How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%98+53.5Reliability 24%97+23.5Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%57+4Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 95Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.95SCORESideshow Tattoo and Piercing
San Diego, CA · Grade ALetter from the Experts Score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = under 20. · #19Position by Experts Score among all companies we track in this category. of 49 piercing studios · 5.0★ from 3,046 Google reviews
Report card
Percentile vs other piercing studios (100 = best)Each factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (star average, share of 1–2★ reviews, price verdicts…); standing within the category can only raise it, never lower it.. Strongest: value and momentum; weakest: replies to reviews.
Reviews for your job
Customers hired Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing for 8 kinds of job.
Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing for fine line tattoos
Clear ✕All 250 Google reviews tagged “Fine line tattoos” · showing 120
Amir was amazing, he was very patient with me on having to change the tattoo and the placement. I absolutely love my tattoo.
Amir was awesome to work with. Very laid back and flexible. Would definitely go to him again!
Amir was professional, fast, friendly and tattoo was on point
I was on a short vacation in PB and decided to get a tattoo, it was a little complicated and when I walked into Side Show tattoo, Amir was willing and as it turned out very able.. he did a great job… I was a walk in on a Sunday…. Thank you Amir
Love it!!! Got my first tattoo here from Sake and could not be happier with the results :)
Really fun spot! I like the vibe of the place and my tattoo artist was really nice :)
My experience with Kipper at Side Show Tattoo and piercing was top tier. I had a tattoo idea on a whim and walked in with no appointment and Kipper was happy to help. He was quick and efficient with the drawing and the results were excellent first try. The next challenge that Kipper very easily and happily over come…
Very nice people and fun experience!
Love my tattoo. Looks so good and detailed!! This photo is day three and it’s perfect.
Me and a friend came in as walk ins Sunday night and had kipper he was super nice and chill, our tattoos turned out great!
Matt has been my go-to artists for all of my tattoos. They have healed beautifully and the actual process of getting them was quick and easy. He’s also very easygoing!
I walked in for a tattoo, and Matt was able to take care of me within about 5 minutes! His work was fast and clean, and he was very helpful with placement, size and after care instructions. Highly recommend!
JEDI IS A TRUE SKILLFUL INDIVIDUAL.
Matt is epic in his artistic skills!!! I’ve used him several times now and will continue to do so. He is professional, clean, and sticks you with a piece you will be proud of! I recommend him to anyone and everyone!
Super professional, very reasonably priced. He listened to what we wanted and made it happen. Had a group of 4 girls each with a different small tattoo. Got us all taken care of and we were able to all watch each other. We all had fun time! Thank you!
Came in for a walk in appointment for a simple basic fine line wave tattoo that I have been excited to get while visiting California. Jedi was able to see me right away and was so kind and thorough with details and placement. He also took a lot of time to go over the healing process and after care instructions. I…
Very gentle handed and respectful and reassuring. Will be coming back :)
Jedi was so awesome I love my tattoo so much! It was done so quickly and professionally!!
Matt did my tattoo and the whole process was so smooth. Barely felt a thing and he was extremely nice and accommodating towards me and my friends. Will absolutely get another tattoo from him the next time I’m in San Diego!
I’ve gotten a bunch of tattoos from Jedi and they are always on point. I got a few tattoos of different animal skulls and some 90s tv show references and it’s never a question of if he's up for the challenge. I will definitely be a repeat customer. 🤘🏼
Great Response Time and loved the work done! Walked in and got exactly what we wanted😎
Great work!! Attention to detail is great! Fine line looks amazing! Great first tattoo experience!
Great job love my tattoo Did a great job on the fine line work
Amir was incredible. Took our ideas and worked them into something beautiful. He was incredibly professional, but fun to work with. Definitely recommend.
Amazing got a nose piercing a year ago and recently a tattoo. my tattoo artist Kipper highly recommend him❤️ Five stars 100%
Me and my wife did a walk in and it was super quick ! The artists were all extremely talented and hella chill. Very moderate pricing. Would def recommend.
Had a great experience. The tattoo artist was really nice and did a great job with the design
I had a great experience and I will be back for more ink!
Nick was amazing, will definitely be going back to him for my next tattoo!!
Had a great experience with Matt as a walk in on a Tuesday afternoon! He was super friendly, welcoming, and I felt super comfortable overall. Tattoo has healed really well. Would highly recommend Matt!!
The place was really cool and the artist there were really nice and understanding. Jedi was a great artist and person all around would recommend him to others. 😁👍
Jedi had an incredible eye for detail and was very patient with my son and I. He really made my son's first tattoo a great experience!
