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A photo of toast.
The Mill’s toasts are absolutely tout-worthy.
Four Barrel | The Mill

10 San Francisco Toasts That Basically Are the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Fourteen bucks for a slice won't seem crazy after reading this

by Paolo Bicchieri and Eater Staff Updated
2 comments / new
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The Mill’s toasts are absolutely tout-worthy.
| Four Barrel | The Mill
by Paolo Bicchieri and Eater Staff Updated
2 comments / new

San Francisco’s longstanding relationship to sourdough bread makes it a top-tier contender for having the most-beloved toasts in the country. Trouble Coffee, may it rest in peace, was featured on NPR’s This American Life for its contributions to the toast game, after all. There are strong contenders throughout the region, too: Mint and Honey in San Carlos is a South Bay favorite for avocado toast, and, in the East Bay, Awaken Cafe and Bartavelle keep the toast game competitive. So, while an ardent bread fan might make a sourdough bread bowl at home, those looking to stretch their legs and get a thick cut of bread slathered in fine fruit spreads and California avocados might visit any of these restaurants.

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Jane

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Since opening her bakery on Larkin in 2014, Amanda Michael has been as focused on her breads as she has her toast toppings, sometimes reverse engineering a bread to suit the occasion. Two full slices of hearty fig and walnut bread are toasted crisp and topped with creamy Bellwether Farms ricotta, crunchy hazelnut gremolata, and drizzles of sweet honey. As for the avocado toast, there's nothing refined — aside from its flavor — about the mashed green fruit, Aleppo pepper, and poached egg that seeps into a thick slice of sourdough. Topped with sweet pickled shallots and spicy jalepeños, it's a mess worth making. A gluten-free quinoa-based bread can be subbed for any of Jane’s toasts, served at both the Larkin and Fillmore locations.

2123 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 931-5263
(415) 931-5263
Aubrie Pick

Also featured in:

Mazarine Coffee

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While some cafes focus on showing off their bread, Mazarine puts all the creativity into the toppings, spiraling thin slices of avocado and watermelon radish atop a layer of creamy chèvre and finishing the ensemble with black pepper and chive. Sweeter options include fig jam and ricotta or Nutella topped with chopped hazelnuts and TCHO cocoa nibs. All are served on lightly-toasted Metropolis pain de mie alongside a curated menu of coffee, beer, and wine.

720 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 398-7700
(415) 398-7700
Mazarine Coffee

Also featured in:

Breadbelly

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At this cozy Asian-American bakery and cafe from a trio of fine dining alums, bright green toast is a standout dish — but don’t confuse the topping for avocado. Breadbelly’s signature kaya toast is fluffy, buttered Japanese milk bread and sweet Malaysian-style kaya jam, a mix of coconut and pandan, a tropical Southeast Asian leaf that provides the jam’s striking color.

1408 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118
Albert Law

Also featured in:

The Mill

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A serious force in San Francisco’s artisanal toast trend, The Mill frequently rotates through a variety of sweet and savory toasts, all of which are served on the freshly-baked Josey Baker bread that’s continually coming from the ovens in the back. Toast options range from a thick slab of whole wheat sesame poppy slathered with butter and seasonal jam to a dense slice of dark mountain rye spread with yogurt cream cheese and finished with tomato, fennel, and balsamic. The Mill opened in 2013 as a partnership between Four Barrel Coffee and Josey Baker Bread; Four Barrel co-founder Jeremy Tooker was embroiled in numerous cases of sexual assault in 2018.

736 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 345-1953
(415) 345-1953
Hillary Dixler/Instagram

Also featured in:

That's My Jam

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Mark Sethi and Nadia Wit opened this cafe, with its handsome custom-built parklet, after a few years of delays. The couple’s avocado toast is bright and lemony, with a delicate floral garnish on top of the dainty avocado slices. Salmon acts as a bougie optional add-on for the seafood lovers out there.

324 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 349-0595
(415) 349-0595

Kantine

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Smorrebrod, a Scandinavian open-faced sandwich, might be the original toast, and it's still one of the best. Chef Nichole Accettola’s Nordic-chic Market Street bakery and cafe serves theirs on her house-made sprouted rye bread: Seasonal toppings include pickled herring or goat cheese with shaved asparagus.

1906 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 735-7123
(415) 735-7123
Patricia Chang

Also featured in:

DamnFine Coffee

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Taking over Trouble Coffee’s location would be a heavy crown to bear for any would-be Outer Sunset favorite. Yet DamnFine, known for its pizza shop further up Judah Street, took on the challenge. The sourdough toasts come with avocado and are stacked with a rich blend or a simple blackberry jam spread.

4033 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Outerlands

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This restaurant remains a must-try for decadent morning offerings on the city’s west side. Now that new owner Riley Bartlett is in charge, it’s a new season for the Outer Sunset’s go-to brunch destination. There’s McFarland Spring smoked trout toast, almond-laden and maple syrup-drizzled French toast, and roasted maitake mushroom toasts all on the menu.

