Tommy's Joynt

Tommy’s Joynt, the iconic hofbrau/bar on the corner of Geary and Van Ness has been chugging along since the 1940s. This place is a time capsule. On the outside are neon lights and an old-timey mural that looks straight out of the World’s Fair with lettering we can only describe as “circus font," while inside the windowless dining room is a chaotic jumble of every tchotchke under the sun. Tommy’s is well past its heyday—all you have to do is order a paper plate of unremarkable brisket with beans that taste out of the can, or a corned beef sandwich on a slightly-too-hard roll. But this no-nonsense, cash-only spot is not without perks: It’s open late (up to 12am some nights), offers very hearty specials, and it’s an interesting place to gaze at the ephemera while drinking a beer before moving on.