Suppenküche

 

Best German beer place in SF. Small and often crowded but definitely worth a visit if you want to try some quality German brew. Tasty German beer hall food to go with the beer. Like most places in Hayes Valley it's pricey.

Suppenküche is really a gem, even in a city with as many choices as SF. The food is outstanding -- fresh and carefully prepared (if somewhat basic) -- and their German beer selection includes, variably, Bitburger, König, Schönrammer Pils, HofBräu Helles, Stiegl, Neues Helles, Augustiner (Edelstoff ), Schönrammer Gold, Bayreuther Zwickl Kellerbier, Paulaner Märzen, Früh Kölsch, Uerige Alt, Schlenkerla Märzen (smokebier), Schneider Weisse, Franziskaner, Erdinger, Erdinger Dunkel, Weihenstephaner Kristall, Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen, Weihenstephaner Dunkel, Weihenstephaner Korbinian, Augustiner Maximator, Aventinus, Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen Weisse (weizen bock), Aventinus Eisbock, Au Schnee Bock, Köstritzer Schwarzbier, Reutburger Dunkel. The nearby outdoor beer garden is great, too.

By far the nicest of SF German-style beer hall joints I’ve been to. Suppenkuche set the bar high with quality food and an excellent selection of suds. Their portions are sizeable, as are the prices, and it does tend to get crowded and noisy. But isn’t that all part of the fun?

 

Simply Amazing Experience. I honestly can't believe our bartender, so helpful and enthusiastic. I should mention first that when we first walked in it was crazy busy and they told us it would be more than an hour before the 3 of us could be seated. We decided to leave but before we could make our next move the hostess came outside and told us a spot at the bar would be opening up in a couple of mins. Upon being seated it became apparent they only had European Beer and as such I was a little out of my element when it came to selecting what to drink. The bartender could sense this and instead of being upset and talking down to us he decided to share his LOVE of GREAT BEER and poured us a couple of tasters and offered up suggestions as well as a bit of a language/history lesson regarding what we were drinking. This guy knew his beer and showed us some spectacular beer including a dark hefeweissen from Weinhenstephaner. It was a really eye opening experience and I can honestly say I've been trying beers that I would not have ever tried if it wasn't for this guy and his love of beer. So thank you kind bartender, even in the din of a crazy Friday night you took the time and energy to give us a personal experience that you would be hard pressed to get at any other place in the city! The Food was really damn good to boot!

 

 

 

 

wow this place was packed and LOUD. I felt as if i had walked into a restaurant in Germany. shared tables and tight quarters.

Small, but excellent lineup up German beers. one of the best Ive seen for only carrying German beers.

the service was to be expected for the amount of people that were there that night. my glass sat empty several times but for only 5-10 minutes.

good tap lineup and good bottle list. not huge but perfect for what this place is, an old world German Restaurant. aecht schlenkerla on tap... fantastic!

the food was exceptional. This place might have the best schnitznel ive ever eaten. Sausages were on par, nothing special but very well done.

This place was ex-spen-sive. Plan on dropping a quick cnote per person on food and beer.

Visit was for a quiet night when everyone was at "the game".

Service was spectacular, with helpful info on each beer we tried, and good suggestions for the next pour. All of our beers were poured into style-specific glassware, if not matching beer to logo glassware each time.

Appetizer we had was tasty, and seemed more authentic than Americanized as far as German places go.

Location has good German beer hall feel to it, nice enough, plain in a good way, and a nice wrap-around bar with seating up above which was cool.

I'll always hit this spot on SF visits, but I'll also to be there early before things can get crazy (so I've heard).

Visited with the family in winter of 2010 (from notes).

I knew of Suppenkuche and Schnitzelhaus and knew that one of them was good. After going to both it turns out it's Schnitzelhaus, it's kind of depressing that they aren't around anymore.

