The Absolute Best Brunch Spots in San Francisco Right Now

Hilda and Jesse, a brunch spot that opened over the winter to instant success, pays homage to a traditional American diner but with a twist. This is seen in the decor—retro checkerboard tile, red and chrome swivel stools, pops of pastel everywhere—as well as on the menu. Where else are you going to get Pancakes Without Boundaries, a double stack of fluffy, souffled buttermilk pancakes with grilled cranberry maple and an option to add Perigord black truffle? There’s also a Crab and Caviar Omelet, Hashbrowns with Pork sausage, and for those who are already overwhelmed by these choices: there’s a three-course $45 brunch tasting menu with optional wine pairings (must be ordered by the entire table.
How to enjoy: Hilda and Jesse is open for all-day brunch Friday–Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm. Reserve a table online.

Mr. Digby’s instantly became one of our favorite spots for a casual and delicious dinner of classic comfort food when it opened last spring, and when the restaurant added brunch shortly after, it was immediately added into our weekend daytime dining rotation. The menu is small but mighty, with classics like Biscuits and Gravy, Fried Chicken and Waffles, and a Burger with Russian Dressing. All of the dishes pair perfectly with any of the brunch cocktails: try the low-ABV Perfectly Pink, with strawberry-rhubarb-infused Lillet, akvavit, grapefruit tonic, when you’d would like to opt-out of the post-boozy brunch nap, and the Tequila Sunset, with reposado tequila, elderflower, fiero, grapefruit, lime, and a salt rim, when a nap is in your destiny no matter what.
How to enjoy: Brunch is served from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Reserve indoor or outdoor seating online. Or order online for pickup or delivery.

If the wait for brunch at this cozy, rustic, and popular spot is too long and you feel yourself getting hangry, you could tide yourself over with the $5 cinnamon toast from Trouble, which is just down the block. But maybe split a piece because you definitely need to have enough room for Outerland’s famous Dutch Pancake (baked in a cast iron pan and topped with seasonal fruits and nuts, add the optional ricotta—obviously). The brief menu skews towards vegetarian, and you can’t go wrong with anything that involves their house-baked bread, like the Levain Toast with house-made jam and butter.
How to enjoy: Open for walk-ins Thursday—Monday from 9am to 3pm. You can also order online for takeout.

Zuni’s light, airy space is perfect for a leisurely meal with friends. You might be tempted to order the famous Roast Chicken for two, but the ultimate brunch move is to order the burger (house-ground, grass-fed, and on grilled rosemary focaccia) that isn’t on the dinner menu. If you’re a breakfast-at-brunch, not a lunch-at-brunch person, the Scrambled Eggs with Goat Cheese and Roasted Potatoes are the move. Also, the Lemon Curd-Filled Donut with brown butter glaze. And, finally: the Balsamic Bloody Mary, which substitutes a six-year-old balsamic for Worcestershire, something you’ll wish every bartender did after just one sip.

We love hitting up this Southern spot during dinner for the fried chicken, so it only makes sense that the Fried Chicken and Cornmeal Waffles is our go-to order (with the Chicken Fried Dteak with Sausage Gravy coming in as a close second). Need something to help ease last night’s pain and also set you up for an afternoon nap? Look no further than the Stoner Stack—a biscuit sandwich with fried chicken breast, fried egg, cheddar cheese, bacon, and house-made sausage gravy (served with tater tots or grits). There are also a bunch of Porch Cocktails, including a Bloody Mary with bacon and pitchers of margs.
How to enjoy: Walk in or make a reservation here. You can also order for pickup and delivery. Available from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Turns out the key to the most delicious breakfast potatoes you’ll ever possibly eat is to mash them, fry them until they’re brown and crispy, and season them with rosemary and thyme. But even if you tried to do that at home, you’d never get anywhere close to the deliciousness of Plow's potatoes. And the potatoes are just the start of what this breakfast and brunch spot do well. We recommend you order The Plow, so that you can get eggs, house-made pork sausage patties, those potatoes, and two of their famous Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. And since you got out of bed and brushed your hair (or not), you might as well throw in some Buttermilk Biscuits as well. You’ll deserve it after waiting in the popular spot’s notorious long line.
How to enjoy: Plow is open for weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm. Want to brunch during the week? Get there between 7 am and 2 pm. Walk-ins only. Takeout is available by calling 415-821-7569, but it’s a limited menu on weekends and, depending on how busy they are, might not be an option.

