Thirsty Bear Brewing Company
Thirsty Bear Brewing Company, located in the heart of San Francisco, is a must-visit for beer enthusiasts and foodies alike. This brewpub offers a unique blend of New American cuisine with a focus on sustainability and local ingredients. With a diverse menu featuring small plates like house-made pretzels and ceviche, as well as hearty salads, burgers, and flatbreads, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The laid-back yet classy atmosphere of Thirsty Bear makes it the perfect spot for a casual dinner or drinks with friends. The restaurant also offers a variety of amenities such as free Wi-Fi, outdoor seating, and a full bar. Whether you're looking to grab a quick bite or host a group gathering, Thirsty Bear has you covered.
Customer reviews rave about the fast and friendly service, as well as the surprisingly delicious food. The paella dishes, in particular, are a standout with fresh seafood and vibrant flavors. If you're not a fan of beer, don't worry - Thirsty Bear has a range of cocktails and wine options to choose from.
Overall, Thirsty Bear Brewing Company offers a unique dining experience in San Francisco that combines great food, drinks, and atmosphere. It's no wonder why this establishment has been a staple in the city for almost 20 years. So next time you're in the area, be sure to stop by and experience the best of what this brewpub has to offer.
Thirsty Bear Brewing Company Menu
Location
Address: 661 Howard St San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 974-0905
Business info
- Takes ReservationsYes
- Offers DeliveryYes
- Offers TakeoutYes
- Walk-ins WelcomeYes
- Vegan OptionsYes
- Many Vegetarian OptionsYes
- Wheelchair accessibleYes
- Accepts Credit CardsYes
- Accepts Android PayNo
- Accepts Apple PayNo
- Classy, CasualYes
- Moderate NoiseYes
- Offers CateringYes
- Good for GroupsYes
- Good for DinnerYes
- Garage Parking, Street ParkingYes
- Waiter ServiceYes
- Free Wi-FiYes
- Full BarYes
- Dogs AllowedYes
- TVYes
- Open to AllYes
- Outdoor SeatingNo
- Not Good For KidsNo
- Not Good For WorkingNo
- Drive-ThruNo
- Heated Outdoor SeatingNo
- Covered Outdoor SeatingNo
- Private DiningNo
- Bike ParkingYes
Last Reviews
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Author: Julie S.
This is so close to our office, we end up here mostly for happy hour when in SF and I had honestly never eaten here. But on my last visit, we needed a place to have a quick-ish lunch. Thanks to being able to make a reservation, we knew we wouldn't spend any time waiting in line. The service was fast and friendly, and the food was surprisingly good. With a big group, we ordered a little bit of everything, but the favorite was the big-enough-to-share paella. The food came out with plenty of time for us to eat leisurely. For me, if I can't eat slowly and take my time, I'd just rather skip the meal entirely. I would absolutely come back here for another lunch or happy hour, and next time I think I'll do the flatbreads and patatas bravas based on these reviews.
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Author: Mike C.
