Pinecrest Diner Reviews

Really nice breakfast can be quiet busy maybe be a wait for a large group that want to sit together. The hash and omelette were really tasty portions are as you would expect, Coffey on tap

This is what you'd expect from a diner in downtown San Francisco. Good diner food with downtown SF prices. It was close to the hotel, and was arguably cheaper than any of the hotel options that were available. The place was doing a brisk business on the Saturday night i was there. Good food, big portions. Probably over ordered, my eyes were bigger than my stomach. A little gritty, but probably ok given the location. The place is open 24 hours only on the weekends, so keep that in mind if you get a little peckish. Get a seat by the windows to people watch. The cat girls were interesting to say the least.

Found this diamond by luck, fantastic old school American diner. The food is excellent as well as the most friendly staff, we ended up eating both breakfast and dinner as is great value in downtown San Francisco. Special Thanks to Christina, Santos and Moises for making us feel so welcome. Cannot recommend this diner high enough.

Good and tasty food for breakfast. Lots of variety choices. Everything is very big and tasty - the children loved the pancakes and the breakfast they choosed. Service is excellent and the manager ( who’s in the restaurant) gives also excellent and fast service. We loved the place day after day. In your visit in the city - don’t miss eating there!

Various savory and sweet dishes at reasonable prices prepared "minute" in front of you; hearty and delicious. Attentive and smiling staff.

Great autentic place from 1969 You can get healthy food there too ask for frugt instead of potatoes we love this place The food also comes so fast fun place from 1969

The dark-toned, old-fashioned and no-frills interior resembled a country diner, lending an authentic experience to tourists. It was located conveniently near Union Square and was quite popular when we visited. We were quickly seated at a booth near the back upon arrival. Although we had to wait a little while for the food to arrive, the restaurant was crowded at the time. The portions were huge and we especially loved the homemade chicken soup.

Very tasty food, excellent staff. Try to come early as it gets very busy! Good for breakfast but also a very nice place for a more casual dinner.

Wanted a diner type place with breakfast option at dinner. Had choc chip pancakes that were average at best. The chicken pesto sandwich was quite good though and fries too! $55 for two people seemed steep for the ambience and food.

A great discovery in SF, very good food and attention!! Supporting our Latinos is a way to encourage them to sugar with their hard work... All the spectacular attention, thank you all!!

If the waiting on staff had been any good, this place would have got a straight 5. We arrived about 7:00pm and had to wait about 10 minutes for a table, which was acceptable, however the waiting on guy was very abrupt, then whilst we waited at the table they proceeded to take orders from people who had arrived after us and when we asked for water, twice, we had to wait a further approx. 10 minutes to receive one. Once we had ordered, the food arrived promptly and it was good and plentiful. Hope you get better service than us if you visit

Great downtown diner near Union Square. Worth searching out and sitting at the bar watching the chefs cook is captivating. Had one of their omelettes which comes with hash browns. Excellent choice to pick from and very prompt service.

Visited the diner for an evening meal after reading positive reviews, hoping for an authentic experience. We were pleasantly surprised not having to queue. The service wasn’t great - we weren’t greeted by anyone, but beckoned to a table from a distance. The guy taking the drinks order wasn’t friendly in the slightest. Despite this, we really enjoyed the food (mozzarella sticks, omelette, spaghetti). Portions were decent and the food was reasonably priced.

Visited after having recommend to us by the concierge of The Sir Frances Drake in San Francisco,only being a short distance away,we soon found it,customers were queing round the block to go in,which is always a good sign,we didnt have to wait very long to be seated,food is great and reasnobly priced,would recommend...

A great place, very hearty breakfasts. Warm welcome and a special mention to Sandra who will be a little famous in France... a very nice meeting ... thank you Sandra 😘

Friendly efficient service from the staff. However the food did come up to my expectations.The menu had all that you would expect from a diner type of restaurant. I opted for the chili burger with fries, although freshly prepared the chili was lacking in flavour and looked like an unappealing mess on top of the burger, sadly it wasn’t pleasant. I couldn’t honestly recommend this restaurant.

A typical diner. Very crowded and stayed crowded. We just had burgers and fries. Char broiled hamburger patties and lots of fries. Service was just okay. It worked for our first night since we were tired from traveling all day.

The diner was near JW and had brunch there after a early morning flight in. Food portion was good and coffee refil was excellent. Had sit at the bar counter as I was travelling solo.

The food was great, and the service was really friendly. It gets super busy and we queued outside for a long time - nearly an hour - for breakfast on a Sunday but it was definitely worth the wait.

Went here twice, went in the evening first time, we had the southern fried chicken, wow it was a big dish, it tasted amazing, loved it, then second time was for breakfast, thus to was great, would recommend this place but if busy you will queue fir a seat but worth it

Stopped in here after a show and had possibly the best grilled bacon and cheese sandwich of my life. Milkshake tasted nice but was thin and service was spotty (but they were very busy). Did have to wait a long time for the check but overall enjoyed the food and vibe. Would return if/when in the area.

great little restaurant..large portions .would recommend sitting at bar watching food being prepared. fast friendly and good prices

Came in with friends to enjoy Chardonnay and nachos suprmeme. Enjoyed a lot. Service good, fast delivery of the food and the taste did not let us down.

The negative reviews are correct. This place is nasty nasty. Don't let "quaint" or "cozy" fool you for dirty and disgusting. There are lots of other diner options around.

