best breakfast in SF

I am so tired of hearing that Sears is the best breakfast in SF....
SO not true.
Hands down the winner is Dottie's True Blue Cafe. It is on Jones Street between Geary and O'farrell. Not the greatest neighborhood---in the heart of the Tenderloin, but so worth the walk or cab ride. If you are a business traveller staying in Union Square then you should mosey on over to Dottie's.
The best french toast, homemade preserves, freshly baked bread each morning. All of it cooked by one guy behind a counter. It is without a doubt the finest breakfast (next to charlies sandwich shoppe in boston) that I have had the pleasure of eating.
It is a SF gem...not to be missed.
It opens at 7:30 am five days a week. you should call them to see which two days they are closed. It may be Tuesdays and Wednesdays that they are closed.
A must visit when staying in SF.
I have been going there for over ten years and crave it as soon as my plane lands at SFO !

It's Tops Coffee Shop on Market Street is my favorite SF breakfast diner. Their scrambled eggs with cheese is prepared exactly as I make my own.

can you tell me exactly where Tops is in SF?
I would like to check it out the next time i am in SF.

I liked Home Plate a whole lot when I visited. Scones for breakfast.

My wife and I had breakfast at Sears last Valentines Day (it just happened to be around the corner from our hotel), and it was...perfectly nice. Nothing earth-shattering. On the other hand, I frankly haven't had many particularly outstanding meals in SF, a city that's always been considerably less wonderful than the locals would have you believe.

To Lucky Bishop:

You really have to go to Dottie's True Blue Cafe for breakfast...you will be blown away--and that's a promise.

It's Tops is located at 1801 Market Street.

Personally i prefer the breakfasts on the penisula or in the east bay The Rockridge Cafe comes to mind----SF is for asian---Dim sum brunch!!!!Thai for lunch and Sushi for dinner!!

I grew up in San Francisco and I still lament the passing of the Ahren's Bakery Coffee Shop. That place was heaven and had a killer, old diner feel. There was ALWAYS a line for lunch though I don't recall breakfast, but I'm sure it kicked major...you know what...too.
BUT if you are ever across the bay in Alameda go to Marti's on Encinal.
Everything they serve is great. Go for the Swedish pancake breakfast and you'll find pancakian nirvanah. People go on and on about Ole's on Park but it's no where NEAR Marti's for quality of the food, or relaxing atmosphere.
I agree with the fan of Rockridge Cafe though. Do they still do that maple butter on the waffles?
Oh yeah, and after Rockridge Cafe, trot on up College Ave. o La Farine and have a Morning Bun.

Pork Store Cafe on Haight St.
Good, Cheap and Nice people

I miss SF for DimSum.. lived there for 5 years and would go for dimsum at least 3 times a month. Harbour village, Yank Sings.. those were the good days

Rose's Cafe for brunch and the Boulangerie on 2325 Pine St for the best french pastry.

Yank Sing is great, The only DimSum restaurant where you can get Peking Duck from a cart.
I would sit their for hours on a Sunday and read the paper alone and never feel lonely

quote:

Originally posted by IansMom

I miss SF for DimSum.. lived there for 5 years and would go for dimsum at least 3 times a month. Harbour village, Yank Sings.. those were the good days

I used to work off of Pine and Montgomery and would walk to Yank Sing's for lunch in the little to go area...

Isn't that their new location in the atrium style food court? I saw that on my last trio to SF, I ate in the restaurant with some clients, but thought that would be a great grab and go for the locals.

10x10.. I haven't been to SF in 6 years now... I need to go soon.. My sister is moving back to CA from DC and I'm taking me a vacation with Ian I think... She's moving to Santa Monica.. but I think I'll swing up to SF along the way

IansMom...Have a good time in Ca. If you are looking for an anti Roodfood meal in Santa Monica, try Valentino's at 3115 Pico Blvd. Fantastic Italian Food.

In LA for DimSum try Empress Pavillion in Chinatown at 988 N. Hill St. Also serves very good seafood.

And in LA my favorite Chinese restaurant, Yang Chow, also in Chinatown at 819 N. Broadway. This is a Roadfood find. Fantastic Dumplings and a dish called Slippery Shrimp...unbelievable.

10X10.. I lived in LA for a few years.. I still think Monteray park has the best chinese... Sam Woo BBQ... to die for. I miss some of the sights.. I guess I'll have to rent a car because Sister doesn't drive..

