. Might help if you also know some Korean words as it may move you up in the ranks)!
Yours truly was flattered that she actually carded me, and immediately I fell under her spell. Grey Goose and Tonic pronto and make it a double, please! :0
CK is super dark and cozy inside. A few beers on tap, but mainly in bottle form, along with other spirits. I didn’t stay late enough to see if CK actually turns into a club during the witching hours. However, you can catch some sports on a few of the TVs behind the bar. The eclectic patrons seem to be regulars, and one of them — «Miss 64 year old Korean JLo» — struck up a convo. She was quite entertaining, and here’s a priceless moment.
There was a BBQ at the front, but uncertain as to what was actually cooking. At least, there’s a jukebox that plays tunes from the Beatles, Beastie Boys, Norah Jones, and even Jay Z. You may find patrons inside living it up and homeless passersby outside dancing. There’s nothing like the Tenderloin, so stop into CK to have a friendly and oddly fun experience!
Cheers!

This is not a dive bar. This is your wonderful Korean family.
I must say that my world shattered a little bit when I read in the other review that Chad and I weren’t the first fellows to buy the lovely bartender a drink. She didn’t have to ask, but still. I thought she had love just for us.
Irrespective this small and unimportant detail, our hour at Kristi’s before the show at the Great American down the street was about the most strange fun I’ve had in some time. Props to G for stopping by and putting up with our shenanigans. And for taking the photo of me and Miss 64 years-​old. You cougar. You she-​devil.
I don’t know if I’d come to SF just for the Club, but I might. Especially on bbq night, when the older fellow by the door draws the street’s most interesting residents with the delicious smell of mystery cooking on his grill. They said it was hamburger. I didn’t try it, but only because I had Foley’s shepherds pie in my belly and what room was left was saved for the beverages.
Bukowski characters, but in Korean — 5 stars. Mystery meat on the grill, the nightlife outside, being parted with my money so handily — 5, 5, and 5.

Place is really small and a lil worn down but, they have the coolest and funniest daytime bartender named Suzy! She is friendly and once she knows you really well, knows how to give you a hard time in a friendly way. Feels like you’re hangin out w a homie. The bar for being so small has a very decent selection of booze and if you become a regular and they dont stock something that you like, all you have to do is ask them and it will be on their shelf for you by next week. Also, cant forget the deals you can get from the local thiefs from time to time as they come in and try to make a buck off of their findings. Definitely a good place to runaway from your problems and a few good laughs.

Great bar to stop in for a quick pop while waiting for the man to wake up.

A bar with a name like a strip club, staffed by cutesy asian girls… Sounded like a winning concept, so we went to check it out. The bar girls kept all the customers entertained and engaged each one of us in small talk. (umm like a strip club) The manager/​owner seemed to be enjoying herself on shots bought by the sucker on the other end of the bar. (as long as he’s enjoying himself… I guess…) I’d actually give this place 2 ½ stars… It’s not all bad… it’s good for a laugh after a few drinks… I just dont have to go back.

Interesting Korean dive bar… There were a few cuties working the bar and drinking with the customers. Hmmm… Ok. So are they «buy me drinkie» girls or just very friendly bartenders? The guys sitting around the bar were definitely amused and enjoyed the bartenders who whisked around the bar while flirting with the customers.
Carlo, sitting next to me, courteously told me that he lived in the area and can honestly say that this was the best bar in the area. Really? If that’s true, that’s pretty sad. One drink was plenty for me and my cohorts before we made our prompt exit.

I don’t play the lady drink game.
There are bars where the bartenders, generally young attractive Asian women, will sit and flirt with you for ten minutes if you buy them a drink. It’s usually Patrone Tequila or Crown Royal Whiskey and sometimes from a special bottle that the customers don’t get served from. They pour it into a special thick glass; if you look carefully you can see that the volume it can accommodate is a little smaller than half of a standard shot. The price for a lady drink in San Francisco in most of these bars is $ 10, I imagine the bartender gets a commission for every one they sell.
I sit at these bars from time to time; not only are they great for general people watching but I like to see how people react when I bring them for the first time. Also I find the bartenders more friendly than average, I tip well and that may have something to do with it. I have noticed though that once you buy one of these women a lady drink you go from being a customer to a potential mark in their mind. The radar switches on and they realize you are an easy touch. Not only will they start scheming to get you to buy more lady drinks but they are likely to pull anything they think they can get away with to extract more money out of you. I’ve seen it happen over and over
This place is crazy, loud, and generally raucous but it’s not really a dive bar. Out of an inability to really classify this type of bar I usually call them «hostess bars» but since Club Kristi doesn’t have karaōke rooms or karaōke hostesses calling it that isn’t entirely accurate. It has a lot of characteristics of the bar part of a hostess bar.
I’ll probably be back.

