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Bullshead Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Steakhouses Restaurants Burgers Steakhouses, Burgers [Edit]
840 Ulloa St(between Claremont Blvd & West Portal Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94127
Neighborhood: West Portal
(415) 665-4350
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
451 reviews for Bullshead Restaurant
Review Highlights
"They make amazing steak and amazing buffalo brugers."
(in 280 reviews)
"We always get their onion rings and extra fries."
(in 65 reviews)
"Delicious burgers AND they have an awesome salad bar."
(in 76 reviews)
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451 reviews in English
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Review from Tommy S.
San Francisco, CA
12/30/2011
BEST BURGER IN SF
The Buffalo burger here is BY FAR the BEST hamburger experience I HAVE EVER HAD. Perfectly juicy, tender and FULL OF FLAVOR.
Also, the best onion rings i have ever had. Perfect batter never greasy and NOT SOGGY
A close second would be the Kobe Burger at Brickhouse, but nothing beats Bullshead! -
Review from Leslie K.
Stockton, CA
2/6/2012
There are like 50 million restaurants in SF and I wanted to try a different one each week during my 9 month stay here. Yeah that goal's kinda shot to hell after I found Bullshead. I think I've been back at here like 6 times now (and fully plan on continuing to come back here like 10 more times before I leave).
The 1/3lb bison burger (any of the specialty burgers) is so delicious. I've tried the western burger and the bacon & avocado burger and both are equally incredible. The meat's just so juicy and kinda just melts in your mouth....I'm salivating as I'm writing this. It's not so much the content of what's in the burger as long as it has the bison patty (I recommend to get it medium rare to get maximum juiciness). The deep fried onion rings are also amazing. The price is really decent for the size of the meal as well. -
Review from nicole g.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012
Awesome divy diner with great value bison burgers.
Servers are friendly. Portions big and prices low, considering it's bison!
Go and then follow up with a drink next door. -
Review from Jonathan W.
San Francisco, CA
There comes a time in a man's life when he has to make important life changing decisions. Steak or 1/2lb burger?????
What should a man do?
Well this man went for the 1/2 lb Challenger Burger! This burger was enormous, it came loaded with a giant 1/2lb beef patty, avocado pieces, BACON!, mushrooms and cheese. BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEFFFF RAWR!
https://s3-media3.ak.y...
As far as i can remember I always loved my beef red, yes bloody red. So juicy and tender as i sink my teeth into it and tear it to bits! RAWR. I asked for my burger to be Medium and it was brought to me pink inside! (For a burger pink is perfect for me) The beef was tender and tasty and everything inside the burger complimented each other to make a yummy burger which definitely satisfied my tummy and more.
Some other things to note are the fries are made fresh and their marinara sauce is really good. The Mozarella sticks we got, came with marinara sauce. I ended up using that for my fries rather than ketchup.
This is definitely a beeeeef restaurant, you will leave full! Vegetarians stay away!
Prices are a little bit high for steak and burgers but its worth it for a higher quality burger or streak than your usual chain restros.
Funny thought of that nite: while searching for this place, When i first saw it: I thought the restro was called Bullshit restro! I was like dayum thats awesome hahaha -
Review from Demanding T.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2012
Solid burgers.. Fast friendly service ... Need to go back n try their steaks.
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Review from Mike H.
12/10/2011
Service is very friendly. I like friendly service, and like any good neighborhood restaurant, regulars are greeted when they walk in the door. Couples of all ages, parents with kids and strollers, lone eaters saying "See you next week!" as they leave with their takeout bags. I'd walked in and ordered takeout too, which was a very prompt 10 minutes, maybe 15 but I doubt it.
The kitchen doesn't mess around with its meat selections. They, and you, know exactly what will be served because it's cut, displayed and grilled right in front of you!
What a great deal for $22, including tax: a 1/3 lb beef burger, a 1/3 lb buffalo burger, with sides of fries and potato salad. Standard toppings come on the burgers. I opted not to eat the 1/2 lb burgers since I would eat two in my taste testing.
Both burgers were cooked medium as requested. One server said, "get it medium if you don't mind pink." I just smiled. And yes, she was right. The fries were cut fairly thick, with skin on the ends, and cooked properly. Even the potato salad was chunky and not too mayonnaise-y. Good stuff!
You can't go wrong with whatever toppings you desire, and they offer plenty. If you want a salad bar, that's available too, but you don't need to build your burger toppings, thankfully!
