The Most Delectable Diners in San Francisco

Joe's Coffee Shop

★★★★☆ 3.9 (377) • $

"Fantastic for 30+ years!Joe and Becky have been running this joint for longer than I can remember. My wife and I came here with friends before we got married. It was a ritual to come in and get a bagel "Becky style" and me the corned beef hash with eggs over easy.They are still here killing it and the food is just as good as I remembered! If you are looking for fine dining, this is not your stop. If you are looking for reasonable priced food and good coffee, this is your joint!"

Marlowe

★★★★☆ 4 • $$$

"Food: Amazing eats. The menu changes so there's always something new to try. Only downside was the bartender for some reason poured my Diet Coke (from a can) so hard that it came to me almost flat. Service: Great service. Attentive but not hovering. They cleared plates as we finished them. Ambiance: Crisp but with some pizzaz. Not a shorts and flip flops kind of place. Dog: Hard no. Even if you could bring your dog, the tables are tight and your dog would be uncomfortable."

Christie's

★★★★☆ 3.9 (865) • $$

"I feel bad that it's taken me 2+ years to write this review. This is our default go-to brunch spot when we are not feeling like venturing out to SF on the weekends. In my opinion, Christie's beats out the other brunch options in the downtown Burlingame area both in terms of quality and quantity. Not to mention the wait time during peak Saturday morning is much shorter than the alternatives.The best item hands down is the Monterey Omelette with Hollandaise sauce. This massive omelette is filled to the brim with chicken sausage, artichoke and mushrooms. The star of the show is the hollandaise sauce, which is usually my favorite part of eggs Benedict. But since omelette is usually my favorite thing to eat at a brunch, this dish just brings together the best of both worlds.Most of the patrons here seem to know the owners. Those human connections give this place a warm small community vibe despite of being located in a fairly large suburb area."

Rene's Fine Dining

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (11) • $$

"Rene's Fine Dining is one of those places I would not go to for late night dining but for that once in a while someones "birthday/special event" restaurant. As many times as I have visited Lucky Chances I did not know this place existed on the other entrance! Come here with your appetite because you will get full! If you're looking for some quick, Filipino late night dining food go next door to Cafe Colma. Back to Rene's: the menu changes all the time so check beforehand to make sure they have selections that you like."

Alice's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"I don't know how anyone could rate this place anything other than 5/5. I've been going to Alice's for maybe a year now since moving into the area. My husband and I have tried items from each part of the menu and have never been disappointed. The service is wonderful and friendly. The atmosphere is cozy. Alice's helps take your mind off the city and rush of things, allowing you to feel peace while having a meal up in the mountains. No matter rain/ shine, it's always a beautiful day up there. They're pet friendly too!"

Chestnut Diner

★★★★☆ 4 (207) • $

"Overpriced - $20 for basic toast and eggs. Coffee not great. Good service. Hard to find parking. In SF, that's a good deal."

Mel's Drive-In

★★★☆☆ 3.1 • $$

"Old school vibey diner. Open until midnight, I ordered the Smashburger and my friend ordered The Famous Melburger. We got an oreo milkshake to share together.It's what you'd expect from a diner burger, very delicious, flavorful and juicy and the cheese is melted to perfection. The fries are good too! They give you mustard on the side. The milkshakes here are SO GOOD. Classic made with real ice cream, thick, with real oreo chunks blended inside!! I have to agree from the menu, they definitely have the best milkshakes "in town". They ended up giving us the cup they blended the milkshake in, so we got extra for free. So good. On the pricier side but worth it for the experience and tasty food. Will be returning."

Pinecrest Diner

★★★★☆ 3.6 • $$

"We were staying across the street at Hotel G and got hungry, so we thought we would give Pinecrest a chance. Simple no-frills diner that was packed (always a good sign). The service was fast and the portions were generous. The food was really good, and surprisingly the onion rings were great the next day. Good place to stop for a simple meal anytime of day."

Bill's Place

★★★★☆ 3.6 (890) • $$

"My parents have been coming here since they were kids and have brought me over the years as well. It's good to see Bill's has retained the same quality and gives you that classic American diner experience without the kitsch. We especially love their milkshakes.I forgot about this place until we were watching a video on youtube about the top 3 burger joints in SF. CLassic Spot love Bills"

The Cove on Castro Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.6 (351) • $$

"So we wanting a good breakfast before our hike up to twin peaks. This place is great!! Very welcoming and cozy. Our server was so sweet and nice. I got the bagel breakfast sandwich with bacon. It also came with some yummy hashbrowns. I got very little portion. My husband got his go to, steak and eggs. All was delicious. I can't wait to come back."

