Went here Tuesday night as it is the new location of Dubstep Mafia's $3 Holla...thank God (see my review for Red Zone). Wasn't sure what to expect, but, fell in love with the bar. Great atmosphere. Nice-sized area to dance. Good range of seating. Drinks were cheap. Paid only $30 something for 5 beers (PBR & Golden Monkey) and 3 shots.
Now for the downside...
Our event was supposed to start at 11. If we're having DJ's...why would you continue  to play until almost midnight. Atleast we got 2 hours in. Seems a little inconsiderate.
HIPSTER, Younger crowd and live music. There is a band every weekend and can be a cover charge. DO NOT PAY if you are there to drink. I do not go there for the music just for the drinks and I refuse to pay them. They will not tell you that it is free to enter but if you tell them you are here for just a drink then you are good. Full of girls, gays and trendy people. Its a mixture of everyone. I go here very often and do not fit in but still enjoy the place. ORDER THE CITY SPECIAL $3.00 I think. a shot and a beer. Great staff.
Review Source:Great place to see live music. The stage area is quite small, but the sound is really good. Having been to quite a number of venues over the years, it's refreshing to find a small venue where you can actually hear all the instruments and the notes they're playing. I've seen everything from quite mellow, minimalist music to heavy, intense music and the sound has been great for all of them. And they get some pretty good acts, too, both touring and local. The booking team seems to actually be choosing bands based on quality and how well they mix together. (You'd think that every place should be doing that, but after several visits to some South street bars, that doesn't seem to be the case.) Even if you don't know the bands listed, if you're looking for some live music, you've got pretty good odds here.
As to the bar - good beer selection, friendly bartenders, comfy seats. I've never had food here and I haven't been upstairs, so no comment on those yet.
Have seen a few small acts here, including a friend's band's cd release party. It's good for a small crowd, the sound is gonna impress you.
Can't complain about the drink prices. Can't complain about the bar staff (are they actually decent looking, or has it just been that long since I got laid? hm..you decide.)
I went here for the first time to see the Japanese band MONO. This place is TINY (holds about 100 people). I even heard/saw them do their sound check from the outside.
The location can't be beat (literally steps away from the Girard El stop). A quiet band will probably not fare very well at this venue since the performance space is next to the bar.
I just wish there's a lot more happening near the venue. The area is a little sketchy.
Dear Kung-Fu Necktie,
You are everything I've ever wanted from a dive bar and more. Your drinks are cheap yet delicious, your space is dark but not too filthy, Â and your bartender was not only serving drinks that night but also working the sound board...awesome.
I'll be back!
Love,
Lindsay
3.5
The music - like other yelpers commented, they often have GREAT live music. My good friend really likes indie music, so I know she's been here a few times. Myself, I'm  an EDM-head. So i've been here for the past two weekends for some house music/dnb/dubstep as well as luxury trap this past Tuesday. The sound system is beautiful, I appreciate that very much. It's not a huge venue, don't think TLA. It's a bar, but an awesome bar. I love divey places like this. Where you can get cheap drinks and enjoy good music in the company of your friends.
I enjoy that it's divey and homey, so there are few neon ravers here...
Bar - service is OK. There really weren't that many people, so the service was much slower than I expected. I almost always tip, because its what they do for a living. But it was so slow that I ALMOST didn't tip. I'm a nice gal tho, still did.
Tuesday's 11-1am have the best drink specials! Half off drinks. Meaning.. 16 oz yuenglings for $2, rolling rocks for $1, Magic Hat 9 for 2.50!! are u kidding? suh-weeeet.
Check it out if you're into cheap drinks and live music.
Not the biggest fan of the service here. The location is so great and the prices are very fair. However, I would not come here unless it was for a show or if I was dragged here.
I just don't think that the environment is as good as others. I definitely prefer the eL bar a block up or some other spots in the Northern Liberties area.
One positive: They have a selection of five or six cans all priced at $2. As a broke college student, sometimes these are the only options available and I do appreciate this.
