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The Grubstake Diner remains a late night destination for many San Franciscans.
Patricia Chang

Where to Eat Late Night in San Francisco

Sleepy San Francisco still has good food past 11 p.m.

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The Grubstake Diner remains a late night destination for many San Franciscans.
| Patricia Chang

San Francisco’s nightlife may pale in comparison to whatever city you’re stacking it up against these days — Paris, New York, Osaka that one time in 2019 — but there is, in fact, nightlife here. That lifestyle of hitting the club and then grabbing a bite to eat took a massive hit during the last few years, of course, but the city is rebounding. Some of these businesses keep it moving until 3 a.m. whereas others made the list since they’re open until 11 p.m. or midnight seven nights a week. From North Beach to the Excelsior here are 11 late-night destinations for a bite to eat around San Francisco.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Taishan Cuisine

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This Chinatown newcomer specializes in food from China’s Guangdong province, which means braised lamb or beef stew, steamed vermicelli with shrimp, or wontons and fried fish balls, all served until 3 a.m. daily. Anthony Bourdain’s favorite burger shop, Sam’s, is a storied late-night destination just a few blocks away, too.

Late night eats at Taishan.
Late night eats at Taishan.
Yelp

Bob's Donut & Pastry Shop

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Bob’s, San Francisco’s undisputed king of late night doughnuts, is known for its apple fritters and signature crumble donuts roughly the size of the tire on a kid's bike.

Lauren Saria

Grubstake Diner

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This classic San Francisco late-night diner has stood the test of time, continuing to serve three square meals a day in the Pork Gulch neighborhood. The menu is full of the usual fare — think burgers, pancakes, and good ol’ fashioned American apple pie, but with a Portuguese flair in the form of bife a Portuguesa and linguica sausage.

Grubstake Diner
Grubstake Diner/Facebook
Grubstake Diner/Facebook

Cocobang

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Slide into one of the booths at this Union Square–adjacent spot, which is open until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays and until 2 a.m. the rest of the week, for an order of cheese corn (it’s exactly what it sounds like, a plate of canned corn topped with hot, melted cheese) and a platter of Korean fried chicken. Will this meal rock your world? Maybe, but only if you’ve had enough to drink before you arrive. Even during the latest of hours, there will be a projector playing music videos on the back wall creating the perfect backdrop for a late-night meal.

A plate of cheese corn at Cocobang Lauren Saria

Genki Crepes & Mini Mart

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Clement Street in the Richmond District is a bevy of incredible restaurants, but not so much in the as the night stretches on. Genki Crepes and Mini Mart is there to answer the call, though Naya Dessert Cafe holds it down, too. Where else can one pick up a red bean ice cream and banana crepe while stocking up on shrimp chips? Weekdays the shop is open until 11 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays until midnight.

You can order one of the many outstanding cocktails at ABV until 2 a.m. every day, but if you want in on the menu of grilled abalone mushrooms or soft shell crab tacos, you’ll need to get that order in by midnight. There’s plenty to please — from meat and cheese platters to a fried chicken sandwich — but the star of the food side is the burger, which comes with white cheddar cheese, raw red onion, shredded lettuce, pickles, and a tangy special sauce.

Beretta

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It was a tough go for Adriano Paganini’s Back of the House restaurant group in 2020, but Beretta in the Mission is one of the few higher-end restaurants open past 11 p.m. these days. And for that we’re grateful. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can pop into the dark, wood-clad space for fritto misto, pizza, and a cocktail until midnight.

Beretta

Despite its humble exterior (it is, after all, housed in a former garage), Toyose is one big party. The late-night Korean hideaway serves up hefty portions of Korean fried rice and saccharine soju cocktails until 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. During the week, the party ends at midnight.

Taqueria El Farolito

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The witching hour for El Farolito is after midnight, as it metes out burritos the size of bricks until 2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays — making it a late night pit stop for both the hungry and the inebriated. What it lacks in ambiance it makes up for with the sheer size of its offerings, which you can explore until 1:30 a.m. Sunday to Thursday. Now available to the North Beach residents, too.