This is a gem of a place if you’re looking for a hearty American breakfast in a (what as an English person!) I would call a ‘traditional diner’ It’s very popular, so expect to queue for maybe 20 mins (take a hoody or coat - it’s windy and cool in the mornings in SF!) Staff were friendly and courteous. Husband has cooked food with pancakes and I had a short pancake stack with strawberries- delicious!

Tons of thick-cut, perfectly cooked bacon mixed into a very generous portion of macaroni with the most creamy cheese sauce; packed full of flavor. Came with four slices of crusty garlic toast. Honestly, the BEST homemade mac and cheese I’ve ever had (including my own killer crab and lobster mac and cheese)!!

I went here based on a work colleague's recommendation, but if I'm honest I'm not sure what they liked about it so much! We both had omelettes, but they were really bland and disappointing.

The food was average. The service was good but they could not understand you. The place as a whole was dirty. The chef cooked a cleaning towel for minutes on end! I would not recommend!

We ate (well) twice in this place, the first for dinner and the second for breakfast (the place is known above all for breakfast and my advice is to go there early in the morning because between 8.30 and 11 forms a long queue waiting for the table). Open 24 hours, the restaurant looks like a typically American place: rectangular tables for 4 people arranged along the window and equipped with sauces, sugar, salt and the inevitable ketchup) and other seats at the counter. The menu is very American and tasty: don't mind the calories and enjoy your feast.

Never a trip to SF without breakfast at Pinecrest, first visit about 8 years ago. This is the tradition diner experience with great eggs, potatoes, sausages and bacon - heart attack on a plate. But it tastes so nice…

A good fast food restaurant near Union Square. Fast service and quite professional waiters. I would say good quality/price ratio. We got 1 cheeseburger with fries...and 1 Caesar Salad with chicken. To drink water and a coke. Total cost 46 dollars... let's say average American price for eating.

This place is exceptional.. the quality of the food impeccable. Good but hasty, in fact as soon as you finish eating you already have the bill for you... truly exceptional and also recommended for value for money

I had breakfast at the counter, fast service, helpful waiters, good and well cooked food. The price unfortunately reflects the expensive standard of the city.

Fantastic place, we stopped for the perfect American style that you usually only see on TV and we had the pleasant surprise of having the best and truest American breakfast Excellent food, good coffee, express and very kind service The place was under our hotel and we went back twice But it is open 24 hours from Thursday to Saturday and I must say I have always seen it packed with people Highly recommended

Great local neighbourhood dinner with classic interior. Great food, brilliant service with very reasonable prices. Highly recommend.

Bad Experience worker, guy With long Hair treat us disrespectful, turkey burguer without flavor, doesnt worth what you paid for it

Place was relatively tiny and had to wait in queue to be seated. Food was good like any other diner. We had breakfast and it was fine.

In that area it is the place to have breakfast. A classic with queues on the weekends. The Pinecrest Special with bacon, eggs, sausages and pancakes (brutal!) and the Huevos Rancheros with beans are excellent. All the coffee you want but don't look for expressos or lattes fancies. We loved it and we repeat

I really hate leaving bad reviews. I was so excited to go to Pinecrest for a quick diner dinner as we were walking all day and sightseeing. Me and my husband were really hungry. We were greeted and told to sit wherever. The table was greasy but we took napkins and cleaned it ourselves. It was very busy so we just wanted to order our food and sit for a bit. The waitress was less than desirable with her attitude. Husband ordered a Pattie melt with fries and I ordered a Cheeseburger and onion rings. It took over 40 minutes to get these entrees by the way. My onion rings and husbands French fries were full of grease. They were NOT drained and just thrown on the plate. I literally squeezed an onion ring with my fingers to find all the oil pouring out….absolutely disgusting. The burger and patty melt were fine. Then when we were done we were discussing milkshakes or ice cream sundaes. Some man came over and literally smacked the bill down on the table aggressively and walked away. My husband said at that point forget the milkshakes let’s pay and get out of here. So we paid and left to go across the street to get 2 milkshakes from Jack in the box. Do yourself a favor and just head across the street to Jack in the box. I saw people eating in there and the food looked even better than Pinecrest…..I can’t speak for the breakfast there at Pinecrest but the dinner was atrocious along with the service.

The site is typical American diner where they serve breakfast 24h and also have burgers, sandwiches and diners. It is worth going both morning and evening.

Typical American place. The service is very friendly. We had breakfast there with waffle, omelette, pancakes and really hot coffee. The portions are generous, you can skip lunch after you've been here.

All good food But the service the poor oil hasty but that annoying hurry Recommendation a Different place for a more serene breakfast

Breakfasts were very good; good service. We ordered pancakes, and they were spectacular! Good value for money

Top tier French toast! French toast is my all time favorite breakfast food… and this is the only restaurant I’ve ever felt compelled to leave a review because it was so good. Service was quick and friendly.

It is loud, fun, crowded and wonderful. We didn't have much of a wait at all, and had a great brunch, too many mimosas and bloody marys on a rainy day and really appreciated this place. You could see the mix of locals and visitors all enjoying a nice experience.

Everytime we have been there, there has been a queue at the door. Definitely worth the wait! Everything freshly cooked, piping hot 🔥 nice, friendly efficient staff. Thank you

Ok breakfast. We were tired after flight and wanted diner close to hotel. Small but popular. Had special - $18.50 and it was ok. French toast best part. Sausages greasy. Hash browns extra - also greasy. Should have had burgers as they looked like a bettee choice.