They often have good bands here. Â They also have a shelf of highly unpalatable beers that are the right asking price. Â
The last time I was here, we went upstairs to this very weird lounge area that had a big screen TV circa 1996 playing Adult Swim, and a pool table in a room with a pinball machine. Â I especially enjoyed this experience since I was ballin' at pool, which is a rarity. Â I think this place is a lot of fun, but it also has potential to be sort of weird and sleazy. Â Definitely what you make of it at KFN.
Kung Fu What? Â Ummm, yeah, we're going to have to check this place out...
Already somewhat intoxicated, the BF and I stumbled into KFN. Â I took one look at my surroundings, and another back at BF as he whispered in my ear, "I feel like we're in the movie Blade, or something." Â Yes, everyone but us was dressed in black. Â Some were wearing trench coats. Â I swear I saw fangs... Â
When the hardcore punk band started, I couldn't hear myself think, and it was kind of refreshing. Â I was enjoying a great dark beer on top of two more complimentary ones, thanks to the sweetass bartender who clearly saw we were out of our element. Â The patrons among us were probably some of the most delightful, polite people I've ever come across. Â No one even cared a lick that Preppy Barbie and Ken were seated at the bar playing WWF on their iPhones. Â Honestly, I haven't felt that comfortable at a bar in a long time.
The bathrooms are located in an interesting spot--next to the pit. Â My only advice would be to take a buddy who makes sure you can exit safely, as in not get stuck in there when the band begins and folks start getting a little passionate over the music. Â
Even though I wouldn't classify this bar as "our normal scene," I wouldn't hesitate to revisit. Â I had a great time, and might even give hardcore punk a chance :)
Saw the Real Mckenzies and the Goddamn Gallows at KFN and I had a great time. Â Decent selection of beer, but I decided to keep it cheap so I had too many PBC Kenzingers. Â One of the beers was skunked, bartender replaced it.
Small.  Intimate.  A little grimy.  Nothing you could call an AC.  Still had a great time.  Staff was pretty cool, too  - especially considering the a-holes they probably have to deal with on a regular basis.
"Hmmm, what's this place?" Kung-Fu Necktie. Oh, KFN for short. Okay, simple enough. "Wonder what it's like?" Â It's amazing how simple questions like that can lead to unintentional memories. I mean that in a good way.
"$5.00 cover charge? Â On a Tuesday night?"
"Yeah, a band is playing tonight."
"Really? Who?"
"Uh, not sure, some hardcore punk band."
"Ahhh, okay." (Hand him a five-dollar bill)
"Thanks...and good luck."
"Wait? What....."
We enter and I quickly understand. This is not your average bar, at least not for me. First off, I'm wearing jeans, a collar shirt and flip-flops...and none of it is black. I have no tattoos, no piercings, no chains. Oops, I guess we don't fit in here. But, we really don't care and quickly find two seats at the bar.
The bartender, wearing a Starbucks logo t-shirt with the phrase "F#@* Your Crew" asks us what we want to drink. Wow, they actually have really good beer selections here. What a great surprise. How about an Appalachian Susquehanna Stout. Actually, we had to yell our order over the guttural yells and screaming guitars of the "hardcore punk band" on stage (we eventually found out it was "L.U.N.A.R. Revolt" as we left).
We look around and notice a couple of things. First, there is a beer "Shelf of Shame" right in front of us with cans of mediocrity sitting on it. Awesome. Second, there's some weird animation show playing on the corner TV above us. Okay, I'm really starting to like this place. About five minutes later, the bartender comes back over to us.
"Hey, are you two getting drunk tonight?"
"Ummm, well...we've had a couple drinks already and..."
(Bartender sets down two more pints of what we're drinking and walks away).
Okay cool, free beer, but I guess we're going to be here awhile. Long story short (too late), we only finish three of the pints together. Then, after she almost gets locked in the women's restroom by the bar crowd, we decide to head out.
Fun. Crazy. Bar. Stop by, you'll get your $5 (and tinnitus) worth.
"Every time one of my friends talks about that bar, the story starts with '... it was weird. I was really fucked up and I had fun.'"
Do you want a hot mess and cheap beer? Oh you know you do.
I almost keeled over last night after my drunk friend made fun of my dance moves. Then I noticed that I could have easily taken out four people and then decided to go make smores at Frankford Hall.
The End.