All Nite Pizza

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This Bayview pizza joint’s name says it all — the slices keep coming until 2 a.m. every day of the week. Fans order from this shop for the Halal pizza, burger and fries combos, and fried red snapper for just $8.

A pizza.
One of the fine selections from All Nite Pizza.
All Nite Pizza

Mexico Tipico

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This Excelsior go-to for fish fillets, nachos, burritos, and bistec keeps convenient late-night hours for those with a night owl schedule. The business stays open until 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Taishan Cuisine

This Chinatown newcomer specializes in food from China’s Guangdong province, which means braised lamb or beef stew, steamed vermicelli with shrimp, or wontons and fried fish balls, all served until 3 a.m. daily. Anthony Bourdain’s favorite burger shop, Sam’s, is a storied late-night destination just a few blocks away, too.

Late night eats at Taishan.
Late night eats at Taishan.
Yelp

Bob's Donut & Pastry Shop

Bob’s, San Francisco’s undisputed king of late night doughnuts, is known for its apple fritters and signature crumble donuts roughly the size of the tire on a kid's bike.

Lauren Saria

Grubstake Diner

This classic San Francisco late-night diner has stood the test of time, continuing to serve three square meals a day in the Pork Gulch neighborhood. The menu is full of the usual fare — think burgers, pancakes, and good ol’ fashioned American apple pie, but with a Portuguese flair in the form of bife a Portuguesa and linguica sausage.

Grubstake Diner
Grubstake Diner/Facebook
Grubstake Diner/Facebook

Cocobang

Slide into one of the booths at this Union Square–adjacent spot, which is open until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays and until 2 a.m. the rest of the week, for an order of cheese corn (it’s exactly what it sounds like, a plate of canned corn topped with hot, melted cheese) and a platter of Korean fried chicken. Will this meal rock your world? Maybe, but only if you’ve had enough to drink before you arrive. Even during the latest of hours, there will be a projector playing music videos on the back wall creating the perfect backdrop for a late-night meal.

A plate of cheese corn at Cocobang Lauren Saria

Genki Crepes & Mini Mart

Clement Street in the Richmond District is a bevy of incredible restaurants, but not so much in the as the night stretches on. Genki Crepes and Mini Mart is there to answer the call, though Naya Dessert Cafe holds it down, too. Where else can one pick up a red bean ice cream and banana crepe while stocking up on shrimp chips? Weekdays the shop is open until 11 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays until midnight.

ABV

You can order one of the many outstanding cocktails at ABV until 2 a.m. every day, but if you want in on the menu of grilled abalone mushrooms or soft shell crab tacos, you’ll need to get that order in by midnight. There’s plenty to please — from meat and cheese platters to a fried chicken sandwich — but the star of the food side is the burger, which comes with white cheddar cheese, raw red onion, shredded lettuce, pickles, and a tangy special sauce.

Beretta

It was a tough go for Adriano Paganini’s Back of the House restaurant group in 2020, but Beretta in the Mission is one of the few higher-end restaurants open past 11 p.m. these days. And for that we’re grateful. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can pop into the dark, wood-clad space for fritto misto, pizza, and a cocktail until midnight.

Beretta

Toyose

Despite its humble exterior (it is, after all, housed in a former garage), Toyose is one big party. The late-night Korean hideaway serves up hefty portions of Korean fried rice and saccharine soju cocktails until 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. During the week, the party ends at midnight.

Taqueria El Farolito

The witching hour for El Farolito is after midnight, as it metes out burritos the size of bricks until 2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays — making it a late night pit stop for both the hungry and the inebriated. What it lacks in ambiance it makes up for with the sheer size of its offerings, which you can explore until 1:30 a.m. Sunday to Thursday. Now available to the North Beach residents, too.

All Nite Pizza

This Bayview pizza joint’s name says it all — the slices keep coming until 2 a.m. every day of the week. Fans order from this shop for the Halal pizza, burger and fries combos, and fried red snapper for just $8.

A pizza.
One of the fine selections from All Nite Pizza.
All Nite Pizza

Mexico Tipico

This Excelsior go-to for fish fillets, nachos, burritos, and bistec keeps convenient late-night hours for those with a night owl schedule. The business stays open until 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

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