SO good - the line outside says it all. Good freshly cooked food. Pinecrest special is fab and coffee refills plentiful! Enjoy

Popped in here for a quick bite to eat after arriving in San Francisco, so glad we did! The food was amazing, the best Mac n Cheese we have ever had. The service was excellent, staff friendly, polite and attentive but not overly so. I loved watching all the different meals coming out of the kitchen, it gave me some ideas for my next visit.

We had two burgers and fries food lovely and drinks good .great service definitely come back .great centre location to Union Square and bus drop offs

You eat H24 and already this is a plus point. Honest prices (and to be in SF is not obvious) and good food. Conversely, however, so much chaos in Service and suboptimal cleanliness. You eat well, but it's not very "comfy"

Great menu choice, good location near union square. Tastes great, good service and large portions. Flexible with substitutes. Usually there’s a queue outside. Expect to pay £20 per person which is good for SF!

Love this place. Very friendly and fast service. Great menu selections and large portions. I had breakfast and lunch here. Great omelettes, and rhetorical burgers and sandwiches are spot on. Definitely recommend.

Waited in line until we were greeted by a kind server. Asked the waitress which breakfast to recommend between the monster moose or the Hanover. Went with the monster moose, boy what a meal. The atmosphere was as expected and the staff had time to chat. Found this to be a good spot that serves a various different meals at a good price.

Without doubt the best coffee we had during our stay in the USA! We called in here for breakfast, having searched it out because of recommendations we found online. we were not disappointed. It's clearly been doing it's job for many years - it's a no frills, great food, get in, get fed, get out diner - but what they have to offer is friendly & fast service, amazing coffee, delicious food and great portions, so great value for money! Expect to wait to be seated, it's very popular and justifiably so, but you won't wait too long as they know what they're doing here and anyway it's worth the wait! I wish this place was in my home town so I could go back every day!

Our group of nine visited for dinner in August 2025, based on previous online ratings, location, price, and the huge line of people we saw waiting for breakfast that morning. Sure, it was close to Union Square and fairly cheap for that area of town (around $18-25 for entrees), but the food was NOT worth its 4-star rating. Nope. No one in our group could be heard saying anything complimentary, with only two exceptions: the chicken noodle soup, with fresh vegetables and tasty chicken stock, and chicken cacciatore, with a very pleasant sauce. But everything else was generic and below par: burgers, homemade chili, French fries, chicken fried steak, salads, omelets… just plain ol’ disappointing. I had a cherry tomato with mold on it. I gave it to the waiter, but he didn't mention it to his manager, I guess. The service was slow but fairly attentive. Our waiter was friendly. The atmosphere was pleasantly retro, but not artificial. Based on our discussion while walking back to our hotel, our nine people won’t ever take a chance eating there again when visiting San Francisco.

Hard to have a diner succeed in Union Sq. and still maintain a small town feel. The food is solid, and prices good, service what you would expect...hey, I loved it and give it 5*, not because it will be the best meal you will ever have, but it is authentic. Recommend!

We were very jet lagged and the 24 hour service suites is. We got there with our 18 month old and 4 year old at around half five in the morning. Service was quick and servings were quite substantial. Nothing to write home about but my poor rating is because of their impatience with us. Lady server kept asking when we would pay as she has to lock the register (my husband had taken the little one to the loo). Not like they were busy!! Didn't like the fact that my 18 month old was walking around... had some sort of OCD I think as she kept telling another server to make sure the floors were swept properly. Gutted I have to pay the obligatory 15% they didn't deserve.

Nearby our hotel and union square. Wide range of food. Open all day. Good service. Simple place and limited seating. Food portions were large.

Open almost all day or 24 hours depending on the dates. Typical American restaurant serving powerful and abundant breakfasts or meals, sweet and salty. Everything is very good, even the orange juice or the hot coffee that they refill. It is also very close to Union Square.

I enjoyed a great breakfast here on a Saturday morning. Great service, friendly helpful staff and tasty food. What more could you want.

Open 24 hours a day, extensive menu and friendly staff. A great breakfast will be in front of you in no time. On the corner of Mason and Geary: not to be missed!

Pinecrest was opposite our hotel and had a steady stream of customers 24/7. Good prices, good food and even when the queue was out the door, it moved pretty quick. The pancakes and the French toast are fab as is the refillable coffee!

It was ok. Not what I had expected from a long term diner. The chicken nachos were can cheese and round bag chips. My son did like the mozzarella sticks.

Well deserved rating for this popular eatery, generous portions and all very fresh, sit at the counter to marvel at the speed the staff work

This was recommended to us, by concierge of hotel. It was the worst breakfast I have ever had. Family had spaghetti bologna, and only ate half of it. Ingredients were not explained on menu it included mushrooms and other things not specified. I had chilli burger. Didn't see much chilli, all I seemed to have was a load of chilli beans. Service was very slow, and getting bill was slow also. Very run down and dirty....would not recommend..

Very nice family experience. They have great choice and a typical American diner experience. Their price are reasonable and usually you need to wait in the line to be seated. Strongly advised with your kids.

