San Francisco Comfort Food, Diners & Cheap Eats!
Good food doesn't always have to be pricey! This page is full of great
places to eat that will fit any budget... even a students! Whether you are looking for some San Francisco comfort food, a burrito or a burger, this will satisfy every late night and cheap eatin' crave! Taquerias & Deli'sClick here for a list of Taquerias & Deli's
Chow Castro | American/California Cuisine I LOVE CHOW! & to be honest.. so does everyone else! This is one of three locations and I have to say that this one is the best! Located a block south of Market on Church Street, this neighborhood gem serves up large quantities of great food at even better prices! Anything from sandwiches, salads, pizzas, & entrees, "but it's the international noodle dishes that set it apart from other moderately-priced cafes." (The fusili with Italian fennel sausage is my FAVORITE.. and the pizzas are so thin and crisp.. just PERFECT!)With most entrees under $10, it's easy to say "yes" to a few beers and a dessert! "Chow gives inexpensive food a good name." AOL City Guide Hours • Mon.-Thu. 11AM-11PM • Fri. 11AM-midnight • Sat. 10AM-midnight • Sun. 10AM-11PM 215 Church St San Francisco, CA 94114 Phone: 415-552-2469 View Map San Tung Chinese Restaurant No. 2 Inner Sunset | Chinese AKA: "that place with the crack chicken" In a perfect world every restaurant is known for at least one good dish... right? Well, that's definitely true for San Tung! And though the menu is long and plentiful- this casual, neighborhood Chinese restaurant serves chicken wings so addictive that it is often referred to as "that place with the crack chicken". "In a neighborhood filled with places to eat, even at 5:30 pm, San Tung is jam-packed and most people are eating the exact same things: dry-fried chicken wings in "wet" sauce, and boiled dumplings. Clearly this restaurant’s appeal is no secret. The dish found on virtually every San Tung table is the Original Dry-Fried Chicken wings- only $7.50. Honestly, these wings are where it's at! While excellent dumplings can be found at other Chinese restaurants around town, we have yet to try any chicken wings that can top these. And don't even think of ordering them without the "wet" sauce. The deep-fried wings are cooked a second time with a sweet sticky sauce that includes garlic, red pepper and ginger making them succulent and crispy at the same time. This is a crave-worthy dish you will want to return for again and again." SF Station Hours • Sunday- Tuesday 11am-9:30pm • Wednesday: Closed • Thursday- Saturday: 11am - 9:30pm 1031 Irving Street San Francisco, CA 415.242.0828 View Map Pork Store Cafe Upper Haight | Diner/Greasy Spoon "A lesson in controlled chaos. Sit at the bar and watch the magic of two cooks who have the "short order pick up" down to an art form. Great greasy eggs for a groggy morning." Mark Danziger, chef I think this is one of the best breakfast spots in the city, and so does the rest of the city. It is very normal to see a line out the door and down the block for Pork Store Cafe- any day of the week. The "morning-after mainstay for hung-over party-goers jonesin for some greasy grub. An all-day breakfast menu, stocked with starchy staples like enormous blueberry pancakes and hash browns served by the truckload, easily sate even the biggest appetites. And despite their name, there are also many veggie options." citysearch.com Hours • Mon-Fri 7am-3:30pm • Sat-Sun 8am-4pm 1451 Haight St. San Francisco 415-864-6981 View Map Sushi Zone Market/Castro | Sushi "It is rare to find cheap sushi, period, much less inexpensive sushi that is actually among the best in the city. Which is why it is worth waiting the hour it will take you to get one of the two tables or a seat at the nine-person sushi bar at Sushi Zone. There are those who claim that getting there just as the place opens or shortly before cuts the wait to half an hour, and it's a well-known fact that showing up any time after six ensures a two-hour wait. Still, Sushi Zone happens to be one of those rare spots that gets kudos from both sushi purists and lovers of the California roll. The restaurant uses real