I traveled from San Diego to San Francisco just to have Jen Lee do my tattoo because she is the BEST for the style I wanted. Â It was well worth the trip, my tattoo is amazing. Â Jen is crazy talented at fine line work, color and detailing...my tattoo is seriously gorgeous and people are amazed by it all the time. Â I am considering one more tattoo and I will only let her touch my skin from now on. Â Yes, the travel costs suck but when you are getting something permanent on your skin for life, this should not be a concern. Budget tattoos are a bad plan.
As far as the shop itself...I was thrilled with the private rooms, WAY less awkward than open area shops. Â And even more awesome was that I told my husband (prior to arrival) that I wished they would play some reggae while I got my tattoo and it was like a miracle of some sort bc when I walked in, they were playing the typical old school punk and by the time I was getting tattooed, reggae was playing, no joke. Â The tattoo gods heard me that day. Â :) Â
Thanks Jen and Tattoo City for my gorgeous tattoo and for randomly playing reggae during my 3 hour tattoo.
Kahlil is one of my favorite tattoo artists ever! He has done a full back tattoo for me and both my half sleeves. I am always getting complements on them and asked where I got them. Â All you have to do is look at his portfolio in store or online and you'll see his undeniable talent. I Â have meet and chatted with several of the staff including Ed and Doug , very nice down to earth guys. I cant recommend a place that is better than Tattoo city.
Review Source:Got my first tattoo with kahlil late last year after being on the waiting list for about a year, and I can say it was well worth the wait. He was super friendly and helpful since the very first consultation, he listened to all my ideas and helped me make a decision on what would be best. His sketch was amazing, super detailed, an amazing artist overall. At the first tattoo session he was incredibly supportive and understanding that it was my first tattoo and a little scared of how it was going to feel and if it was going to hurt. He did an amazing job, I was so happy with it that I decided to expand the tattoo to double the original size and he happily obliged. I would definitely go back again with Kahlil and highly recommend him to others.
Review Source:Jen Lee was my tattoo artist and she was AMAZING!
My sister and I got matching tree tattoos on our sides. My sister was the one who contacted Jen Lee and got an appointment set up for us so that we could get it done. Although she did most of the communication with Jen Lee about the tattoo and how we wanted it to look, my sister included in every e-mail and I loved the drawings Jen Lee created. Since we both wanted a rather large side piece, we took up two consecutive days of her time. I got mine done first and my sister got hers done the second day.
This was my first tattoo experience and although I may have been struggling towards the end to sit still, Jen Lee managed to complete the tattoo and even stay a little late so that I could get it completed in one day. I am super proud of my tattoo and I love the way it turned out. I literally have nothing but good things to say about this experience.
Since it's my first tattoo, I don't know how her price range compares with other tattoo artists, but my sister says that you pay for quality. Jen Lee's sitting fee was $200/hour but it is completely worth it. She was understanding of it being my first time and let me take breaks if I needed to and again, the tattoo is absolutely amazing.
Parking-wise, if you're lucky you could get street parking, but most of it is in two-hour increments in the area so you're better off parking at a garage. They even have a map in the tattoo shop to show you where the garages are in case you're not a local to the area.
I found Tattoo City after watching Tattoo The World, the documentary about Ed Hardy. It was such great insight into Ed's evolution in Americana tattoo art history, I was drawn to his style, his quirky straight forwardness and wanted to get a piece designed and tattooed by him. Â After looking on line and realizing he no longer tattoos I found Kahlil. Â
I met Kahlil for the first time for the consultation appointment and right away felt comfortable and at ease with him. He listened to my ideas, and came up with a timeless unique dragon to add to my existing pieces. Â I was blown away by the drawing he emailed me as I live in Seattle, he Photo shopped the image onto my body so I could really get an idea of what it was going to look like. Â
I have sat with him for four long appointments, he is always respectful of my mood, asks if I need breaks, and doesn't feel the need to talk if either or both of us are in the zone. Â I appreciate all of that. Â Also, he's a gentleman and has an intuitive touch with the gun. Â My next appointment will finish this amazing piece, but I'm sure it won't be the last time I commute to SF to get a tattoo by him. Â Thank You Kahlil!!!
This place is awesome. I wanted to memorialize my Siberian Husky that just passed, and wanted a quality piece of art on my leg. Â Being an artist myself, I did not want just any plain, unoriginal, crappy tattoo. Â I did a lot of research and stumbled across Jen Lee's page. Â I sent her my ideas and drawing, and she sent back a killer design! Went in to get it done, and she rocked it! We finished the first session, and it looks amazing! The lines are crisp, the colors are bright; it's solid! It looks just like him too! I can't wait to get it finished! I would definitely recommend her. Â Her work is incredible, and the price is reasonable.
