If you’re visiting San Francisco and looking for recommendations on what and where to eat in the Golden City, you’re in the right place. During our 4-day trip to San Francisco, we explored a variety of local eateries and cafes, discovering a few favorites and hidden gems along the way.
In this blog post, I’ll share four of my top favorite eateries in the breakfast and lunch/dinner categories. Be sure to bookmark this blog post for your upcoming San Francisco adventure and have a fantastic time exploring the culinary scene of the city.
Breakfast Spots in San Francisco
Cafe RX, Presidio
Cafe RX was our breakfast spot on the day we visited Presidio. This café is a hidden gem, offering a cozy ambiance and delicious rotating food menu depending on the season’s availability. It is the perfect spot for nature lovers to enjoy a relaxing breakfast. The menu features a range of healthy and delicious options, from fresh smoothies to hearty sandwiches. We ordered the smoked salmon bagel sandwich and coffee and enjoyed them in their garden seating while watching squirrels and birds play. Be sure to stop by Cafe RX during your visit to Presidio!
📍 Thoreau Center
⏰ Mon-Fri, 8 AM to 2:30 PM
💲 $10–20 per person
Home Plate, Marina District
Home Plate was just a 5-minute walk from our hotel on Lombard Street and made for the perfect breakfast stop for anyone in and around the area. It is one of the oldest restaurants here, offering a classic American breakfast. We saw a huge crowd even at 7:30 AM, which made us realize how popular this place is—it turns out it’s a local favorite! We ordered the sourdough ciabatta toast, which came with two eggs cooked to our liking, a fresh salad, and crispy hash browns. The whole meal was incredibly satisfying and totally worth the price.
📍 2150 Lombard St
⏰ Daily, 7 AM to 2 PM
💲 $20–30 per person
Parker, Potrero Hill
Parker is a New American restaurant we stumbled upon while searching for another place to eat. True story—this wasn’t our first choice, but we’re glad our original pick had a 2-hour wait time! The staff is friendly, and the restaurant has a lively ambiance. We even got to watch the chef in action! We ordered their special eggs Benedict with a latte and loved every bite of it. This place is truly an underrated gem in the neighborhood and a must-visit if you’re looking for seriously good eggs Benedict.
📍 1399 18th St
⏰ Sat & Sun, 9 AM to 3 PM; Mon & Fri, 11 AM to 3 PM (check website for latest updates)
💲 $20–30 per person
Peet’s Coffee
Peet’s is basically the Starbucks of San Francisco—but much older. So, of course, we had to give it a try! Mr. Peet, the founder of this popular coffee chain, is considered the “Big Bang” of craft coffee. He introduced the art and knowledge of craft coffee to the masses, and his story is truly inspiring—I highly recommend checking out the story on their website. We often grabbed Peet’s coffee between our city tours, and it gave us the perfect kick to recharge our souls. The coffee chain is available in major cities across the USA and in almost every neighborhood of San Francisco. Be sure to give it a try and let me know your thoughts about Peet’s coffee in the comments!
📍 Multiple locations
⏰ Daily, 6 AM to 7 PM (might differ for different locations)
💲 $5–10 per person
Lunch & Dinner Spots in San Francisco
Taqueria Las Katrinas, Marina District
This restaurant was conveniently close to our hotel, Coventry Inn, and we went there for dinner on our first day in San Francisco. The décor was vibrant, featuring plenty of traditional Mexican art and flags, creating a lively atmosphere. We tried two of their best sellers—Quesabirria Tacos and a chicken burrito. The flavors were authentic, and the portion sizes were huge! If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food in San Francisco’s Marina District, this is the place to be!
📍 2101 Lombard St
⏰ Daily, 10 AM to 9 PM
💲 $10–20 per person
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Pier 39
Pier 39 is one of the top spots in the city home to several eateries and entertainment options. On our visit to this pier, we dined in Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., an iconic restaurant that was featured in the hit movie Forrest Gump. The atmosphere is lively and relaxed, and the decor is straight out of the film- it’s a shrimp lover’s dream come true! Don’t miss out on this unforgettable dining experience!
📍 Pier 39
⏰ Daily, 11 AM to 9:30 PM
💲 $20–30 per person
Hunan House, Chinatown
We wanted to try a restaurant in San Francisco’s Chinatown. However, by the time we arrived (around 7 PM), only a few restaurants were still open, and among them, Hunan House was one of the top-rated options. We ordered a dim sum sampler plate, which featured a variety of fried and steamed dim sum, allowing us to sample different flavors. We also tried the claypot chicken, which was slightly bland for our taste but overall, quite comforting.
📍 Chinatown
⏰ Mon-Fri, 11 AM to 10 PM
💲 $10–20 per person
World Famous HOTBOYS Chicken, Oakland
We had lunch at Hotboys Chicken on our final day in San Francisco while visiting Oakland. We had read a lot about this place, especially their five spice levels and retro-style decor, so we had to check it out. Plus, I love southern-style fried chicken, particularly Nashville-style. We ordered the WF Chicken & Waffles with a spice level of 3, which is one of their most popular menu items. I’m happy to say the chicken was delicious—perfectly cooked and crispy. I highly recommend visiting Hotboys Chicken or any of their other California outlets.
📍 1601 San Pablo Ave
⏰ Mon-Fri, 8 AM to 2:30 PM
💲 $10–20 per person
Our favorite spots among all the restaurants were the breakfast places. Each one had a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and the food was delicious with generous portion sizes. Let me know your favorite restaurant in the comments, and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and YouTube for more travel and food inspiration!
