Dimples
1700 Post Street
(between Buchanan St & Webster St)
San Francisco, CA 94115 (415) 775-6688
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Music: Juke Box
- Smoking: Yes
42 reviews
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
"One of my favorite place to grab a bit and a brew! The Temple has great food and drinks! I love the Garlic fries! The happy hour specials…" read more »
43 Reviews for Dimples
It's a hostess bar. If you buy the bartender $10 half shots of whiskey she'll flirt with you, if you want to drop $500 minimum you can go into the karaoke room and who knows what might happen? I go just to people watch after I've been to the Kabuki.
This place is amusing. Not only does it resemble some 1980s Japanese lounge revival with its vinyl green seats and screens that people used to use in prom photos, but it is also run by chicks and only chicks. My friends, while I was knocking back a couple, came to the somewhat hilarious conclusion that Dimples is a front for a prostitution ring. I know it's not really hilarious or anything like that, but upon searching myself for a reason to disagree, the rate at which the girls at the bar would hover around lonely men only increases my friends' belief on the whole thing.
Meh. I don't really care much for whatever the hell it is that my friends thought, but I really enjoy weird bars, dives or not. My only gripe is that their juke box really sucked, and our goal was to play the most ghettoist songs we could find. It lacked anything new, and we stuck ourselves in the middle of 1996 with some 2Pac and Ice Cube. Maybe if they just updated the juke, I would have had a killer time.
Oh yeah, and the bartender gave my friend a free shot of tequila, since it was her birthday. That's very, very nice.
Oh, sweet, sweet Dimples, how I love to loath thee.
I go to Dimps every once in a while to remind myself that my life ain't that bad.
I go to Dimps as kind of an affirmation that I don't need to piss away my life in a dark, cigarette smoke filled dungeon of a bar talking to tired Korean bar girls toiling in indentured servitude or the Mongolian "student" girls pretending to be Chinese/Japanese/Korean.
I go to Dimps to witness the equivalent of a human car crash unfolding in slow-mo. The wheels of the lonely men there keep spinning, but they're upside down and don't get too far.
I did not know this was a hooker bar, but my friend did. Maybe it's because I'm a girl, and he's a guy. I've never been to a hooker bar, so I didn't know that a hooker bar is when Asian gals talk to old white men,and then walk them out, and come back into the bar alone. I'm so clueless. I just wanted to drink.
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Stopped by Dimples with Big W. and Aron W. after hittin' up happy hour at Chevy's. The decor is dull and the Goose is priced normally for a measured shot. At the bar, rows of unopened bottles of Johnny Walker and Crown leads me to believe that this place offers extracurricular services. The jukebox selection boosted Dimples to 3 Stars. Classic cuts like Prince "Little Red Corvette", The Animals "House of the Rising Sun" and Otis Redding "Dock of the Bay", just to name a few.
I was so stoked to go to this bar because it was in Japan town and japan town needs a good bar,
but the prices DO NOT REFLECT the atmosphere,
here's a tip when you a dive bar be yourself and that will attract a lot more
customers.
Unlike trying to be a "high class" establishment when your not, that's why you're empty.
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I used to frequent this bar/lounge with my friends like 6 or more years ago. I can't even remember when but it wasn't like how it is now or maybe I was oblivious. Well last year I went to visit my friend that bartends there and DaYaM!!! Right when I walk in I see like 10 or so scantily clad hoochies that are somewhat attractive sitting all lined up with a seat between each at the bar and some even walking around. I even saw one or two of them sitting next to caucasion males that definitely want more than a conversation with drinks. One girl even came out with a questionable lipstick ring on her mouth. Hmmm.
I'll leave the rest up to your imagination.....
I agree with Mariah, I came in here expecting that any place with a nice divey sign and that you have to descend into a carpeted cubicled off bar had to be a nice little cheap dive but alas, I was disappointed by the price of my drink. It was pretty small too. I guess I should just sober up and not be such a lush but oh well...
Anyhow, I had to bail after that one drink to keep my buzz going while still being able to pay rent!
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This place is a joke. We walked into the empty place and ordered two well gin and tonics. Total price 16 dollars!!!!!!!! WTF??? Never in my life have I paid so much for crappy gin!! Its like they are charging Japan prices in Japan Town!! Effing rip-off. Absurd prices. Unfortunately not a lot of options in the area tho.
If I could, I wouldnt give 'em any stars, but Yelp! makes you put at least one down.
I honestly don't know how to review this place. So my suspicions were confirmed by other yelpers that this is indeed a front for prostitution (now I get why there was a toothbrush in the women's room). Drinks were not cheap, you could smoke, and the juke box was decent.
I'd love this place for its shear absurdity of Korean women straight out of 1990 courting lonely middle aged white dudes and illegal smoking in a basement bar if the drinks were more reasonably priced.
