I love old school diners in this place doesn't disappoint. I was seated immediately as it was 9 o'clock on a Friday morning and I ordered two eggs over easy bacon which came with hashbrowns and toast. I got sourdough and drizzled yolk all over the toast. it was busy and I can see why the food was really good. Service was great and the prices were good for San Francisco. Ambience is about what you expect from a diner, normal utilitarian dining. I will be back as it's right across the street from my hostel and I recommend you swing on in and get some old-school type meal at three in the morning. They're open 24 hours a day. read more

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Oooooh my god, Ana Banana was absolutely amazing! We were really upset when our reservation got canceled on us, but we decided to give this place a shot. My husband wasn't thrilled about this last-minute option, but we ended up super happy. Ana Banana, as she calls herself, took great care of us, really attentive and friendly. It seems like everyone knows her and likes her, which just adds to the warm, welcoming vibe of the place. We ordered the New York steak and prawns, plus the country fried steak, and the gravy was out of this world. We're so thankful we found this spot and an incredible server like Ana Banana. The place got busy out of nowhere, but they still got our food out to us really fast. We'll definitely be coming back to visit our new friend Ana Banana soon! read more

Solid diner, a bit too popular for its own good, but had a great breakfast here and always happy to support the diner cause. At 815am on a Sunday we had a line of about 15 people ahead of us to get in, but happily most of them wanted tables and we were happy to eat at the counter which, as big guys, was happily big enough for us to fit comfortably. So our wait was maybe 10-15 minutes total, spent pleasantly talking to other Deadheads on the line after last night's show in Golden Gate Park. I had the corned beef hash and eggs, with the eggs poached, and it was great. Service was great, the people are nice, and wow do they work hard. Vibe wise, it's a diner, and I love diners so well, it was great. read more

We came here on a rainy night and really enjoyed the diner ambiance. We commented how diners like these are hard to find these days. For the table, we ordered the mozzarella sticks. Each of us also ordered the cheeseburger and fries, veggie burger and fries with chili cheese sauce, and a grilled cheese and fries. We also ordered a root beer float, ice cream sundae, and a chocolate milkshake. Everyone enjoyed their desserts and said that it was great. The food though is more of a hit or miss. My vegetarian burger had very little flavor so it was difficult for me to actually finish it. The chili cheese on the fries tasted canned and didn't have a ton of flavor. The grilled cheese and cheese burger were standard. The fries were good though as were the mozzarella sticks. Overall, the food was very affordable coming in at around $95 before tip. It was a good place with diner vibes but the service was a little slow and lacking. They checked in on us one during our whole time there. And good thing we weren't in a rush since no one ran our card for quite a while. Overall though, we appreciate this place and happy to see it is doing pretty well. read more

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I like this place. The atmosphere in here is really good. A vibe if you believe in that. At least it is at 9 at night. The service was maybe a little on the slow side but only when I was ready to leave otherwise exactly what you want in a diner. I think the host was just busy and I was the only one at the counter. The food, good portions. I didn't actually finish. If there was one thing I would change, I wouldn't get the corn beef hash. Having not been here before I was hoping it would by the chopped kind. But it was the processed. Still tasty but not what I was hoping for. The stand out was actually the toast. The sourdough toast was great. I could eat a meal of just that. I would say this is a 4.5 out of 5 if I had a different main. Next time I'm back I'll be trying something else. Also sitting at the counter, 5 feet from the grill, recommend read more

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Very traditional diner cafe with wrap around service counter. I stopped in for a quick to go bagel sandwich with egg and cheese. The server was friendly and helpful. It was early about 7:00 AM and one other customer was sitting at the bar. I had a nice cup of coffee while I waited. The bagel itself was soft and chewy and the sandwich was yummy and big enough for two people. Hit the spot for a quick to go breakfast . I loved the traditional old vibe and all the usual breakfast items. Honestly, I didn't get a great look at the menu since the bagel sandwich was what I wanted. It could be made with bacon, too. Union Square area of San Francisco. read more

Great place in San Francisco. Always a line and worth it! Breakfast is the best! I try to eat here in every trip to San Francisco....

