Diners offer something that’s in short supply in the Bay Area’s restaurant industry: history. They’re a vestige of late 19th century American gastronomy, and their basic promise is one of affordability, amiable hospitality and uncomplicated food: pancakes, patty melts, hashbrowns. During periods of instability and postwar boom times, diners were a consistent place where you could lounge in a booth while nursing endless coffee.
Over the last few decades, however, the region’s stalwarts have been vanishing or forced to evolve. Many have increased prices or started pouring mimosas. But there is hope: The Bay Area gained three contemporary diners that emphasize fancy ingredients. The results are mixed. Some look the part with trinkets galore, but lack the honed service that inspires return visits. The newcomer with the best cooking is Goldenette, which joins this guide, along with a handful of others in San Francisco, San Jose and Alameda.
Article continues below this ad
Now is the time to visit your favorite diner, which surely misses you.
TakeoutIndoor seatingVegetarian options
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Art’s Cafe in the Inner Sunset has just one long lunch counter, which stretches from one end of the narrow space to the other. The American breakfast options are plentiful here, but the standouts are the Korean-influenced dishes like a bulgogi beef sandwich that uses crisp hash browns as bread. Amp up the flavor and ask for a side of spicy-sweet gochujang sauce, made from flavorful Korean chile paste. The lunch offerings range from burgers to club sandwiches to bibimbap. The restaurant’s small quarters give it an intimate feel while the postcards beneath the bar’s glass display create communal history.
Price: $Payment options: Credit cards acceptedDrinks: Soft drinksHours: Breakfast and lunch Tuesday-SundayPhone: 415-665-7740WebsiteRelated story
TakeoutIndoor seatingVegetarian options
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Half of Butter Cream is a doughnut shop and bakery; the other half is an old-school diner. Pancakes here have an attractive lift and can be ordered individually or by the stack. The bacon is crackly, as are the potato pancakes, coin-size spuds with a latke-like crunch. The bright, pink-and-white space is a favorite of locals and seniors in Napa Valley. Make sure to check out the doughnut selection. The maple bacon doughnuts tend to be the first to go, but the trusty glazed is always plushy, sweet and available.
Also featured on Top Doughnuts.
Price: $Payment options: Credit cards acceptedDrinks: Soft drinksHours: Breakfast and lunch dailyPhone: 707-255-6700Website
TakeoutDeliveryIndoor seating
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
When owner Eddie Naser closed his brunch spot Toast Eatery, he teamed up with chef Wes Rowe (of the now-closed WesBurger N’ More) to replace it. The new restaurant, Goldenette, is the strongest of all the contemporary diners to open in the Bay Area this year — and the pinkest. The interior could be the Pink Panther’s house, with its pink patterned wallpaper and dishware, and a glitter bomb went off inside the restroom. Rowe’s devotion to burgers comes through with his love letter to the patty melt, buttered toasted rye slotted with double smashed patties, grilled onions and a tart Russian sauce. It includes a side — the correct choice is tots — and pairs well with a banana milkshake, which is smooth like a Marvin Gaye ballad. If you have a hankering for breakfast, go with the breakfast burrito stuffed with a yielding chile relleno and soft scrambled eggs, or a single chubby pancake that’s as fluffy as a short stack.
TakeoutDeliveryIndoor seating
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Grubstake Diner has perhaps the most charming setting of the genre: a train car. A diner with many lives, it began as Orient Express in 1937, adopted its current name in the 1960s and changed ownership in 1989. Those owners introduced Portuguese fan-favorites such as caldo verde before Jimmy Consos bought it in 2015. A Pride flag above the building alludes to the diner’s history as a gathering place for the city’s queer community, who, for decades, viewed it as a “de facto afterparty” spot, according to Eater SF. (In a rarity for San Francisco, Grubstake is open as late as 4 a.m.) You might come for the Portuguese dishes, but don’t sleep on the steak and eggs, some of the best you can get at a diner in the city — the secret is a pat of garlic-infused butter. Note: The restaurant offers table service, though you must pay when placing an order.
Price: $Payment options: Credit cards acceptedHours: Breakfast and lunch dailyPhone: 415-228-8420WebsiteOrder online
Article continues below this ad
Outdoor seatingIndoor seatingVegetarian optionsTakeout
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Established in 1994, Mason Diner (also known as Café Mason) has patrons that come for Belgian waffles with freshly whipped cream, others for the croque madame and a few for the mimosas. In other words, it borrows elements from European cafés and brunch spots, but its hospitality is as kind as an old-school diner. Try the chorizo benedict, tangy sausage (from local purveyor Molinari & Sons) crumbled over an English muffin, then topped with poached eggs and hollandaise. The menu even has something for the Erewhon crowd, a green smoothie that blends bananas, apples and spinach.