Bullshead is a great place to go at any time for a burger or, I strongly suspect, a good steak. For people who like straightforward food of good quality, you'll enjoy the experience and absolutely feel like you got your money's worth. A great member of the West Portal neighborhood. -
Review from Mike H.
Lakeside, San Francisco, CA
1/28/2012
This place is tremendous. The service was excellent, the food arrived crazy fast, and everything tasted excellent. The bison is really great, and worth the extra cost. Like burgers? Go ahead and eat here.
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Review from Nick C.
11/28/2011
When I think of a Burger I want something that is filling, juicy, quality, and has a good price. While it may be hard to find that perfect combination, Bullshead comes close. To say that this place delivers would be an understatement.
What makes this place stand out among all the other burger joints in the city?
1) Cooked to perfection: You want it medium? Guess what...you get it medium.
2) Quality beef: If you are going to pay $8-9 for a burger...it better deliver on the taste and quality. You can see the quality as you walk in the door. They have a nice display of their meats they serve up. Their burgers always taste good and not greasy. BIG PLUS!
3) Comes with Fries/Coleslaw/Salad: Can't express how much I love it when Burger Joints/Restaurants have their burgers COME WITH fries. It's nice to know that they are not trying to rip off the customer by charging extra for something that goes together.
4) BIG SIZE: 1/2 lb or 1/3 lb burgers with a nice helping of fries will leave you full. Even if you are super hungry, you will leave satisfied.
If you want something better than your average burger, definitely give them a shot. You won't be disappointed. -
Review from Rob P.
Bullshead is one of those legendary neighborhood joints... I had heard about them probably 15 years ago and recently rediscovered them recently on Yelp as I have been on a bit of a burger run lately.
Bullshead is known for serving buffalo, in particular, buffalo burgers. Since I'm back in San Francisco, I'm making it a mission to try all the great burger places I've heard of through the years but haven't been to yet.
THE FOOD
Avocado & Bacon 1/3lb Buffalo Burger - 4 out of 5 - Very well made burger. The avocado was perfectly ripe and thinly sliced and the bacon was perfectly crisp and perfectly bacon-y. The burger is also topped with lettuce, red onion, tomatoes. Now on to the buffalo, I asked for it medium rare and it was cooked to perfection. It had a nice char to it and was VERY juicy. My only gripe is that the patty was a tad under seasoned by itself, but when you get a bite with the bacon and all the other ingredients there is a nice harmony. Very well done burger.
Onion Rings - 4 out of 5 - A side of onion rings is available for $1 more...that's an easy yes. The onion rings are beer battered and have a nice crisp to them yet still very soft... unlike some onion rings which are over battered and overly crunchy. Also the onion rings held up really well with each but, not falling appart at all...the mark of a well prepared onion ring.
SERVICE
The restaurant is a bit of a dive...well more than a bit. There were 2 asian women behind the counter for the lunch rush. One was cooking and one was doing everything else. Service wasn't great and I did notice a few annoyed customers. Personally I don't mind. I don't go to dives expecting great service... I go for the food and this delivered.
OVERALL
Very worthy burger to check out if you are in the area. -
Review from Sally M.
10/24/2011
We came here tonight after a gorgeous day at the Beach to try their famed Buffalo Burgers!
I ordered mine medium with sauteed mushrooms, grilled onions, bleu cheese & avocado - it was delicious.
I also opted for the Onion Rings, which were tasty.
No frills. Friendly service. -
Review from Mike V.
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been coming here for years and won't stop anytime soon.
Their bison burgers are delicious and they always have plenty of uncooked beef to-go. I routinely get my 1/3 pound medium rare with their amazing grilled onions and mushrooms and bacon, and 4 patties to take home for later.
and the coleslaw is surprisingly good.
I love to come in here on weeknights and still see it close to full.
I would hate for this place to go anywhere. -
Review from Oriana G.
San Francisco, CA
9/27/2011
I have learned more about the majestic and delicious buffalo from their menu than from anywhere else in the world.
Fantastic neighborhood institution, friendly, fast, and purveyors of superior product. Go, eat (get the buffalo burger, any style you prefer) and come back and tell me how right I am. -
Review from Daniel D.
I came all the way out here just to find out that they no longer carry "grass fed beef."