Oh well, I'm still on the fence, hence the three stars.
After hearing about this place from Jason R. I knew at some point I would have to check it out. In fact, along with Eric F and another friend of ours, Jason and I hit up this place a few weeks back. We enter this joint and Diamonds and Pearls is playing on the Jukebox and a few different parties of people are sitting around the bar. We head straight to the bartender, a hot Japanese girl who looks to be in her mid-to-late twenties and we order some drinks and light up some cigarettes.
Old white men sit around the bar with young Japanese woman who are hanging on their every word. I come to learn the not so secret karaoke rooms are behind the windowed door. Occasionally you see people coming and going to and from karaoke paradise. For those of you like me who have never been to Asia but have been to many a strip club, this place seems like a strip club where nothing happens except in the champagne room. And the girls weren't aggressive. None came over to our group the whole night. This was prolly in part because we were a group, and we were playing dice the whole time. That was cool with me.
If I ever need to wine and dine some Japanese businessmen I know where to take them now.
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I don't know what the hell these guys are complaining about. I've been coming here for years, and its sister bar "Pagoda" (formely The Flow). It's true what they say about the girls here...but all you have to do is ignore them. I only come here because it's convenient for me and you can smoke inside.
I think the guys who wrote the bad reviews are just bitter because they got taken for a ride by one of these girls and they feel this is the only way to retaliate. All you have to do is simply say "no" and most of the time they go away. If they don't, be rude and ignore them. It always works.
I can drink and smoke in peace with my friends while watching these drunken idiots with Asian fever get taken for a ride. Suckers. Thanks guys, you're great entertainment!
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The drinks are crap (unless you're buying the Johnnie Walker bottle "full-service" I suppose). The place is small, cramped, weird and full of lone, unattractive male perverts. I do like the eighties decor, but there's no irony or intention in it.
The reason the place exists is for its 'girls' who are sometimes behind the bar, sometimes mingling with the pervs and sometimes they disappear into this little room outlined by paper panels with the male patrons.
So, based on what I just wrote, why would anyone pass up a beer at Dimples if they happened to be in Japantown? An enthusiastic 3 stars for the overall experience, 1 for the drinks and 5 stars for the sleaze factor!
Although I'm giving this place a 2 because of how EXPENSIVE it is for WEAK drinks, entertainment wise, I give it a 6+! Why you ask?? I felt like I was back in Thai Land. Chang Mai to be exact. Talk about HILARIOUS! These women are doing their thang... make that money honey!!! I can smoke in here? Great... but wait, why are there sooooo many women that work here? Why are there nothing but business men in here? Why are they going in the back room? Why are they going together? These are all questions I would ask if it wasn't for the fact that I've seen it first hand in Thai Land.
Funny shit! I love it!
Leave all your credit and debit cards at home, carry a handful of 20s, ask for the price of everything you order and don't run a tab.
Keep your head on straight and a four-star night can be yours.
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Well!!!! who doesn't have grapefruit juice at a bar.
i only drink seabreezes with graygoose and they couldn't make it so there goes 4 stars...
It took me and 6 other friend a little while to understand what kind of business they are running. not a typical place to go to for us. i mean for my friends and I.. i can't say about other people;-)
WOW!! never knew but now I know;-))
a friend took us here after a social distortion show @ the fillmore.
full bar - check!
asian mafia - check!
banned smoking law in CA doesn't apply @ this dive - check!
asian women running this place - check!
i like how mirrors line the walls of this joint...always check your 6 when sitting in this bar.
my favorite aspect: the "karaoke girls." slip some green and you might be able to sing a tune or more in the private karaoke room! ;)
it still floors me how my friend knew about this bar... ?!? maybe he's a repeat patron!
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Uhhh, so yeah...
"What in the hell am I doing here" Is the first thing I thought when walking into this bar. I was like, wow there are a lot of young asian women behind that bar. Hmmm, what are these blankets for? What? Why is there a chair in the bathroom? I just didn't understand. Our drinks were really expensive and tiny.
Will I ever come back here again? Probably not. A bit too fishy for my tastes. And by fishy, i mean WTF.
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It's like Gabin, but the prostit...er, WAITRESSES are walking around in skimpy clothing & VERRRY friendly.
Walked in there last night with a bunch of friends & it just felt weird. We couldn't tell if it was a gay bar (completely full of dudes) or a brothel. Upon further investigation, it has proven to be the latter.
Seemed like a pretty interesting place, but we were on the hunt for real, genuine, cutthroat karaoke, & in times like these, there is no room for awkward feelings.
Still, a tip of the hat to seedy underbellies everywhere.
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My buddy and I walked into Dimples after a dinner in Japantown. We almost didn't go in, but were kinda looking for new bars close to home.