Some people think of brunch as Eggs Benedict and fancy French Toast, but in SF, we know it also means feasting on delicious dim sum. Dragon Beaux, a dim sum spot from the founders of Koi Palace, puts a modern spin on classic dishes and never disappoints. And, if you’re hungry for a gorgeous food pic to post on your Instagram, the colorful dim sum from Dragon Beaux will give you what you seek (especially the Five Guys Xiao Long Bao and the Rainbow Taro Paste Bao).
How to enjoy: Make a reservation online or by calling 415-333-8899. Order online for takeout. Dragon Beaux’s brunch hours are from 11 am to 3 pm, Monday–Friday, and 10 am to 3pm on the weekends.

When a hankering for savory, salt-cured pork really hits, Bacon Bacon is the only way to go. The entire bacon-centric menu is good, but a few of our faves include the Breakfast Burrito with scrambled eggs, pulled pork, bacon, avocado, cheddar, and mama lil’s peppers, and The Frederick, a fried egg sandwich with maple bacon pork sausage, cheddar, bacon, and cream cheese on an English muffin. There’s also a Bouquet of Bacon if you prefer an artery-clogging romance.
How to enjoy: Bacon Bacon is open during the week from 7 am to 4 pm and on the weekends from 8 am to 4 pm. Walk in and order at the counter (there are a couple of seats inside), or order online for pickup or delivery.

Zazie’s brunch is known for long waits that are actually worth it, but the addition of a spacious parklet has eased those slightly, especially on weekdays when you might not have to endure one at all (gasp!). Our favorite place to sit is on the covered back garden patio, but every seat is a good one—especially once your food arrives. It’s impossible to place an order you’ll regret, but our go-tos are the Miracle Pancakes, Croque Madame, and Pierre Noir (Eggs Benedict with bacon, tomatoes provençales, and possibly the best lemon hollandaise to exist anywhere on the planet). Obviously, the build-your-own Mimosas (or any of the brunch beverages) are also a must.
How to enjoy: Zazie doesn’t offer reservations, but you can sign in at the kiosk out front and you’ll get a text when your table is ready. Takeout is also available. Brunch is available on weekdays from 8 am to 2 pm and on weekends from 9 am to 3 pm.

We appreciate Brenda’s because it’s a women-owned-and-operated restaurant, but also because the menu has comforting, Southern-inflected dishes like Stuffed Johnnycakes, Pulled Pork Hash, Cream Biscuit and Country Gravy, Shrimp and Grits, and Low Country Gumbo. And beignets. You can’t leave without getting an order. Or the Creole Bloody Mary. Whether you’re seated in the outdoor parklet, back patio, or on one of the comfy leather booths inside, Brenda’s menu is packed with flavor and memorable delights. Our final mention is the Eggs Benedict with Creole Hollandaise and fried catfish (or fried chicken, pulled pork, etc) on Brenda’s famous cream biscuit that’s only available Friday–Sunday.
How to enjoy: Walk in or make a reservation for the outdoor parklet, back patio, or indoors. You can also order for pickup online or by calling 415-926-8657.

Brunch at restaurants along Union and Chestnut Street can get pretty boisterous, but if you’re in the mood for a delicious meal without the slight chaos that brunch can sometimes bring, this classic SF restaurant is the perfect spot. The menu offers your standard brunch fare, but with an Italian spin—for example, the Breakfast Sandwich comes on focaccia and the Soft Scrambled Eggs are served with prosciutto. The best plan is to go with people who want to sample a few things, so that you can all split the Breakfast Pizza with smoked ham, fontina, and sunny side-up eggs.
How to enjoy: Breakfast and lunch are walk-in only for indoor and outdoor dining. You can get the weekday AM menu Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm and the brunch menu only on weekends from 9 am to 4:30 pm.

