San Francisco's Best Breakfast 2008

Breakfast is the name of the game at this funky Haight Street cafe that’s popular with the carb-craving crowd.

Reviews:

• “Best Breakfast”
• “Great place for Breakfast- Service fun and nice crowd”
• “This place is one of the BEST!”
• “Good, fast & cheap”
• “Bad service”

Tips: There’s typically a line out the door on weekend mornings and early afternoons.

Pork Store Cafe or email Pork Store Cafe

With funky decor and a menu of down-home favorites, this Inner Richmond hangout is as comfy as an old shoe.

Reviews:

• “Great Beef Specials”
• “Nice place for burger / different choices of food”
• “The tastiest, filling and unique food to be found in San Fran!”
• “want to feel sick?”
• “Food Below Average, Family atmosphere above average”

Tips: The two sidewalk tables are a nice place to sip one of Q’s well-chosen beers on tap and watch the bustle of Clement Street.

Q or email Q

Big portions and homemade bread at this sweet and popular breakfast spot in the Tenderloin.

Reviews:

• “Simply Fabulous”
• “Best breakfast ever! "
• “Absolutely Yummy Comfort Food in a Kitschy Setting”
• “Best breakfast joint in San Francisco – The food is worth the wait.”
• “Wow!”

Tips: The neighborhood is grungy, but the location is also just a quick walk from many of the hotels around Union Square.

Dottie’s True Blue Cafe

Homey atmosphere and a masterful devotion to breakfast draws a never-ending crowd to this North Beach eatery.

Reviews:

• “Breakfast”
• “Never had better but waiting is typical”
• “Yummo Pancakes”
• “Im confused I dont understand what all these 5 stars are about the food was garbage!”
• “mamas”

Tips: Tasting the house-made jam is a must.

Mama’s on Washington Square

Pancakes, scrambles and a homey environment make this a favorite Noe Valley breakfast spot.

Reviews:

• “amazing breakfast!”
• “Breakfast is good”
• “my favorite brunch place in sf!”
• “Good, cute place to have breakfast”
• “Rude service”

Tips: On sunny days, the coveted spots are the sidewalk tables.

Chloe’s Cafe

Heaping helpings of home-style grub in cozy surroundings make this place a favorite stop for the hungry breakfast crowd.

Reviews:

• “Even This Big Eater Couldn’t Finish His Plate”
• “Why’s The Server/Manager With The Dreads So Angry?”
• “It was excellent, but is not any longer.”
• “Glad To See It’s BACK on the Best Of List, where it belongs”
• “Just GOOD food…”

Tips: Remember, Kate’s Kitchen is cash only.

Kate’s Kitchen

Breezy Cole Valley bistro serves French-Cal cuisine to deal-seeking locals and brunch-hungry ’hood hoppers.

Reviews:

• “Great Brunch Place with unbetable ambiance”
• “Good food, poor service”
• “Nice place for Sunday Brunch”
• “Great Portions, very tasty”
• “One of the Brunch Places in SF”

Tips: Brunch, served 9am-3pm Saturdays and Sundays, is very popular. Dishes include challah French toast and poached eggs.

Zazie

A homey Pacific Heights favorite with heaping plates of lovingly prepared American fare.

Reviews:

• “It is like going to Church but with a fresh biscuit "
• “Good food served with large portions of attitude”
• “Yummy Pancakes”
• “Yummm”
• “great bread”

Tips: To avoid the long lines, arrive before 10am to grab a table. No reservations are taken for breakfast or brunch.

Ella’s

Escape the bustle of Union Square in this charming time warp dishing up fresh, well-done diner food.

Reviews:

• “We cleaned our plates!”
• “Two bad breakfasts”
• “Very good breakfast”
• “Overcooked food, Cranky, Disrespectful Waitress”
• “Excellent Breakfast / Midweek good service”

Tips: Reservations are not accepted.

Sears Fine Foods or email Sears Fine Foods

Crepes, omelets, sandwiches and a pretty courtyard make this spot a popular Noe Valley destination.

Reviews:

• “Great local restaurant – generous portions, great food, and nice staff!”
• “Great brunch”
• “You could eat here everyday and never get bored!”
• “Great Casual Meals in Noe”
• “Give it a try – it’s solid”

Tips: Arrive early on the weekend and grab a table out back on the patio.

Savor

Classic American lunch-counter fare served up fresh, friendly and long into the night.

Reviews:

• “ANCHOR PINTS for $ 1.99”
• “great late night comfort food with a few healthy choices too!”
• “Horrible service, greasy food”
• “good food, bad waitress”
• “Solid neighborhood place”

Tips: Bring plenty of quarters to feed the jukebox on your table, or you’ll be stuck listening to the other guy’s favorite oldies.

It’s Tops Coffee Shop

Large, popular Fillmore neighborhood hangout for coffee, beer or a bite to eat.

Reviews:

• “Creepy little buss boy”
• “Best place to invest a few hours”
• “Great Place!”
• “This place used to be great”
• “Consistently Good”

Tips: Beer, wine and food can be enjoyed outdoors until 11pm.

The Grove Fillmore

This casual Financial District eatery delivers fast, fresh food from local farms and artisans.

Reviews:

• “Hugely disappointing”
• “Best Salads & Sandwiches!”
• “BBQ Chicken Salad is the best but . . .”
• “great steak salad and choc. chip cookies”
• “Most incredible tomato soup ever”

Tips: For your next party or meeting, Sellers Markets offers catering with local and sustainable eats from Niman Ranch, Boulangerie Bay Breads, Cowgirl Creamery, Equator Estates Coffees and Teas, Petaluma Poultry and more.

Sellers Markets

Creole-influenced breakfast heaven for lovers of the sophisticated biscuit and hangtown fry.

Reviews:

• “Great Shrimp Poboys, love the Beignets,everything is good, especially the daily specials, great Chef and staff make you feel at home.”

Tips: Reservations are not accepted and there is no waiting list. Consequently, there is usually a line out the door in this seedy neighborhood.

Brenda’s French Soul Food

Uber-casual, trendy setting with daring home cooking at comfortable prices.

Reviews:

• “Terrific find”
• “Very poor service, very expensive, and small food portion”
• “Worth the Hype”
• “Terrific comfort food in a fun setting”
• “Breakfast Brunch Lunch are Rrrrrocking”

Tips: Tables are tiny, and can only sit two people comfortably.

Canteen

A comfortable neighborhood brunch spot serving French-California standards.

Reviews:

• “A strand of hair on our food!”
• “Sometimes a good value, oftentimes horrible”
• “Great food, bad service once”
• “best breakfast for your buck”
• “I’ve had better”

Tips: They only accept local checks.

Crepes on Cole

Hearty breakfast fare, juicy burgers and more diner fare make this train-themed Polk joint a local favorite.

Reviews:

• “OK For Breakfast”
• “great little diner”

Polk Street Station

Breakfast food including omelettes, crepes, pancakes, waffles and more, plus lunch items such as hamburgers, sandwiches and salads.

Reviews:

• “Great breakfast place”
• “Long wait, but great pancakes”
• “Not bad, not great either.”
• “VERY delicious!”
• “Worth The Wait”

Tips: The wait is usually 20-30 minutes long but the food is worth it.

Stacks Restaurant

Stacks Restaurant

Coffee cognoscenti flock to this SoMa hotspot for painstakingly prepared brews fresh from the venue’s vaunted Japanese siphon bar.

Tips: Drinks from the siphon bar are not available as to-go drinks.

Blue Bottle Cafe

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