We stayed at this place as it was very close to our hotel. We took: Bacon Cheeseburger: BAcon, lettuce, tomato and pickle $17.25 Code Blue Burger: Bacon, crumbled bleu cheese, onion rings and BBQ sauce $18.70 In all with also drinks we spent $46.10 and 18% tips equivalent to $8.30. Without praise and without infamy. The only annoyance I've had is going to the bathroom, the bathroom is downstairs, and you have to walk past a place where they keep garbage with leftover food, really disgusting stuff.

Great stop for a late night snack! Serves alcohol and ice cream sundaes too! Super friendly staff, we sat at the bar and had a great experience.

Went here for breakfast. Service was super friendly and food was perfect, classics done without fault. Fresh food and super filling :)))

Enjoyed a family meal with my family over President day weekend. It wasn’t busy and we were seated quickly. We all ate a variety of meals, from club sandwiches, Caesar salad, pasta and a burger which were all served hot and promptly. Good service and a enjoyable atmosphere. Recommended.

Service took forever. It was relatively full but we waited 25-30 minutes before someone took our order, another 30 minutes before the food arrived and then trying to pay the bill was another effort. Food was average at best. Run of the mill diner. Wouldnt rush back

The place, a typical American diner, is not particularly nice but the good Quality of food at an honest price will reward the visit of this place. You eat better than the more touristy diners nearby at a lower price.

I was really jet lagged, but SO hungry! I decided to take a walk, and stumbled across this place - I had walked passed it and to be honest wasn’t sure about it and had thought it might not have been worth it. Nonetheless, decided to give it a go and got some really great food - to be honest the coffee wasn’t great, but I think that’s personal taste. I got a really lovely serving of bacon and pancakes, which I had been longing for since getting to US!! Service was awesome also! If I ever passed again, I’d dine here again - good food and service!

We loved this place because of the fresh fruit, fantastic service, wide variety of breakfast meals, good size portions!

If visiting San Francisco, stay clear of this place! Food was mediocre at best, service was horrible!! Three other tables thaf came AFTER us were seated, ate and left before we were able to order. We had to ask twice if we could place our order. Then, had to ask four times for our bill. Save yourself the hassle and go elsewhere! If visiting San Francisco, dont go here! Would have given ZERO stars if I could have.

We had to wait about 25 minutes, totally worth it! They had all the normal breakfast food and a few unique. I had the 'hangover' it was super tasty, my husband had the moose, he loved it as well.

We ate here twice for breakfast; our hotel was down the street. Solid diner breakfast. We got the Pinecrest Special both times… service was great. Food was great. Sometimes we just need something straightforward and consistent.

This place gets great tripadvisor ratings and we were a bit disappointed. It’s really not bad but it’s no better than average. The service was okay. The food was also okay. The coffee was not great. We wouldn’t rush back

We ate here on the recommendation for our hotel and thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast. The portions are huge and I absolutely loved that our waitress consistently kept our coffee cups filled, never once did I have to ask or flag someone down. I don’t think you can order badly here.

Late night visit to this diner was exactly what we were looking for. Fried food and diner food served up 24hrs in a typical diner setting. Food came out fast and the lady that served us was so nice and good at dealing with some unruly customers a few booths away. She was awesome.

Simply fantastic! The food, the price and the kindness of the staff! Really recommended! Great position, at Union Square

We were in San Francisco for 7 days and ate breakfast there four times. Best breakfast is San Francisco....hands down! Recommend the Hangover Special or Southern Comfort. Service is quick and food is very good. Large portions and bottomless cup of coffee. Prices are great and the short order cooks are magical to watch in action.

Disappointing, it is a greasy spoon. Place was packed yet Cafe Mason across the street is so much better. Took a while to get served, food is mediocre. Bacon is not crisp, too much butter on the bread, not a good experience.

We had to wait 20 minutes to get a table, but it was well worth it! All 4 of us loved our food. (Pancakes, omelet, scrambled eggs…all outstanding) Once we got a table the service was quick and friendly!

Really good old style America eatery near Union Square. We had a list of breakfast places as long as our arm but came here twice as it was so good. You may have to queue to get in but it moves quickly for a busy restaurant. The staff are great but can't devote their full attention constantly as they are so busy. The food is great, I had the hangover and it was cooked how I wanted it, the portions are huge and the prices are reasonable for San Francisco. Highly recommended while you are in San Fran.

A real Diner with a lot of Latinos in the kitchen. That ensures flavored food. True food after being on an English cruise for 10 days with unflavored food

Great breakfast I had the scrambled egg and chorizo with hash browns it was very good and the portion was large. It’s efficiently run with a nice atmosphere.

We hit Pinecrest three times for breakfast during our short trip to San Fran. The service is amazing, they go out of their way to accommodate. As a larger group, they even asked others to move so we could get booths next to each other. Staff are friendly. Coffee flows. Meals are delicous and prices are amazing, especially given the location on Union Square. HIghly recommend

The Pinecrest is a classic style diner--a nice menu with lots of offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The sign says open 24 hours, but they are not. They do open early and close late, and I do not blame them for not being open 24 hours in today's world. They are located on Geary Street, which is the theater district. We had a late dinner and noticed a rush when the theater plays ended. There are not a lot of seats, the staff is minimal and they work hard so be patient when entering and in line for a table if you can. I feel the wait is worth it. Servings are plentiful, the food is prepared well and presented nicely. The staff are friendly and provide a nice atmosphere.