This place has some pretty crap on the walls and ceiling but it's very barren for the most part. There are some long picnic tables that you get to squeeze into and share with other parties. Not that I'm complaining about that, it's fairly traditional. The menu is pretty basic and they were out of one or two of the items when we were there. Seems very east Germany. Sit here, don't look at anything, we have 20 things on the menu but we are out of 18 of them. So it wasn't quite that bad but aside from the noise the place seems kind of barren.

They have a few beers to pick from and you can get them in .5L and 1L sizes. They had some good ones too. I had a nice doppelbock, my brother had a hefe of some sort, and my mom got a pils. Honestly didnt pay attention to the brands, we were just worried about being trampled while standing in front of the small bar which is directly next to the small opening that leads to the kitchen and the one bathroom.

I'm thinking I should give this place another try at off-peak hours but certainly for a family dinner this wasn't ideal.

Can't believe I had to add Suppenküche to this site. Oh well, crazier things have happened. This is currently the premier German beer bar in San Francisco, although you'll find a better one a half hour down the peninsula in Redwood City called Gourmet Haus Staudt. Atmosphere is fine, although it can get a little cramped and the lighting is not ideal. Service is average to good. There are a good number of taps, mostly German with maybe a couple Belgian. There are also a good number of bottles, again mostly German. Listen guy, you're not going to find some über-rare tick at the 'küche, but if you want beers that drink pretty good, you'll get that. They have Das Boot available (see "Beerfest") if you're up for challenging your liver. If you're there for your birthday or bachelor party or something, expect your friends to force you to drink one. The food is very good, again not as good as Gourmet Haus Staudt, but still very good. The prices are a bit on the high side, but not bad for San Francisco. There is no beer garden here as far as I know, so you'll have to head over to Zeitgeist for that. Nice place overall. No Gourmet Haus Staudt, but hey, what is?

I went to Suppenkuche twice while on a visit to San Francisco in August 2010. This place is a german restaurant/bar which resembles a german biergarten on the inside. This establishment is apparently a very popular hot spot for german beer and german food. It is smaller on the inside than I had expected and it was quite crowded inside. The tables are very close together and the place was tightly packed with guests eager to try the german beer and food. The atmosphere was very livley Due to the size of the crowd, my friend and I opted to sit at the bar. We happened to be seated by someone who worked for the Spaten Brewery in Munich and he was visiting this establishment on business. The staff wore traditional German outfits and they were very friendly and knowledgeable about the beers.

There was a good bottled beer selection and also about 8-10 German beers on-tap including four Hofbrahaus beers. My friend and I each got a beer in a very large clear glass boot. My friend got a Hofbrauhaus Hefeweizen in her boot and I had Erdinger Dunkel in my 2 liter boot. In addition to German beer, the place also offered Belgian beers as well.

The food was good although a bit pricey. My friend and I split a potato pancake appetizer which was very good.

I would definitely recommend this establishment if visiting San Francisco.

I never knew I liked German beer so much until I saw it in a size six knee high glass boot. The beer selection here is... well... German. That being said, the selection of German beers is awesome and they come in sizes from half-pint to the enormous 5 liter (I have yet to see someone drink one of those.) The birthday favorite is the Boot: Two and a half Liters of golden goodness.

The beers pair well with a variety of German foods like schnitzel and pork knees. Yum.

The atmosphere is quirky and can get a little loud. Reservations are only taken for parties of six or more, so if you are less than that, belly up to the bar til a table opens up for you.

How do you say "Bon Appetite" in German?

Another great reason to visit / live in the City by the Bay.

Suppen serves the best, most authentic German food that I have had anywhere in the US (NYC, DC, German Central TX).

Amazing cuts of meet broiled, sauteed, stewed, smoked, sausaged (not a word, why not?) with nice fresh sides.

The beer selection is not international beer bar madness focussing instead on having a solid selection of top German beers and hard to find German seasonal and fest beers. Perfect paring for the food and easily enough to just drop in for a drink.

