clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

15 Stellar Lunch Spots in San Francisco

Turn Up the Heat With These Hot and Spicy San Francisco Dishes

10 San Francisco Bars With More to Do Than Just Drink

More in San Francisco See more maps
An overhead shot of food.
Manitas on Hayes Street is a must-try for any breakfast lover.
Manitas Cafe

The 14 San Francisco Weekday Breakfasts to Start Any Day on the Right Foot

Waffles, chilaquiles, and pastries to save you from that work-from-home bowl of cold cereal

by Paolo Bicchieri, Dianne de Guzman, and Becky Duffett Updated
2 comments / new
View as Map
Manitas on Hayes Street is a must-try for any breakfast lover.
| Manitas Cafe
by Paolo Bicchieri, Dianne de Guzman, and Becky Duffett Updated
2 comments / new

There are just way too many places for meaty, indulgent, lovely, hardy breakfasts in San Francisco. Brenda’s Meat and Three on Divisadero Street whips up shrimp and grits in the Western Addition and Black Jet Baking Co. in Bernal Heights cracks out egg-laden breakfast sandwiches that would give even a Texan pause. Plus, Xica is coming to the waterfront for peppery chilaquiles any day now, and brunch is back for all the bottomless mimosa people in your life. It’s a good time to be eating breakfast in San Francisco, so for the sake of all things cheesy and potato-y, put these 14 restaurants on your must-hit breakfast list.

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.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Rose's Cafe

Copy Link

Rose’s, the home of an always-reliable weekday brunch, has dishes like breakfast pizza with ham, fontina, and eggs or French toast bread pudding with caramelized apples and whipped cream. The cafe has added Oakland-based Mr. Espresso coffee to its offerings, too.

2298 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 775-2200
(415) 775-2200

Also featured in:

Bandit

Copy Link

This neighborhood favorite is tucked beneath an unlikely nail salon sign and down the way from Liholiho Yacht Club, but people fell in love with the breakfast sandwiches here so much — including the eponymous Bandit featuring Muenster cheese and thick-cut bacon — that the shop is set to open a second location on 18th and Dolores Street in 2023.

683 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 658-7780
(415) 658-7780
A vegetarian breakfast sandwich with tater tots.
Bandit breakfast sandwiches are no joke.
Lauren Saria

Also featured in:

Sweet Maple

Copy Link

Reasons to love Sweet Maple's breakfast include the Millionaire's Bacon (bacon baked in brown sugar with cayenne, and red and black pepper) and four different breakfast pizzas. There's also a huge selection of Benedicts and scrambles, four different "morning sandwiches," and even a few healthy choices (if that’s what moves you).

2101 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 655-9169
(415) 655-9169

Also featured in:

Town's End Brunch

Copy Link

From the same owners of the New Spot on Polk Street comes a reinvigorated take on Americana classics. Right off the water in South Beach, owners Sam and Nazeira Elbandak are offering $8 milkshakes and tremendous breakfast items like the Warriors Breakfast, a dish of potatoes and eggs as mighty as 2015 Klay Thompson.

2 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 875-9984
(415) 875-9984
A big plate of food.
The Warriors Breakfast from Town’s End. 
Town’s End

Also featured in:

Rad Radish

Copy Link

A new player in the plant-based restaurant scene — from the same team behind Wildseed  — this restaurant is open 9 a.m. to noon on weekdays (and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends). The chilaquiles are to die for, Vietnamese iced coffee goes for $5, and the interior design is ultra pleasant.

301 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 916-8548
(415) 916-8548
Food on a plate.
Chilaquiles at Rad Radish.
Paolo Bicchieri

Also featured in:

Manitas Cafe

Copy Link

Manitas’ owners promise recipes “stolen from Grandma” — that is, if your grandma made blisteringly spicy chilaquiles and breakfast tacos with chorizo, eggs, and bacon. Best of all, breakfast is served all day long.

2078 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94117
415-213-5566
415-213-5566

Brioche Bakery & Cafe

Copy Link

Naima Moutaim and Edson Garcia’s Columbus Avenue breakfast kiosk expanded to Haight Street in fall 2021. Affordability is a major draw here — think vanilla custard French toast for $12.95 — but so is the outdoor patio. More than a decade in the city, Mountain and Garcia keep showing up for that reliable cup of coffee and Gruyere omelette. 