I was craving for greasy American breakfast throughout my trip and that craving was satiated when I visited Pinecrest! So much so that I skipped lunch and ate dinner directly after reaching Yosemite. The diner has booths and counter dining. I ordered some eggs with ham and despite being full I saw them serving granola to another person and went in for that too! Topped it up with a banana! I wish I had discovered Pinecrest on my first day in SF instead of my 6th and last day! MUST GO!

We ate here due to recommendations from TripAdvisor and it was great. I ordered the steak in grave with a jacket potato and my husband ordered the chicken, they were both lovely. The meal starts with a salad, the Italian dressing was exceptional. The service was brilliant and the waiter looked after us really well. This restaurant is not a chain and definitely worth a visit.

My parents and I happened upon this diner up the street from our hotel and had a wonderful breakfast experience throughout our stay in San Francisco. The service was friendly and efficient. The food was good. Pinecrest Diner is giving me old school corner diner vibes with a coffee pot always on and full. Try it when you're in the area!

Saw lines of people for this place and it got some great reviews. I am not sure what these people were eating or looking at but this was a HUGE disappointment. We waited for 10 minutes to get in and then another 15 minutes to get a server. If you like sitting close to people this is your place, no room at all. I got a Belgian Waffle, the worst I have ever had, it was like a loaf of bread, very dry and not fluffy. We then again waited for our check, which I finally walked up to the counter and asked for my check. If you want better food and quicker service, Mel's dinner is only a few blocks away.

Came here for dinner on a Saturday night, and had breakfast. This place is great, a great American diner in the centre of SF. We came in for dinner, and we ended up having breakfast. Good tasty food, and I would certainly come here again

The place is pretty dirty, and the toilets are an absolute disgrace. I was very close to vomiting my meal back up. The service is slow and the food average.

Service friendly and prompt, had the classic crispy bacon and egg sunny side up with sourdough bread and loads of potatoes like hash brown. Coffee nice and strong.

The food was ok but it was very frantic despite it not being busy. It’s not a place to go if you want a leisurely breakfast. Overall the portions were good and food quality was ok

We got the warmest welcome when we entered. Honestly, it was like they knew us. Fast service. Wonderful employees and the food was delicious! Some local people recommended this spot to us and we are very thankful.

The tag line is 'best breakfast in SF', but my experience was ' almost worst diner anywhere' The decor is more than dated- it is worn and threadbare. Maybe that is the appeal. I had huevos rancheros, and it consisted of two way undercooked eggs on watery generic salsa, black beans straight out of the tin, and potatoes that resembled tater puffs. About $1 worth of ingredients fobbed off at $20 for the eggs and a coffee. The waitress was having a bad day- got my order wrong and did the same thing twice more that I saw. Why there are often lineups there is a mystery to me, unless, like PT Barnum said "There's one born every minute". I could not imagine a return visit.

Our first time to try a diner and it did not disappoint! We're happy with the food, decent servings and we loved the coffee. I recommend the PineCrest Special for breakfast as well as the Country Fried Steak. It's open 24 hrs too!

Ate here twice in a week. Being Australian I may not be the best person to have a review on a dinner but here we go. Loved the food, best hasbrown I’ve had in the states. Had the a fantastic breakfast a few times, enjoyed the coffee a lot. Would come back here in a heart beat.

1 min after placing an online order i inquired about canceling. If there was a fee i planned to keep the order. Pinecrest canceled the order then refused to refund any of the cost of the meal claiming they had made it. When i asked for the food they refused! Thieves! They even tried to keep the tip! This was for Christmas dinner!

We stayed opposite the diner at the Warwick Hotel and decided to try Pinecrest as it was always busy. We had breakfast & dinner here and thought it was fantastic. We had a counter seat for dinner and we loved watching the chefs make the food. Staff work extremely hard and service was very good. A real American diner experience.

We ate here twice October 2021 and very much enjoyed all our meals! The server was friendly and easily accommodated special requests. There is a nice variety of food and it was nicely prepared. A favorite side was the fresh fruit. And the portion sizes are quite generous. I strongly recommend eating here.

Busy place, the food was cooked fresh and served quickly. Good value & prompt service. Toilets were poor & as busy it was very smokey, pity not a little airier.

Had the chili dog with fries but found it salty. Located just minutes away from Union Square & is open 24/7 so quite convenient

I lived here decades ago and successfully avoided diners. My unadventurous friends refused to try the many interesting venues and we compromised on this place. Staff were busy and not very interested. Thin film of grease on every surface. I had chili - it was brown and had beans but that was about it. The brioche French toast was bland as well. My friends had a variety of fried foods topped with French fries. This place has been around a while and hasn't done much to make things interesting.

Staying nearby, and we're recommended to Pinecrest for breakfast. Really busy, great atmosphere. Waited a few minutes for a table, but service & turnover is quick. Pinecrest Special is terrific value & delicious; eggs, links, crispy bacon, maple syrup, and fabulous fluffy pancakes. Great coffee, Earl Grey tea, sensible prices. Set us up for the day. We'll be back!

Excellent service. Food was quick and incredible. I’d read previous reviews as to how great the mozzarella sticks are and they did not disappoint! We only shared these and nachos with the beef which oozed cheese sauce. Both delightful. Will be returning for breakfast

Visited twice in a long weekend, that’s how good we thought this place was. Always a great sign when you see locals in a line outside the door. Real old fashioned American Dinner - great prices for San Fran, excellent.