For being the best German place in the US Suppen skips out on the usual mountain hunting lodge atmosphere. Instead you get a supper minimal white interior. Hooks on the ceiling hold a rotating collection of items that form a minimalist art piece.

Seating is communal which for the most part is great as you get to meet both nice locals and people having a great time in the city. FYI go on the weekend and you may sit next to some crazy drunk bday party.

No place is perfect and Suppen has a few flaws, parking in Hayes valley sucks and I have had my car broken into, so be careful. It can be really really loud in this place, if this is an issue do not go here on the weekend or really late and don't sit in the back room.

Suppen is pricey but I'm always happy to pay it is worth every

Having never grown up eating German food, I have never searched for a good German restaurant in the Bay Area. After seeing Suppenkuche on a tv show, my wife and I decided to check it out. It is located in Hayes Valley. Parking is notoriously bad in this area and luckily they offer $7 valet parking. They also offer a Sunday brunch and some street parking can be found.

The space is fairly small. The tables are benches and you may end up sitting with other couples depending on how many people are in your party. They have a fairly small bar that has a few good spots to sit at.

The food is very good and very heavy. You can find sausage plates, potato pancakes, soups, and German raviolis. I always go with the JagerSchnitzel and it is always outstanding. Most entrees are around $18.

The beer selection is very good. They have 18-20 taps that are almost all German. Expect to see Bitburger, Spaten, Franziskaner, Weihenstephaner, and a few Belgians. Most beers are served in .5 liter glasses for $6. A few are priced more and a few are priced less. You also have the option of ordering the boot. I haven't done that yet.

This is a great place to go to, especially with a larger group. They take reservations. for parties of 6 or more. Be prepared for the fact that it is quite loud inside and is always busy. If you want a more mellow vibe, go to their Sunday brunch.

I happened to be here for brunch the day of the Bay to Breakers run. This place had a nice post race buzz.

You walk right into the first dining room, which also contains the service bar. There is another dining area in back and small drinking room off to the side (a ledge runs along the walls and it is loaded with bar stools) It is slightly crowded, but you cant blame them for trying to maximize seating.

There are lots of long raw wood tables. Note that they will seat you with other parties. While some may find this uncomfortable, I think it is a good use of space and a great way to meet new folks.

They offer an appetizing Sunday brunch, but I opted for more traditional German food. Started with a yummy potato bacon soup and then had the jager schnitzel.

The beer list has an impressive list of Teutonic, Abbey and Trappist inspired choices. Highlights for me included Weltenburger Uerige Alt, Schlenkerla Rauchbier and Allgauer St Magnus.

Service was friendly and well paced. The staff really seems to know the regulars.

The only upgrade - would like to see is more bathrooms.

Put this one on your itinerary when visiting San Francisco!

An authentic German restaurant in the Hayes Valley district of San Francisco.

The atmosphere is definitely "beer hall" setting...long benches with large tables encouraged for seating of either one large party or 2-3 smaller parties at a time.

There are over 20 beers on tap, all German with the exception of a Belgian & Czech offering. More bottled selections, including more Belgians, also available. The brews are served in traditional German glassware, ranging from small (0.3L) to boot (2L). I opted for a 2L boot of Spaten lager to share (see avatar).

Suppenkuche is extremely busy, and there is usually a wait for tables, especially at night. Despite the harried atmosphere, servers & bartenders remain pleasant & helpful throughout, even if it takes a while for them to find you.

I admit to being somewhat of a novice to German food (especially being a vegetarian), but what I had was impressive...spatzel was highly edible, the trout was prepared well, and the lentil soup was simply amazing.

Overall, this is a great place to go with a group, and the vibes always seem festive. Highly recommended as a stop for both tourists & locals alike.
(I hear their Sunday bunch is not to be missed either)

Not on of my essential stops on my beer tour of SF, but when my hosts suggested it I was on board in a heartbeat. It's like a miniaturized beer hall, indeed space is limited. The tables are large though, and you are welcome to stand at the bar and wait for your table if you want one. All the taps besides maybe two were German, and quality German at that. All the beers I saw were being served in their appropriate glassware, and if possible, for the specific beer being poured. The Bartender was extremely busy, but we were attended to in good time, and when our food arrived, the portions were massive and decidedly authentic German. All in all it was a very enjoyable start to the evening, and a stop I'd recommend.

