The Ferry Building is a weekday morning treasure trove in and of itself (special mention to nearby Marla Bakery for morning pastries, and Gott’s Roadside for a quick breakfast sandwich), but the best spot for a sit-down breakfast is Boulette’s Larder. Choose from very local produce used in eggs, oatmeal, toasts, and more.
Weekday breakfast hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
2 Brenda’s French Soul Food
Brenda’s breakfast is no joke. The egg dishes all come with potato hash or grits and toast or a biscuit (pick the biscuit), and there’s a beignet flight so that you don’t have to choose between the four on the menu. You can’t go wrong with the Hangtown Fry (crispy oyster, bacon & scallion scramble) or the brioche French toast with butter pecan sauce.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
3 Ella’s
Everything at Ella’s is made from scratch, which is a big part of the reason why there’s always a line for brunch on the weekends. You’ll have a much better chance of getting a seat during the week, though the menu isn’t as extensive as on Saturdays and Sundays. But you can still get the popular banana pancakes, plus there’s corned beef hash, which isn’t even usually available on the weekends. Beyond that, there are plenty of pastries (three types of croissants, danishes, and fresh baked sticky buns) to keep you happy.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
4 Home Plate
Home Plate is an unassuming and affordable down home breakfast joint that’s worth a trip to the Marina. The menu is huge and includes frittatas, omelets, scrambles, pancakes, waffles, French toast, and benedicts, so be prepared to make some tough decisions all before (or during) your first coffee of the day. Highlights include the free (yes, free) homemade scones and jam, and the very friendly service.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
5 Just For You Cafe
Would you like your eggs with a grilled catfish filet or a pork chop? Or would you prefer a big breakfast burrito smothered in chili con carne? Or perhaps some pancakes or French toast hot off the griddle? And if you don’t have anywhere to go after, maybe also a pint-sized mimosa. Because Just For You Cafe can provide that all. When you’re ready to go, order a loaf of the cinnamon raisin house baked bread to take home. Because why not?
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
6 Mama’s on Washington Square
Bring cash to this family-owned spot that opened its doors 50 years ago and has had lines out the door ever since. The food justifies the wait (which may be a little shorter if you get there right when it opens), especially the old-fashioned buttermilk pancakes and all of the benedicts. Only bummer about eating there Monday through Friday? The Dungeness Crab specials are only offered on the weekend.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
7 Outerlands
The pressure’s on to get Outerlands’ weekday breakfast because if you arrive too late, the daily housemade pastries, almond butter toast, and cornbread benedict (fried egg, avocado, cotija, rajas cream, cilantro) might already be sold out. It’s worth the early morning trek to the Outer Sunset, though, to enjoy this breakfast — especially since 9 a.m. on a Tuesday really isn’t that early at all.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 9 a.m. until sold out
8 Park Chow
If you’re playing hooky to spend a day in Golden Gate Park or if you just want a spot where you can eat breakfast with your pup, Park Chow has you covered. There are lots of eggs and griddle dishes (the organic chicken sausage scramble and Marion’s cottage cakes are both favorites) as well as plenty of healthier options, like fruit and granola. The hardest part will be resisting a piece of the famous pie for dessert since “dessert” isn’t really a thing that happens after breakfast.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
9 Plow
Plow’s weekday breakfast menu is just as indulgent as its weekend brunch, with options like lemon ricotta pancakes, a fried egg breakfast sandwich, and The Plow (two eggs with choice of house made pork sausage patties, Nueske’s bacon, or chicken apple sausage, two lemon ricotta pancakes and Plow potatoes), but there are also a few “healthier” options, like three-grain porridge and chia seed pudding for those who like to save their gluttony for the weekend.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
10 Pork Store Cafe
Sometimes you need a greasy spoon breakfast even on a Monday. Pork Store Café and its huge portions is there to deliver you just that and, best of all: there’s rarely a wait during the week. Grab a spot at the counter if you can, because watching the cooks whip up dishes like the Pork Store special (two pork chops served with two eggs, hash browned potatoes, and homemade biscuit or toast) and eggs in a tasty nest (two eggs nestled in a bed of hashed browns with bacon, grilled green peppers, fresh tomatoes, onions & garlic topped with cheddar cheese and served with biscuits) is non-stop entertainment while you wait for your own plate to appear.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
11 Precita Park Café
This casual Bernal Heights cafe is the perfect place for a working breakfast (solo or with a colleague) though you may have to wait a bit for a table. Bonus: You can sleep late (or just want breakfast for lunch) and still order the tastiest meal of the day. There’s granola with fruit and yogurt and organic oatmeal if you want something classic and healthy or options like the lox scramble or the Precita egg sandwich (cheddar, tomato, pancetta on pain de mie or Leadbetter’s English muffin) if you’re looking for heartier fare. And there’s free Wifi and plenty of coffee options to keep you fueled.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
12 Rose’s Cafe
Have you ever wanted a pizza for breakfast? Do just that at Rose’s Cafe — there’s a ham and egg or smoked salmon option — or choose from more traditional morning fare like granola, hash, and scrambled eggs. The loveliest place to sit at this Union Street charmer is on the enclosed sidewalk patio, so if it’s not too foggy, park yourself outside.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
13 Super Duper Burger
When you don’t have time to sit down for a long breakfast, but still want something other than cold cereal (zzzz), Super Duper is the place to go for breakfast sandwiches made using farm-fresh organic eggs, cheddar, and your choice of bacon or sausage. If you’re especially hungry, go for the super combo: a breakfast sandwich, three mini donuts, and large Four Barrel coffee, all for just eight bucks.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 783 Mission, 721 Market Street, 2201 Chesnut: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 346 Kearny: 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; 98 Mission: 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
14 Sweet Maple
Top three reasons to love Sweet Maple’s breakfast: 1. Millionaire’s bacon (bacon baked in brown sugar with cayenne and red & black pepper). 2. Four different breakfast pizzas. 3. Bottomless mimosas seven days a week for $18. There’s also a huge selection of benedicts and scrambles, eight different “morning sandwiches,” and even a few healthy choices. Just maybe save the bottomless mimosas for a Wednesday when you don’t have back-to-back meetings.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
15 Tartine Manufactory
The lines are legendary at the original Tartine Bakery on Guerrero, but you can now head to the brand new, glorious Tartine Manufactory for a taste of the same decadent, fresh fare, but with less of a wait and more options. Owners Liz Prueitt and Chad Robertson made an all-new breakfast menu of pastries (many that are gluten-free), breakfast sandwiches, toast, and eggs, alongside the brand’s own coffee. The light in the space is dreamy, so you may never want to leave.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: Monday, Wednesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
16 Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen
Breakfast is served all day at this modern Jewish deli, where you can get contemporary takes on the food you grew up eating, like pastrami and eggs or a crispy pastrami breakfast sandwich. Want something a little heartier? The entire menu is available from the start, so you could order matzah ball soup or a reuben, should you so desire. Wise Sons bakes all of its breads and pastries in house, so you should probably grab a challah or chocolate babka to go, too.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
17 Zazie
The good news is that Zazie serves its famous brunch on weekdays. The bad news is that the lines are still pretty brutal. The wait is worth it, though, once you’re sitting on the back patio feasting on the Pierre Noir (poached eggs with bacon and tomatoes provençales) or the miracle pancakes or the croque madame or the eggs Mexico (scrambled eggs with chorizo, white cheddar, roasted peppers, salsa fresca) or the … well, you get it.
Weekday Breakfast Hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