Review Source:The sign on the door said they closed at 7. We got there just before 6:30 and they were closed. I get it, slow night no point in staying open. But the lights were still on and the sign said to knock if we made it before 7 . So we knocked for a couple of min. And eventually stopped and were talking to someone walking where the next nearest tattoo shop was and as we were doing that the man working opens the door with a lot of attitude saying they were closed. Being very rude. I'm a hairstylist and know how it is after a long day and ready to go home, but if someone knocked wanting a trim I'm not going to turn down that money. All we wanted was a tiny pinky tattoo and he was just angry we disturbed him. Never going there again. I ended up going to the shop across the street to a very friendly staff. Told them how unhappy we were about this shop. The guy said he gets that ALOT!!!
Review Source:What can I say that hasn't possibly already been said about Tattoo City and it's staff? I had been wanting to get some sort of tattoo as a tribute to my best friend The Mogwai. But I wasn't sure if I wanted his paws, or his name or what. I had been perusing portfolios of artists in the city for awhile. Not really just for that specific tattoo but just feeling people out and seeing what they were about and then I stumbled onto Jen Lee's portfolio.
Her work is jaw droppingly stunning. You can tell how much love goes into all of her work but especially her animal portraits. The dogs and cats are gorgeously rendered on skin in old victorian-style frames with bright backgrounds and lush looking flowers. Or have Virgin of Guadalupe style rays beaming out from behind them. Or have them dressed up as dignified scholars. And of course the list goes on and on. There are all sorts of variations to her work. Her style has a vintagey-Americana feel to it and it's beautiful and unique. Not to mention her color work is on point! Every color in her pieces is radiant.
So ANYWAYS I knew she was going to be the one to do a portrait of my little man on me. And so I made my consultation and she was super sweet and professional, she traced the inside of my arm so she could get an idea of how to size and fit the tattoo. We made the appointment. I came back and she put it on, asked me what I thought of the placement. It was perfect. She really knows how to make her work compliment the body. And throughout the process she made sure to check on me and see if I needed a break which I really appreciated! And Trevor, the shop manager, even asked me if I needed anything from the store which is really considerate.
To wrap it up, my tattoo came out fucking gorgeous and perfect. Jen was awesome and totally worth the money. I've already made another appointment with her to start on another piece and I am looking forward to it!
This place is the best. Best artists, great personalities, clean, punctual and respectful. I've been tattooed by Kahlil and Mary - I'd recommend any of the artist here if you want a well done, original tattoo.
Please be advised...This is not a spa, or a hair salon. It's a tattoo shop and you should behave appropriately and with respect. If you are someone who needs a reminder call or can't be responsible for getting yourself to the shop on the right day then maybe you shouldn't get a tattoo. Just sayin...
Kahlil is not a people person whatsoever. He may be good at tattooing, but he is condescending, prententious, and cocky. I had my first tattoo done by him in 2007. He did a great job and I didn't have any complaints. A couple of years later I wanted to add to my piece and I put down a $200 deposit. He did the outline and at the time I didn't know I was about 3 weeks pregnant. Kahlil was obviously annoyed that he wouldn't be able to tattoo me for a long time because of the pregnancy, recovery, breastfeeding etc. I wanted the tattoo to be connected to what he had already done, but he had just freestyled it on my arm. This was nice too, but it had absolutely nothing to do with the original piece. Two very distinctly different styles.
After my pregnancy, I wanted to finish the piece and do the coloring, and use the deposit he still had. When I came in to the shop he was not sensitive or even congratulatory to my new role as a mother. In fact you could tell he wasn't warm to the idea of children. When I had discussed where we were headed with the tattoo he said that if I wanted to add more to it then I would have to "get in line like everyone else", because he had over a year long waitlist. He did the coloring and totaled me out where I paid full price and never got my deposit back. So basically he kept my deposit and yet had never made any future appointments. I never got a sketch either!!!