B -- S
-- On the border of a strip of businesses and residential area
-- Parking can be tough (there's a small public lot just pass the restaurant)
-- Small, dive-ish type spot
-- $4.25 for salad bar & it's pretty good quality & selection
-- NO MORE GRASS FED BEEF -_-
-- Burger was just ok
-- Service was good & attentive
So I'm doing this Paleo thing and quality of food is very important. So I searched for grass fed beef on yelp and this place came up. The server explained to me that it wasn't selling and therefore Bullshead has stopped carrying it. BOO =/
Besides that, the meal was decent. Nothing super special. The burger was just ok. I ended up getting the bacon and avocado burger minus a bun and just got lettuce. Everything was fresh and hot when it came out. I got two servings of the salad bar which featured mix greens and a lot of different varieties of veggies and dressings.
My GF got the filet with rice pilaf. The filet looked more like a strip steak but was very tender.
Overall the meal was good but not mind blowing. I just don't see myself coming all the way out here again. If you're in the neighborhood and want a good steak or burger, this is a decent place to consider. -
Review from Michele M.
San Diego, CA
10/7/2011
I'm really surprised at all the other reviews. I'm willing to give this place another chance as I'm hoping my experience was just a fluke.
First, I did NOT think the buffalo burger tasted just like beef. I could definitely taste a slight gamey-ness.
Second, the meat was not seasoned AT ALL. No salt or pepper or anything.
Third, the meat was dry (I ordered my burger medium). So odd since everyone else is saying their burgers were juicy.
I did like the fries a lot though. They were like In-N-Out fries but slightly thicker. -
Review from Scott L.
San Francisco, CA
12/6/2011
Don't go for the decor, the interior is a bit shabby and really needs a face lift. But the service is good and the food is very good and fresh. Burgers cooked to perfection. Salad bar is a little sad, but again, the food is fresh. Excellent selection on the menu for a burger joint. Don't judge a book by it's cover on this one. Vegetarians: look away, look away!
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Review from mack m.
San Francisco, CA
1/4/2012
Great food, but the place really needs a make over
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Review from Michelle Y.
Daly City, CA
9/30/2011
Fantastic buffalo burgers!
Husband had the 1/2 lb. buffalo burger medium cooked with cheddar cheese, bacon and avocado.
I had the 1/3 lb. buffalo burger medium cooked with sauteed mushrooms and onions.
We both ordered onion rings with our burgers. YUMMY!
These buffalo burgers were SO delicious and surprisingly moist. I like beef burgers however they can be very oily. These were so lean and tasty...I def will come back again when I'm craving a burger!! -
Review from Sean J.
Pacifica, CA
12/4/2011
Best burgers in SF. Highly recommend. The decor is well...did I say the burgers were awesome? They are sooo good. I like the grilled mushroom and onion with jack buffalo burger. The service is good too.
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Review from Chris D.
San Francisco, CA
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's been over 6 years since IVe been back and sick of eating turkey for the third day coming from the apple store I was craving a burger, So I decided to try it out, Im glad I did, juicy fresh ground beef with fresh cut fries was exactly what I needed. Just make sure if you don't like mayo on the bun to tell them because thats their signature.
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Review from Alex I.
San Jose, CA
9/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review is extremely personal.
But even if you don't have a twenty year connection to this carnivore gem in the West Portal, I can't see it being less than a 4 Star based on the ...the MEAT!
So... They do some awesome burgers and fries. Third-pounders and the even-better half-pounders! I like mine with bacon and cheese. Fries are thick cut, always crispy... perfect. Then you've got the steaks. And salad bar. When I was younger and could eat more food with less aftereffects, the salad bar and filet mignon w baked potato was my go to... Ah, to be twentysomething again. Ah, to be thirtysomething. I digress. The MEAT is aged, then grilled over a fire, lovingly tended by a touqued chef. It comes out as you ordered.
Word of warning: as advertised there is a sizable "Bull's Head" hanging on the wall to your left as you enter. As if the counter fridge full of MEAT on your right didn't make the point clear enough. -
Review from Anna M.
12/8/2011
I had one of the most remarkable burgers in my life here. Can you believe it wasn't beef?! That's right, they serve bison burgers here! I was so surprised to read the menu and discover that it's actually much healthier than most meats, and more lean than chicken.
Bison are the only mammal that do not get cancer. If that doesn't entice you to want to eat it, I don't know what would! It's incredibly tender and soft, and the waitress described it as tasting like ultra high quality beef. She was absolutely right.