Beer is not my thing, though I am perpetually thirsty... hey, what's the name of this place?! No small coincidence I guess. My friend chose this for a summer weekday early dinner after hearing about it from the local PBS restaurant show. My friends (including me, a party of 3) arrived early and were already seated at a wall table on the right near the front, likely part of the bar area. They took the liberty of ordering most of our menu already so it was a no brainer for me. Here is what we shared: Tapas 1. Empanadas (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=sSGpOAbIxmsbgdvgRYrMsA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - Crispy and not oily, these were filled with pulled pork, corn, red peppers, and queso fresco and served with a cilantro crème. As visually appealing as yummy. 2. Bacon wrapped shrimp (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=HfPgKRzr0jub02gywafqXQ&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - Each one topped a jalapeno corn cake and came with a herb crème on the side. Nothing spectacular about this one but still okay. 3. Raclette mac and cheese (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=_BSwSw1ncVahrBCpF15bzw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - Rich and creamy as expected, this was made with pasta shells topped with a Raciette béchamel and bread crumbs. The topping was just crusty enough. Btw, had to Google the cheese to learn that this is a hard swiss cheese. 4. Potatas bravas (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=-mSPX1Q5Sam9aGFa37IPEQ&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - This was my add on, fried Kennebec potatoes, garlic, and spicy brava sauce, served with a aioli for dipping. This was my personal favorite of the night. 5. Beer-braised crispy pork ribs ()https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Zcuhx0ViyBBfO5uILqaxWw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q - Tender pork ribs (inside) with an outer crunch cooked in a house ale and barbecue sauce and served with frisee (gotta have something healthy on the plate) buried underneath. Regular plates 6. Sausage flatbread (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=oz_u1mAcvDv6nhKzqp9bxg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - Very thin crust topped with three sausages (chorizi soria, chorizo, bilbao, and butifarra sausage) with a white bean puree, manchego, and roasted red peppers on top. Again, it was decent but didn't wow us. 7. Valenciana paella (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=daXE-csmAht9VwipJ1kKMA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - This contained saffron, sofritto, chicken, chorizo, clams, mussels, shrimp, rockfish, roasted red peppers, and peas. The portions are certainly generous as the ingredients were heaping out of the cast iron pan. Liked the variety of the seafood. Only comment is that I wished the bottom rice was more crunchy or stuck to the pan. Liked using the lemon to offset the heaviness of the flavors. Service was cordial as the bus staff quickly removed empty plates and refilled drink glasses. Our waitress was a bit slammed as she was bouncing from large tables to large tables as well as helping with some bar customers. Still, she checked on us when time allowed and did get my late potatos order in. Definitely not a place for someone looking for a light meal as much of the menu is fried, grilled, and heavy on flavors. Guess you could say that it's perfect bar food, though I am not a beer or alcohol afficianado... While leaving, I happened to notice the mascot (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Pu6KWzbKJvx0NuxiGoMSpA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) who I did not see when I arrived. Attending that school in Berkeley, I just have to say it... "Go Bears!"
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Author: Amanda V.
We stayed across the street at the W over the holiday weekend, and the hotel restaurant didn't have the laid back feel we were looking for on a Saturday evening. So, we walked over to Thirsty Bear to see what was up. Thirsty Bear has your typical brew pub vibe, with an interesting variety of food options. My man had the tasting flight, while I had my usual old fashioned. We were both happy with our selections. We had the $5 mixed olives as an appetizer, and we received more than we expected. The Thirstyburger was delicious and perfectly prepared. If you do nothing else, order the potatoes "bravas" style! Garlic and parmesan cheese, with the right touch of ketchup. If we had been in town for longer, we definitely would have eaten at Thirsty Bear again.
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Author: Frank T.
This Bear is never thirsty after visiting this place. Been going hear for almost 20 years now, every time I visit San Francisco. That it has been around that long and thrived says a lot. It is just a block down from the Moscone Convention Center, where majority of conventions, trade shows, and whatever else, happens in San Fran. It is one of the largest in the Country, and probably why Thirsty Bear does well. But location itself is not enough. These guys and gals know how to brew. All the beer is their own, organic, and every year I go, I am continually surprised with old and new brews. And it is not just the beers. They're food is fantastic, and continues to also improve (see Tapas menu picture). They had some of their own Belgium Brews this go around on my visit, and did not disappoint. The Golden Hallucination, a Belgium Golden Ale, was crisp with a clean finish, and if you didn't know it was 9.5% ABV, you would after you're 3rd, that good. Their Chimera, an Amber Lager with dark Belgium malt, and German Lager yeast with American hops was one of the best Amber Lagers I've ever tasted. The most important part, is the fact that they don't shy away from hosting events at their establishment, whenever a convention is in town, no matter how disruptive it may be for locals. That is always a plus in my book, because not only do I get to have my favorite local organic micro brew in San Francisco, I get to have it on the house. Always more the reason to return to San Francisco.