Over a period of a year and a half I had moved and asked for my deposit back. He was nice about it and gave it back to me. Skip to a few months ago, I had made an appointment for a consultation, but had to cancel it. I called 3 weeks ago to schedule a consultation because I knew that I would definitely be able to make it. I showed up this past saturday and the whole shop seemed awkward. I thought people were doing drugs in the back or something because of  how uneasy they looked. I was happy to be there and see him because it had been so long. We discussed a little about the tattoo and then he laid it on me. He basically said that with the "turbulence" in my life of being a mother and my scheduling and rescheduling of (consultation) appointments that I am his most difficult client. He said my appointment was the day before and that he wasn't going to schedule a future appointment for a tattoo unless he knew I would show up. I told him it was an honest mistake and that I had no idea I had scheduled it for a Friday. I also said that I had been called to confirm my appointment one week before which isn't very common for most places of business. Normally people confirm appointments a day or two in advance. I know this because I do hair. He then interrupted me and said "and now you're blaming the receptionist" and a number of other things. His whole attitude was demeaning, rude, and totally unprofessional. He would interrupt me again and talk to me as if I was a child by saying, " you can't even answer me that you are going to show up." I then said, " I was just explaining to you..." He said he didn't want to come off as a jerk and I said that he has always acted as if I was a pain in his ass.
When I concluded by saying that I didn't think it would work out he agreed and I turned to walk away and he called me by my name and gave me a look that could easily be interpreted that once I walk out the door the relationship would be severed and also that maybe he didn't want me to walk out.
All i can say about this whole experience is that:
a) a woman should never have to feel apologetic for having a child and allow someone to call it a "turbulent" experience. Btw, i told him i don't consider having a child as turbulent and he proceeded to say, well with all of the personal drama in your life etc... and
b)his unprofessionalism regarding scheduling and rescheduling - I had never flaked on him before ever (except the day before and that it was totally unintentional) and I told him that. I canceled appointments (which were consultations and not even tattoo sessions) because I was financially incapable of getting tattooed and didn't want to waste his time.
c) as a hairstylist I would hope a tattoo artist would understand that when you are working that closely with clients you NEVER throw a person's personal stuff in their face.
Why would I ever trust someone with my body when all they see is how much money I am worth and treat me like shit???
Breaking up with Kahlil as my tattoo artist was liberating. I am proud to say that I never have to go back there and feel intimidated, shitty, or embarrassed again.
There are PLENTY of other great artists in the world without that much pretention.
So long Kahlil !
I got mine done with Jen Lee. She has a very delicate hand and so although my tattoo was in a sensitive area, I felt super comfortable and oddly enjoyed the whole experience. It was my first and Jen made me feel completely at ease. The work itself is very beautiful. She drew the finest detail so well! I am super pleased and I would recommend going here. I do not ever write Yelp reviews so when I do, it means it was pretty spectacular.
Review Source:Had a great experience here with Doug. A true professional,I felt comfortable and in good hands the entire time I was on the table. He is also super personable and friendly. Had the shop to ourselves on a Sunday and was tattooed for a good price. Clean lines and perfect healing. Doug is the man. I'll stay with him until he's through tattooing.
Review Source:I finished my 3/4 sleeve with the fantastically talented tattooer MaryJoy.  I have been tattooed by MaryJoy  since 2007.  We have created this stories of my life together on my skin.  I have tattoos from Kahlil & Doug!  This shop is professional and full of positive vibes and beautiful art and artists!  I am planning more ink and I have found my home!  I love Tattoo City, everyone should get their art here!
Review Source:Mary Joy tattooed my wife's name on my arm 4 years ago. We were on vacation and I wanted to make  it happen. She was busy but fit me in. The tattoo still looks great. Mary was really nice and very professional. I've been tattooed by some of the best in the world and she is a pro. I look forward to my next tattoo from Marry on my next vaction in SF.
Review Source:This place is fantastic! I had my mind set on another location, but since they were next door to my house I figured I would try them out. The staff was very friendly and helpful. This was my first tattoo so I was pretty nervous and a little hesitant, but Doug was awesome! He made the process very easy, and smooth. His design was exactly what I was looking for, and it came out great. I will definitely be coming here again for my next one!
Review Source:i researched for months and months the perfect place to get a tattoo of my cat. When I came across Jen Lee at tattoo city I was blown away. I brought her some pictures and she told me she needed one that really captured his eyes and character, at first I was a little let down. Now I really understand how much of a difference that made. I really appreciate her hard work and understanding of pets being more than animals but family. I still think my cat is the best cat portrait she has done :) and the best pet portrait I have ever seen, including "famous" tattoo artist's work. I am so grateful every day for this tattoo and I cannot express how amazing Jen's work is.
Review Source:This is my 3rd tattoo but the 1st one done by Tattoo City...and by far the best! Â Doug Hardy is amazing and is extremely professional: Â good eye contact, very knowledgeable, fast, precise and nonjudgmental. Â The place is clean, private and gives you confidence that these guys know what they are doing and that they doing it safely and extremely well! Â There is no attitude either. Â I am so pleased with the artwork and so are my (non-tat) friends. Â :)
Review Source:I came here for my first tattoo. And I did a lot of research on the type of artist I wanted to do work on me. Each artist had a unique and beautiful style, but I fell in love with Jen's designs. She is a great one for details, shading, and color in animals and portraits.