The burger was a heaping portion of soft, delectable meat and loaded with veggies. My husband had the territake burger with real grilled pineapple inside. The teriyaki sauce was delicious and I couldn't help dipping my fries in it when he wasn't looking! :) My fries were awesome and they tasted like real potatoes, not that frozen garbage.
Our appetizer was the cheese sticks, and thats pretty darn near impossible to mess up.
Overall, this is one of my all-time favorite places to eat when we are in the bay area. Highly recommend this place to anyone with tastebuds. You will not regret it! -
Review from Malisha J.
San Francisco, CA
10/11/2011
Delicious buffalo burger. It was my first time - I was a newbie and kind of hesitant, but thought what the hey...it's healthier!
I walked in and the place, for some reason, made me think that it belonged off the highway somewhere in the middle of nowhere. I got my first 1/2 lb buffalo burger and an order of onion rings. The burger was cooked perfectly (med rare). Juicy and great. Like other yelpers, I did notice that it wasn't seasoned. That's the downside. The upside was that I got bacon so it helped with the flavor. I still thought it was a delicious burger.
The onion rings were FANTASTIC. My bf said he could smell the beer in the batter. I will admit that days after this visit I thought about the onion rings more than the burger. The rings were that good.
To top this meal off, I got a root beer float. Real ice-cream and not that soft serve crap.
Overall, the place is quaint. The service was good. The meal was great. I will definitely be back. -
Review from Donna B.
San Francisco, CA
1/23/2012
They have delicious burgers, I love the bacon and avacodo burger; now the bad news, they have raised their prices, be sure to check the menu before you order. On my last visit, it cost me $13.02 for a burger and fries and drink, that doesn't include tip, so be sure to bring your credit card with you. They recently installed tv's on the walls and on Sunday it turns it into the local sports bar so if you don't like loud noise then you probably want to eat somewhere else on Sunday.
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Review from Sofia R.
I've been here twice and my experience has been the same both times.
This time, I came by here with a group of friends for dinner. I ordered a sauteed garlic buffalo burger with my cousin. We asked to have it split for the both of us, but they forgot. Not a big deal, we had knives at the table too.
The burgers themselves were pretty good. Not my favorite, but not bad. It's up there on the burger scale though. I like that they give you beef or bison option. Oh, and I didn't really like the fries.
The service wasn't that great. They weren't super attentive and our waiter seemed like he didn't care about anything.
Not a bad place, but I have other favorites. -
Review from Sylvia M.
Philadelphia, PA
9/20/2011
Visiting my parents, they said this place is famous, I must try the burgers.
So we ventured there on a very foggy night, what else is new? I grabbed a menu and was quickly overwhelmed by it, then I took a deep breathe and it all became clear, it wasn't that bad, it was going to be alright...
So, I carefully read the menu and stepped aside so no-one else would ask me if I was ready and I would have to say one more minute which ended up adding to about 5 more minutes very quickly.
I ordered the Bacon and avo burger, 1/2 lb, buffalo. We took it home because they live right around the corner. We all shared some fries, onion rings ($1 additional) and some clam chowder soup. Well no-one wanted soup so it was all mine, I almost went to SF and had NO soup! thank you, bullshead, it was amazing.
The onion rings were wonderful! There was a debate about the fries back home. Apparently, these weren't the same fries that they usually serve, or at least my parents got last time... they were less than ok (for me) your typical bland french fry that was thrown in the container without much thought.
I must say I did very much enjoy the burger... I would like to try some other items in the menu, but for now I am a fan! -
Review from Mike S.
San Mateo, CA
7/13/2011
This review goes out to all you posers who swear in-n-out is so freakin' awesome (read more on that in my in-n-out review)... because you obviously have lived a life deprived of the kinds of stellar burger experiences that are worth the all mighty five star rating.
Seriously, this is how a burger is meant to be made... rumored to have been conferred to humankind through the Greek Goddess Ambrosia, experiencing this burger is truly unworldly, and ineffable if anything else. Really hard to describe... the best I can do is compare it to any other average burger, like, say... oh, I don't know, in-n-out... after eating a burger from this place your taste buds are awakened like they've never been... and will probably never be again. Then, you might feel resentment, and feel let down by all those burger experiences that you swore were so great. You awaken to the truth, and get angry... but then you should fall into acceptance, as you turn your back on the lesser of the many other wouldbe burgers out there trying to be Bullshead. This place is the sh*t! -
Review from David D.
