Featuring spots with retro decor, unparalleled vibes and mouthwatering food, here's our guide to the best diners across San Francisco.
The diner has become an instantly discernible facet of American society, a national symbol where hearty, reasonably-priced food is devoured by chit-chatting regulars in multicolored bar stools lined up along a counter. These typically 24-hour joints are likely filled with a clatter of disarrayed background noise accompanied by a nostalgic song playing from a jukebox. The infectious allure of the diner is undeniable.
When you think of a diner, you probably don't think of a giant cherry pie replica hanging from the ceiling. You probably don't think of a side dish called Millionaire's Bacon, either. But, San Francisco is a city always deviating from the norm, and diners certainly aren't an exception. From classic, vintage spots serving up drool-worthy breakfast burritos to more modern, redefined dining experiences, this guide to the top diners across San Francisco recognizes all there is to love about the most quintessential American dining experience.
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Website | 326 23rd St.
A community-oriented restaurant with a modern take on the classic diner, Daughter's Diner is the spot to get some delicious dishes that are made with locally sourced, organic ingredients. While the eatery offers patio seating, indoors is where the true diner magic unfolds, with quintessential neon lighting, a few barstools along a pristine counter and teal booths below a brick-lined wall. Go for the elevated diner vibes and stay for the Princess Pancakes with raspberry jam and almond marzipan or the Green Eggs & Ham with roasted mushrooms and spinach and Hollandaise sauce.
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Website | 2499 San Bruno Ave.
Established in 1978, this long-standing joint in the Portola neighborhood is just as iconic as its movie moniker. With a counter lined with swivel chairs and an opposite wall brimming with photos commemorating the eatery's history, Breakfast at Tiffany's is a warm and inviting spot to get your perfect breakfast fix of buttermilk pancakes, benedicts and tater tot skillets. From a loaded breakfast burrito to Tiffany's Original Hash Browns, each dish is thoughtful as it is delicious.
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Website | 2101 Sutter St.
Self-described as "laid-back" and "unpretentious," Sweet Maple is a neighborhood restaurant and coffeehouse defined by its American breakfast and brunch menu with a tinge of Asian influence. The spot is home to the world-famous, extra-thick, sweet and spicy Millionaire's Bacon, which is slow-cooked with brown sugar and spicy peppers. If your mouth is somehow not watering yet, Sweet Maple also serves up a seriously unparalleled Big Hip deep-fried French Toast with pure Vermont maple syrup and butter, bottomless mimosas and bloody Marys.
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Website | 2401 Polk St.
This American diner serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, meaning you can quench your diner food craving at all hours of the day at The New Spot on Polk. Plates filled to the brim with french toast, waffles and eggs benedict and casual booth seating are a few facets of the eatery. For the more enterprising eater, The New Spot on Polk offers a charbroiled burger dubbed The Ultimate—with three quarter-pound patties, bacon, an array of cheese, a fried egg, and more, it's exactly the task it sounds like.
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Website | 1807 4th St.
This Berkeley establishment has all the trinkets and features that make a diner, a diner. From the 1957 Seaburg jukebox and burgundy red Naugahyde booths to the gray linen Formica countertop and gigantic piece of cherry pie—yes, you read that right—suspended over the counter, Bette's Oceanview Diner is as classic as an American diner can get. Despite these standard markers of a diner, Bette's flavorsome dishes are anything but ordinary. From an array of grilled sandwiches to the New York Bagel Platter, there's certainly something on the menu for every palate. Most importantly, don't forget to pick up a lemon bar or a slice of pie on your way out.
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Website | 800 Divisadero St.
Hospitable and hearty are two words that come to mind when looking at the window reading "Breakfast All Day" and the discernible red canopy over Eddie's Cafe. The burgundy swivel chairs lined up against the white counter and the surrounding pictures and posters on the walls make the joint feel familiar and sheltered— a few crucial qualities when visiting a diner. Eddie's is known for its signature eccentric mugs and straightforward dishes from the grill, like eggs, crunchy homemade hash browns and homemade biscuits and jelly. With busy lines extending outside the storefront on weekend mornings, the eatery is a beloved city treasure and a certainly worthy experience.
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Website | 1748 Church St.
Three words. Hash Brown Hill. Topped with melted cheddar, sour cream, olives, avocado and green onions, that is the kind of dish you can only find at Toast Eatery. Open daily for outdoor seating and takeout, this spot with a neon light clock and sparkling swivel chairs alongside a metal counter emanates true diner vibes. For an immeasurable supply of coffee and decadent French toast or Nutella Belgian waffles topped with powdered sugar and fruit, Toast Eatery is undeniably worth a visit.
Photography by: Photo by R. Mac Wheeler/Unsplash