IansMom...I agree about Mont. Park for DimSum, Ocean Star is great as well.

Theres a few great places I know of in SF for breakfast, one is Delancey St restaurant, which is run by ex-cons, great food great prices, it's on the Embarcadaro and Delancey St going towards China Basin. Another place is right down the street near the piers there... forgot the name but it's run by the Pappadopalous family.. great greasy road food.. cheap. Another place to spend a bit more is Town's End. Great great restaurant and bakery the food is wonderful. It's on Townsend St and Embarcadero in the South Beach Marina Apts.

quote:

Originally posted by The Fabulous Moolah

can you tell me exactly where Tops is in SF?
I would like to check it out the next time i am in SF.

Head out Market Street (away from Downtown) and just past Van Ness you'll go under the freeway. As you do, look to your left, and you'll see the "It's Tops Diner." Great pancakes: soft, moist, thin, and made to be riddled with blueberries--not thick and bready like the ones at Dottie's.
By the way, I happen to agree that Dottie's is a great place, but the food is a little, how-shall-we-say, NORMAL. There are so many other good choices for breakfast in the San Francisco Bay area-and I'm not talking about tourist-joints like Sears, where the service is indifferent and the attraction is the presentation.
At Dottie's, the one really incredible thing they make is truly-perfect scones. They're too filling to have WITH breakfast, but they're a perfect hit-and-run treat for the ride to the airport. They texture is so RIGHT, each small brittle bite seems to expand with the moisture of your mouth. And if he's made them that day with Golden Raisins, you're in for a treat. Dried fruit in California is so fresh, it's only half-dried; not hard and chewy. And lightly baked in a scone, their sweet goodness is downright explosive!
THAT's the kind of thing you should be looking for when you eat in California: those Wonder-Foods we East Coasters rarely get to experience.

I'll have to dig through my notes and see if I can find the name of the place, but when I was in SF a few years ago I went to a great place not too far from the Mosconi Center (spelling?) that served a great Eggs Benedict but substituted Dunguness Crab for the Canadian Bacon. When I walked in the first morning I stopped by they were playing "Kung Fu Fighting" on the jukebox. Needless to say I went back again the next day.

quote:

Originally posted by Ballpark Roadtripper

What's wrong with Sears? I think it's wonderful, and a trip to SF wouldn't be the same without a stop at Sears.

Great food but lousy hours. Imagine, I went to get breakfast at 7AM and they were closed all day and the next day closed too.

I have to agree that Sear's is very underwhelming.

As I mentioned in another post, even if it is not road food, the breakfast buffet at the Ritz Carlton San Francisco was amazing a few years ago..hopefully, it has remained the same.

Here's my theory: If you are visiting SF and get up early enough for breakfast, you aren't really enjoying yourself. IMHO, this is a BRUNCH town, not a breakfast town. But I rarely eat out before LUNCH so what do I know? Still, if I WERE going to eat breakfast, I'd probably attempt to join the hordes at The Pork Store on Haight and for brunch I'd give serious consideration to Pomelo on Church out near 29th St.

quote:

Originally posted by The Fabulous Moolah

can you tell me exactly where Tops is in SF?
I would like to check it out the next time i am in SF.

Ain't that the place on the corner where McCoppin used to hit Market (I say "used to" because they are now putting in the off ramp for the Central Freeway there where it will cross Market and become the new Octavia Blvd)? It's directly across market from the newish Gay/Lesbian Center.

quote:

Originally posted by The Fabulous Moolah

To Lucky Bishop:

You really have to go to Dottie's True Blue Cafe for breakfast...you will be blown away--and that's a promise.

Lucky lives in Bastin so he'll never admit the wonders of SF

anyone know about Ella's for breakfast in SF ?
comments are appreciated.

quote:

Originally posted by BT

quote:

Originally posted by The Fabulous Moolah

can you tell me exactly where Tops is in SF?
I would like to check it out the next time i am in SF.

Ain't that the place on the corner where McCoppin used to hit Market (I say "used to" because they are now putting in the off ramp for the Central Freeway there where it will cross Market and become the new Octavia Blvd)? It's directly across market from the newish Gay/Lesbian Center.

I checked when I drove by this evening and that IS Tops.