4001 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 661-6140
(415) 661-6140

Also featured in:

Fable

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This Castro Street mainstay for brunch sells an indulgent Sweet Baguette French Toast, smothered in whipped cream and huckleberry reduction. In a neighborhood with a dearth of go-to breakfast restaurants, this toast is a breakfast highlight.

558 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 590-2404
(415) 590-2404

Also featured in:

Hey Neighbor Cafe

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Nestled amongst community gardens in a former Four Barrel location off of Bacon Street, this adorable coffee shop uses Rize Up sourdough bread and house-made orange marmalade to make its stellar toast.

2 Burrows St, San Francisco, CA 94134
(415) 619-4091
(415) 619-4091

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Jane

2123 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Since opening her bakery on Larkin in 2014, Amanda Michael has been as focused on her breads as she has her toast toppings, sometimes reverse engineering a bread to suit the occasion. Two full slices of hearty fig and walnut bread are toasted crisp and topped with creamy Bellwether Farms ricotta, crunchy hazelnut gremolata, and drizzles of sweet honey. As for the avocado toast, there's nothing refined — aside from its flavor — about the mashed green fruit, Aleppo pepper, and poached egg that seeps into a thick slice of sourdough. Topped with sweet pickled shallots and spicy jalepeños, it's a mess worth making. A gluten-free quinoa-based bread can be subbed for any of Jane’s toasts, served at both the Larkin and Fillmore locations.

2123 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 931-5263
(415) 931-5263
Aubrie Pick

Mazarine Coffee

720 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

While some cafes focus on showing off their bread, Mazarine puts all the creativity into the toppings, spiraling thin slices of avocado and watermelon radish atop a layer of creamy chèvre and finishing the ensemble with black pepper and chive. Sweeter options include fig jam and ricotta or Nutella topped with chopped hazelnuts and TCHO cocoa nibs. All are served on lightly-toasted Metropolis pain de mie alongside a curated menu of coffee, beer, and wine.

720 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 398-7700
(415) 398-7700
Mazarine Coffee

Breadbelly

1408 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

At this cozy Asian-American bakery and cafe from a trio of fine dining alums, bright green toast is a standout dish — but don’t confuse the topping for avocado. Breadbelly’s signature kaya toast is fluffy, buttered Japanese milk bread and sweet Malaysian-style kaya jam, a mix of coconut and pandan, a tropical Southeast Asian leaf that provides the jam’s striking color.

1408 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118
Albert Law

The Mill

736 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

A serious force in San Francisco’s artisanal toast trend, The Mill frequently rotates through a variety of sweet and savory toasts, all of which are served on the freshly-baked Josey Baker bread that’s continually coming from the ovens in the back. Toast options range from a thick slab of whole wheat sesame poppy slathered with butter and seasonal jam to a dense slice of dark mountain rye spread with yogurt cream cheese and finished with tomato, fennel, and balsamic. The Mill opened in 2013 as a partnership between Four Barrel Coffee and Josey Baker Bread; Four Barrel co-founder Jeremy Tooker was embroiled in numerous cases of sexual assault in 2018.

736 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 345-1953
(415) 345-1953
Hillary Dixler/Instagram

That's My Jam

324 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Mark Sethi and Nadia Wit opened this cafe, with its handsome custom-built parklet, after a few years of delays. The couple’s avocado toast is bright and lemony, with a delicate floral garnish on top of the dainty avocado slices. Salmon acts as a bougie optional add-on for the seafood lovers out there.

324 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 349-0595
(415) 349-0595

Kantine

1906 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Smorrebrod, a Scandinavian open-faced sandwich, might be the original toast, and it's still one of the best. Chef Nichole Accettola’s Nordic-chic Market Street bakery and cafe serves theirs on her house-made sprouted rye bread: Seasonal toppings include pickled herring or goat cheese with shaved asparagus.

1906 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 735-7123
(415) 735-7123
Patricia Chang

DamnFine Coffee

4033 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Taking over Trouble Coffee’s location would be a heavy crown to bear for any would-be Outer Sunset favorite. Yet DamnFine, known for its pizza shop further up Judah Street, took on the challenge. The sourdough toasts come with avocado and are stacked with a rich blend or a simple blackberry jam spread.

4033 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Outerlands

4001 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122

This restaurant remains a must-try for decadent morning offerings on the city’s west side. Now that new owner Riley Bartlett is in charge, it’s a new season for the Outer Sunset’s go-to brunch destination. There’s McFarland Spring smoked trout toast, almond-laden and maple syrup-drizzled French toast, and roasted maitake mushroom toasts all on the menu.

4001 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 661-6140
(415) 661-6140

Fable

558 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114

This Castro Street mainstay for brunch sells an indulgent Sweet Baguette French Toast, smothered in whipped cream and huckleberry reduction. In a neighborhood with a dearth of go-to breakfast restaurants, this toast is a breakfast highlight.

558 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 590-2404
(415) 590-2404

Hey Neighbor Cafe

2 Burrows St, San Francisco, CA 94134

Nestled amongst community gardens in a former Four Barrel location off of Bacon Street, this adorable coffee shop uses Rize Up sourdough bread and house-made orange marmalade to make its stellar toast.

2 Burrows St, San Francisco, CA 94134
(415) 619-4091
(415) 619-4091

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