Bartender: Â What can I get you?
My Friend: Â Yard's Pale Ale
Bartender: Â $3
Me: Â I'll have the same.
Same Bartender: Â $4
Me: Â ..................................................Â......................
I know I'm not the hippest person out there. Â I have the real world remind me of that from time to time. Â I usually go to bars to take a break from the real world, and to be honest, I don't think any other bar I've been to in the city has ever been more unwelcome than Kung-Fu Necktie. Â You guys should seriously get your house in order, because that is just poor business practice.
There is a relationship that Californians have with East Coast cities like Philly. Â This relationship is akin to one many young (gay/straight/bi but not indifferent) men have with women during their early adolescence. Â Put bluntly, it is a pedestal. Â We are dazzled by the non-dazzling authenticity of east coast cities. Â Their grit, history, lack of irony, easy access to mass transit and startling environmental extremes lead us to value our times rutting around in them far more highly than, in retrospect, they deserve.
Kung-Fu Necktie is that gawky 14 year old girl both bigger and older than you who butchered you with awkward kisses and poorly shaped hickies in the back of a burnt yellow school bus returning from a 3rd place finish at a marching band competition.
Bad disco night DJ's without skill, pacing, or crowd empathy.
A terrific stench, foul miasma of poorly cleaned barf, lingering mildew, and wry indifference
Obligatory art flick playing with sound off (in this case "Ciao! Manhattan")
Expected 40/30/30 blend of Grimly/Hiply/Vintagely attired hipsters (40), slumming youngsters (30), and legit weirdos (30) keeping each respective group satisfied/horrified with the demographics.
Shitty, room flow fucking pool table.
Non-ironic, non-vintage pinball machine.
Awesome, entirely underused dancefloor.
With a whole trunk load of stickups, your own DJ's and about 20 friends you could turn this place into a dirty pile of fun. Â Bring anything short of that and you will have exactly the kind of forgettable night you had in the back of that school bus. Â Those painfully high, hard and narrow bench seats are no place to explore the beguiling mysteries of Allison MacPherson.
The dance parties here can be lots of fun, or sometimes sucky. Â It's hit or miss and depends on the night you go. Â Standard dive bar beer selections on the wall of shame, and some interesting beers sometimes on tap. Â
The bartenders aren't very friendly, in my experience, but they don't keep you waiting either. Â A couple of times I was expected to pay cover, when their ads elsewhere claimed "free cover". Â I ponied up -- pay the DJ, I figure, but they shouldn't advertise free. Â
I don't hate the place - but I don't love it either. Â I do like me a decent dive bar.
With a lo-fi garage band giving it their all on the red velvet-curtained stage, a TV showing Ghostbusters and two incredibly intoxicated, barely-dressed hipster youths cavorting in my line of vision, I couldn't NOT be entertained at KFN.
The cheap, strong drinks and sweet craft beer selection (Brooklyn Summer Ale pints for $5) or the Shelf of Shame stocked with $2 cheapies, only enhanced my mellow mood. The bartender, a tall, blonde dreadlocked fellow, was a consummate professional and kept our drinks full, even hooking me up with a bag of Utz potato chips when I lamented my hungry state. Â I'd been to KFN before and had much lesser service -- so it seems the quality there depends on the individual bartender. Â
The venue is intimate enough to feel like you are really a part of the show and not just a nameless face in a sea of fans, and the bar has enough personality in both the decor (tiki masks, monkey lights, punky ephemera) and friendly fellow patrons that you have lots to look at/chat with if you are sitting solo. Â
KFN also dishes Philly's famous Citywide special, here at 16 oz. pounder of PBR and a shot of Old Crow whiskey (gulp) for $5. Â Next time I head there for a dance party I'll try the Flux Incapacitator, a dangerous-sounding blend of Cintron energy drink and house vodka.
Ever been so drunk that you didn't want to brush your teeth and instead gargled mouthwash since that seemed easier but swallowed it instead and felt like crap?
Yeah. Uh, that's never happened to me either.
