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 tattoo design
Clear ✕All 371 Google reviews tagged “Tattoo design” · showing 120
Great experience my wife and I got the exact tattoos we wanted and had a great conversation with the fellas taking care of us. Will definitely come back when in San Diego👍🏽
Amir was fantastic!! He was very attentive and during the consult and the tattoo came out even better than expected. It is my second one, first one with color, and I absolutely love it!! Highly recommend. 💪🦊
I don't think I'll go to another shop in San Diego. Jedi was the most professional tattoo artist I've come across. You had better believe ill be coming back 🤘🤘
my new favorite shop for sure! recently got a tattoo by Jedi, awesome dude! super chill, got my idea perfectly. i love the amount of detail he went into, he did a great job! cant wait to come back
Very gentle handed and respectful and reassuring. Will be coming back :)
Absolutely love Jedi’s work, favorite artist’s work that I have gotten! He was super cool and easy to talk to and got the vision for what I wanted right away! Highly recommend, he’d be my new artist if I lived locally!! Fairly priced and very nice.
Came in wanting a tattoo for sure and maybe ear piercings. Got paired with Matt and the tattoo and experience was great. Right after that, Isaac came in and was available for my ear lobe piercings. Also a really nice experience even though that was what I was more nervous about. Both of those guys were super quick…
Jedi was so awesome I love my tattoo so much! It was done so quickly and professionally!!
I had such a great experience with Jedi! The whole process was smooth from beginning to end, and I absolutely love how my tattoo turned out. I’m so happy with the final result and would definitely recommend Jedi to anyone looking for a great tattoo experience!
Great Response Time and loved the work done! Walked in and got exactly what we wanted😎
Jedi was amazing. This was my first tattoo and he was stellar at calming my nerves and talking to me throughout the entire process. My piece came out great as his attention to detail is unmatched. He was also super patient with all of my questions and helped me understand post care as well. Would def recommend Jedi for beginners or experienced folks!
Kip did an awesome job with my tattoo!
It was a great experience, the guy that did my tattoo did an amazing job. He was very professional and kind. Would definitely recommend!!!
The best tattoo experience I have ever had. Damon was easy going and did great work! I am so happy with how it turned out.
I had a great experience and I will be back for more ink!
Beautiful work by Nick, I love the way my tattoo turned out, it was exactly what I wanted!
The artist who did my tattoo got the entire design perfect and was a true professional I love how my new ink came out shout out Jedi
Great staff- thanks to Jedi and the rest of the team for making my first tattoo fast, easy, and as pain-free as possible. Especially impressed considering I was only a walk-in.
A little bit of a wait to get my daughter’s industrial piercing, but worth it! While waiting, I decided to add on to my right shoulder tattoo (spontaneously), and Matthew and I worked together to design the add-on. He obviously did most of the design 😄 but it’s perfect! When my daughter was called in for her…
Phenomenal artists especially David he took so much time and effort to put together my tat and was amazing during and after putting it on.
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!
David was great to work with, he helped me narrow down what I really wanted and it turned out so good! His line work is phenomenal, would recommend him to anyone.
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…
Hey SideShow tattoo and piercing, thanks a bunch for letting us in as walk-ins to get our tattoos! My bestie and I had such a fantastic time, and I just wanted to send a huge thank you to Jedi, the artist, for creating our bestie butterfly tattoos on our wrists. You nailed it! I’m definitely going to recommend your service to everyone.
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…
Isaac Neece and David Rene were both awesome and if I could give them 10 stars I would!
Jedi is AWESOME! He did a GREAT job with tattoo customization and application. I highly recommend Jedi to anyone looking to have quality ink-work done. I will DEFINITELY be a repeat Customer! 💯
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!
Nicest people with amazing feedback on placement design and pricing! Would 1000% go back!! Nick did an amazing job on my tat!
Nick was so kind and did an amazing job with my tattoo!
My sister and I came in to get butterfly tattoos for her birthday. Jedi and Damon got us in right away, place was very clean with plenty of seating area. They made us feel at home and did an amazing job with what we were looking for! Will definitely be back when in California!
The staff were super friendly and Matt did a great job, I love my tattoo.
Walked in for a quick tattoo while visiting SD. We were greeted right away. I spoke to Jedi about what I wanted to have done. He put the design together, printed out a few different sizes to see what would work best then got me set up to be tattooed. Got exactly what I asked for. Great and friendly service.
I was in town visiting family and decided to do a walk in tattoo! I saw sideshow had great reviews on yelp and they absolutely lived up to it! I went later in the evening so the shop wasn’t too busy. Environment was great, clean, spacious and best of all I felt comfortable. I’ve gotten quite a few tattoos at many…
I got a fine line script tattoo at Sideshow about 5 days ago. Nick was my artist and he did a fantastic job. I wanted the design on my ribs so I was a little worried going in. But Nick walked me through specific design modifications to make sure I got the best results. The process was quick and surprisingly not very…
Honestly the best place I ever got a tattoo from. Jedi was a great guy and my tattoo turned out exactly the way I hoped it would turn out. Highly recommend coming to this place again in the future.