When we walked in we were pleasantly surprised that the two bartendresses were young and attractive. We ordered a couple of Black Labels and they were expensive.
We sat and drank and decided it was the kind of place where you can smoke. And we were right.
We noticed several young Asian women kinda walking around, checking out clients. We needed fresh drinks. I looked behind the bar and the servers were gone..WTF?
Oh, they're both on the other side of the bar now, sitting in the laps of guys in suits. That's weird, but ok. One of them decided to come and serve us. We ordered the same thing, and this round cost 6 bucks more than the first one. Whatever.
Two of the made up girls came around often, coming by saying hi with inviting smiles and then walking back to the "karaoke" rooms.
All in all a really interesting place. The kind of joint I'd go to if I needed to arrange a hit or was involved with import/export.
So I guess I'm saying I'll be back.
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Three stars for nostalgia - it was almost like walking into the Daly City Peppermill of yore - big fake trees, secluded little booths, lots of mirrors. . . . and the staff was super super friendly.
We are SO planning a J-town crawl now that is definitely going to include this place.
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Cheapest Macallans I ever purchase and I like the jukebox but the smoke was annoying i was welcomed by the Very friendly staff - i had a wonderful time
If you're a guy just looking for a chill night of drinking with some buddies, with good conversation without an expensive tab... do NOT come here. The second you step foot into this place, it feels like the korean owner in the back slaps one of the waitresses and says: "Make him spend money!!! You whore!" And you can imagine the rest of the night -- a girl would come up to you, start some meaningless chatter, and then get straight down to business "would you like to buy me a shot? how bout one for the pretty bartender as well?" Before you know it, you're broke, you're sober, and you still didn't get any ass.
Overpriced drinks. Well lit. Skanky. And not in a good way.
Conversation value made it worth the stop, not the price.
Best brothel disguised as a bar. Don't go for drinks, just get giant bottles of Korean beer for 5 bucks a pop. Absolutely adorable mongolian bartender who was totally spunky & held her own against the super sleazy patrons who kept asking her for her bra. Hilarious karaoke! It's like international travel!
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Don't even try flagging the waitress for a drink if she's sitting on some businessman's lap. especially if you are a girl. I order in English. If there's going to be a receipt, it better be in freaking English, otherwise, what good is it to me? Yeah sure two forties of Hite, wait sorry they didn't have Hite so IMITATION Hite costs 20 dollars lady.
There was a strange odor like mild bleach and grime. I considered lighting a match to mask the stench. Fantasies of flame-throwing the kerosene soaked drapes in the corner filled my mind. I laugh maniacally. I reach behind the counter and grab the source of the asian cocktail mystique... a bottle of midori. I smash the neck on the counter then take swigs of it until it is gone and my lips and tongue are green and I am surrounded by fire. Sure I could have twisted it open, but that would not be awesome. This place is burning rubbish. Screw that.
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I can't wait to get married, so I can start having an affair at Dimples. Although as my compatriot said, for $8 that drink better come with a blowjob.
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I came here thinking it was a dive bar, and was trying to avoid the expensive drinks at the Fillmore before a show. Wrong. My well drink was $7 and Budweiser $5! After seeing a patio chair and shampoo in the bathroom, as well as a private room across the hall, I began to suspect that perhaps some folks get a bonus with those expensive drinks.
Oh and the bartenders smoke here.
I do feel fortunate that we chose Dimples over The Flow, considering that a shooting happened there the same night.
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How could you not venture into a "bar" when it's named Dimples?
I have to admit, the name is surely what lured us into the place, but upon walking downstairs into the smoke filled lounge area we soon understood clearly Dimples was no ordinary bar.
Why we stuck around after the first round of shamefully overpriced drinks and the realization that "you get what you pay for," I still couldn't say. Novelty maybe, that or it was the booze talking and the half naked chicks behind the bar.
If you're feeling adventurous, take some time out of your evening to visit this basement wack-o-world of mirrors, makeup, "VIP treatment" and patio chairs in the bathroom (next to the toilet for conversation?!) It's almost as if the bartenders have absolutely no experience whatsoever! (not exaggerated) What's in a gin and tonic?! (exaggerated) 8 dollars?! (not exaggerated) That's not even a tumbler, you mixed it in a shot glass! (exaggerated) Where am I?! The complimentary squid and peanuts should remind you! I only wish it had been a busier night to see what's really going on here. UNREAL!
If you want to continue the experience, you could probably go next door to USA karaoke music box good time bar (something like that). It seems as though the two places are connected via underground tunnel as the woman we had just seen inside of Dimples when we left was now just leaving this place next door when we were walking up! BIZARRE!
I don't think I've ever used so many exclamation points in a review!!
4 stars for the experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (exaggerated)
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This is definitely not a bar for a cheap drink. If you're into paying $10 for a beer, then you might like this place. It's really just a place for local guys to go hit on scantily-clad, Korean hostesses.