Price: $Drinks: Beer, wine, soft drinksHours: Breakfast and lunch dailyPhone: 415-544-0320Website
TakeoutIndoor seatingVegetarian options
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
For over 30 years, New Taraval has been serving up breakfast fare and kind smiles. The menu includes atypical options like a meat-heavy Irish breakfast as well as a rich loco moco, a beef patty showered in brown gravy. Each table is armed with an arsenal of condiments, some of which are made in-house like green and red hot sauces. Newer items like a smashburger keep the place young. Here, the food comes second to the homey atmosphere and friendly service; you might make a new friend.
Price: $Payment options: Credit cards acceptedDrinks: Soft drinksHours: Breakfast and lunch dailyPhone: 415-731-3816WebsiteRelated story
TakeoutOutdoor seatingIndoor seatingVegetarian options
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
As soon as you slide into the charming realm of Oceanview Diner in Berkeley, order the souffle pancake — give the seasonal fruit option a shot. It takes 40 minutes, but you won’t want to miss it. The dough is so light that it verges on inflatable; its top looks like a crown studded with jewel-like fresh fruit, such as tart strawberries and crunchy pears. Go for the full-on pancake breakfast experience and also order the German potato pancakes, pan-fried spuds that register somewhere between hash browns and latkes. (The dish is topped with sour cream and comes with a side of applesauce.) The diner, known as Bette’s for 40 years before an ownership change, has an infectious, breezy atmosphere that shows in the friendly service, plus classic trappings like checkered floors and red vinyl booths.
Price: $Payment options: Credit cards acceptedDrinks: Beer and wineHours: Breakfast and lunch dailyPhone: 510-644-3230WebsiteRelated story
Vegetarian optionsOutdoor seatingIndoor seatingTakeout
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Despite what its name would have you believe, Ole’s Waffle House, the nearly 100-year-old diner in Alameda, makes some of the Bay Area’s finest pancakes. Whereas its thin and crispy waffles quickly wilt with the addition of toppings, the hotcakes act as fluffy sponges for butter and syrup. But pancakes are only a fraction of Ole’s appeal. Its patrons come to witness the living history, the poofy-hatted burly chef memorabilia, the neon lights, the self-referential art — a painting of cows makes a cameo in the background of a separate painting of a waiter. Service is notably seasoned: Staff top off coffee mugs with refreshing regularity, interactions nearly always end with “honey” and food arrives promptly, even during a rush.
Price: $Payment options: Credit cards acceptedDrinks: Cocktails, soft drinksHours: Breakfast, lunch and dinner dailyPhone: 510-522-8108Website
Article continues below this ad
TakeoutOutdoor seatingIndoor seatingVegetarian options
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Palo Alto Creamery, formerly known as Peninsula Fountain and Grill, has been comforting bellies in Palo Alto with thick milkshakes and house-made bread since 1923. The interior of the old-school diner is styled with retro memorabilia, red leather booths and dark wood accents. Order hash brown pie, a breakfast combo plate consisting of eggs, bread, and shredded spuds loaded with bacon, bell peppers and cheese. For lunch, the tuna sandwich is a reliable standby. If you have a sweet tooth, try a milkshake, which comes with an extra serving in an aluminum cup.
Price: $Payment options: Credit cards acceptedDrinks: Soft drinksHours: Breakfast and lunch Monday-SaturdayPhone: 650-323-3175Website
TakeoutDeliveryOutdoor seatingIndoor seatingVegetarian options
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Nestled in a less-trafficked part of Emeryville, Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe is a reliable source for breakfast fare. The laid-back restaurant, with its blue booths and zigzag patterned floors, opened in 2002 and briefly closed in 2022 before reopening under new ownership. Since then, Rudy’s has adopted a counter-service model. The menu is long but full of worthwhile entries like thick challah French toast, eggs Benedict with chorizo and peppers, and a rich meatloaf sandwich. It’s an ideal spot for brunch, offering drinks that range from mimosas to boozy milkshakes like the Shakin’ Jessie, flavored with Guinness and coffee.
Price: $Payment options: Credit cards acceptedDrinks: Full barHours: Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Wednesday-SaturdayPhone: 510-594-1221WebsiteOrder online
TakeoutOutdoor seatingVegetarian optionsDelivery
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Janelle Bitker/S.F. Chronicle
Sam’s Log Cabin in Albany only offers outdoor patio seating, which makes the joint feel like a backyard reimagining of the format. The kitchen is housed in an actual log cabin that was built in the 1930s; the building has had many lives over the course of its history, but Sam’s has been a breakfast spot since the 1990s. It’s a great place to visit on a sunny day to admire the vast outdoor area and charming wood pergola surrounded by verdant vegetation. The menu skews hearty with excellent cornmeal pancakes and satisfying corned beef hash. For lunch, the weighty Reuben sandwich is a worthwhile option. Make sure to ask about the weekly specials like seasonal pancakes and scones.