I am completely addicted to this diner! It’s a small diner but is capable of seating enough people to keep the server and chefs busy. My favorite two dishes are the country fried steak breakfast with two eggs. It’s crunchy and salty with the gooey egg dripping in my hash browns makes it a total comfort food and I’m in heaven. Second, Spaghetti Bolognese. It’s a healthy serving. And the Parmesan cheese melts and sticks to my fork. It’s creamy and the spaghetti noodles cooked right. I eat the entire thing within 5 minutes! If your looking for a place to go late at night Pinecrest is the place to be. Lots of beautiful people makes the experience even better. Ignore the people begging for food outside the restaurant tho! I still will go and highly recommend! Enjoy!

This little place has been a 24 hour diner for years, but has reduced hours due to Covid, yet still serves breakfast, lunch and dinners. They have a great menu, the prices are very fair and the service is great. When asked how their scrambled eggs were so fluffy the owner explained to us that they use cage free eggs, beat them in a certain way and have highly experienced staff that ensure quality. We were so impressed that we visited a few times during our stay. They take Covid precautions and rules seriously. Don't miss the chance to visit this local gem.

Restaurant locatedin San Francisco!Great food and service. They serve a good portion. The server was great, Christina.

Checked around the area of my hotel and many of the breakfast places sounded good but this place had a menu that seemed more appealing to me. Located just down the block from my hotel, I didn’t anticipate that there would be a line of people waiting to get in. The wait as long as I thought it would be and since it was only myself, I was directed straight to the bar. Not long after settling into my seat, my server was quick to get my order and bring me my drink. While waiting for my food, it was amazing to watch the cooks and the servers maneuver between each other and quickly get the food out. It was quite entertaining! Not long after my chicken fried steak was in front of me with hash browns, toast, & sunny side up eggs. Everything was perfect! This place has a menu of hearty meals and if that’s what you’re looking for, then I would suggest you come here and experience for yourself. Be prepared to wait in line - come early and come hungry. Enjoy!

Amazing authentic diner with great service. Went for breakfast & was so impressed we went back for dinner. Food was delicous.

Went here to have breakfast for dinner on a Saturday night. The diner was very busy so I was expecting it to be pretty amazing - jt was just average. Service was very slow. I sat at the counter and watched them cook everything. Sandwiches they were making looked good / fair sized portions. My breakfast omelette was a good size but hash browns were undercooked and not seasoned at all. Overall condition of restaurant was run-down and a little dirty looking. When food is finished cooking it just sits out until run to the table - I have two salads with hot items on them sitting in front of me at the counter for 5 minutes. Odd spot to have that sit in front of customer. This place is fine for a quick diner meal but nothing terribly special.

This place appears on all the "Diners in SF" sites and seems to be frequented by a lot of tourists. It is packed in the morning and there is often a line to get in. We were in search of a plain old greasy, American breakfast and this looked like the place. For that it served its purpose. The downside? The service is really slow. The food is so-so. And, it is pretty expensive when you add it up. We had two omlettes, a side of bacon, two juices, and a coffee and our bill with tax and tip was $78. Yeah, that's right almost $40 per person for a greasy unatmospheric breakfast. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go somewhere else for $80 for breakfast. No, I won't go there again.

On site or takeaway, excellent American dishes and soups that change every day, enjoyable on cool days in San Francisco. Excellent shoulder clam typical of the coast.

Truly the best breakfast in San Francisco. Nice portions, great service. Options for everything and also great coffee. Strongly suggest you visit

Typical American diner, large portions and bottomless coffee. We ate here twice during our visit and enjoyed the food both times. Steak and eggs was delicious as was “The Hangover”. Sausage and eggs were also delicious. Friendly and attentive staff. Very clean and hygienic.

This is a gem of a diner! It is always busy because the food is excellent! The staff work hard but are very fast with service and pleasant! This diner was walking distance from the Marker Hotel and near Union Sq. We ate many meals there at various times of the day. All their meals are great but I think breakfast is their most popular! Be prepared to wait a short time for a table!

Maybe it is great for breakfast but the food was a disappointment and the service indifferent. Not the sort of place I would have thought would serve frozen fries.

There are several diners in the area that offer good breakfasts this is definitely one of them. Food is well done served quickly and with a smile. The breakfasts were always good with no complaints out of 6 people.

I was in town for a conference and had dinner here on two separate evenings. The first evening being Saturday, diner is open 24 hours and there was a line out the door at around 10 PM. Since I was solo, got a seat at the bar. Had a delicious cheeseburger with a Anchor Steam beer. Service was fast and staff was friendly. Place was packed. It was fun watching the cooks whip up all the food orders in the small cooking area. It is a well oiled machine! Had a Rueben sandwich for the second dinner I had here and that was good too. Good experience both times.

The Pinecrest diner is popular but this is the first time I have eaten here. It is a no frills place and a little shabby. I had the omelette which came with hash browns and toast. The food was good. The service was pleasant but minimal. The waitress took my order, gave me the food and left the check. I would have loved a refill for my iced water but she did not offer and was not around. The four stars are for the food not the service.