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Weird place. It's a karoake bar, but I being there are 4-6 over painted, underdressed Asian women behind the bar. I have concluded that the male patrons provide the "microphone". Peanuts anyone?
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This place is bizarre-o. You walk down the stairs past the Denny's and step into what feels like a seedy soft core Korean porn video ... cloudy from smoke, brightly painted women, and weird Korean music. Don't order anything in English. Someone I was idiotically ordered a martini, and instead got something that smelled and tasted like gasoline.
One star for novelty and another for comical value.
korean lesson #69....."bagaji"...a large bowl like object....
now...stick a "bagaji" over my head...cuz...by the end of the night...that's me and my buddy....with bowls over our head.....not literally..but....figuratively speaking....
(let us rewind the clock 9 hours....round 1: beer and sake lunch at fuji......the first taste of alcohol during noon.....round 2: change locations to have a bottle of wine while chillin' in the sunset......round 3: another bottle of wine and beers while relaxin' in south beach.....round 4: dimples~!)
after 3 rounds......round 4 was not needed....but...hey....it's hard to say...no....dimples is located in the heart of japantown....next to denny's......dimly lit bar....jukebox...and "vampires"....yes....money vampires.....their job....to suck as much money out of drunken patrons.....asking for shots....asking for money for the jukebox......typical korean hostess bar type....hostess bar?....a bar where the job of the women is to flirt and act like your best friends....drink much as possible on your tab....low quality hostess bar compared to la...grotty...but hey....it's sf....
get the creeps when strangers are all touchy-feely....yeah...that's the women's job there...but urgh....no thanks....and stop holding my hands.....if you were cute...maybe i'll let it slide...but...ewwwwwwwwwww~!...i know i'm drunk...but not that drunk~!......let me sip on my scotch in peace....
literally couple drinks....and a miraculous tab for almost $200 after tip....yes....can we say..."bah-gah-jee"...again..." baga ji"....now put that over my buddy and my head.......yes....i laughed so hard after seeing the bill....i almost passed out....oh..i should tell you what "bagaji" figuratively means....it means to get ridiculously ripped off...
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her fingers step walked down into the nether regions beyond his ...DIMPLES...was that upper or lower?
damn is dennys' step-kin keeping it on the down low for da hookahmongoloiodalkinstaahzie
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One time, I came to Dimple's because I wanted to have a deep, personal conversation with a close girlfriend on a topic that was causing me much distress. I didn't want to be overheard by anyone, or run into anyone I might know. We sat in a vaguely-dirty naugahyde booth (I think it was a cream color?) and drank beers, and I poured my heart out. The music was loud and the hostess, as well as the somewhat shifty looking bar patrons, had absolutely NO interest in two rumple-haired semi-goth semi-hipster white girls in a corner booth. There were all kinds of little nooks and crannies in the place, and lots of neon, and overall, I think there might even have been hidden rooms and escape tunnels, as far as I'm concerned. All I know is - if I ever want to lose a trail, duck into a seedy little joint where nobody will recognize me and drown my sorrows to karaoke tunes with slightly too much reverb, Dimple's is the place.
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I had fun, but it could have been my company, because it is just a bar. There is something cool about this place, it's downstairs and dark and they serve peanuts. The white russian was not right that my friend ordered, no vodka, just Kaluha and Baileys?? but whatever.
i had heard about this sketchy place so we went in while waiting for our karaoke room at do re mi at around 1am. the asian waitresses and bartenders were all ummm.....inviting looking, if you know what i mean. at one point a waitress disappeared wearing fishnets and she wasnt wearing them when she came back which kinda confused me. the whole place was filled with men who either looked like off duty construction workers looking for a hookup or business suits in town for a few nights. the bathroom not only has an extra chair or two in it but also toothbrushes and mouthwash. hmmm. i definitely got the feeling this is not a place to come to if you just wanna have a drink. especially because the drinks are tiny and everything costs 7-10 dollars which is pretty outrageous considering how weak my tiny wittle drink was. ill give it two stars for the sketchy ambiance experience and the name that makes me giggle. i guess theres gotta be at least one brothel with a karaoke room as a front in every self-respecting city!!
really i don't know how to rank this place... i came here by accident with my bro-in-law, looking for a place to hang out and drink a few on a friday night... this place is very bizzare really.
i won't go into too much description since the other yelper postings hit it right on the head... makes me laugh actually. just don't buy the girls drinks... they are 10 bucks for some dinky shot of something-or-other.
the girls working the counter are mongolian... they speak russian too. just an interesting tidbit that i wasn't aware of.
its weird when some of the hostess are your friends. weird things happen here. def not pg13.
but if you gots a group of overseas clients (read hom sap los) you gotta do what you gotta do..... so i hear.
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