The place overall was very hip and located in a decent neighborhood in San Francisco. the tattoo was well worth the money spent and I've gotten so many compliments on Jen's art on my shoulder.
I recommend this place to anyone. It's a trust worthy place and they definitely know what they're doing.
I can't even express how grateful that I am that I found Tattoo City. I visited countless shops throughout the years, and still do out of curiosity, but it was here that the guys and gals at TC truly made me feel welcomed and inaugurated me into the world of ink. I only have 3 tattoos and two were done by Jen Lee and the last one by Kahil, which took over a year to book. Everyone is genuine and I just liked them the first time that I came into the shop. What can I say?
Besides the obvious fact that the artists here are EXCEPTIONAL (in my opinion), they totally understand how nervous and painful it can be for some people (that's me in case you're wondering) and made sure that we took breaks when needed. (I almost passed out once.)
A lot of memories in life can become muddled over time, but I believe it's how someone makes you feel that you remember the most. Â And those at Tattoo City gave me a great experience. I'll be going back there for my next tattoo.
I finally got my upper arm sleeve finished. I feel bad because Jenn has become my sounding board while she works on me. But she's always chill and I love her work. The colors are bright and the lines are crisp. I highly recommend anyone in this shop. Trevor the shop guy makes a telephone call a joy too. He's super sweet. Â Thanks tattoo city. You're the bomb!
Review Source:I love tattoo city. The artist are extremely talented, professional, and friendly. I got a beautiful yellow rose done by Jen Lee that I love. Despite the fact that I was nervous she made me feel very comfortable. I also received a beautiful Japanese style koi fish tattoo from Khalil. I was on his waiting list for a year but did not regret the wait. I love both the design and coloring. Please if you are looking for a quality tattoo shop with quality artist than I highly recommend tattoo city. Khalil is without a doubt worth the wait and you will not be disappointed. The overall service you receive from start to finish is what everyone should experience when getting a tattoo.
Review Source:I can't say enough good things about Tattoo City, and especially Kahlil! Â The shop is very friendly but professional - they are easy to reach and very helpful. Â They even call to remind you of upcoming appointments. Though the waiting list for some artists is very long, you can be assured they are keeping close track.
Kahlil has been beyond my expectations and well worth the wait. Â It took over a year to get a consultation, but his expert knowledge of Japanese imagery and meaning plus incredible detail is beyond compare. Â He really helped turn my vague concept into a stunning back piece that flatters my body and is both meaningful to me and beautiful to look at. Â
He works quickly and with a light touch, which is really great when you're dealing with large tattoos on painful areas. Â Plus, he's just a very nice guy and makes you comfortable quickly.
If you want a Japanese-style tattoo, I wouldn't recommend going to anyone else.
Quality over quantity! i got my first ever tattoo from tattoo city and doug hardy was my tattoo artist. he is soo cool and the receptionist is sooo sweet and sooo nice!!! they are really good people here and their work is phenomenol. doug hardy charges $200/hr and when i got my tattoo done with him he suggested how big and how small and took the time to give his opinion on everything which was really helpful so you wouldn't look like a retard with just a tattoo.
Review Source:I got my first tattoo there with Mary Joy about ohhh....3 years ago now? Maybe 4? Mary has since given me 2 more tattoos, I have one from Jen Lee, and have two more scheduled for next month with Jen.
The work that the artists do at this shop is truly beautiful. They are so talented. In addition to that, everyone that works there is just so nice. From the guys that work at the front desk (Trevor and Aleph) to the artists (Mary, Jen, Khalil and Doug), there's just a friendly, unpretentious vibe in this shop that truly makes you feel welcome. The music is always good and Trevor even offers to get you a drink if he happens to be running over to the corner store. Totally unnecessary but very thoughtful.
Anyway, I love these guys and that's why I keep coming back.
Mary Joy is amazing. She did the my first tattoo and I love it. She eased me into the tattooing and calmed my nerves by talking to me the whole time. It made the whole experience fast painless. Like the others have said, the rest of the staff are the nicest. I've been to other tattoo places and this is the only place that made me feel welcomed and didn't turn up there noses when I said this was my first tattoo. So thank you Mary Joy and I can't wait to get my tattoo finished!
Review Source:I looked at many SF tattoo artists before choosing Khalil for my very first tattoo on 9/14/10. I like the quality of his fine drawing line, and his sense of color. I was on his waiting list for nearly a year, but it was well worth it! He was great every step of the way, from discussing/understanding what I wanted, to the actual inking session. My tattoo (a blue anchor from the Anchor Steam Porter beer label) is fantastic, and I couldn't be happier. I look forward to having him do another in the future. Kahlil is humble, but make no mistake: what he does is amazing--it was almost like magic seeing what he had done. It came out better than the source material.