wasabi (none of that fake green paste) and its fish is of the highest quality. Sushi rolls incorporate surprising ingredients such as macadamia nuts, thinly sliced lime, and mango.Try the excellent striped bass and mango appetizer, the fresh ingredients complement the fish perfectly. All for less than $20 per person including the bar tab. Go when you're not too hungry to wait awhile and enjoy." -- Amy Westervelt Hours • Daily 5PM-10PM 1815 Market St San Francisco, CA 94103 Phone: 415-621-1114 View Map Burger Joint Mission | Burgers "With its bright red booths and turquoise, chrome-trimmed tables, and a menu full of burgers, fries, and shakes, Burger Joint looks like any other funky, 1950s-style San Francisco diner. The difference? Burgers are delicious but not greasy, made with all-natural Niman Ranch beef on toasted sesame buns; hot dogs are juicy and also made with Niman Ranch beef. Cheeseburgers are topped with white cheddar as opposed to Kraft originals, fries are hand cut from real potatoes, and thick shakes are made with Double Rainbow ice cream. Also separating this Burger Joint from any other is the extreme cleanliness of the kitchen and dining room, and prompt, friendly service. Be sure to bring cash and a good appetite." -- Amy Westervelt ~My side note: This place really is SUPER clean and sooooo good! I love the cheeseburgers! & it's centrally located to so many great bars that it's a definite late night spot! Hours • Sun.-Thu. 5:30PM-10PM • Fri.-Sat. 5:30PM-12AM 807 Valencia St San Francisco, CA 94110 Phone: 415-824-3494 View Map Bi–Rite Ice Creamery Dolores Park | Ice Creamery/Bakery "Bi-Rite Creamery is committed to creating ice cream in a responsible and sustainable manner. We are proud to be the first ice cream shop in San Francisco to use Straus Family Farms organic dairy to create our ice cream. We strive to create unique and exciting flavors that are made with local, organic or sustainable products. Straus Family Creamery, only 45 miles away, supplies all of our organic milk, cream and eggs used in the making of our ice cream. Our flavors rarely have more than 5 ingredients, no stabilizers, and nothing artificial. We make many of our own mix-ins to guarantee exceptional flavor and texture." www.biritecreamery.com This is not only a Ice Cream shop I recommend, it's one I look up to. They are leaders in environmentally friendly products and practices. Not to mention they have THE BEST ice cream in the city! "There's nothing better on a sunny Sunday than going to Dolores Park and savoring a double scoop of salted carmel ice cream from Bi-Rite." Mark Danziger, chef Hours • Open Daily 11am-10pm 3692 18th St San Francisco, CA 94110 415-626-5600 View Map Lettus Cafe Organic Marina | Organic/Vegetarian ""Why organic?" asks Lettus' menu. Because, the menu answers right back, "It tastes great, it's healthy, it's free from additives, and it's good for the earth." Hard to argue with this pristine cafeteria-with-class whose mission is to provide organic food to the mainstream. With menu items like mango chicken Lettus cups, roasted beet salad, and rice noodles with mixed vegetables in coconut lemon grass-lime broth, the Chestnut Street mainstream, at least, hasn't needed much arm-twisting to make this a regular stop. The menu has something for everyone with 10 sections that run the gamut from appetizers and make-your-own salads to paninis, smoothies and a kid's selection that offers a "grazer plate" with apple, carrot, celery, raisins and sliced cheddar cheese or almond butter." -- Martha Levison Hours • Mon-Fri. 7:30 AM-11:00 PM • Sat-Sun. 8:00 AM-11:00 PM 3352 Steiner St San Francisco, CA 94123 Phone: 415-931-2777 View Map Yuet Lee Border of China Town & North Beach | Authentic Chinese. The late night spot for fresh seafood, salt & pepper "anything" & great Chinese food! Yuet Lee is known for their salt & pepper squid, some crave the salt & pepper crab- my friend thinks "the soups are to die for but the salt & pepper pork (aka deep fried pork nuggets) is my favorite dish in the city." Mark Danziger, chef. So whatever it is you fancy Yuet Lee will please you all the way into the wee hours