Price: $Payment options: Credit cards acceptedDrinks: Beer and wineHours: Breakfast and lunch Tuesday-SundayPhone: 510-558-0502WebsiteOrder online
TakeoutIndoor seatingVegetarian optionsDelivery
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Earlier this year, Sequoia Diner in Oakland changed ownership and much of the staff departed. While the hospitality isn’t as generous as before, most of the menu remains intact and the cooking continues to be sharp. You can still order cups of specialty coffee and Thai iced tea with a layer of coconut milk while sitting in a minimalist wood booth. The Belgian waffle, meanwhile, persists as a crispy, airy dream. Some former seasonal standouts such as the loco moco, a bed of short grain rice topped with a thick patty and crisp-edged eggs, are now everyday offerings. Weekend wait times are as high as ever — roughly half an hour during a rush — though the new management added a digital waitlist, which makes it easier to track line progression.
Article continues below this ad
TakeoutIndoor seatingVegetarian options
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Cesar Hernandez/S.F. Chronicle
Not much has changed inside the Mission District’s St. Francis Fountain, which claims to be San Francisco’s oldest diner at more than 100 years old. Even though it’s under new ownership since last year, its look and traditions have to be preserved since it’s part of the city’s Legacy Business Program. Posters of past menu items like cottage cheese salad and ham sandwiches still hang on the walls. You can still purchase candy. And you can still grab a spot on the lunch counter or slide into a wood booth. Simplicity continues to be the diner’s strong suit, as witnessed with the fluffy, buttery flapjacks. Try the patty melt on marbled rye bread; the meat is juicy and threads of grilled red onions add savoriness.
Price: $Payment options: Credit cards acceptedDrinks: Soft drinksHours: Breakfast and lunch dailyPhone: 415-826-4200Website
TakeoutDeliveryVegetarian optionsOutdoor seatingIndoor seating
You don’t have to think too hard at Uncle John’s Pancake House, where the name of the restaurant tells you exactly what to order. You can try pancakes with infused batters such as chocolate and blueberry, but the classic is the way to go — they feel as buttery and as indulgent as a biscuit. In the 1950s, the Holder family opened Uncle John’s in the Bay Area, expanding across the region (and Toledo, Ohio) — many of those locations closed or assumed new names such as Millbrae Pancake House; John Holder and Matt Westly relaunched the business in Campbell in 2016, before expanding to San Jose in 2021. Of the two locations, the latter’s dining room looks a little more traditional, with its 1950s-style counter and checkered floors. It tends to fill up with a Latino clientele noshing on chilaquiles and huevos rancheros.
Price: $Drinks: Soft drinksHours: Breakfast and lunch dailyPhone: 408-724-9835WebsiteOrder onlineAdditional locations: 2125 S Winchester Blvd., CampbellWishlist
Your saved items will show up here!
Insights on Northern California’s culinary scene, from the Chronicle Food team
By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.
To come up with the price designations, the Chronicle estimated what two people would spend on a meal without drinks or dessert.
$: up to $50
$$: $51-$100
$$$: $101-$250
$$$$: more than $250
Reporting by Cesar Hernandez / Associate Restaurant Critic. Visuals by Chronicle Photo Editors, Photographers, and Contributors. Editing by Janelle Bitker / Deputy Director, Content Strategy & Utility Journalism and Matt Buchanan / Editor, Food + Wine. Production by Vanessa Labi / Assistant editor, Food + Wine. Audience engagement by Jess Shaw / Director of Audience and Elisabeth Smith / Senior Digital Producer. Project management by Brittany Schell / Hearst DevHub. Design and development by Vivien Ngo / Hearst DevHub, Miko Deloso / Hearst DevHub, Danielle Rindler / Hearst DevHub, Evan Wagstaff / Hearst DevHub. Powered by the Hearst DevHub.
Sep 29, 2026
Cesar Hernandez covers the Bay Area’s food scene as Restaurant Critic. Before coming to the Chronicle, he wrote about food and culture in Los Angeles, and in 2020 was a part of the L.A. Taco team that won the James Beard Foundation’s Emerging Voice Award. At the Chronicle, he won the 2025 Sigma Delta Chi Award for food and restaurant journalism. As an anonymous critic, he tries to experience restaurants like a typical diner, making reservations under different names. He doesn’t accept free meals. The Chronicle pays for all of his research.
How to reach Cesar
To send tips or feedback, email cesar.hernandez@sfchronicle.com.
Dining and Cooking