The owner of Kung-fu Necktie owner is friendly, and his personality is reflected in his bar. This is a warm, casual spot to grab a beer with friends, catch a live performance, or even watch a kung-fu movie. Street parking's easy thanks to their location. Service is stellar, and they have a fully stocked bar. It's a well-maintained establishment, and nowhere close to a dive. It would be nice if the place was bigger, but then it might lose its charm.
Our bartender had a mean pour which made me quite happy.
To me their name's still a mystery, but what's clear is that KFN is a worthy destination for music and drinks, no matter who you are.
If you have impeccable taste in music, you were with me at Kung Fu Necktie on Friday night to see Land of Talk. I was visibly giddy. It's like, totally, oh my god, my favorite band, of like all time. And to be able to see my them in one of my favorite bars, that was all the better.
My friend and I started with a big can of Old Speckled Hen. Then, we moved onto the Foster's keg-can and shimmied our way towards the front of the room, standing right below Elizabeth Powell (lead singer) and her man-mates.
The thing that's so awesome about seeing your favorite band play at KFN is the intimacy of the show experience. Things got off to a good and rowdy start when two dudes (clearly not okay with intimacy) decided to brawl just as the band strung its first few chords. My friend jumped on stage to avoid getting hit and after a sock to the nose, the dudes were ejected with great fanfare. On with the show, we cheered.
And so it was, best show of my life (I'm not even exaggerating) in a super awesome venue. I'd be damned lucky if I get to ever see them again in such a cozy venue.
"Jam-on-it.... J-J-J-J... Three words to the wack:"... Don't come here. The joint is the top of the grungy heap, so all the kewl kids hang here when they feel like taking a ride on the Frankford El to Girard.
A thumping dance floor, with DJs on the somewhat-known level, coupled with some rockin' beer specials, and you can seriously go down the rabbit hole. And a hole it is - an interior of rather modest dimensions, with a bar under assault by hipster bar-hoppers, booths crowded with thrift adorned collegiates, and a main event comprised of the PEX set  - all tucked in an olive-drab shell under the blue line bridge. When I'm in the mood to get down like an art-school fratboy, I likes.
We headed over to KFN because our friend Jake was DJing and we wanted to show our support with some serious rump shake-age. My favorite things about this place: $1 PBR special, dancing on stage, Twin Peaks playing on the TV (the owls are not what they seem!), and pearly pink marker graffiti in the lady's room that says "you look pretty" and points to the mirror. Aw, shucks, KFN.
Also, I talked up a new pal and had the best dialogue evs:
Me: "I want to be friends with the girls that were dancing creatively with the curtain; I love people that play off the props!"
She: "You are! That was me!"
Totes serendip.
P.S. I almost forgot! For some reason I can't remember, they had a free bagel bar set up!! Extra star in the bag.
Very cool, almost exceedingly intimate venue. Â It reminds me a little of Union Pool in Brooklyn. (Aw, buck up, Philly hipsters--I think you're special and unique, too). Â Shockingly less of a scenester element than I was expecting, which is a relief. Â
I also attended A.A. Bondy and it was a pretty good show; the girl caught me singing bits and pieces all weekend. Â The space is small and the acoustics a good. Â Like, Alexandra (review below) I was a bit distracted by the "friends of the band"* up front but they handled it well. Â I hope this was an isolated incident and that this is not an indication of what I should expect at most shows.
I did not linger very often in the bar section but the decor was interesting. Â Seemed like a cool enough spot and they had some okay drafts. Â
Overall, I look forward to seeing more shows here in the future. Â I'm much less likely to come here just for a drink but I wouldn't call that a foreclosed possibility.
* This is a term of art I use to refer to the type of obnoxious but well-meaning music nerds who like to vocally crowd the front of the stage and try to talk to the artist before the show and just generally act like its all about them making a special connection, not about the show.
I really like KFN but I think I'd like it so much more if it had a different name. because, honestly guys? honestly?
anyway. I've seen a few shows here and gone to a few DJ nights as well as just come to hang out. there always seems to be drink specials and the atmosphere in general is just great. I like trying to figure out what the hell is going on in the random-ass movies that they're always playing.
you know, I should really go here more often.