If was a 0 would put a 0. 05:30 October 30. Rude lady. Rude waitress/host. Attempt to walk in she was rude gesturing with hands as if wanting to fight me by unpleasantly attempting to convey that the stool seating was closed … despite seeing someone seating there. Is the staff that stressed? Are they forced to work shifts ? I walked out. No rude dining this am! Attempt 2 at 05:36 told stool area still closed for cleaning … it looked clean tome and then in prodding was told it would be open in 10 min. Why is the establishment open when they are not really open? When is this establishment actually open with no sign that ONLY OPEN FOR BOOTH DINING? Or why even open when not ready to provide a dining experience ?

Literally an amazing diner and the service is great too. There is always a queue for it but it’s so worth the wait. I had the pine rest special and had it with cinnamon French toast. It comes with sausages eggs and bacon. All so tasty but the French toast is literally the best French toast I have ever tasted. My husband had omlettes with french toast and he said his was lovely too. The coffee was lovely and got a free refill. Prices are reasonable too and the meal is very filling and staff were lovely too and the service is good. Definetly recommend anyone to visit

Completely mystified how this place gets so many good reviews, it's barely average. Worst burger I've had in years, soggy bun, wilted brown lettuce and a large tough pickle on the side. The fries were good. Soapy tasting coffee. This place is in desperate need of a clean. There are better diners literally across the street, by far the worst food and service so far in San Fran.

The Pinecrest is a traditional diner and the food is just outstanding. Whether arriving early for breakfast or diner in the evening the service is excellent and the food delicious. If you are in San Francisco and want to experience a real diner and superb food the Pinecrest is not to be missed!

This restaurant is open 24 hours a day and is very popular. Lunch is hearty (2 eggs, 4 sausages, potatoes and roasts), so you can share the plate with a child if needed. The service is fast.

Sweet and savory American breakfast. All typical American foods. Fast staff and kitchen. Very generous portions. Appetizing food. It also offers healthier options. Average prices, however in line with the quality of the food.

Hi we went there for a snack, the burger was good the chips were good. The place was a bit greasy, the service was poor , would we return probably not.

This diner was amazing, food was exceptional, great large quantities and pricing very descent. It was by far my son's favorite place to eat. Breakfast served all day long!

Nextdoor to San Francisco's ACT Theatre, the Pine Crest Diner has been serving up diner standards for over 50 years. From across the street in the wee hours of the morning, I imagine it to be a scene straight out of an Edward Hopper painting, Nighthawks...except there's a very inviting corner entrydoor. Inside we got transported in time--booth seating, and a wonderful old counter. Here's a tip, if you're running late for theater, sit at the counter for fast service. We sat down at the counter at 7:17, and made our 8:00 curtain for "Wakey Wakey" nextdoor. That Cobb Salad is the best, and you get to watch them making your food. I watched them grill the chicken breast right before the cool sliced it and slid it onto my salad with a spatula. And it was a huge helping with Boiled egg halved along with half an avocado, lots of feta and bacon atop generous mound of mixed greens. Mustard vinaigrette served on the side. My theater date got the Caesar Salad and we split a generous helping of fried mozzarella sticks. Very reasonable price for the portions. And the service...they all seem to be glad to serve us. Happy workers behind the counter and everywhere else. Best diner experience ever in Union Square!

Good food, large portions, excellent coffee and reasonable prices! There is usually a wait to be seated; however, it is worth the wait. Restaurant is open 24 hours Thursday-Saturday.

Sweet and savory American style breakfast. Excellent eggs and pancakes. friendly staff. price appropriate to the quality. Real American place.

We ate a late night dinner there and had the most fun waitress imaginable. Even though we were there near closing time, she didn't make us feel rushed and she joked and just made it delightful. We went back another day for breakfast and again the food was excellent. The price is reasonable. Need I say more?

We were in San Francisco for 6 days and ate breakfast here twice. The eggs are cooked to perfection and the service is fast. Good bang for your buck!

After a full day of traveling and delays, we wanted a place to eat nearby. This was only a block away from our accommodations. Service was quick (greatly appreciated) and food was tasty. It started getting busy as we were leaving and everyday that we walked by, it was packed.

I’m a Sous Chef at a 1 Star Michelin Restaurant and have worked in the industry for the past 25 years. I have eaten at some of the best places on Earth and would like to share my experiences of restaurants and fast food establishments based purely on my order and my order alone. This place is an authentic, no frills greasy American diner. It is what it says on the tin. Decor is a bit mismatched, bar stools sit in front of the long serving bench for loners to straddle and there are ample booths to accomodate large groups or families. Food ; Arrived here first visit very jetlagged after having been up 24 plus hours. Ordered the bowl of chilli with cheese and onions. As chilli goes this was good. Not too hot with a nice bit of cooling from the cheese. Visited again next day where I devoured a Reuben Sandwich. Meat was plenty and was served with some lovely local melted cheese on a really nice toasted sourdough toast. Would I visit again: yes!

It's an absurd time to answer. Few waiters. Screwdriver doesn't have a drop of vodka and is pure orange refresh. Specialty sandwich is merely a combination of ingredients without any intervention on the part of the chef as to the zerated taste of spice. I understood why there is always a line at the door: the internal management is terrible.

Went by this diner as soon as we arrived in San Francisco. Good food and nice service. Close to Westin St. Francis. Open 24 hours. Go early for breakfast because there is usually a line out the door.

If you want a proper American diner experience, this is the place. The coffee kept coming, the food was tasty and the overall ambience was great. Friendly and hard working staff too.