1640 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 913-7940
(415) 913-7940

Art's Cafe

Copy Link

Things looked grim for the Inner Sunset’s favorite Korean American diner. The restaurant closed in July 2020 after about 30 years in the hash brown game, but managed to reopen under new ownership in early February 2021. Now new owners Chol and Young Lee are cracking eggs and fermenting kimchi for returned longtime fans and newcomers to the shop alike.

747 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 665-7440
(415) 665-7440

Also featured in:

Just For You Cafe

Copy Link

Would you like your eggs with a grilled catfish filet or a pork chop? Or would you prefer a big breakfast burrito smothered in chili con carne? Or perhaps some pancakes or French toast hot off the griddle? And if you don't need to work that day, maybe also have a pint-sized mimosa. Because Just For You Cafe can provide all that. Grab a loaf of cinnamon-raisin bread to enjoy later, too.

732 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 647-3033
(415) 647-3033

Also featured in:

Boogaloos

Copy Link

Is there anything finer than this 22nd and Valencia Street breakfast destination for tofu fajitas? No, there isn’t. The restaurant offers ample outdoor seating, for those looking to get a little sun, and diner coffee by the barrel-full.

3296 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 896-4611
(415) 896-4611
Boogaloo’s Patricia Chang

Also featured in:

Plain Jane

Copy Link

Across the street from the unsung hero of San Francisco’s bar scene, the Liberties Bar, Plain Jane dishes up breakfast for massive crowds of loyal fans most every day of the week. The move? PJ’s Sweet Flight, a medley of pain de mie custard French toast, a red velvet pancake, a cottage pancake, and a healthy dose of maple syrup.

1000 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 654-5270
(415) 654-5270
A spiraling dish of food.
Breakfast at Plain Jane is a full event.
Plain Jane

Diamond Cafe

Copy Link

This Noe Valley institution comes from the same team behind Crepevine and it shows (mostly in the same enormous chalkboard-esque menu). Importantly, this corner-spot haunt offers two mimosas for $10. Eggs, bagels, and omelettes are all standard fare here.

751 Diamond St, San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 655-3674
(415) 655-3674

Lucho’s

Copy Link

Lakeside Yucatán restaurant Lucho’s is open for weekday and weekend brunch, which means you can get their pibil Benedict or buñuelos to go. Call 415-347-7416 for takeout, order delivery via Postmates, or grab a seat at the restaurant.

2675 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 347-7416
(415) 347-7416

Also featured in:

Ann's Doughnut Coffee Shop

Copy Link

There are few diners in San Francisco with more than 40 years of mom and pop experience. Ann’s in the Excelsior is just that, continuing to dole out greasy hash browns and juicy sausage links on Mission Street at ultra-affordable rates.

4488A Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112
(415) 334-1761
(415) 334-1761

More in Maps

Loading comments...

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Rose's Cafe

2298 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Rose’s, the home of an always-reliable weekday brunch, has dishes like breakfast pizza with ham, fontina, and eggs or French toast bread pudding with caramelized apples and whipped cream. The cafe has added Oakland-based Mr. Espresso coffee to its offerings, too.

2298 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 775-2200
(415) 775-2200

Bandit

683 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

This neighborhood favorite is tucked beneath an unlikely nail salon sign and down the way from Liholiho Yacht Club, but people fell in love with the breakfast sandwiches here so much — including the eponymous Bandit featuring Muenster cheese and thick-cut bacon — that the shop is set to open a second location on 18th and Dolores Street in 2023.

683 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 658-7780
(415) 658-7780
A vegetarian breakfast sandwich with tater tots.
Bandit breakfast sandwiches are no joke.
Lauren Saria

Sweet Maple

2101 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Reasons to love Sweet Maple's breakfast include the Millionaire's Bacon (bacon baked in brown sugar with cayenne, and red and black pepper) and four different breakfast pizzas. There's also a huge selection of Benedicts and scrambles, four different "morning sandwiches," and even a few healthy choices (if that’s what moves you).