Mel's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.6 (273) • $$

"This place is lacking the decor of a Mel's diner. It just looks like a regular diner. Service is attentive and wonderful though. Patty melt is solid and menu offers the norm of a diner outing. I like their freshly squeezed OJ as a beverage. Convenient corner diner to grab something to eat while waiting for an appointment to the hospital across the street or being in this neighborhood and part of town."

Palo Alto Creamery

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$

"Nice breakfast spot in the center of Downtown Palo Alto serving up traditional diner staples as well as some more modern breakfast items. Along with breakfast they also have lunch, milkshakes, and a nice big bakery section. You really feel like you're in an old school diner her. We ordered the corned beef hash and huevos rancheros to share. Both items were good and I think we'd order again, though I heard rave reviews about the breakfast quesadilla from my boyfriend, so we might swap out the huevos rancheros for that next time. Food came up quick, portions were good, and prices were consistent with what you'd expect to pay for a breakfast in the area, Overall I was pleased with the meal and would come back. It gets crowded, so come early if you don't want to wait."

Grubstake Diner

★★★★☆ 3.5 • $$

"Great late-night place to grab a burger! We came with a party of 9 and we were able to find a seat right away. All of our burgers were great and the fries especially were very satisfying."

The Village

★★★★☆ 4.2 (618) • $$

"I love the Village. It's my neighborhood Cafe and breakfast spot of choice. It is also the home of the pancake tacos. You're thinking what is pancake tacos?It's exactly what it says pancake tacos. They have savory versions consisting of vegan or chicken or beef tacos in a pancake or sweet ones consisting of strawberries and bananas. And the second one is s'mores which has Nutella, graham cracker pieces and whipped cream. I kid you not. They're sweet decadence but they're worth it. You can get three for $15 or $6 per one.My other favorite is the chicken nachos for $15 or the chilaquiles for $18 or the quesadilla with chicken for $18. It's all about the quality. And the steamy hot food and the friendly restaurant manager Erik's charm and customer service focus that really makes experience holistic and memorable. Whenever I come in I feel like I'm part of their extended family and a great way to start out the day. Oh yeah, the bottomless coffee unlimited for $3 is super strong.And can I just say that the prices are super inexpensive especially for brunch and breakfast spots. So if you come to the pulp gulch you've got to come check out the Village ;)"

The New Spot On Polk

★★★★☆ 4.4 (956) • $$

"The New Spot kinda looks like an old spot. The vibes are 70s roadside. Love the loud "what'll you have hun" waiter. She remembers all the regular's orders. Fast, friendly, attentive service. So, the Avocado Toast. Artisan bread, lightly toasted, actually ripe avocado, topped with bacon crumbles & soft poached egg. Very yum. Since I'm the Crabby Gourmet, must complain about the knife. Out of 75 cafes I've visited, only one gave a steak knife. Why, just why do they all give you these glorified butter knives? The bread was too soft to eat with my hands so I was forced to shred my meal like a rabid squirrel. Anyway, solid choice for casual dining. Pretty dim lighting (good or bad depending), & two outdoor cafe tables. I was pleased to see zero laptop campers. This is a diner, didn't see lingerers here, although I never felt rushed. Worthy of return visit."

CreoLa

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$

"We have been coming to this place for 3 years now . This time we were celebrating our daughter's birthday and she wanted some Creola for Brunch . We love the corn bread muffins I buy them by the dozen. Our favorite plate is the beef short ribs . Also the crispy boudin balls are so delicious , must try ! I tried Crawfish & Shrimp Etoufee for the first time and it was soooooo delicious!!! MUST TRY ! Trust me ! Funny thing is I don't do sea food, only thing I eat is (Peruvian ceviche ) , but I wanted to try something new and omg it's my new favorite plate , so tasty such nice delicious flavors I loved it . They are so nice , their service is so friendly and welcoming, she asked us where we would like to seat we were the first ones there . Also our birthday girl spilled her drink and the waiter was so nice and came to quickly help us clean it and remade her vanilla lemonade. It was great , thank you for such a great service and food . We really love this place ! Oh and we all love the music playing every time we come is very enjoyable to hear the instruments."

Mel's Drive-In

★★★☆☆ 3.4 • $$

"Best diner on Market. I enjoy their break at menu and pancakes best in the morning ! They are open 24 hours and are always serving food. You will never leave hungry here. It's local to the mall across the street and target around the corner every time I enjoy breakfast here I spend money shopping. I come in knowing what to order here so the servers are welcoming to the local that enjoy breakfast here. I have a hard time choosing between apple juice or a milk shake !"