Sideshow is awesome. I didn’t have an appointment but walked in with two tattoo ideas in mind and not exactly sure how I wanted to execute them. Nick helped me immediately, drew up ideas played around with sizing and helped consult with me to figure out exactly what I wanted. Both tattoos turned out amazing and I…
Was my first tattoo he was very good about helping figure out the design that was in my head. His line work was very good very sharp and bold. Good conversation, his artwork very good. Made it easy on us. Price was very reasonable. And for a first time tattoo he made it comfortable and check on us about any pain.…
Damon was super helpful and willing to shift and move things around until I found exactly what I wanted. He was quick but precise! Loving my new tattoo! Thank you!
Jedi was awesome! I absolutely love my tattoo!! He created it exactly how I wanted it!
Such a great atmosphere and got an amazing tattoo! Nick was so kind and I had the best experience. Here’s the tatt, it’s my favorite I have.
Matt was amazing!! Went in about a week ago as a walk in for a fine line tattoo and it looks absolutely amazing. He was able to perfectly match what I wanted and I genuinely cannot recommend this shop enough. Great 1st tattoo experience & will definitely be coming back for more. Everyone was so friendly & supportive!
Matt was awesome! Quick and efficient with beautiful line art, a very personable, sweet guy, 5 stars!
I had a great experience at Sideshow. They took me as a walk in and I had originally asked for flash, because I didn’t know how much time they would have. The front desk said if I had something specific in mind, that it was better. I met Jedi and showed him some saved photos of the design I wanted. I described the…
Matt did a fantastic job! My friends and I were taken care of quickly and efficiently. Everyone was extremely friendly :)
Isaac Neece and David Rene were both awesome and if I could give them 10 stars I would!
I had my hand tattoo done by Nick and he did an amazing job. The piece came out super detailed and better than I expected. His attention to fine lines and shading really made the tattoo stand out. Not only is he talented, but he was also professional and made the whole experience comfortable. Highly recommend Nick if you’re looking for quality work!
Great place to get a tattoo!
Love my fine-line tattoo by David! He was professional and set up was clean. This picture is of the tattoo fresh with saniderm on top.
Nick was professional and delivered an excellent product. Would definitely reccomend him for fine line tattoos.
We were in San Diego on vacation and decided to get a spontaneous tattoo. Looked up the best tattoo shops and ended up at Sideshow. So glad we did. Damon was amazing, professional and his work was beautiful. I’d definitely come back to San Diego just for another tattoo!
Damon is absolutely an amazing artist! He did an incredible job on mine and my friend’s tattoos! We both love them to much! He was so funny and great to work with! It was a pleasure having him do my tattoo! He did this fine line shell on my arm and it turned out better than I could have imagined! :)
Very professional, very clean, loved the vibe & the tattoo came out amazing! S/O to Jedi for doing it!
He is a great guy and have a passion for what he does. I definitely would recommend him
I loved the vibe of this place it’s really nice and clean, The people are such a vibe and are all really nice, Nick did my tattoo and I love it he was really nice and made sure I liked the placement. I would definitely recommend Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing!
My mom and sister flew out to visit and we decided to pop in to this tattoo shop! They took AMAZING care of my sister while piercing her nose. They made sure to show us everything was sanitized and clean. My mom and I got tattoos and it was probably the best experience i’ve had at a tattoo shop! David is extremely…
I got my tattoo done with Nick who was very patient with all the resketching we had to do to get the tattoo perfect. He was also beyond kind and calmed my nerves as it was my first tattoo. In the end the tattoo was exactly what I hoped for. Going back to him for more work, piercings or otherwise :)
Had a really good time getting my first tattoo. Process was quick and easy and my artist Matt was really dope
It was quick and easy and the artist was sweet! I’m not from San Diego but I know that was probably the best tattoo experience I’ve had.
It was my first tattoo and I’m obsessed with the thought of going back for another. I enjoyed the atmosphere it was super welcoming and My artist Matt was extremely welcoming I’d definitely recommend this spot to anyone looking for some good ink
I can’t say enough great things about this shop - it was clean, everybody was friendly and professional, and they got us in quickly as walk-ins. Jedi did my tattoo and it’s exactly what I wanted - I couldn’t be happier.
Jedi did my tattoo. It’s my first one so needless to say I was very nervous. He did an amazing job with making my dream a reality. Matthew did my sister’s tattoo and it was also her first one and we tell each other how much we are amazed by their job. Very clean and they give you their information so if you have any…
10/10 recommend. Decided to walk in & get a forward helix from Isaac & 3 little fine line tattoos from Matt. Both were very welcoming, friendly, & thorough.
I came in for a small tattoo and Matt did a great job of making my vision come to life! I even requested a small tweak after the first sketch and he nailed it. I am so happy with it. :)
Look no further. Beth has a steady hand and made this an amazing experience we won’t forget! We’ll be back next time we visit San Diego.
