Where to brunch in San Francisco. The morning rooms worth the queue, and the kitchens still doing it right at noon.

Brunch picks

Zuni Cafe ★ 4.8

$$ $25 to $55BrunchCalifornia, Sunday roast chicken at midday

Zuni Cafe in San Francisco does the city's most enduring brunch: oysters at the marble counter, then the Judy Rodgers roast chicken from the wood oven.

OrderThe roast chicken with bread salad: order it the moment you sit, it takes an hour from order.

TipSit at the oyster bar for the first round; the roast chicken needs to be ordered immediately on arrival.

Foreign Cinema ★ 4.7

$$ $28 to $48BrunchMediterranean, oysters, fried chicken on cornmeal waffle

Foreign Cinema in San Francisco is the Mission's open-air courtyard brunch room from Gayle Pirie and John Clark, with oysters, brunch fried chicken.

OrderBrunch fried chicken on a cornmeal waffle, after a half-dozen oysters.

TipBook the courtyard, not the indoor room; sunny Saturday at 11:30 is the brunch slot to land.

Plow ★ 4.4

$$ $22 to $32BrunchPotrero Hill brunch with house pancakes and benedicts

Plow in San Francisco is the Potrero Hill brunch room with house lemon ricotta pancakes, a benedict programme, and the city's most lined-up Saturday.

OrderThe Plow plate: two eggs, lemon ricotta pancakes, potatoes and bacon.

TipJoin the digital waitlist before you leave the house; the wait runs 60 to 90 minutes on weekends without it.

Brenda's French Soul Food ★ 4.6

$$ $15 to $28BrunchCreole brunch, beignets

Brenda's French Soul Food in San Francisco runs a Polk Street Creole brunch counter, with crawfish beignets, shrimp and grits and a 60-minute weekend wait.

OrderA flight of beignets (plain, chocolate, granny apple, crawfish), plus shrimp and grits.

TipArrive at 09:00 sharp or join the digital waitlist that opens at 08:30; lunch service takes the second wave.

Outerlands ★ 4.5

$$ $18 to $28BrunchOuter Sunset California brunch

Outerlands in San Francisco is the Outer Sunset cafe two blocks from the ocean, with house bread, eggs in jail and a steady fog-lifted brunch line at 11:00.

OrderEggs in jail: thick toast with an egg cracked in the centre, griddled.

TipBring a beanie; the door queue is exposed to ocean fog and the wait runs 40 minutes on weekends.

Tartine Manufactory ★ 4.3

$$ $16 to $28BrunchBakery cafe brunch, wood-oven flatbreads

Tartine Manufactory in San Francisco runs a Mission brunch from a Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt bakery floor, with hot egg dishes and the morning bun.

OrderThe egg sandwich with morning bread and a small pastry to share.

TipThe Manufactory cafe holds tables longer than the Guerrero original; both serve the same bake.

Souvla brunch ★ 4.2

$$ $15 to $22BrunchSpit-roast Greek brunch on yogurt

Souvla in San Francisco runs a weekend brunch on its spit-roasted lamb and pork, served on house yogurt with pita, and a frozen Greek yogurt to close.

OrderLamb on house yogurt with cucumber, mint and warm pita.

TipOrder ahead on the app and pick up; sit at Patricia's Green in Hayes Valley for the patio.

Mama's on Washington Square ★ 4.1

$$ $18 to $28BrunchNorth Beach diner brunch

Mama's on Washington Square in San Francisco is the North Beach corner diner since 1965, with French toast on house brioche and the eggs Florentine.

OrderFrench toast with brioche from the in-house bakery, plus the eggs Florentine.

TipLine forms at 08:30 on weekends; arrive at 08:00 sharp or after 13:30 to avoid an hour wait.

Marlowe ★ 4.0

$$ $18 to $32BrunchSoMa weekend brunch, burger

Marlowe in San Francisco runs a SoMa brunch with the Marlowe burger, a strong chilaquiles plate and a Bloody Mary that has been on the menu since 2010.

OrderThe Marlowe burger or the chilaquiles, plus a Bloody Mary.

TipBar seats are first-come; ask for the burger off the dinner menu, it is available at brunch.

Book food experiences in San Francisco

See all 443 bookable experiences in San Francisco

← Back to San Francisco food guide

By when you want to eat