Review Source:I got some more work on my legs from Jen Lee at Tattoo City, and it is totally beautiful. She is super amazing and did an awesome job. It took a few sessions to complete, but she put a lot of hard work into the design and the whole process was really great. ALL of the artist were really kind and helpful, nice atmosphere, a lot of talent. The front desk person was adorable and super sweet, I know that a coffee run isn't part of getting a tattoo, but anytime a staff member left to grab something to eat or drink they asked if I wanted or needed anything... Everyone was accomodating and nice. Jen Lee's designs are really pretty and femanine and she does amazing animal portriats and frames.
Review Source:Tattoo city is by no means cheap. It is ABSOLUTELY worth the price though. Jen is truly amazing... one of my favorite artists for sure. She's done a traditional piece for me and a dog portrait. Both are just amazing... I haven't enough mastery of the English language to describe how good they came out. The dog portrait looks exactly like the dog and she put a her cool artistic touch on the traditional piece. If I had more money and lived closer to SF, I'd be covered in work by Jen. This shop has a lot of history too and everyone there was very cool. I will always get work done there when I'm in SF and I even made a special trip just for the dog portrait.
Review Source:After years of  wait (just in case I change my mind) and research, I picked Khalil Rintye to do my left sleeve. Being native Taiwanese but raised in San Francisco, I wanted images to represent both sides of my culture. With living grandparents that survived WWII, I wanted to make sure I didn't get Japanese images. I needed an artist that understood the subtle differences between Asian cultures. Khalil is the man! I had to wait a year on his waiting list, but it was well worth it. How he's able to visualize my arm while sketching on a flat piece of paper...how he centered the landmarks of San Francisco's cityscape...his delicate shaping, I love him! The entire shop has great energy...all of the artists are great! And yes, the man himself, Ed Hardy, does stop by his shop!
Review Source:This tattoo shop is one of the top three in the Bay Area. Â I was a walk in and just wanted to get some characters/my gf's name on my wrist and a black star on my middle finger. Â I spoke with Doug Hardy and he told me the shop minimum and said he would do both for that price. I felt respected by everyone and everyone cared. Â There was no ego flying around as you may find in lot's of tattoo shops. Â Doug and I talked and he had a genuine interest in how I was. Â He touched my nuckle up for free. This shop is superior. Â Great artists and work. Clean and sterile. Excellent suggestions one of my sleeves I want to color in and add to. Go here to get a tattoo. First one or ongoing...
Review Source:After several weeks of researching, I found the perfect artist to do a long awaited mermaid tattoo on my left side rib cage. All the people at Tattoo City are extremely nice, especially my artist, Mary Joy.
I booked an appointment a couple of weeks in advance, with a free consultation. During the consult, Mary Joy gave me some suggestions on how she thinks the mermaid should be laid out on my body, giving it a bit more shape, movement, and flow. I was really happy to see she was really thinking about the design and wasn't going to just plop any ol' mermaid on my skin.
During the session I had to lie down in an uncomfortable position and Mary would check up on me, making sure I was ok before she moved forward. She was very attentive, sterile, professional, and easy to work with. The end result is a beautiful, intricate design on my side--it is EXACTLY (if not BETTER) than what I wanted. I am so happy with the result. This so far, is my favorite tattoo. Thanks Mary Joy!
Pros: Professional, sterile environment, friendly staff, beautiful colors, informative consult beforehand, private tattooing rooms, and great artists.
Cons: A little pricier than most places ($200 per hour), no walk ins (although I think you can do a walk in with Doug).
I got my first tattoo here 15 years ago by Colin Stevens (who is no longer here) and we decided to return after trying several others in the city. Â My husband just got a beautiful tattoo of my hands in a heart-shape, on his chest, done this afternoon by Jen Lee. Â I have the photos posted, so please take a look. Â I can't "say" enough, other than to go see them. Â A friend of mine went last weekend and got a small piece done by Doug Hardy (Don Ed Hardy's son!) and that too is terrific. Â The artists and assistants are all professional, extremely conscious about practicing the safest and cleanest procedures, and really collaborative about making your piece one of a kind.
Review Source:I had some work done to fix up an old tattoo that was done by a less talented artist 9 years prior. Jen Lee from Tattoo City did an amazing job, tight consistent lines and perfectly even shading.
I can't wait to have her fix some other old work so that I'm ready for her to create some new ink on me.