Very professional, very clean, loved the vibe & the tattoo came out amazing! S/O to Jedi for doing it!
Did a great job on my new tattoo, I will definitely need to come back and get more done.
Going down this street theres a solid 5 tattoo shops, but what sets this one apart from the others is our artist, Jedi. Jedi's amazing! His attention to detail, making sure we were all comfortable, the conversations & his light hand made this experience a 10/10 We/I will definitely be back
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!
Super nice people, clean, and professional! Can't wait to come back!
I was on vacation in California and decided to get a tattoo on a whim to remind me of the trip. I googled tattoo shops in san diego and Sideshow was the first one that popped up, tons of reviews and 5 stars so I decided to check it out. I was greeted right away, very friendly..asked if there was anyone available who…
My friends and I went in with a specific idea for a design in mind and the team did a great job bringing it to life. Everyone at Sideshow was really professional and made us feel very comfortable. Sterilizing and providing a safe experience was clearly a priority. I highly recommend Sideshow. I’ve also been in for…
Awesome experience for my first tattoo! And amazing art!
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
came in on short notice and jedi delivered exactly the tattoo i wanted.
Matt was my artist and he was fantastic! He listened to the details I wanted and executed it perfectly. I truly love this tat and will be back to continuing adding on. Thanks Matt you da man!
The shop was clean and all the staff were so nice and professional I went in with my friend to get matching tattoos and her snake bites. It was her first professional tattoo and both the artist and the piercer talked through everything and made it such a comfortable environment
I had such a great experience here! I came in for a walk-in and ended up getting two very meaningful tattoos - one in remembrance of my grandparents and the other a matching piece with my mom. From the moment I stepped in, the shop had such a welcoming and professional vibe. Jedi took time to really understand the…
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.
Jedi did an amazing job on my tattoo!!! Took me as a walk in. Design what I wanted in a short time. Came out great. Would highly recommend him. Very down to earth and good hearted guy.
I was in town visiting and looked up a few different tattoo spots and found this place, so glad I did! It was a week day but my husband and I walked in and they were able to help us right away. We both got tattoos by Jedi and they look awesome! 10/10 Would definitely recommend this place!!
I was recommended Jedi from a friend and texted him on instagram. He answered really quickly and luckily had availability, my mom, brother, and I wanted to get tattoos. He helped us make the design and had great recommendations. Long story short he made it such a great experience and we’re so happy to have you as part of our memories! 10/10 recommend!!!!
Matt was an excellent tattoo artist. I walked in with my design and he made the experience seamless and very pleasant. I would gladly let him tattoo my skin again!
Jedi was an amazing artist and super friendly. Really enjoyed my experience and Side Show.
Absolutely in love with my new tattoo! Beth was amazing to work with. She took my inspiration ideas and came up with a beautiful piece that was more than I was hoping for. Her design and skill are so evident. I will absolutely be going back for more tattoos with her.
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 had a great experience at sideshow tattoo. Nick was amazing especially since it was my first time getting a tattoo and I was nervous. Tattoo on the left
Got three pieces done by Nick - one with clean lines and realist shading and a trad heart with bold blackwork. Definitely came through with what I wanted. Super precise clean and professional. Couldn’t be happier ☺️
Matt was extremely accommodating my bestie and I decide on our birthday tattoos!
Bestie and I went in to get matching tattoos while vacationing in SD! They got us in same day and everything went smooth. Price was right and tattoo came out perfect!
Will definitely come back for more tattoos.
This place was the best shop that I’ve been to, the staff was amazing very professional and made it work for 3 of us as walk ins. Beth did an amazing job on my piece with very little info that I gave her to go on. Great price for the quality of work we received, I would seriously fly back to San Diego from NH just…
Bethany did SUCH A GREAT JOB! She was friendly, light handed & accommodating. I loved the space she held for me and allowed space for breaks during our 5 hour session. I recommend her totally! 10/10
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…
Great place, clean place and friendly workers! Matt was my artist and did a great job!
After a spontaneous decision to get a new small tattoo, I walked in and Matthew was happy to help. He quickly drew up my design and it looks great. It’s only been 5 days, but the healing is flawless so far. If the opportunity arises, I would return for another piece.
Very friendly and efficient! Was able to walk right in and get a tattoo
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!
I was only in town for a week, but I already knew I wanted something meaningful: a sunflower, my favorite flower and a daily reminder to stay positive and look on the bright side. I gave the shop a call to see if they took walk-ins, and sure enough—they did! They welcomed me and my friend with open arms and told us…
Nick was super dope…gave me a clean tat in a small amount of time. Would definitely recommend and go back.
I had a great time getting tatted up by Jedi, the man knows his craft! Can’t wait to go back for more!!
