H25 - Restaurant 1,000 - 2,000 Sqft · San Francisco, CA

Hard Knox Cafe

Name: Hard Knox Cafe
Address: 2448 Clement St, San Francisco, CA

2448 Clement St

Last inspected Nov 4, 2025 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

Read Reviews on Google

Pass

Get the next inspection, free.

We'll email you when Hard Knox Cafe has a new health inspection. No spam, one-click unsubscribe.

Own this restaurant? Add an inspection badge to your website · Inspection prep checklist

SteadyThe last two inspections recorded a similar number of violations. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

6 inspections

Inspection

Nov 4, 2025

Pass

1 recorded violation

notedCode 113996, 113998, 114037, 114429, 114429.3, 114429.5Chemicals

Official wording

Keep potentially hazardous foods (PHF) cold at 41°F or below or hot held at 135°F or above. Immediately discontinue storing PHF at room temperature., 114171, 114189.1, 114190, 114192, 114193, 114193.1, 114199, 114201, 114269 - Protect the potable water supply with a backflow protection device, as required by applicable plumbing codes. All plumbing, plumbing fixtures, and grease interceptors shall be installed in compliance with local plumbing ordinances, shall be maintained so as to prevent any contamination, and shall be kept clean, fully operative, and in good repair. Any hose used for conveying potable water shall be of approved materials, labeled, properly stored, and used for no other purpose., 114143(d), 114266, 114268, 114268.1, 114271, 114272 - Provide walls / ceilings using materials that are durable, smooth, nonabsorbent, light-colored, and washable surfaces. All floor surfaces, other than the customer service areas, shall be approved, smooth, durable, and made of nonabsorbent material that is easily cleanable. Approved base coving shall be provided in all areas, except customer service areas and where food is stored in original unopened containers. Food facilities shall be fully enclosed. All food facilities shall be kept clean and in good repair., 114047, 114049, 114051, 114053, 114055, 114069(b) - Elevate all food at least 6 inches off of the floor to prevent contamination. Properly label bulk ingredient/food containers with common name., 114115 (b,c) - Maintain nonfood contact surfaces clean. Thoroughly clean and degrease the cooking equipment and shelves above cooking equipment., 1114149-114149.3, 114252, 114252.1 - Provide exhaust hoods to remove toxic gases, heat, grease, vapors, and smoke and be approved by the local building department. Canopy-type hoods shall extend 6 inches beyond all cooking equipment. Toilet rooms shall be vented to the outside air by a screened openable window, an air shaft

In plain English

Cleaning products, pesticides, or other chemicals were stored or labeled in a way that could let them get into food. This is serious because chemical contamination can make people sick quickly.

More about chemicals stored or used unsafely

Official record from San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health, Nov 4, 2025 · Original Source

Reinspection

May 15, 2025

Pass

1 recorded violation

notedCode 114143(d), 114266, 114268, 114268.1, 114271, 114272Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

Provide walls / ceilings using materials that are durable, smooth, nonabsorbent, light-colored, and washable surfaces. All floor surfaces, other than the customer service areas, shall be approved, smooth, durable, and made of nonabsorbent material that is easily cleanable. Approved base coving shall be provided in all areas, except customer service areas and where food is stored in original unopened containers. Food facilities shall be fully enclosed. All food facilities shall be kept clean and in good repair.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health, May 15, 2025 · Original Source