I got my very first tattoo here, by artist Mary Joy Scott. She really exceeded all my expectations, from her manner/attitude (super sweet, relaxed, and good at listening to what I wanted) to the actual tattooing (understanding about my nervousness, the times it hurt (over the shoulder blade), making good conversation and engaging in a genuine, interested dialogue), and the end result (I was most nervous when I was about to see it for the first time)... and it blew me away - exactly what I hoped for but didn't think was realistic... I had to hold back my tears of joy!).
If you want to see pics, just look at my profile! I got a hibiscus flower on my upper back, in memory of my beloved Grandma June, who loved the flower as much as I do - it's both our favorite flower... the tattoo's design is based on some photos I gave Mary Joy of the flower that bloomed the day after my grandma passed - the first time the plant had ever bloomed (after having it for months). Mary Joy, if you're reading this, THANK YOU!!! My friends and family are all awe-struck by its beauty, and obviously so I am.
Everyone knows Tattoo City is awesome. you know when something bugs you and you just want t fix it? I had a tattoo that I hated for the longest. About a year and a half ago.I went to see Clifton Carter and got it covered. I loved it! Some cover ups look awful. This one was done with perfection. It is true art and was designed so no one would ever know I had that other tattoo. A lot of time has passed but I just want to say there is no better place to go than tattoo city. Â The wait may be long for an appointment but thats for a reason!!!! Over a year later, I am so happy when I look at the work that was done and breathe a sigh of relief.
Review Source:I moved to the Bay Area 2 years ago and within the first 2 months I was in  Tattoo City. I ended up with Mary Joy Scott and I am so glad I did. She is the most light handed, gifted, funny, sweet, empathetic etc. etc. etc. tattoo artists that I have ever come across.
She's done half my back and a a half done half sleeve for me. I say half done because when she went on maternity leave I would not go see anyone else it had to be her!
Worth every penny! Mary is amazing!
Classic tattoo shop, with a classy staff. Â Mary Joy Scott is great and such a wonderful person. Â It was my first tattoo and she made it such a breeze and at same time made me feel like i knew her forever. Â I get stopped on the street asking who the artist was ALL the time.
Highly recommended.
Clifton Carter is amazing. Â I came in with a vague notion of what I wanted and not the best reference material, he made my vision come to life in a half sleeve so vibrant and beautiful I sometimes get a little annoyed with all the attention and compliments, like a spoiled rock star bitching about fame. Â He's also a really nice guy and knows when to talk you through the pain and when to let you focus on the floor and concentrate on not passing out. Â My husband and I were recently given a gift certificate for Black Heart as a wedding gift and, even though my husband had a great experience there, I was thrilled that they gave back my half in cash so I could have Clifton do the tattoo instead. Â Everyone else I've dealt with at the shop has always been really friendly as well. Â I hope I can still get in now that Ed Hardy is all trendy, but, trust me, Tattoo City is not about that scene in the least.
Review Source:Ed Hardy's Tattoo City is the perfect place to get tattooed if you want a friendly, clean, and private environment.
I decided to get my first tattoo last year and began doing a lot of research. I did not find anyone in the Bay Area who 'wowed' me until my boyfriend & I walked into Tattoo City.
Trevor, the shop keeper was extremely nice and professional when I walked in. He asked if we needed any help and I said I was shopping around for artist, preferably a female artist who was great with color. He said that there was a new female artist named Jen Lee joining the shop and gave me her website and information. When I saw her website(<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjenleegallagher.com%2F&s=6a99ba6c3099f19a22e63bee85286af709376fc3e657dddc77c5eba9c648b896" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://jenleegallagher.c…</a>), my jaw hit the floor! I was amazed by her artwork, use of color and experience. I was sold!!
I had a consultation with Jen Lee and 3 weeks later got my first tattoo of a beautiful Lilly. Jen was extremely professional and nice during the whole session! She made getting my first tattoo such a great experience that 3 months later, I went in for my 2nd Lilly tattoo by Jen.
My boyfriend was also amazed by her that he is now getting a half sleeve of the Nightmare Before Christmas. We have been customers of Jen Lee since she arrived at Tattoo City in October 2008!
Everyone who sees our tattoos are astonished by the beautiful artwork and the detail!
My best friend & co-worker also recently got tattooed by Jen. It was her first piece and it turned out just perfect! Many of my co-workers also want to get tattooed by Jen! Everyone who sees the tattoos by Jen love all the color and detail!
As the saying goes, "tattoos are an addiction" and I am in the process of planning my 3rd tattoo which of course will be done by Jen!