6/12/2011
It's all about meat.
This place has been here by the West Portal since forever, and it has always been a great place for high school students, college students, and famished late-night party animals. On a Sunday afternoon it was quiet, the service was prompt and courteous, and of course all the meat was fresh.
They display the meat in a glass refrigerator right by the front door -- you can't miss it.
My Lady and I ordered a couple of 1/3-lb. burgers, mine with pepper jack cheese. Delicious crispy little french fries on the side, not quite shoestring but definitely easy to handle. Hot tea and a diet Coke. All of this for $23 + tip.
The decor was calm and cool, and it was easy to overhear nearby conversations. If you're having a private conversation in a public space, you might want to be aware of this. In the evening, when the sound levels are higher, you might be able to tell your beloved your life plans without involving the other patrons
I know the buffalo meat here is famous, but let me go ahead and endorse the beef. It is delicious.
5,000,000 stars to my Princess for being conscious enough to leave her hamburger bun on the plate. I need to learn to do that. -
Review from Brian C.
Daly City, CA
12/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went to Bullshead tonight with K. It's a little store from the outside but a much bigger restaurant on the inside with a bigger space in the back for larger groups. Walking in, like other reviewers note, it is awkward because you don't know whether you are supposed to seat yourself or wait for the waitress. Luckily, we caught the attention of the waitress quickly and she directed us to a table. When inside, you are transported back to a much older time. As soon as you walk in, on your right, there is a meat case like a deli that displays slabs of meat and pre made patties that the cooks dig into as you order. You can also buy this meat to go as some of the other reviewers have noted but ehhh. The walls are in a mustard yellow color, with wood paneling, the place doesn't look like its been updated in years, but I guess that's part of the charm.
I had the Avocado and Bacon burger while K had the bacon and Cheese burger. i had buffalo because thats what they are known for while K opted for the safer beef. Took a little while for our order to come but thats still acceptable, the unacceptable part was that K ordered medium well and it came out closer to rare than medium. My buffalo was probably also undercooked, I asked for medium and came out closer to rare. The bacon on both our burgers were in giant strips, very crispy and tasty, much needed for the lack of seasoning on the burger. I've never had burgers more BLAND, to give you an idea, the lady next to me was pouring salt on her burger with the salt shaker just to make it edible for her. Buffalo was just a much leaner version of beef, and I don't know whether it was the lack of seasoning or the buffalo in general, but I did not taste anything from the buffalo burger. Overall, an "ok" burger but I've had much better in the city. I was impressed with the yelp reviews and maybe I went on an off night, but the burgers left much to be desired.
Oh, I had the onion rings for $1.00 more and those were very good, good thick cut of onion with just enough batter, if only it wasn't as greasy.
Definitely would not come back again, sorry Bullshead. 2 stars for the onion rings. -
Review from Edward H.
San Francisco, CA
7/22/2011
Frequent by locals and real burger converts; Bullshead is located a few steps from the Muni station at the West Portal tunnel. Just follow your nose! The decor is old and not fancy, but it's comfortable. This place gets crowded during peak lunch & dinner hours, so plan for an early or later meal if you don't like waiting. The waitresses are overworked, but always pleasant and try to please.
The burgers are AWESOME! 100% Organic Beef or the healthier, leaner Bison... both are good! You have a choice of 1/3 or 1/2 pound burgers. Or if you're not into beef/bison, a salad bar, veggie or fish burger, chicken, pork or salmon entrees are available.
The Avocado & Bacon Burger is an all-time favorite! Juicy with ample fillings. Have it w/the Onion Rings.
Beware of The Challenger Burger, it only comes in the 1/2 pound with avocado, bacon, cheddar, jack, mushroom & onion... It's BIG! Don't order it unless you're really hungry or a big eater. And if you do, ask for extra napkins. The meat juices and stuff will be dripping down your arm! The fries are done nicely; crisp, hot and tasty.
If you're an In-n-Out or McD fan; Do enjoy your stale buns, those puny meat patties, flat-tasting fries and little plastic packets of cheap mustard, catsup, or mayonnaise... But do yourself a favor and just try a REAL burger meal at Bullshead! -
Review from KC W.
San Francisco, CA
7/29/2011
If you're a meat lover, you absolutely have to try this place. I've only been here once, but it was such a good experience, and I'm most definitely coming back here.