If you're staying near this diner and are jetlagged it's perfect to go to as you'll find a table easily when it's 4-5am and you'll be greeted by the wonderful Anna who works the nightshift. I was surprised at the prices for a diner, but then again this is San Fran - one of the most expensive cities on the planet! I ordered so many different options and they were all perfect in terms of portion size and quality.

Bad. I mean sloppy, uncaring boring bad. Not terrible bad, as I ate everything. But no joie de vivre, no friendliness. Way too busy

I feel so bad rating this down, because the service was amazing! The food was super dry (chicken tendens and burger)., the fries tasted like the oil had gone bad and the smell was awful comming up from the cellar! In addition the dispenser soda machine needs a filter or something, it tasted so much chloramine. So, again; so sorry dear staff for the bad review. ❤️

Proper American diner just a short walk from Union square. We were visiting from the UK and really liked this place. Loads to choose from and it’s cooked right infront of you.

We stumbled upon this diner just off Union Square on the first day of our vacation and ended up returning multiple times for delicious cooked breakfast. I wholeheartedly recommend it for its authentic American diner atmosphere, excellent service, tasty breakfast options, and comfy seating. Just be sure to arrive early if you want to avoid a wait!

We visited this restaurant twice, once for lunch and once for the dinner. For the lunch we had cheese omelette with hash and bread ($16.50) and ham and bacon omelette with hash and bread ($18.50), to drink we had a few cups of coffee ($3.75 first, refill is free of charge). For the lunch we paid in total $47.75 incl. tax and for the dinner $65.05 incl. tax. Both time we have been more than happy with the meal and service so we gave a tip too.

Very good, but not that amazing. We ate there twice as it was next to our hotel and it has great reviews. But in the mornings the staff is not very efficient and clearly ignores and shows that they are overwhelmed. Also horrible cild wind inside-explanation was there is some delivery going on and the back door is open, but this was for the whole one hour that we were there with scarves and jackets, nit being able to enjoy our breakfast. The pancakes are not the best I have tasted. The breakfast with the biscuits, something like Moose or I do not remember the name, was amazingly delicious and the portions are very big.

This diner was very close to our hotel, it’s an excellent diner with a wide selection of American breakfast staples. The service was always fast, efficient and friendly.

Really good diner with friendly staff willing to accommodate special requests. Solid menu with everything you want from a diner. We’ve been there a few times and have tried the eggs, fries, pancakes, a few different sandwiches and the fruit bowl. It’s all been really good. Not fancy maybe but tasty. It’s exactly what I’m looking for in a city diner.

Came here for supper one evening. The food was fine but they were under staffed on the waiting staff so it took a while to order. Would come here again.

First morning of our trip to SF, so had to treat the family to a proper American diner breakfast. This was close to our hotel and was fantastic! Great food and everyone was very happy ahead of an action packed day around the city. Highly recommend

It was close to our hotel and we stopped for a hearty breakfast. Pay attention to the quantities!! They are really huge as usually happens in the USA! I'll add some photos just to give you an idea. However, everything was really good and of good quality. Typical DINER place. Advise

Old school diner. A little cramped, but that's part of the experience. Food was good & served hot. Waite staff knowledgable and accomodating. I shall return!

I know this place is queued out but it's all about making money, and nothing to do with the food. Scrambled eggs with Chorizo were split. Huevos Rancheros hadn't drained the black beans properly and the plate was full of liquid. Almost everything costs extra. Coffee is lukewarm. Not cheap. Owner grumbled about the "environmentalists won the battle to make Californian chickens become free-range". Overall, they don't give a damn about the cooking, just hustling you through the door and taking your money for lacklustre food. Seriously if this is the "best" breakfast place in San Francisco, I will eat a hat.

I can't be honest and say this experience was awesome like most of the other meals we had on our vacation. There was a long line to get in that moved decently quick but it was still at least a 20 minute wait. The service was cordial but not really friendly. The general attitude seemed to be hurry up and eat your food and get out. The food was good, but at $65 for two people, this was the most expensive breakfast we've ever had. Everything is very expensive everywhere in San Francisco, but it was still a bit of a downer to pay so much for breakfast.

Decided to come here for breakfast after a recommendation. We were waiting to be seated for 10 minutes and were considering going elsewhere as we hadn’t been acknowledged despite staff talking to other customers. When we were seated, food was very good. The hash browns were amazing. Would have given 4 stars overall if service had been better on arrival.

I went after to get classic American breakfast, which was exactly what I got. Large portions, refill on the coffee and then run it otherwise just. The food was delicious, well prepared and tasty.

Unfortunately, we don't understand the good reviews at all: my barbecue wings were like that and were covered in ketchup. The veggie sandwich was a tasteless burger. The water was chlorinated, as was the cola. That was really terrible... Never again

A hearty breakfast is what you’ll get at this diner located in the heart of the city, just a couple blocks off Union Square. Very friendly staff and outdoor tables for added seating. Great turkey bacon option for your two egg breakfast!

Unfortunately, our expectations were disappointed. I had a plate of fried shrimp, vegetables and chips. The prawns were wrapped in a thick, heavy breading, the vegetables were raw and inedible. My husband's fish and chips were edible but nothing much. Not recommended.

We had a nice American style breakfast. The diner was packed, and service a bit slow... but very nice waitress. Scrambled eggs, pancakes. Coffee. Nice.