Bakery$$Until 24 hours
Bob's Donuts in San Francisco is the 24-hour Polk Street doughnut counter since 1960, with an apple fritter, a monster doughnut challenge and a 04:00 crowd.
Try: Apple fritter
Order: Buttermilk bar and an apple fritter, with a black coffee.
Tip: The buttermilk bar is the locals' order over the fritter; the back room takes overflow at 02:00.
Cantonese$$Until 03:00 Fri and Sat
Sam Wo in San Francisco is the Chinatown late-night Cantonese counter since 1912, with rice jook (congee), roast pork chow mein and three narrow floors.
Try: Jook and roast pork chow mein
Order: Jook with thousand-year egg and pork, plus a side of roast pork chow mein.
Tip: The third-floor kitchen seats are the fastest service after midnight; ask for a window stool.
Japanese ramen$$Mon 11:30-14:00, Mon 17:30-21:30, Tue 11:30-14:00, Tue 17:30-21:30, Wed 11:30-14:00, Wed 17:30-21:30, Thu 11:30-14:00, Thu 17:30-21:30, Fri 11:30-14:00, Fri 17:30-21:30, Sat 11:30-15:00, Sat 17:30-21:30, Sun 11:30-15:00, Sun 17:30-21:00Until 23:30 Fri and Sat
Marufuku Ramen in San Francisco is the Japantown Hakata tonkotsu counter, with a 36-hour pork bone broth and a late-night line that turns inside thirty.
Try: Hakata tonkotsu ramen
Order: Hakata classic tonkotsu with extra garlic chips, plus the karaage on the side.
Tip: Digital waitlist before you head over; the late seating cuts the wait to twenty minutes.
Pizzeria$$Until 01:00 Fri and Sat
Delarosa in San Francisco is the Marina pizza-and-cocktail counter, open to 01:00 on weekends, with a Brussels sprouts pizza and a tight aperitivo bar list.
Try: Brussels sprouts pizza
Order: Brussels sprouts pizza and a Negroni at the bar.
Tip: The 22:30 to midnight slot is the easiest walk-in window; the bar runs the full pizza menu after 23:00.
Cantonese$$Until 23:00
House of Nanking in San Francisco is the Kearny Street Sichuan-Cantonese hybrid since 1988, with a sesame chicken set by an opinionated counter.
Try: Sesame chicken
Order: Whatever the owner brings; tell him you trust the kitchen and let him pick three plates.
Tip: Skip the menu; ask the owner to feed you. Cash and card; the wait is shorter for lone diners at the counter.
Cantonese$$Until 03:00
Yuet Lee in San Francisco is the Chinatown all-night Cantonese counter at Stockton and Broadway, open to 03:00 with salt and pepper squid the late shift.
Try: Salt and pepper squid
Order: Salt and pepper squid plus a steamed live fish from the tank.
Tip: Cash only after midnight; the kitchen window seats fill the fastest at 23:30.