I'd never had buffalo meat until I came here, because I heard that it was tougher and not as easily chewable as beef, but all the reviews said theirs was good, so I decided to give it a try. I ordered a 1/3 pound Western burger with buffalo meat, and it was absolutely delicious. The onion rings were crispy, the BBQ sauce wasn't overpowering, and the medium rare meat was juicy and cooked to perfection. The fries that came with it were also great, not too mushy, but not so crisp that there was no potato left. My only complaint was that a 1/3 pound burger wasn't quite enough for me; a 1/2 pound would've satiated my hunger better, although that was probably because I had just gotten out of swim practice.
I also love the meat display right when you walk in. It might be unappetizing to some people, but I thought it was kind of cool seeing all the different types of meat they cooked. The atmosphere was nice as well; the waitress was super nice and friendly, and the restaurant wasn't so loud that we couldn't hear each other talking. The prices were a little expensive, but the food was excellent so that made up for it. Overall, this place is amazing and I recommend meat lovers to try their buffalo burgers. -
Review from vee v.
San Francisco, CA
8/8/2011
Wow! can you say "buffaaaaalo"...
never thought juicy, tender and buffalo would be used in one sentence. it was soooooooo good. I had the mushroom/onion burger and the NY buffalo steak, it was cooked to perfection.
the place isn't first-date material but hey, when food is that great...who's looking at your so-so date!
Try it! -
Review from Anna V.
7/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
BISON BURGER.... SO GOOD!!! Cooked perfectly and so juicy... at a solid price, as well. They have a very extensive menu - you can order a regular burger, a bison burger, or grass-fed beef burger. You can order many more things!!!
This place is a real must if you're a burger enthusiast. Or just anyone who appreciates some GOOD MEAT! :)
Bleu cheese bison burger with an Anchor Steam beer..... yummmmmm -
Review from Sean B.
San Francisco, CA
7/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here last night with my friend Larry Y., and I have to say that this place was pretty good.
The establishment itself is really small -- very homestyle-feeling, and it was pretty crowded around 6:30 on a Saturday night. Since the place is so small, there was only two waiters/servers (one is also the hostess), two chefs (that i saw) and one busboy. Our waiter was also the hostess and it was obvious that she was incredibly overworked.
Between taking our order, the orders of the tables around us, using the register, and serving the food this young lady was running around all over the place. Although we had to wait 20 minutes before we got our check, our food only took about 10 minutes to arrive. We were very patient because we saw how much work got put on her as a waiter, server, and hostess, and overall she was very polite and courteous.
And now for the food. I was absolutely starving so I ordered the 1/2 lb Western burger (bacon, onion rings, American cheese, and sauce) with a beef patty (you have a choice between beef and buffalo) with fries and a soda. When our food arrived the burger was absolutely huge, and I wondered how I would even fit it in my mouth. Although the burger wasn't medium like I had asked (it was pretty pink), I'm not the type to complain and it tasted fine. I was so hungry it only took about ten minutes to eat, and although it was pretty messy the burger was delicious...
My friend ordered a buffalo burger and he devoured his too. Overall the food was really good, and although the place was tiny it had a nice homestyle feel to it. This place is a solid 4/5 stars with an extra nod to the waitress/hostess who was obviously overworked but still did a great job. I would definitely recommend this place to the meat lovers, especially since they also have fried chicken and steaks on the menu... -
Review from Christina C.
Berkeley, CA
5/20/2011
I've never been to West Portal in any capacity that created memories. When I came here this past week, it looked like Albany, except with trains and rails. It was sort of eclectic. There were tons of wine bars. Why all the wine bars? Lou's theory is that wine bars have a high profit margin. And someone else said that full liquor licenses are difficult to award to new businesses, generally, existing businesses sell their license when they sell their business. Makes sense. That makes wine and beer license easier to obtain, although this is merely speculation from the mind of a hopeless out-of-touch person who is desperately trying to finish the Battlestar Galactica series before Barbri starts.
The interior of this place recalled 1970s. There were plastic vines gently caressing the salad bar. The lighting above the salad bar was a vintage Tiffany oblong looking shade. I loved it! The walls were also country-kitchen in decor.
For about $10, I got a buffalo burger with mushrooms and onions and a side of fries. In retrospect, I would have gotten something with cheese or a stronger flavor. They don't season the meat here, just form it into huge 1/3 lb portions and cook. Salt brings out the flavor of the meat, however, the burger was juicy and delicious. It just needed a lot of pepper and salt and mustard.