This place is a pretty damn good German restaurant and beer hall in the hayes valley area of downtown SF. I nice 15 minute walk from my digs in the tenderloin and I am instantly ransported to Munich! The food looks great, but i've yet to try it, but the beer selection is great, and you can get the draught beers in various different sizes which for a German themed place is always a nice touch. I got a liter of Optimator and it was spot on, and the service and clientele here was very chatty with the bar actually being filled up mostly by German ex-pats. All in all, this place is pretty much Ludwigs west, although the prices are a little high, it is definately, definately worth it considering the prime German beer selection and the great atmosphere...highly recommended.

Suppenkuche is one of my favorite places in SF. The beer selection is almost all German with some Belgians and other interesting European beers. The food is really great authentic German food with big portions and some great homemade mustard and kraut. The bar itself is relatively small, but is a good place to wait for a table which you will inevitably have to do as the place is quite popular. The restaurant is full of family style tables where you will likely be sitting up close and personal with some random strangers...IMO this just adds to the neighborhood feel of the place.

Definitely stop by here if you are in the city.

A buddy of mine and fellow BeerAdvocate LOVES this place and kept telling me how we needed to go for food and brews, and finally the other day we made it. The beer selection is 100% German and contains some brews that I've never seen before. Also, everything is offered in various sizes from small glasses to huge mugs, and that made it easier to keep beer in front of me at all times, not needing as many refills... though the waitstaff was seriously ON KEY, always knowing when we needed attention without hovering. That the restaurant was completely over-crowded just adds to my respect of their servicing abilities. My buddy and I and our girlfriends were seated at a table already occupied by two guys. Apparently it's a big community here - but they kept to themselves and we to ourselves and soon after being seated everything felt as private as if we had our own table in an empty restaurant. The menu is a bit pricey but the servings are large and extremely tasty. I got a pork chop that was covered in gravy and sauerkraut, the server offered beer suggestions, and we all left full and satisfied.

A great experience and worth going back.

This was stop # 1 on a family trip to San Francisco, visited on Sunday, 18JUN06.... Seemed like a natural given the interest in German food and culture by all of us, though younger daughter Colleen (aka "The Scheister") was bummed that our waittress, who was of Polish descent, did not speak any Deutsch. Macht nichts!

It's a very simple looking place from the outside, right at the corner of Hayse and Laguna; so much so that we went right by it on the first try... The door was propped open, with just a large curtain hanging across allowing a lovely breeze to filter in. The first room had 8-10 large, plain, worn wooden tables surrounding the small bar, which was to the rear right. Behind the bar was a cool little alcove with stools to serve the bier-only crowd. A short passageway past the WCs led to a second room with another 5-6 tables. The place was bright and airy, with white-washed walls and ceiling. Tiny butterflies were suspended from the ceiling, with the #13 adorning each, celebrating Suppenküches 13th year in business. The atmosphere was quite comfy, and very german-like. Tables were shared, as in the Deutsch tradition. We were greeted and seated promptly, and our waittress was very friendly, attentive and helpful. On this date, I counted the following biers on draft: Korbinian, Salvator, HB Maibock, Spaten Maibock; Kostritzer and Weltenburger Schwarzebier; a Kölsch (?); Franziskaner Hefeweizen, Erdinger HW, Schneider HW; Traumer Pils, Bitburger Pils; Spaten, Weltenburger and HB Helles; Paulener OFest; plus more German bottled options as well as a couple of Belgians. Nice choices! Alewife had the HB Maibock and I had the Spaten Mai. Yummy! We all dug into the Sunday Brunch menu, with my Bratwürst, kraut and mashed potato plate being huge. Alewife enjoyed her Wiener Schnitzel, whilst the girls also dug their würsts... A very enjoyable combo of food, drinks and gemütlichkeit! A nice start to our Urlaub....