Nestled right in the edge of Union Square, this old time diner is still open 24 hours! There's not a ton of seating but that's pretty normal in the city. Huevos Rancheros Homemade salsa over two eggs any style, black beans, avocado, corn tortillas and sour cream. Hash browns and toast not included. Good thing that it's served in a skillet because it's quite watery because of the frijoles and salsa liquid. The flavors and blends are wonderful, however, and they toast the corn tortillas perfectly. It is a dish that isn't easy to eat - I had to cut up the tortillas to avoid looking too much like a Neanderthal while eating. Corned Beef Hash On the mushy side, and salty as expected. A little guilty pleasure on the side. Tuna sandwich Albacore white tuna salad with celery, red onions and mayonnaise. It's fresh and refreshing with the crispy little celery bits. Love the crunch toasty bread. Goes down easy. Next time I'm trying the Hangover - hash browns topped with homemade chili and eggs. That's all read more

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A solid choice for a late breakfast! Pancakes, Light buttery, Fluffy. Hashbrowns, Crispy on the outside, Soft on the inside. I got the country fried stake with eggs. Everything came out hot with no complaints. They had good coffee. Diner feel with good food. Generous portions. Fast service even with the breakfast rush. read more

Very nice service with a smile. Pancakes were bomb. Had to ask first more butter. Yum yum yummy. read more

Pinecrest Diner - Hot chocolate - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was up in The City to meet with some friends who were in town for some industry seminars, and we were recommended this place. It was fine. That's really all there is to it. The reality is there aren't too many places in the Union Square area of San Francisco that are to die for. As far as being a no frills breakfast place, there's nothing wrong with Pinecrest and I can't complain. I ordered the New York steak and eggs. I cleaned my plate because that's what I do. If someone messes up on eggs? You can visually tell. The steak was nothing to write home about. It's typical frozen meat, and I couldn't make out any seasoning. It has a nice chew to it but no fatty flavors that make steaks delicious. But hey, I'm not at a steakhouse. Pinecrest is a solid place to have a networking breakfast, and that's all there is to it. The service was fine and the ambiance is what you expect out of a midrange diner. read more

Pinecrest Diner - New York Steak and 2 Eggs - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

On a Sunday afternoon, I really wanted dim sum. But, I'm a sucker for a diner, so I stopped in. It was actually decently busy. Rustic and dark toned, humble, the inside reminded me of a country diner somewhere in the woods. Id isn't interact much with the service, but they were kind. You will hear a lot of clanging from kitchen utensils and busser bins. I saw they had a chicken and waffle, and so, as I have been on a chicken and waffle quest, I had to try it. Im used to Mel's diner waffle having goodies cooked inside. I guess for been spoiled lol. This was a simple and humble presentation-- but probably the most volume of chicken I've had yet in the city. Though, I wouldn't say the chicken is the upper ranks of quality as some of the others I've had. I do like a more crispy waffle, and this one was on the softer side, nothing too special. I'd say a 2.8-3/5 all around at $30.10 for a Diet Coke and the chicken and waffle, seemed a bit pricey for a quality. But that's the city! A little diner with average eats, good for a quick bite if you're nearby and have a hankering for an average diner experience. read more

Pinecrest Diner - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Bz bz diner spot, gr8 to pop in and sit at the bar. Service is quick & friendly. Food is good enough to satisfy. read more

Pinecrest Diner - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Following a work event our team was looking for a substantial dinner. Our jetlag had us feeling like it was late night which is part of the reason we were drawn to a 24 hour diner (it was really only 7:45pm). Pinecrest was busy when we arrived but after a short wait, we were taken to one of the big booths toward the back of the restaurant. It was a long time (probably 8 minutes) before a server came to our table. We made sure we had all of our orders ready. My colleagues got breakfast plates and I got a hot dog with chili and asked them to add cheese. You would have thought I asked them to add liver pate and caviar. The server said she'd have to ask the kitchen if they could do that. So I just said never mind. Food came out and and the hot dog was ginormous and it was loaded with chili. You definitely aren't going to be able to eat this with your hands. Honestly, it was too much. AND the chili had beans. I realize I wasn't in North Carolina hot dog chili doesn't have beans. I realize why adding chili was an extra $6 because there is basically an entire bowl of chili poured on to the hot dog. Here's the thing though, by the time you're halfway through this monster hot dog and loads of chili, the rest of it is cold. I'm not a slow eater or anything but it's definitely a downside of such a huge dish. All that for a $21 hot dog and it's just 3 stars from me. The breakfast plates looked awesome and that's probably the route I would take if I return to Pinecrest Diner. read more