of the morning! They are open until 3am! Hours • 11am-3am • Closed Tuesday 1300 Stockton St San Francisco, CA 94133 415-982-6020 View Map Assab Western Addition | African/Ethiopian "Eritrea is a region of Ethiopia colonized by the Italians, which accounts for its slight variation from Ethiopian cuisine. That and the fact that Eritrean dishes are served with yogurt (a fortunate fact, considering that many dishes are cooked with jalapeno peppers and spicy sauces). Eating family-style is the way to go at this quaint East African outpost, combining three veggie or meat dishes with sides and injera (Eritrean bread – sort of like a crepe, but deceptively filling so watch out). For meat lovers we highly recommend the Kitfo, a very traditional dish consisting of ground beef, spices and homemade cottage cheese. The meat is traditionally served raw, but the dish is equally tasty with rare or fully cooked meat for those that aren’t into the raw beef thing. For vegetarians, tasty bits include the lentils and spinach and the okra. "-- Amy Westervelt ~My side note: If you're lookin for an intimate & unique experience with ethnic food in a price range that is fantastically cheap this is the place to go! If you have an open mind, do it! It's great! Hours • Mon.-Thu. 4-9:30PM • Tue.-Thu. 11AM-3PM • Fri.-Sat. 11AM-3PM, 4-10PM 2845 Geary Blvd San Francisco, CA 94118 Phone: 415-441-7083 View Map Blue Front Café Upper Haight | Mediterranean I have been eating at Blue Front Cafe for the past 8 years and it keeps getting better each time I go in! Located in the heart of the Haight, this faced-paced, low profile, family owned cafe serves up some of the best Mediterranean food in the city! Their menu is colorful and will suit ANY palate, so if you have picky eaters in your group- come here- it's sure to please even the toughest critic. They have anything from salads to gyros to cappuccinos to beer- and everything in between, not to mention this hot dipping sauce that is UNBELIEVABLE! They have plenty of seating but it goes quickly; and there are a few tables in the front that make for great people watching! Hours • Sundays - Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. • Fridays & Saturdays from 7:30 a.m.to 11:00 p.m. 1430 Haight St. San Francisco, CA 94117 415-252-5917 View Map Primo Patio Cafe SOMA/Ball Park | California-Caribbean "Anyone who works in the neighborhood has likely developed an addiction to "Primo Sauce," the mayonnaise-paprika-garlic salt dipping sauce that comes with everything on the menu. Not that the food needs gobs of sauce to be good. From Caribbean classics like the Jerk Chicken Sandwich to healthy salads, daily special quesadillas, and breakfast platters that combine eggs and potatoes with black beans and plantains, this cheery patio restaurant (all tables in the restaurant are on its covered patio, which is heated in winter) serves up a varied menu of fresh, delicious and reasonably priced food. When there's a game on at the nearby stadium, they stay open later than usual to serve Cuban and Caribbean beer and snacks on the patio." -- Amy Westervelt ~My side note: This area gets SOOO pumped when it's baseball season! It's the PERFECT place to sit and have a few cold ones and some good food that wont kill your wallet...especially on a warm day in San Francisco & The Giants are home.. yeah, this is definitely a great place to be! Hours • Mon.-Sun. 9AM-4PM • Tue.-Sat. 9AM-9PM 214 Townsend St San Francisco, CA 94107 Phone: 415-957-1129 View Map Good Luck Dim Sum Inner Richmond | Chinese/Dim Sum This is not your average Dim Sum restaurant with carts of har gao and pork buns. NOPE! Good Luck Dim Sum is unlike any other! Waiting in line (sometimes a very long one that stretches up Clement St.) is an experience in itself! & PLEASE know what you want or make your choices fast.. you don't want to upset the nice lady behind the counter! Pay an amount that you think just can't be right (because it's so cheap!) & walk out with your dim sum.. go have a picnic & enjoy! (Presidio Park is close by!). "The sesame balls, steamed pork or vegetable buns, and shrimp dumplings are especially good. This may be the best dim sum in the city, and it’s certainly the cheapest." AOL City Guide Hours • Daily 7AM-7PM 736 Clement St San Francisco, CA 94118 Phone: 415-386-3388 View Map Lee's Sandwiches Tenderloin | Vietnamese Not to be confused with Lee's Deli! Lee's Sandwiches is a native Bay Area Vietnamese sandwich shop and is one of my FAVORITE little pleasures! I was first introduced to this international delight by a dear friend of mine whom I used to work for. He would call up and say "you want Lee's" and all of us girls would squeal with joy, "yes..