People use the term «dive bar» entirely too loosely. Kids, repeat after me: «Just because it’s not in a hotel lobby doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a dive bar».
Litmus test: Will they make you a cosmo? Yes? Okay, IT’S NOT A DIVE BAR.
Take notes:
No lime for your Corona? Dive bar.
No frilly, «inventive» cocktails? Dive bar.
99% male clientele ogling the all-​female Asian bartenders? Dive bar.
Porn magazine being passed around? Dive bar.
Guy sitting next to you asks if you’re «a dude», and you’re not? Dive bar.
Fear that a fight is about to break out at any moment? Dive bar.
Welcome to Club Kristi.

Unbeknownst to me, I parked my car in front of this place before hitting Edinburgh Castle up the street for a pre show at GAMH drink.
As we were leaving GAMH, ears ringing, we felt the need to have a night cap, one last drink to top off our night.
«Want to head up to Polk?» he asked. «No, my car is up here, why don’t we try one of these places on O’Farrell?» I responded.
The bar at the corner had a scary looking bouncer, so we decided not to hit that one. Club Kristi had music, a non-​scary looking vibe, and the name was also written in Korean (good for me, since I lived there for a year… make me nostalgic). We headed inside.
It’s tacky and has Christmas decorations up still (it’s July). The hostesses (I mean bartendresses) are all very lively and eager to please (whatever that entails). The smoke is a little oppressive, but they had fans everywhere. The beer was cheap, and my friend said that his seven and seven was perfect… tasted just like ginger ale, the way a seven and seven should taste, in his words.
I did hear a few catchy K-​Pop songs I knew, but overall this place did not suck me in.
I can only imagine how many bar fights have happened in here.

Dive Porn.
Remember that if you visit here.
Really wanted to give it 3* — I mean, any bar where the bartender does a little dance like Van Damme from Kickboxer (I’m sure someone gets it) or let’s you massage her has got to be worth it, right?
«so you’re English, from England?»
«Yeah…»
Smile :-) — touches her arse — and dances along the bar.
This continued for the rest of my beer. Dive Porn.
Honestly couldn’t say much else about this bar… It’s a local, below average dive. Nice inclusion for a quick pint when crawling in the TL.

Ummmm, not a horrible place, not a great place, I guess.
I was told by the bartender at Nite Cap to say hi to the bartender at Club Kristi… seemed harmless enough. I asked who David was and he came out from behind the bar, I gave him the «hello» message and he promptly asked me if I wanted to go out sometime and could he get my phone number… strange.
Then there was the guy who followed me to the next bar and grabbed my ass. I suppose if you are feeling some low self esteem the clientele here can boost the ego. Me, I am doing just fine, thank you very much, so could have done without the blatant advances.
The music was very loud. The place was somewhat small. The drinks were average, and average price points. Not sure I really need to go back… unless, of course, I want a good dose of classless pick up attempts.

Marginally good.
Liked the Korean hostess–
Had thumping music.
Corona, no lime.
A crime, to be sure for me
Still, fairly fair, though.

Club Kristi is one of my favorite dive bars I use to scare people. If someone can hang at the Kristi, they can pretty much hang anywhere. Not that its dangerous there or anything. I’ve never even seen a fight. But it sure looks sketchy from the outside. On the inside, however, is comedy gold.
The bar, as far as I can tell, is run by two Korean girls, who may or may not be lesbians. I can’t even tell, although i have a friend who swears he saw them make out behind the bar once. The story gets better with every telling.
The jukebox is one of the most eclectic ones in town. You have 2 choices. Either Booty, or K-​pop. There is no in between, and frankly switching back and forth causes a musical culture class that makes your hair stand up on the back of your neck. But hell, I love it.
Somehow, I have the impression this place is named after Kristi Yamaguchi. Even though she is Japanese and these girls are Korean. But really, I don’t know a damn thing about this place. Its all just speculation and theory.
Wait, I do know the drinks are strong and cheap, and the bartenders are usually game to throw a shot down with you.