New Taraval Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (679) • $$

"Had Saturday brunch here with a couple of the homies and really enjoyed the experience and food. It was packed but we didn't have to wait too long to get seated. My friend Patrick is a regular and knows the owner Stanley so we got a full NTC orientation. Stanley even gave us advice on physical therapy! Full service diner!Food wise, I got the corned beef hash and eggs. Along with the custom hot sauce (made by one of the staff Orlando) the food was smackin! We even bought a couple bottles of hot sauce to take home!No frills on the ambiance, but the place oozes of local soul. Multigenerational family business, loyal customers, great food, what else is there to know? This place is a SF gem!"

Breakfast at Tiffany's

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"Classic American diner with a long history in San Francisco I believe ! The service has recently gone down from what I've heard with a change in ownership. They did mess up our order slightly but were quick to fix it. We got the fried apple French toast, waffle special with fried chicken, western omelette and trio eggs Benedict. Portion on the French toast was small given the price. The rest of the dishes were large enough to share although I felt the eggs Benedict was the nicest dish! This is more of a hipster casual vibe hence the higher prices to target younger crowds instead of locals. Overall a lovely place for a nice meal with family!"

Red Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (526) • $$

"Delicious place. My friend brought us here, and it's worth coming. Very nice customer service and they are fast to get your food.I had the loroco omelet and casamiento"

Collina

★★★★★ 4.6 (72)

"This restaurant was a pleasant surprise. There's always a long wait for reservations, but it's worth the wait! This food was one of the best Italian meals I've had in the city. The truffle pasta was mind blowing, however a slightly too oily for my taste. The gnocchi was the star of the show, perfect sauce and mushrooms. Our friend enjoyed his lasagna, saying he's never eaten one like it. The Brussel sprouts and potatoes were perfectly seasoned and a great dish to share among the table. The ambiance is so cute and small, definitely gives a cozy vibe with the dark lighting. It's perfect for a small, intimate dinner and feeling like you're in a mom and pop Italian restaurant, but with a slightly elegant flare."

Big Joe's - San Bruno

★★★★☆ 4 (250) • $$

"You will never leave hungry! The service is always great and welcoming. Friendly I would say. I need feel rushed either. You can enjoy your meal and visit with other a friend. It's an old school diner feel. The price is very fair and reasonable"

City Eats Dining Center

★★☆☆☆ 2.2 (46) • $

"The food is not the best, but they have alot of options and alot of vegetarian and vegan options."

Mel's Drive-In

★★★☆☆ 3 (842) • $$

"Phenomenal atmosphere and service from Julio at this Mel's. The food and drink were great and the staff ensured everyone was satisfied and smiling. Great leadership and hospitality all around."

Neal's Coffee Shop

★★★★☆ 3.8 (437) • $$

"Nice place. Been there for decades. Lots of customers in and out, even during the middle of the week.Good food. A staple in the area.#spicemeister approved."

Orphan Andy's

★★★★☆ 3.5 • $$

"AN ABSOLUTE GEM!!!I found Orphan Andy's on an SF website about late night eateries. It looked cool, had good reviews, so I decided to check it out after I dropped off my lady at the bus station. It was pretty easy to park there as I went late night on Thursday. I was already blown away by its small, old school size and it was straight out of Eyes Wide Shut - and decorated with beautiful lights and ornaments.The staff was very welcoming and friendly and they had a great menu. Everything for a regular and a plant based crowd. Prices were great and LIGHTNING FAST service! Food was delicious too as well as the dessert menu!I will be back there soon! Do give this place a try!!!- Neil"

Art's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$

"This is a no frills, all American diner with a Korean twist. I loved this diner when I first visited years ago, and recently came back after they changed ownership. I was happy to see that the food was still just as good as my previous visit. My favorite is their hash brown sandwich! It's not something you find in most restaurants, and is perfectly crispy. I was craving a traditional American breakfast this day, so I opted for the hot link hash brown sandwich, which satisfied my craving. I need to come back and try their Korean items. This isn't the place for a fancy brunch. It's a good, solid, traditional diner. It's also a small family owned business. The family was SO lovely, kind, and provided wonderful customer service. Check them out and support them if you're in the area!"

Mission's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.9 (195) • $

"I've been coming here since I was 9! My favorite thing here is the spicy chilaquiles. (They also have great amercano breakfast plates)The staff is super kind, and this place is always packed! Perfect for a group dinning or they have bar seating so if you want a meal to yourself! They have a small kitchen (you can see the two men cooking all the meals!) I will always come back here for the nostalgia, but also the delicious food."