(ordering the same thing every time) Cafe Sua Da* & BBQ pork Banh Mi*!" Well, one girl would get the thai tea with tapioca pearls and one would get the young coconut water, and sometimes we'd get the pork and shrimp spring rolls w/ peanut sauce.. but either way.. we ALL loved Lee's! The Vietnamese shop is filled with bright lights and tons of pictures describing everything & numbers for easy ordering! The selection is so great and the packaged goods are so plentiful, not to mention CHEAP, it's impossible not to have a good time in there! *Translation: The traditional Vietnamese “Banh Mi” sandwiches are served on a 10" toasted French baguettes, with anything from vegetarian to BBQ pork to meatballs to fish pate. They're served with pickled carrots, daikon, onions, cilantro & mayo! YUMMY!!! Café Sua Da, a traditional Vietnamese-style French press coffee with condensed milk. (It's an addiction! I admit it! It's the best iced coffee drink in the world! Talk about a BOOST! Yeah, one of these and you'll be goin ALL DAY! Or all night!) Hours •Daily 6:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M. 625 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94109 Phone: (415) 929-6888 View Map Shalimar Downtown | Indian "In a three-block kingdom full of cheap and dodgy-looking Indian joints, Shalimar is king. A long-time city favorite, this tiny hole in the wall keeps regulars coming back for spicy, albeit greasy, plates full of lamb, chicken and lentils, and wonderful naan. Stand-out dishes include the chicken boti, saag gosht, seekh kebabs, and chicken tikka masala. Like most of the area's dives, it's BYOB at Shalimar, but that only adds to the experience. If you can't deal with a dirty table, this place is not for you, but if you can embrace the grime, dining at Shalimar is a quintessential San Francisco experience not to be missed." -- Amy Westervelt ~My side note: I love Indian food! And San Francisco has so much to choose from! Shalimar is definitely in the top 5 for me! Great food, great price! You can't go wrong with that! Hours • Daily 12PM-3PM, 5PM-12AM 532 Jones St San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: 415-928-0333 View Map The Cheese Steak Shop... Western Addition | Cheese Steaks A brief history... The Cheese Steak Shop is a San Francisco gem! They opened their doors in 1982 on Divisadero St. & still to this day they import their rolls from Amoroso's Bakery in Philadelphia. They also import their peppers and Tastykakes from Philly. They do this all to create the authentic and delicious Philadelphia Cheese Steak & to re-create the "back home" ambiance. "Best Cheese Steak West of Philadelphia" Food & Drink Magazine My side note: This is one of my ALL TIME favorites in San Francisco! The owners are so nice and the guys behind the counter are GREAT! Just know what you want when you get to the counter and be daring... try 1/2 sweet & 1/2 hot peppers! OOOOHHHHH.. sooooo good! There is a reason they have signs posted everywhere that read "CAUTION may be habit forming" They MOST definitely are! Hours • Mon-Thu 10am-9pm • Fri-Sat 10am-10pm • Sun 11am-9pm 1716 Divisadero Street San Francisco 415.346.3712 View Map Go from Comfort Food & Cheap Eats to San Francisco Restaurants Share your "MOST COMFORTING" Comfort Food RestaurantWe all have that one Comfort Food restaurant that we love.. whether it's a greasy spoon diner, a deli or a taqueria. Tell us about your "most comforting" comfort food restaurant What Other Visitors Have SaidClick below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
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