Top San Francisco Brunch Spots

Description:

This huge Shanghai-style restaurant features clean linens, good service and an outstanding array of dishes. The menu runs several pages and there are always a good number of daily specials available, in addition to fabulous Dim Sum ordered from rolling carts. You could probably eat here every day for a month and always have something new. The Deep-fried Fishcakes are done to crispy perfection on the outside and seasoned with just the right mix of garlic, peppers and seaweed. The Chicken Soup is also noteworthy both as a light lunch in itself or a starter for one of the wonderful noodle entrees that come with a variety of toppings. For something a little more fancy, the Wine-Marinated Squab, served cold, makes for a piquant dining experience.

Our Local Expert Says:

Don't miss this "new" San Francisco institution. Inside, you'll find fantastic foods and crafts local to the area, and outside on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, the Farmers Market brings together local growers to sell their tasty fruits and vegetables.

Description:

While ferries still run from this historic building, it's also been transformed into a veritable shrine to food. The San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace is chockablock with eateries, specialty culinary stores, and gift shops. Dining highlights include the mouth-watering burgers at Taylor's Refresher, the decadent sandwiches at Lulu Petite (the egg salad with truffle-artichoke pesto on brioche is truly the nectar of the gods), and the Vietnamese-inspired deliciousness of SF's legendary Slanted Door. Shopping for some special culinary treats? Stock up on loads of rare mushrooms and truffle salt at Far West Fungi, the finest fromage at local fave Cowgirl Creamery's Artisan Cheese Shop, and creative chocolate flavor combinations Rechiutti Confections. Want to sample local farmers' bounty? The San Francisco Farmer's Market convenes behind the Ferry Building every Tuesday and Saturday, and features stalls upon stalls of produce, meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods, and prepared foods (we love the tamales and crepes, but everything is tasty). Vendors are friendly and always willing to allow shoppers a sample taste or a detailed explanation of farming practices. After all that munching, take a brisk walk on the Embarcadero past piers and views of the Bay Bridge.

Description:

Well known throughout town as the undisputed queen of breakfasts, this restaurant's acclaim means you're likely to wait in line up to an hour on weekends. But midweek and in the wee hours of morning, it's possible to slide onto a counter or table seat in the colorful split dining room and lose yourself in outstanding and generous servings of chicken hash, crisped to perfection and served with eggs any way you like them, with a side of fluffy buttermilk biscuits. Pancakes, omelets, and the short list of other breakfast essentials are equally revered. Alas, service can be woefully slow, but at least the busboys and -gals are quick to fill coffee cups. Come lunchtime, solid entrees like salads, chicken potpie, and grilled salmon with mashed potatoes remind you what's great about American cooking.

Description:

A quaint Parisian vibe prevails--from street-side tables flanking the entrance to a mint-and-white tiled floor inside and framed French posters lining the dining room's brick wall. Beyond a semi-exposed kitchen awaits a two-tiered patio surrounded by flowers and foliage. Slightly quirky waitstaff provide upbeat service to a crowd of families and first dates.

Description:

The loyal regulars of this brunch  mecca know that the often-long waits are worth it. While hungry couples and eager families order at the counter prior to being seated, and the outdoor bathroom can seem daunting, the ever-smiling service will brighten any mood--even before morning coffee. The sparse country-style decor belies the gourmet goods--this place caters to the breakfast epicure with a big appetite. Fluffy "m'omelettes" are perfectly cooked without a speck of brown, bulging with fillers like pancetta and garlicky cheese. Made with freshly baked breads, the many French toast offerings--Kugelpuph, with cinnamon-swirled brioche, or Apple Pan Dore, crispy baguette slices and warm apples in a light butter-lemon sauce, are equally tempting.

Description:

This bistro, which is more like a bakery, has gained loads of recognition since its opening in 2002. This little place, consisting of a few tables with vases of fresh flowers, lends a countryside ambience. To add to this experience, the aroma of freshly baked cakes and buns fills the air. The mouth-watering lemon cream tarts and delightful Morning Buns with cinnamon and orange are a must have. Here you'll find a wide range of delectable pastries.