Foreign Cinema is the perfect brunch spot for a special occasion. Maybe that’s because it’s the kind of brunch you want to plan ahead for (aka: make reservations because you probably won’t get in if you don’t), which automatically ups the ante. You’ll be stoked you’re so responsible when you’re sitting in the open-air courtyard enjoying oysters, house-made “Pop Tarts,” and one of the best Croque Madames in town. Of course, no one (who eats meat) brunches at Foreign Cinema without getting the Slow-Cooked Brown Sugar-Smoked Bacon, which is salty, sweet, and would almost ruin all other bacon forever if ruining bacon forever were a thing that could happen.

Tartine Manufactory has outdoor seating, but we prefer sitting inside so we can fully appreciate the stunning industrial space. The all-day menu has a bunch of amazing options and whether you go in the direction of a Fresh Citrus Gems Salad, Smoked Salmon Tartine, Chocolate Croissant, or Steak Tartare, you won’t be disappointed. Hell, we won’t judge you if you order all four. It’s brunch, after all. But even though you’re living your life how you want, there are still two “musts” when in the vicinity of Tartine Manufactory: 1. Buying a freshly baked loaf of bread to take home for later (like, in two hours) and 2. Eating one of the bakery’s famous morning buns.
How to enjoy: Reserve indoor dining or walk in for an outdoor table. You can also order online for pickup and delivery. Breakfast is served from 8 am to 11 am.

Sure, pancakes and mimosas are delicious, but sometimes you need a brunch with a little more oomph and a lot more margaritas. That’s when you head to this fancier-than-a-taqueria, but still legit Mexican restaurant on Union Street for Chilaquiles, Corn Pancakes, tacos that are not breakfast tacos, but who cares because they are delicious, and a pitcher of margaritas for the table. Our favorite spot is the tables by the big open windows in the bar—ideal for Union Street people-watching. But there’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating if they aren’t available.
How to enjoy: Flores serves brunch from 11 am to 3 pm on the weekends. Reserve a table online ahead of time or join the waitlist before you head over. You can also order online for pickup and delivery.

This century-old cafe became even more beloved when they began canning their extremely drinkable Espressotinis during the pandemic, and you should definitely grab some cans to go when you visit. The brunch menu spans shareables, salads, and entrees like a Balburrito with scrambled eggs, Oaxaca-style house-made chorizo, refried black beans, pico de gallo, and jack cheese, plus Benedicts, Shrimp and Grits, a solid Breakfast Sandwich, and, yes, the famous Burger on Baguette. This probably doesn’t need to be said since we basically already said it, but there are also plenty of cocktails, including the popular Balboa Mary.
How to enjoy: Walk in for indoor and outdoor dining.

For those who would prefer to eat their brunch at Golden Gate Park or the beach—Devil’s Baking Company is an excellent choice. Keep in mind, this is more of a grab-and-go than sit-and-order-mimosas-for-two-hours “brunching” situation. Plus, it’s home to the best breakfast sandwich in all of SF and maybe the world, with two scrambled eggs, cheddar, applewood smoked bacon or sausage (we switch back and forth so as not to play favorites), on a house-made buttermilk biscuit. Make it “special” by swapping the cheddar for jack and adding avocado and the famous lemon-garlic aioli. There are also a bunch of bakery items that you’re not going to want to leave behind, particularly the Donut Muffins, Cheddar Bacon Beer Muffins, and Cinnamon Rolls.
How to enjoy: Stop by any day between 7 am and 4 pm (Noriega—super close to Ocean Beach) or 7 am to 2 pm (weekdays), and 7 am to 4 pm (weekends) at the Outer Richmond spot (a few blocks from Golden Gate Park). Order online for pickup or delivery.