After Tom and Meredith's photo extravaganza a lot of us made our way down to Kung Fu Necktie for what was to be touted as a dancing and beer filled after gathering. Since the band Wheat were still going on when most of us made it down a number of us ended up at Johnny Brenda's for the long haul instead. But thanks to a random stroke of luck Sam, a couple of my others friends, and I walked in just in time for them to to let us in and check out the band finishing their set. And not only did it mean that I FINALLY had the chance to scope out Kung Fu Necktie, it met that I got to check it out in all of it's settings. And while I didn't find it to be without it's flaws, I was pretty impressed in the long run.
first I'll get the downsides out of the way. While KFN definitely has it's fair share of good shows courtesy of R5 productions, it's also by far the R5 joint that's the smallest. So a lot of shows can get intimate in the bad way, while others end up sell outs when they otherwise wouldn't be. In a way this might of affected the dance night crew, although it's kind of hard to say since there just wasn't enough dancing! It's sort of a minor flaw considering the other option, but on the night we showed up for Robotique the website touted a different drink special than the bar did. since $2 Yards is by far better than $1 PBR's I'm not complaining too much, I just wish that I summed up that fact before grabbing a PBR. D'oh.
But over all KFN definitely felt like a great place to catch a show in, which is great since they have been bringing in some killer ones. And it also felt like a chill and quiet bar to relax and take the vibe in over a beer when they weren't doing music. And the fact that they were cool with you dancing on stage, and have a chill side courtyard is simply awesome. So it's definitely worth going back and finding out the random meaning of the bars name that might just be nonsense.
So, I'm pretty sure no venue will ever top JBs is terms of ambiance, acoustics, and general line-ups, but KFN certainly comes close. Tucked in a nondescript building under the Girard station overpass, this tiny gem is a welcome addition to the neighborhood, complete with a small bar, smattering of booths and above average beer-list, all for your drinking and lounging pleasure.
The decorations are funky and eclectic -- Budda statues, hip-hop posters, and yes, a pinball machine, and the bathrooms are always clean. But the main reason I come to KFN is for LIVE MUSIC, which is really their claim-to-fame.
Most KFN shows are booked by R5 and run the gamut from hip-hop to indie rock to pop -- all 3 fair quite nicely. The stage area is small and echo-y, and very very very LOUD -- hands down, the loudest venue I've found so far in Philly. Every time i leave here, my ears are ringing for days! This is great for rock bands and anything raucous -- but mellow pop acts tend to get drowned out. Case in point: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart? Amazing. Headlights? Not so much. Choose your show wisely, and I promise you won't be disappointed.
I REALLY like this place. Â If I had to describe it, it would be if the Barbary and Johnny Brenda's had a love child, and abandoned it on that fateful street corner. Â The atmosphere is great with a room for some seating, and another room for dancing and a stage, and PINBALL TABLES BONUS POINTS. Â
 The point is, DUH weirdo name, great place.
Our new and lovely CM Monica S.' review of this place reminded me that I had this on my "To review" list.
I went here to see Maserati perform a couple of months ago. KFN is located on the edge of Fishtown and Kensington(locals often bandy such terms as Fishington and Kensingfish(which sounds like a brew)). Â The bar has some booth and table seating. The decor is interesting to say the least. Lots of monkeys in various forms as well as other eclectic decor.
I ordered several indie/micro brews on tap and was pleased to find that they all were reasonably priced and tasted pretty good. Service was fast and the bartender was pretty friendly(as well as being pretty in the hot Asian woman with tattoo sort of way), but not overly intrusive. I ended up watching a bizarre combination of different American and European movies that was playing on TV while I waited for Maserati to take the stage.
The sound was pretty decent and Maserati rocked. The bar got crowded without being ridiculously so. The crowd was pretty good for the most part, though there were the inevitable geese/talkers during the show.
My only complaint, and its admittedly a minor one, is that the lighting is pretty dim. I had a hard time reading the beer list standing practically right in front of it.
Good vibe, good beer, good music. I'll be back at some point.
