Good hair cuts, 21$ for a cut BUT... be aware that this place is a retirees favorite for a reason. They come in throngs especially in the morning and take a damn long time to cut the 5 hairs they still have left. Couple that with the fact that the barbers work soooo slow its as if they are paid by the hour. Seriously, they will make a any union member proud. So bottom line, if you are in a rush, skip this place. If you are an old timer and have nothing to rush to than this is the spot for you.

A good barbershop is a very important requirement for every man. In addition to getting a dependable and flattering cut on a predictable basis, it is also a man cave that fosters conversations from politics to movies to sports and what not. It makes one open up to the barber in a way that a shrink would be envious. If you are 30 years and older, you will understand what I am talking about. Growing up in India, I used a total of 2 barbershops in the 22 years I lived there. I know of many who used one less than me for a longer period of time. The comforting confines of a friendly barbershop is something that needs to be experienced to be believed. Every time I go back home, I make it a point to visit my local barber once for a cut and a lot more times for a casual chat over a cup of steaming tea from the next door bakery. Today, I literally stumbled into a barbershop in my neighborhood and can’t stop thinking of my serendipity. Hacienda Barbershop in San Jose, CA is going to be my barbershop for the foreseeable future. And I have been there only once in my life. I didn’t read Yelp reviews, nor google the place. Instead I saw 4 guys chatting with their customers as they were leisurely giving them a cut and something drew me in. I waited for my turn and in the process got into gentle conversations with the barbers and the customers. By the time my turn arrived, I was comfortable with the place, the person about to cut my hair and had eased into my chair. A few simple words on my expectations and soon Clem, my barber started cutting away. It was a slow and patient cut, not driven by the compulsion of getting to the next waiting customer but to service the current one as well as possible. I was treated to a now rare shave around the ear and an even rarer hair wash at the same place, courtesy an old style barber’s chair that went fully flat. I was treated to a gentleman’s cut at a commoner’s price of $16. I couldn’t have been happier. I walked out smiling and swore to myself- no more barbershop hunting for a long time to come. Weekend cuts are a tad more expensive, just so you know. If you are in San Jose and would like to get a good cut, I can’t recommend Hacienda Barbers highly enough. Update: It has been two years since I first made my trip to HAcienda. Since then I have been visiting them regularly and the service continues to be as good as it was the first time.

Good ol boys that know how to treat customers the right way.