Routine

Apr 30, 2025

Pass

1 recorded violation

notedCode 114259, 114259.1, 114259.4, 114259.5Pests

Official wording

Eliminate the infestation/activity of cockroaches/rodents/flies/vermin from the food facility by using only approved methods. Remove all evidence of the infestation and thoroughly clean and sanitize all affected surfaces. Construct, equip, maintain and operate the food facility so as to prevent the entrance and harborage of animals, birds and vermin including, but not limited to, rodents and insects., 114130-114130.5, 114132, 114133, 114137, 114139, 114153, 114163, 114165, 114167, 114169, 114175, 114177, 114180, 114182 - Ensure all equipment is approved, properly installed, clean, and maintained in good repair. Ensure all appliances are NSF-approved, commercial grade, durable, and easily cleanable., 113980, 113984 (a, b, d, e, f), 113986, 114060, 114067 (a, d, e), 114069, 114073, 114077, 114089.1(c), 114143(c) - Ensure all food is separated and protected from potential cross contamination. Store produce and ready-to-eat foods completely separate or above raw foods including but not limited to raw eggs, fish, meat, ratites, game animals, and poultry. Provide adequate sneeze-guard protection, a container that has a tight fitting and securely attached lid, or dispense food from an approved mechanical dispenser., 114067(f, g), 114099, 114099.3, 114099.5, 114101(a), 114101.1, 114101.2, 114103, 114107, 114125) - Provide an approved warewashing facility. Obtain chlorine test strips to monitor chlorine sanitizer solutions and mechanical dishwasher. Obtain quaternary ammonia test strips to monitor quaternary ammonia sanitizer solutions., 114047, 114049, 114051, 114053, 114055, 114069(b) - Elevate all food at least 6 inches off of the floor to prevent contamination. Properly label bulk ingredient/food containers with common name., 1114149-114149.3, 114252, 114252.1 - Provide exhaust hoods to remove toxic gases, heat, grease, vapors, and smoke and be approved by the local building department. Canopy-type hoods shall extend 6 inches beyond

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects

Official record from San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health, Apr 30, 2025 · Original Source

Reinspection

Feb 27, 2024

Pass

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health, Feb 27, 2024 · Original Source

Reinspection

Feb 20, 2024

Pass

1 recorded violation

notedCode 113947.1-113947.6, 113948Pests

Official wording

Obtain a state approved food safety certification course within 60 days of operation or when a Food Safety Manager has left the facility. Maintain copies of food safety certificates (food safety manager and food handler cards) on site., 114067(h), 114123, 114143(a, b), 114256-114256.2, 114256.4, 114257-114257.1, 114259, 114259.2-114259.3, 114279, 114281, 114282 - Keep clean and free of litter or rubbish the premises of each food facility; non-food items shall be stored and displayed separate from food and food-contact surfaces; the facility shall be kept vermin proof; open-air barbecues shall be operated in an approved manner., 114002, 114002.1 - Rapidly cool potentially hazardous foods from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours, then from 70°F to 41°F within 4 hours. Discontinue cooling PHF's at room temperature. Rapid cool by any of the following approved methods: 1) Ice water bath 2) Ice wand 3) Shallow stainless steel pans filled 2-3 inches and store in refrigerator 4) Separate into smaller or thinner portions and store in refrigerator 5) Blast chiller 6) Any combination of the above. Use the following approved methods provided on the rapid cooling guideline., - Food, equipment, or utensils that are found to be unsanitary or in disrepair may be Voluntarily Condemned and Destroyed by the person in charge.

In plain English

More about signs of rodents or insects

Official record from San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health, Feb 20, 2024 · Original Source

Routine

Feb 13, 2024

Pass

1 recorded violation

notedCode 113947.1-113947.6, 113948Pests

Official wording

Obtain a state approved food safety certification course within 60 days of operation or when a Food Safety Manager has left the facility. Maintain copies of food safety certificates (food safety manager and food handler cards) on site., 114002, 114002.1 - Rapidly cool potentially hazardous foods from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours, then from 70°F to 41°F within 4 hours. Discontinue cooling PHF's at room temperature. Rapid cool by any of the following approved methods: 1) Ice water bath 2) Ice wand 3) Shallow stainless steel pans filled 2-3 inches and store in refrigerator 4) Separate into smaller or thinner portions and store in refrigerator 5) Blast chiller 6) Any combination of the above. Use the following approved methods provided on the rapid cooling guideline., 113984(d), 114097, 114099.1, 114099.4, 114099.6, 114101(b, c, d), 114105, 114109, 114111, 114113, 11415 (a, b, D), 114117, 114125(b), 114141 - Properly wash, rinse and sanitize all food contact surfaces. Make a 100 ppm bleach sanitizing solution or a 200 ppm quaternary ammonia solution for the third compartment., 114067(h), 114123, 114143(a, b), 114256-114256.2, 114256.4, 114257-114257.1, 114259, 114259.2-114259.3, 114279, 114281, 114282 - Keep clean and free of litter or rubbish the premises of each food facility; non-food items shall be stored and displayed separate from food and food-contact surfaces; the facility shall be kept vermin proof; open-air barbecues shall be operated in an approved manner.