So I am still reserving the last star for all of your visits. Â By now you should know my association with KFN (full disclosure), if not then read up. Â
Over the years I've been to many of Philly's trendiest bars and grungy-ist bars but KFN is the real thing. Â This isn't a bar that's owned but some suite sitting upstairs counting his money and figuring out ways to dip his manicured hands deeper into your pockets. Â This is a guy showing everyone his unique form of entertaining (both for himself and others). Â All of the details are well thought out. Â All of the beer is purposely picked and not picked. Â Don't just go to the bar and sit there like a slug...check out the details and you'll be amused by the quirkiness between the hardcore punk rock and the Renee Goulet selections in the juke box, the monkey lights at the bar and the Carlton Heston autographed??? picture (compliments of yours truly) and all of the other odd adornments. Â
Anyway, the beer selection is amazing. Â The atmosphere is uniquely KFN. Â The bands and entertainment are some of the best. Â And the bar owner busts his balls to maintain an emerging gem with plenty of rough edges amidst a city full of bars that are predictable and stale (square and/or full of hipsters). Â Check it out, you won't be disappointed. Â And remember, ask them "...where did you get those monkey lights?"
A local's bar on acid. def funky with a hippster feel
but the service and people are all fairly inviting and interesting. Great vibe with a solid beer list.
ONLY thing I would recommend is a decent sound install. Some DJs crank it to the point of distortion. Get some decent speakers around the floor to lower the db and increase the sound quality. (I admit I'm a sound snob)... right now it kinda sounds like they frankensteined a PA together... BUT over all it's a great joint!
As of early March, 2009, KFN is still around and kicking.
I saw Marnie Stern at the place this evening and was astonished at the beer selection. Long Trail Double Bag on tap? Thanks. Yards pints for $3 bucks? Fine with that. Dead Man Ale for a couple bucks more? I'm in. Throw in the cheap lager and cans of PBR and everybody is satisfied.
The "Big Beers" selection is quite thrilling too, though I won't reveal any of the bottles as I'm sure it changes (just know that there are plenty of small brew beers available) and, well, I didn't memorize that. They also have a decent liquor rack.
Throughout the decor you may stumble across comical swords, a huge picture of Tupac, dragon heads, pinball machines, and diner-style booths. You might see Buddha, or the wide-screen television. You might find the bathroom appallingly clean.
Being near the over-head rail line can be annoying when stepping outside for a smoke, but it's all about atmosphere, baby, both inside and on the front steps. Go back inside and be greeted by the dim lighting, the wooden floors that shake when somebody moves too heavily, and the alternative soundtracks playing on the system. Notice the bartends being extremely attentive, and the hip but sly crowd chatting away their 21st century dreams.
Also, parking? How lovely. There was more street-parking here than I've seen anywhere else in the city, including other hip Northern Liberties/Fishtown joints.
This is definitely the place to go with a friend, but you could probably make it just fine by yourself.
I had no idea this place was even in the works, so to find out a new kickass bar had been added within biking distance to my house, I was anxious to check it out.
First of all, nice size! It's bigger inside than it looks outside. And the exterior is well worth checking out, especially in the daytime.. Gold trim window ledges, new maroon paint job, and funky logo / signage too.
Inside, there's a long bar, lots of tables and various seating options. Different tiered / leveled rooms, funky decor, dim lit a la Johnny Brendas, but definitely with its own distinct style. Good music with a digital jukebox...Varied local brews on tap. No food as of yet, but I'm not sure what the future holds. There's also a large flat-screen TV in one of the bar corners for Phillies action.
Their MySpace page currently (as of 9/21/08) has the wrong street address. It's actually on Front Street, not Frankford.
The dude bathroom, "Ballz", is brand new and you won't mind spending some time in there!...
Outa nowhere seemingly comes this new joint Kung-fu Necktie. Odd name, yes. But man what an amazing place! Â You got kung-fu on TV, dark stained wood, a long, beautiful bar and an absolutely amazing rehab of the old 'Penalty Box Bar' under the El. Â
This is sure to be a new classic Kenso bar. Â Just steps from the Girard El stop, and a new addition to the Johnny Brenda's sphere of influence (their design aesthetic certainly borrows a few from JB's). Â
One of the best features (aside from PNBLL!!!) is the long pub-style heavy wood table with candelabra. Â We fit easily 10 friends around the table last night and had an awesome time. Â
Oh, and they have great drinks and a friendly bar staff. Â I can see this is the beginning of a long relationship.
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