2101 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 655-9169
(415) 655-9169

Town's End Brunch

2 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107

From the same owners of the New Spot on Polk Street comes a reinvigorated take on Americana classics. Right off the water in South Beach, owners Sam and Nazeira Elbandak are offering $8 milkshakes and tremendous breakfast items like the Warriors Breakfast, a dish of potatoes and eggs as mighty as 2015 Klay Thompson.

2 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 875-9984
(415) 875-9984
A big plate of food.
The Warriors Breakfast from Town’s End. 
Town’s End

Rad Radish

301 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102

A new player in the plant-based restaurant scene — from the same team behind Wildseed  — this restaurant is open 9 a.m. to noon on weekdays (and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends). The chilaquiles are to die for, Vietnamese iced coffee goes for $5, and the interior design is ultra pleasant.

301 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 916-8548
(415) 916-8548
Food on a plate.
Chilaquiles at Rad Radish.
Paolo Bicchieri

Manitas Cafe

2078 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Manitas’ owners promise recipes “stolen from Grandma” — that is, if your grandma made blisteringly spicy chilaquiles and breakfast tacos with chorizo, eggs, and bacon. Best of all, breakfast is served all day long.

2078 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94117
415-213-5566
415-213-5566

Brioche Bakery & Cafe

1640 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Naima Moutaim and Edson Garcia’s Columbus Avenue breakfast kiosk expanded to Haight Street in fall 2021. Affordability is a major draw here — think vanilla custard French toast for $12.95 — but so is the outdoor patio. More than a decade in the city, Mountain and Garcia keep showing up for that reliable cup of coffee and Gruyere omelette. 

1640 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 913-7940
(415) 913-7940

Art's Cafe

747 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Things looked grim for the Inner Sunset’s favorite Korean American diner. The restaurant closed in July 2020 after about 30 years in the hash brown game, but managed to reopen under new ownership in early February 2021. Now new owners Chol and Young Lee are cracking eggs and fermenting kimchi for returned longtime fans and newcomers to the shop alike.

747 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 665-7440
(415) 665-7440

Just For You Cafe

732 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Would you like your eggs with a grilled catfish filet or a pork chop? Or would you prefer a big breakfast burrito smothered in chili con carne? Or perhaps some pancakes or French toast hot off the griddle? And if you don't need to work that day, maybe also have a pint-sized mimosa. Because Just For You Cafe can provide all that. Grab a loaf of cinnamon-raisin bread to enjoy later, too.

732 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 647-3033
(415) 647-3033

Boogaloos

3296 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Is there anything finer than this 22nd and Valencia Street breakfast destination for tofu fajitas? No, there isn’t. The restaurant offers ample outdoor seating, for those looking to get a little sun, and diner coffee by the barrel-full.

3296 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 896-4611
(415) 896-4611
Boogaloo’s Patricia Chang

Plain Jane

1000 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Across the street from the unsung hero of San Francisco’s bar scene, the Liberties Bar, Plain Jane dishes up breakfast for massive crowds of loyal fans most every day of the week. The move? PJ’s Sweet Flight, a medley of pain de mie custard French toast, a red velvet pancake, a cottage pancake, and a healthy dose of maple syrup.

1000 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 654-5270
(415) 654-5270
A spiraling dish of food.
Breakfast at Plain Jane is a full event.
Plain Jane

Diamond Cafe

751 Diamond St, San Francisco, CA 94114

This Noe Valley institution comes from the same team behind Crepevine and it shows (mostly in the same enormous chalkboard-esque menu). Importantly, this corner-spot haunt offers two mimosas for $10. Eggs, bagels, and omelettes are all standard fare here.

751 Diamond St, San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 655-3674
(415) 655-3674

Lucho’s

2675 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132

Lakeside Yucatán restaurant Lucho’s is open for weekday and weekend brunch, which means you can get their pibil Benedict or buñuelos to go. Call 415-347-7416 for takeout, order delivery via Postmates, or grab a seat at the restaurant.

2675 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 347-7416
(415) 347-7416

Ann's Doughnut Coffee Shop

4488A Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112

There are few diners in San Francisco with more than 40 years of mom and pop experience. Ann’s in the Excelsior is just that, continuing to dole out greasy hash browns and juicy sausage links on Mission Street at ultra-affordable rates.

4488A Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112
(415) 334-1761
(415) 334-1761

Related Maps