Jedi was an amazing artist and super friendly. Really enjoyed my experience and Side Show.
wonderful experience! Beth is super kind and funny! as someone who has high functioning autism i was nervous at first i would have sensory issues with the sounds and get overwhelmed if someone was talking to me. beth and i talked some but mostly let me sit quietly which is something i really appreciated! i love the…
I was in SD for a mini vacation and my friend and I decided to get tattoos! This was my first tattoo ever and I have always wanted to get something to honor my brother that passed away. Bethany did such an amazing job. I was very nervous but she made me feel at ease. Came up with a beautiful design that I fell in…
I was a walk in at Sideshow on Easter Sunday and my friend and I were still accommodated swiftly and kindly. It was my first tattoo and they walked me through everything. Jedi was very attentive to my feedback on my design inspiration and preference for fine lines. The whole process in the chair took maybe 30min but…
I dad an excellent experience at Sideshow. I wanted something small that represents my favorite hobby. Jedi was the artist that performed my tattoo. Jedi was very professional and did an excellent job. I highly recommend Jedi and the team at Sideshow.
I got my first tattoo from Damon and he made it an excellent experience! He was professional and friendly and brought my tattoo to life!
Came in as a walk in and got my tattoo done by Nick and I couldn’t be happier! He was super nice, made me feel comfortable right away, and worked quickly without sacrificing quality. It came out clean and exactly how I pictured it. The shop itself was chill and professional—definitely recommend if you’re looking…
We just walked in and they took us right away. It took about 5-10 mins to do paperwork and for Nick to get the stencil ready and the tattoo itself was done very well and exactly the way I wanted it!
Isaac was very professional and made me feel comfortable when getting my nips pierced! highly recommend this place for tattoos and piercings!!
Matt did a great job on my palm tattoo! I highly recommend him to anyone looking for an artist.
Nicks great with line work. I was a walk in and I brought a note my Dad sent me and wanted it copied in his handwriting to my forearm and Nick did it perfectly and quick too. I love it.
It was quick and simple. Very fast considering I was a walk in. Chance did some amazing work and I am very happy with the finished product.
Damon was great! He was funny and kept the mood light with stories the whole time. I also kept changing my mind on what I wanted and he happily fixed it and told me not to apologize. He gave me a great price too - I would highly recommend!!!
Great service and line work. Walked in and was super efficient. Art was amazing.
Walked in for tattoos and brought reference photos! They were very accommodating and drew up designs for us. Overall great experience and amazing artists!
I walked in and ask to get a tattoo, and they got me in super quickly! Mat was my tattoo artist and he was super accommodating and was able to do exactly what I wanted! Super happy with my tattoo and would definitely recommend!
I came in with a few friends as a walk-in to get a tattoo on vacation and Damon was super helpful and friendly when it came to figuring out exactly what I wanted. I would totally come back to this shop on my next visit and I highly recommend them!
My experience was positive. Every single individual was so professional and friendly. I felt so comfortable. 10/10 recommend!!! Isaac and Bethany are amazing. If you are trying to determine where to go; this is your sign to check out Sideshow.
Everyone we spoke to was so nice! My sister and I made a spontaneous decision to get new tats together (it’s become something of a tradition with us since we’re so far away from each other geographically) and to get my nose pierced! My tattoo is AMAZING it is a tribute to one of my three grandchildren! And it looks…
Super clean shop and great staff!! amazing service
They were very nice and prices were not bad definitely will go back for another tattoo and piercing!!
Matching tattoos with my step dad, such good vibes in the shop and beautiful art!
Cool guys, awesome vibes and atmosphere :)
We were walk ins from North Dakota hoping to get a tattoo. We were promptly greeted and booked and in and out within an hour. Jedi was a great listener and brought my vision to life with his talent and I am so happy with the service and price. Highly recommend Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing!
I had an amazing experience here. The tattoo artist Matt Manroe gave me a raccoon on a tree branch on the side of my stomach and ribs. The lines were extremely even and I am super happy with how it turned out. I would recommend this place and Matt to everyone
He did a great job and was so friendly!
Right to the point, knew exactly what he was doing, good vibes and felt comfortable with him. Also the work was perfect.
The staff are super friendly and waited only about an hour even without an appointment. Matt answered all my questions and the tattoo came out exactly like I had hoped. 5/5
Beth is a fantastic artist! I was a walk in with just a glimmer of a simple idea and she created something that I was so happy with! The shop has such a great vibe, super clean and spacious, too!
Damon was very friendly and took the time to understand and give feedback with the tattoo idea my best friend and I envisioned. He did great work, fine lines and detail.