If you are getting your first tattoo, love detail artwork, & love color, I recommend Jen Lee at Tattoo City!
FYI- The shop rate in $200 an hour and it's so worth it when you are putting a permenant mark on your body! All the tattoo artist at Tattoo City is extremely talented!
I have nothing bad to say about Tattoo City. I had a good idea of what I wanted to get and I called to make an appointment. Instead of just sticking me with anyone, the front desk guy was really helpful and had me check out the website to see who did work that was closest to the style I wanted. I then called back and he got me all set up for a consultation. He was really nice and helpful over the phone and when I came in for my appointment. I met Jen Lee during the afternoon and brought what I had drawn up. We chatted for about 10-15 mins where she measured and got the details of what I wanted.
The next time I came in was the big day and I was excited! Jen worked diligently and was really nice. The entire place was clean and well organized. Jen walked me through what she was doing when I asked a bunch of questions. Overall she wasn't really talkative and that worked perfect for me. I was concentrating hard on not concentrating! This review is long overdue since I got my tattoo back in January but, works well since I have had a chance to heal. The tattoo is beautiful (if I do say so myself), very clean lines and wonderful coloring & shading. Jen did an excellent job and gave me exactly what I wanted with her personal touch. I will be back when funds allow! :D
speaking for the bf right now, he has gotten both of his arms tatted here. the tattoos aren't completely done yet but he would not have anyone to do his tattoo, but the one and only Mary joy. she did a good job on both of his arms and his chest and i think her work is the best i seen by far. and i also forgot to mention she even covered up a old tattoo that he had, but i thought he should've kept it.
the atmosphere there is very friendly, everyone there is so nice. i went there with the bf when he got his arms done and every time i go there with his Mary always is so nice and would bring out a chair for me to watch. overall i think the place is great for anyone who wants their first tattoo or are trying to cover up an old tattoo or just trying to get ink all together this will be the place for you
I got an incredible tattoo here. The whole experience was great. The artist that did it was visiting for two weeks- his name is David. I came in and they told me that they could do it today but it would be better to get it worked up. I got an appointment two days later. The stencil was enlarged and put on my arm-then the actual tattooing occurred which took about two hours. I would go again. I can't believe I waited this long anyway to get one-- so much fun.
The actual shop is owned by ed hardy. I am not a fan of the clothes but he doesn't have much to do with that. He revolutionized tattoos.
Just an afterword. Kahlil finished my tat on the 4th of July weekend. It's now had a few months to completely heal and for the colors to settle in. The work is outstanding, the colors fresh and the detail superb. People come up to me everywhere to ask where I got it. I will probably get my other arm sleeved by Kahlil next year.
Review Source:I have to admit, I did not do any research on tattoo artists for my latest piece. Â The reason being, it was a lotus on my wrist that would be less than two inches wide. Â I figured that pretty much anyone could do it (not to put down what I actually ended up getting, of course!). Â
Since I live near Tattoo City I figured I'd stop in and see if they had a drop in available as I figured it would take about 30 mins to get what I wanted. Â Luckily Jen had some time since she just moved back to the city and she fit me in. Â
She worked with me to figure out the exact design I wanted, I went and grabbed some food to kick up the blood sugar levels and she went to work as soon as I came back. Â All in all it took under an hour, I'm thrilled with the results and I have a new tattoo artist just blocks from my home. Â Can't wait for her to re-do my lower back piece!
Also, I'm not sure what the name of the guy working the front was, but he was really nice and fun to talk to while I waited. Â This is the friendliest tattoo parlor I've ever been in and that goes a long way for me. Â So if you have to wait for them to give good service to some one else, just know that you'll get the same when it's your turn.
So I got my long awaited tattoo today done by Clifton Carter. I was so anxious that I couldn't sleep (didn't help that there were noisy fools outside on the street) and I woke up earlier than planned.
Prior to my appointment, Clifton had emailed me his drawing of my tattoo so I can give him my thoughts before I came in. I actually loved his idea and told him that nothing needed to be changed.
I booked 4 hours with him but it only took 3, which was surprising because during my initial consultation last month, he was thinking that it might take all 4 and I'm glad he finished within that time frame because if the tattoo was incomplete by 4 hours time, the next appointment I'd be able to get with him would be in October!
So 3 hours later (with one break to pee!) I am left with a beautiful, vibrant piece on my left upper arm. There were times when it was a little uncomfortable (the adrenaline wore off and I was just wishing it was all over) but having a friend there with me to talk to and laugh with took the edge off (I tried so hard NOT to laugh many times because it made me unsteady -- do not have conversations about The Lollicock :  <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bachelorette.com%2Flolgianpenlo.html&s=93b0331ef44af5906314cce1c8e516180cfb56f4ea64b0ce04e8d98b860a29a3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.bachelorette.…</a> while getting tattooed! ).