Buffalo meat is tasty and not nearly as overwhelming as beef. It is less fatty. Since I got it rare, the burger was not tough or dry. I added a ton of pepper, salt and mustard. Again, it would have benefited from some blue cheese or something with a lot of kick.
I also got mozzarella sticks since I want to have a heart attack before the bar. Delicious when hot, ordinary when cold. I really really want a place that does the fried mozzarella balls. Or I want a deep fryer. I should have ordered that deep fryer off of Westlaw.
Good value. Interesting decor. Burgers are worth coming back for. But don't drive a Prius. That hill will really screw up the MPG average. Electric engines sing the sweet, highly pitch whirl, not the gas-guzzling low growl. -
Review from Po S.
San Francisco, CA
9/7/2011
Although the place looks like Grandpa's old kitchen, the food is just as delicious as Grandpa's burgers. The meat is fresh, the presentation is neat (not sloppy), and the burgers are definitely tasty and delicious! I like my buffalo juicy and tender so I'll order the sauteed mushrooms & onions with swiss cheese anytime. For the beef, I like mine flavorful. I highly recommend their western burger. Btw, nobody makes bacon like they do...
My only complain is the Asian grandma who takes order around lunch time. She seemed very cold, and unfriendly. I think a smile would be a nice compliment to go with my food. "Gee thanks granny, hope you feel better at some point." -
Review from Phil W.
San Clemente Island, CA
7/4/2011
I'm not sure the reviews here adequately describe the hole-in-the-wallsy, divey nature of Bullshead. But it's pretty cool.
From the meat counter at the entrance, to the meat on the plate, it's a carnivore's kind of place. Muni access couldn't be easier, but on a Sunday evening we found street parking two blocks away. There are advantages to foregoing the tourist zone.
The only suggestion I'd make is, put the beer glasses in the freezer. But that's a pretty minor glitch. -
Review from Ellie C.
Millbrae, CA
10/18/2011
This 5 star review gos to one item on the menu.
1/2lb buffalo avocado bacon burger (here's the important part: Medium Rare) with A-1 steak sauce.
If you hate this burger ordered exactly this way then email me and I'll refund your burger. -
Review from Luciano A.
San Francisco, CA
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
As good as it gets! This is my place for burgers for the whole city and possibly the world. What I order typically are the variety styles of Buffalo meat. Today I had The Challenger and it was satisfying. The Burger consisted of Bacon, Avocado, Sauteed Mushrooms/onions, raw onions, greens, mayo on the wheat bun. My patty was a 1/2 pound of memorable buffalo meat. Someway some how I always manage to finish every bit of the burger and today was no exception.
Tip: The 1/2 pound patty ought to be ordered at least medium due to its size. You don't want a patty med rare because it will fall apart making the eater reach for his fork. I have adapted the strategy of requesting the bottom bun to be extra toasted with the patty at med rare or med well. This allows for the burger to enjoyed whole with two hands--The American Way.
The restaurant has a "mom and pops" look and feel and you can drop out of bed from a hangover and land in a chair at bulls head to enjoy a solid burger, without feeling out of place. Restaurants that make you feel comfortable no matter what condition you are in are treasures to be enjoyed. FInd yourself in West Portal and you'll find a burger worth talking about for a life time. -
Review from Hyung L.
6/19/2011
Finally a legit burger and steak place. No frills they just do meat really well. Got a buffalo burger because my gf would not stop talking about the heart healthy advantages of bison meat. Whatever that was one effing juicy burger. Onion rings perfectly crispy.
Got the salad bar as well and it was decent. Had to get some greens in me so I didn't feel so bad.
Here's the kicker. The fries. Not pre-frozen bought in bulk but made from actual potatoes. Daaaaamn they were good.
So you can order 1/3 pound or 1/2 pound burger. I got the 1/3 pound burger and it was a legit 1/3 pound burger. We wanted to take pics of our food but as soon as it came out we dove in totally forgetting to do so and only stopped for air.
I'll be back to try the steak and ribs next time. You can even see the meat at the counter on display. There's a reason this place has been around since 1979. -
Review from Julio S.
Novato, CA
11/10/2011
I went here just today and had their bacon avocado beef burger 1/3 lbs. It was pretty decent, food didnt take too long to come out. Didn't like the bread they used for it but other than that it was an ok burger. My friend did order some chili and that turned out to be great so defiantly give that a try if you go there.