Very friendly and made my first tattoo experience great
Amazing shop amazing artists!!😁😁
LOVE LOVE LOVE my new tattoo! Me and my daughter came in as walk ins and we were both SO happy with the experience. Matt gave me EXACTLY what I wanted. I couldn’t be happier.
Damon was great! He was very patient and helpful in the decision process of where to put my tattoo and the sizing as well. He worked very efficiently and was friendly the entire time! He made sure I was happy with the design before beginning and had me double check everything. I went in for a walk in appointment and had an overall great experience.
Went in as a group of 3 for matching line tattoos. We had a specific drawing that we wanted tattooed and they executed it perfectly. It took only about 2 hours for the three of us. The tattoo artists were very friendly and did awesome work. We were all very happy with our tattoos and I would definitely come back for another tattoo!
Matt was awesome! Everything was very clean and high quality. Would definitely recommend.
Beth was amazing and so professional!! She listened to all of my requests and the tattoo looks amazing, I barely felt anything. Will 100% be coming back to this place for both tattoos and piercings! Thank you Sideshow for an amazing first experience
love my tattoo came out so good and he did it in a good amount of time me and my bestie were out in no time very nice staff
I came in, and got seated quickly. My tattoo artist Chance did an excellent job. He was very thorough and very detailed oriented! Definitely will be going back.
Matt executed a design for flowers i had made elsewhere. Lines are well defined and black came out deep. Healed extremely quickly. Ill be back for more This is 1 week post
Chance did great work, good price, the arts spectacular. Can’t even put into words how happy I am with this tat
I got my first tattoo with Damon. He helped me pick the font and size. He did a great job, it didn't hurt. The tattoo came out great and my wife loves it. If I ever get another one I will come back. Thanks Damon!
Great experience, walked in with my daughter and we each got two fine line tattoos. Beautiful work, great customer service! Very satisfied, will get more tattoos in the future for sure!
Great Experience! Love my tattoos so much. It was quick and didn’t really hurt. Also not too expensive. Very reasonable price. And the artists were extremely nice and comforting. These were also my first tattoos and so glad I got them here.
Very clean and wonderful staff. Chance hooked me up with my newest two additions to my collection. Would definitely recommend if your out in the San Diego area!
Awesome experience at Sideshow Tattoo! I went in as a walk in with a friend and we both loved our artist and love our new tattoos. Great vibes and definitely going back again.
Went to Sideshow a couple of days ago with a friend as a walk in. The atmosphere and the customer service we received was incredible. Matthew Monroe was the one to assist me - My tattoo is beautiful! Highly recommend.
Really great service! The artist took a lot of time to make our wishes for the tattoo sketch reality. The line work was done amazingly and the designs look wonderful on our skin! Thank u!
Walked in and left with a great tattoo 45 mins later. Chance did an amazing job
I was visiting my bestfriend in San Diego a few weeks ago and we were looking for a local tattoo shop that provides both tattoos and piercings. We came across Sideshow Tattoo online! We were pleased to find out they provide both services. I was also very pleased with the quick and efficient process, especially being…
This was my first walk-in tattoo experience and Damon was able to give me exactly what I was looking for. Everyone was kind and the shop was clean and efficient. I was in and out in just an hour. What a great way to end my vacation and commemorate my trip to San Diego ☀️ 🌊 Highly recommend both the shop and Damon!
I love my tattoo from Chance, it took barely any time and it came out so cute!
Obsessed with my new tattoo done by artist Damon at Sideshow! The shop was super inviting and made me feel very comfortable. Damon was so kind and friendly and I am so happy with how it turned out!
Amazing work
Thanks Matt for fitting all of us in and doing such an amazing job.
My first tattoo and a great experience!!!
Great tattoo artist, super cool and laid back. Perfect…
I got my first tattoo here with a walk-in. It was very quick and fast. I love the outcome of it!
absolutely obsessed with this beautiful tattoo!! Damon did a fantastic job! Definitely would recommend Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing, and I will definitely be back for another one.
Price
Bar = middle half of what customers paid · gold mark = category median.
Price verdictsGoogle asks reviewers whether the price was great, reasonable or overpriced; these are their answers.
Jobs customers hired them for
| Job | Reviews | Category typical |
|---|---|---|
| Ear piercing | 482 | $62–$132 |
| Tattoo design | 371 | $119–$290 |
| Nose piercing | 258 | $52–$88 |
| Piercings | 256 | $52–$96 |
| Fine line tattoos | 250 | $108–$170 |
| Tattoos | 229 | $114–$277 |
| Helix piercing | 62 | $61–$132 |
| Tattoo cover-ups & reworkings | 57 | $132–$310 |