Once again, my experience with Clifton Carter was amazing and I'm so happy that I went with him. He has amazing technique and his linework is so fine and precise...truly a work of art. In the end, it was a bit pricy but it was definitely worth it because he's definitely passionate about what he does (my friend said that when he was tattooing me, he was smiling at times...perhaps he just loves what he does--and that's a GOOD thing!).
PS: One of their other artists, Mary is the CUTEST tatted-up pregnant woman EVER...and I never before once thought or said that pregnant women are cute.
I do have a picture posted in my photos, fyi
Note: observer to my girlfriend's tattoo.
Mary Joy is the freaking best. Her work is phenomenal and so is she. She managed to take a creature from a  music video she had never seen before and replicate it perfectly. And then some. Angie said she was by far the most light-handed artist she'd ever had. To top it off, she was doing a cover-up that was incredibly scarred. Brava, Mary Joy, brava.
Kahlil Rintye is the one of the nicest, most compelling, humble, talented, lovely artists that I feel lucky to know.
This new piece is on my left forearm:
<a href="http://static.px.yelp.com/photo/xtgFAq2TEY1AToaatnfOsQ/l">http://static.px.yelp.co…</a>
The original design was drawn by the retired master Chris Conn, Kahlil customized it a bit to match his style and to bring more of my other work into it. Â The cherry blossoms match my wrists and I also have a peony in the snake on my side.
It is now one of my favorites.
Kahlil is definitely worth any wait time, do yourself a lifelong favor and call him up for an appointment.
Let me jump on the Clifton Carter bandwagon.
I've known Clifton for years -- he was a good friend of my old roommate, and I remember him knocking out stunning drawings and paintings years before he got into tattooing. Â I used to have a beautiful painting of his hanging in my old apartment (destroyed by spiteful kitties during our last move.)
When he first started working at Sacred Rose in the Mission, he did some touch-up work on my wife's back tattoo. Â Despite his good job of matching the style of the pre-existing art, it was clearly evident that his work was of higher skill and quality.
Three years ago, when my son was born, I decided to take the plunge and get my first tattoo as a commemorative act. Â I immediately thought of Clifton. Â By that time, he had started working at Tattoo City, and I had moved to North Beach with my family. Â So, I walked on over one day and started talking to him. Â Next thing I knew, I had an appointment. Â
My original idea was to have a small monkey tattooed on my chest to celebrate my son birth during the year of the monkey. Â Clifton had me bring him some examples of artwork that I liked. Â Two weeks later he called me, and I came over to look at what he made. Â I was knocked out -- he took my simple idea and ran with it. Â He drew the most amazing monkey, swinging through the trees in a rocky seascape setting. Â Freaking gorgeous!
The actual tattoo took two sessions (about 5-6 hours total). Â It came out dynamic and vibrant with the perfect combination of precise line work and accenting colors. To this day, it still looks fresh. Â People are constantly asking about it, and want to know who did it. Â I'm always proud to say it is the work of Clifton Carter.
Just like everyone else, I have had fantastic experiences at Tattoo City. Â Clifton is an amazing artist who can create masterpiece's on skin. Â I went to him after two of my managers came to work donning Clifton's ink. Â (one got a tribal design with hibiscus flowers, the other a chest piece with a rose bud and bomber wings) Â I had ideas about what I wanted (a jumbled mix of ideas) and Clifton took them an ran, creating a back piece that looks like a painting.
the shop is expensive, but it's worth it for great work. Â Clifton also books fast, so make appts months in advance for the time and date you want.
Oh, and parking sucks in north beach, so just suck it up and pay for a lot while you're their. Â The meter maids are bitches.
Clifton is the BEST!
He is calm, professional, and an amazing artist.
I had a couple cover up's and you would never know that
something is hiding underneath.
I've also had original work, and will continue to have beautiful
art on my body, as long as possible.
The wait for an appointment can be several months out, but worth it.
Kahlil Rintye is working on my  3 quarter sleeve and it has surpasses my expectations.  Its a work in progress but worth the time and energy.  I currently have over 10 tattoos from about 6 different places and hands down would never go to another tattoo shop after visiting here.  Take the time to see portfolios here and make a sound decision before altering your body.
Review Source:Clifton is great. I walked in a tattoo newbie and he patiently answered my questions- and redrew my image multiple times until I was happy with it.  Would definitely recommend him.  Only downer to the whole experience was another guy who worked there who was flippin rude when I asked him to change the  radio station.
Review Source:
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