Experienced my first tattoo here :) Bethany was great and made me feel very comfortable and did an amazing job!
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!
Beautiful work
Nick is a fantastic tattoo artist! He did great work on my tattoo and provided excellent service. Highly recommend!
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!
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…
They are super quick but super talented! I got my first tattoo here and they made sure I knew everything about how it would feel and how to take care of it! They made sure everything was set and the placement was perfect and to my liking! I had Nick as my tattoo artist and he was great! Will definitely be coming back!
Nick does absolutely amazing work, he’s fair and leaves you with a spectacular piece!
I wanted just a small piece from SD while working here locally. Matt showed me his previously drawn sketches and we ended up here. I’m extremely pleased. Matt was very friendly and a pleasure to talk with. So much so that I’ve asked him to draw up a much larger leg piece. Highly recommended
Matt was super kind and quick! Great spot for a family tattoo outing.
Super friendly staff. Jedi did a great job on my tattoo!
Cool guys, awesome vibes and atmosphere :)
Very friendly and clean shop would highly recommend
Beth is an amazing artist! Captured exactly what I wanted. Will definitely be returning for more tattoos.
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
This was my first time seeing Jedi and his tattoo work is amazing. He also just seems like a good person in general. Fair price, and quality work! Overall, very happy with the shop, the artist and my experience
Great location, friendly staff and wonderful work done. 10/10 would recommend.
The guy was nice but the tattoo did not turn out the way I had thought it should've. For as simple the tattoo was didn't turn out.
Omg this place is absolutely amazing I’ve been looking for an epic shop to get my nightwing tat at and I sure found it. I’m strongly considering planning another trip to San Diego when I’m ready for my next tat. Chance did my tat and I highly recommend him. I normally don’t leave reviews but this shop definitely…
Chance was professional and efficient. He took my design idea and crafted a beautiful tattoo. 10/10 would recommend his services.
Right to the point, knew exactly what he was doing, good vibes and felt comfortable with him. Also the work was perfect.
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!
Chance was awesome! I was super comfortable the whole time and he did exactly what I wanted and super fast, definitely recommend.
Absolutely phenomenal job Matt did I can’t wait get more work done my new favorite artist I’m going for him for every thing coming thanks so much matt
Such a good experience, my friend and I did a walk in and got immediately quoted a price and set up with an artist. Damon did a great job on the tattoo and I would definitely recommend coming back here!
Damon was amazing! Takes his time in creating his art at your own pace. Was my first time getting a tattoo and I will definitely be back !
Jedi did a fantastic job bringing my ideas to life to create something I truly love. It was the best Tattoo I have gotten and somehow the fastest one I’ve ever gotten. I will be returning to sideshow and having Jedi bring more of my ideas to life!
Matt did an awesome job of taking an idea I had to final first tattoo! I really appreciate the comfort and cleanliness at Sideshow. I'll definitely be back!
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.
My tattoo artist was Matthew! It was my first time getting a tattoo and he did an amazing job! Very quick and not painful at all! Overall a great experience, I will be coming back!
Matthew is amazing. We came as a walk in. Highly recommend him. He is personable and does a great job. We were visiting Sd but would come back just to get a tattoo from Matt.
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.
It was a great experience! If I go back to SD, I’ll definitely be hitting up this tattoo shop again.
Came here for my first tattoo. Beth was friendly, professional, and took great care to make sure I was comfortable. The space is very clean too.
I’m usually a guy that just wakes up in the morning and decides to get new ink that day. I was lucky enough to stumble upon Sideshow. They were very courteous, gave great guidance, and Beth did a perfect job of executing my vision. It was quick too ! Big fan
My husband and I wanted to do a quick walk in, and we were so pleased! We had Jedi and Chance as our tattoo artists, not only were they so warm and welcoming to our ideas, our finished tattoos exceed beyond expectation. Especially as a walk in, you never know what may occur. We never felt rushed, and they were so…
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.
Chance did great work, good price, the arts spectacular. Can’t even put into words how happy I am with this tat
Damon was solid with sketching out a design for my tattoos and ensuring every detail was to my liking. He was friendly and informative and made the process easy. Would highly recommend Damon for fine line tattoos/lettering. Will be going back for me at a later date.
I was in San Diego for the 3 day 60mile Breast Cancer walk, from Florida. I decided upon a tattoo that a survivor drew for me. Jedi got me right in last minute. Adjusted it and helped decide where I should put it! I also added my 18yo nephews ashes to the tattoo and loved how Jedi knew what to do! I LOVE IT!! He…
Beth Z was awesome she is beyond talented!! I felt very comfortable while she was doing my tattoo the shop was clean and everyone was very welcoming. Beth explained the aftercare very well, it was a great experience. I love my tattoo and will be back. Heather
Chance was great and quick l love my new tatt. Definitely coming back to Diego for another.
Got my first tattoo here with Chance! 10/10 Job, Loved it here.
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 |