Zum Wohl!!

overall: 4.5
atmosphere: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

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Festive almost German atmosphere with wooden benches and a very communal dining vibe. Beers are served in your choice of glassware ranging greatly in sizes all the way up a few liters. I saw a kid at the next table order a glass boot (2 liter I think) for himself and he had no intention of sharing. The fact that he wasn’t flicking and passing made me question just how German this place was.

Selection is quite good. I didn’t catch the number of taps but there are a lot of good brews available. All the common beers from Spaten, Hacker-Pschor, Hauf Brau, Franz, Schneider, Bitburger, etc… are available. A few Belgians such as Duvel and Maredsous have also managed to find there way into this place.

Food was the standout. I ordered Wienerschnitzel and although it was pork rather than veal, it was delicious. I didn’t mind the lack of baby cow one bit. The portion was large and it was served with a side of potato dumplings and a simple green salad. The BA who showed me this place ordered a pork shoulder that was mouthwateringly succulent and tender as can be. Prices were good for a large city. Service was great.

Suppenkuchen is a very plain restaurant bar with good beer and great German food. It is an old restaurant with plain tables and chairs and was very loud. The beer, almost all German imports, was served in the right glassware and without the usual fruity accompaniments for a change. The quality was good but the selection was sort of narrow for a German beer bar. (Ludwig's in Philly has a much larger selection.)

The server was friendly, offering some recommendations and providing quick, friendly service. At the end of the meal, she called us a cab and had us sit at the table waiting even though there were more people coming in.

The food was the high point of the evening. Standard German fare but with some new dishes that are not the run of the mill cooking. Everything was prepared perfectly and the portions were large.

A good place for a German meal and a few German beers.

I really liked this place. I didn't know what to expect since I've never been to germany or a german restaurant. First the beer - A great selection of german beers with the more well know names as well as some more obscure beers. They were out of the Korbinian (damn) and Schneider Weiss (damn, damn) on tap but I had a nice Alt, Erdinger Hefe, and Salvator - all for $5 for a 16oz. They will serve them as a liter which is impressive. The food was surprisingly good - venison medallions with red cabbage was $18.00. This place gets crowded and you may have to share a table but that doesn't matter since this is a family restaurant that serves great beer. Complaints? They need a beer garden to keep the beer drinkers out of the restaurant and stock more german rarities on tap. The belgians on tap were weak - maredsous 8 and leffe but this a german place so back off. Can't wait to go back.

The atmosphere is like a restaurant with only several seats at the bar around the back. The front of the bar is long but does not have any seats.

The quality is good the tables, chairs, and bar are all pine. The restrroms are clean. Did not see the kitchen.

Service is quick and prompt.

Their selection of beers are mainly if not all European. Served in such a large glass that it would be difficult to review more than a couple. Wait beer in large glasses that may be a good thing.

The food was OK.

Pricey

This is one of the most authentic Wirsthauses you're likely to find outside of Deutschland. It's a sheer pleasure to eat here and one of my favorite places in San Francisco.

The interior is traditional with tables and pine benches. Don't be surprised if you're sitting close to strangers and don't be surprised if they're no longer strangers by the end of the evening. Suppenkuche is usually packed, especially on weekends, so make reservations.

The fare is delicious traditional german dishes: various schnitzles, spatzles, and wursts. The portions are generous and the quality is first rate. And most importantly, you can wash down this great food with one of a number of quality German, Belgian, or other brews, including products from: Franziskaner, Paulaner, Spaten, Schneider, Duvel, Leffe, Erdinger, Ayinger, Weihenstephaner, Maredsous Abbey, Bitburger, Weltenburger, and others. The beer list isn't enormous, but it certainly covers most of the bases.

Suppenkuche makes for a wonderful dinner with friends. I highly recommend it.