Pinecrest Diner - Exterior - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My wife and I stayed at the Clift Hotel and took in the city vibe late - into the early morning hours. Craving some late night eats we entered the PineCrest Diner a block down from our hotel. It did not disappoint! Great service, big cozy booths to slide into and all the comfort food you could hope for. A blast back in time we'll worth the ride ! read more

We were staying across the street at Hotel G and got hungry, so we thought we would give Pinecrest a chance. Simple no-frills diner that was packed (always a good sign). The service was fast and the portions were generous. The food was really good, and surprisingly the onion rings were great the next day. Good place to stop for a simple meal anytime of day. read more

Pinecrest Diner - Club sandwich with fries - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food is good for late night dinning. This diner is open 24 hrs therefore it does get crowded after 10 pm. The breakfast s probably the best. The ambiance is a 60s diner vibe read more

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What a cool diner to visit in down in Union Square. It's small, but on the corner, so you can't miss it. The staff were welcoming. The menu has great options to try. On one visit, I had turkey burger with sweet potato fries. The burger was moist and well seasoned. On a second visit, I had the hangover, which was packed with all kinds of goodness. Every layer of this dish was flavorful and savory. The salsa and jalapeño are the perfect touch to give this dish a kick. I definitely recommend trying this place out if you are in the area. read more

Pinecrest Diner - Turkey burger - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Stopped by Pinecrest Diner for a quick lunch with Ray, Dan, and Joanna on the afternoon of Thursday, October 17, 2024. This was my first time at the eatery. Ray picked me up to meet up with Dan and Joanna who waited for us at a booth table. We arrived around 12:15 PM to a pretty packed place. Luckily, we walked from the Hilton Union Square, so didn't need to look for parking. The diner does not have a private lot, so customers are at the mercy of the availability of metered street parking. This venue is located in an area of San Francisco that has gone downhill bigtime, so park at your own risk. The décor is old-school diner with booths and counter seating with a front row view of the cooks slinging diner classics. At the time of our visit, the place appeared fairly clean. Dan ordered a plate from the BREAKFAST menu, Ray had a BURGER or something from the HOT SANDWICHES section, and Joanna went with the SCHWARTZ HOT DOG ($16.70). My lunch consisted of an ICED TEA ($4.95) and TUNA SALAD ($16.95). My salad was not bad and the French fries from Ray and Joanna's plates were nicely golden, crispy, and tasty. The plastic disposable ramekin used for my salad dressing was a bit tacky, though. Service was meh. Definitely not deserving of more than a standard tip since they seemed to be a bit forgetful, and we had to constantly flag down a server for assistance. They were busy, yeah, but they really should be used to the peak time during lunch hours. Heads-up - their sign says that they are "OPEN 24 HOURS;" however, their website specifies that those hours are only for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday of each week. They are open 7am - 11pm on the other nights of the week. Still, those are some good hours. read more

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Great service in a pinch. This place is open 24 hours a day on Fridays and Saturdays. Was wandering around for a place to get food since I usually wake up at around 430am. They have lots of breakfast options - what a comprehensive menu. And Morena, the lovely lady that served me was such a doll. Their prices are seemingly pre-pandemic so it's hard to believe that they're a block away from Union Square. read more

Something about a late night meal that always hits the spot. Service is always great and we went on a weekday so it wasn't packed!

This place is nice if it's not crowded. The line for a table is difficult to understand since they keep trying to move people so no one blocks the street or doorway. I think it's a people not following instructions thing, though. It sometimes takes a while to be seated. The food is great for a grill and there is a variety of choices. The bathrooms are downstairs and I'm not sure if they are ada accessable since it's not obvious from the seating area. It's great that it's open 24 hours, though. Especially since it's near the theaters. read more

Pinecrest Diner - Small green salad - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Huevos Rancheros priced high with small portion. Avocado was not fresh. When I informed the server of the avocado was no longer good. She just restated "avocado not good?" Proceeded to take the plate away. Service needs improvement. read more

Pinterest Diner is straight out of the 80s - vinyl booths, huge menu, and no-frills service. It's casual, comfortable, and exactly what one would expect from a classic diner. We stopped in for lunch and went for a combo platter (swapped the mozzarella sticks for fries), a bowl of chili, and the carbonara pasta. Everything came out hot, fresh, and hit the spot. And yes, they've got milkshakes and wine on the menu - a win for both kids and parents! read more

Decent 24-hour diner. It gets very crowded so service is slow. They really should hire more servers. Food is ok, but overpriced.

This is a nice diner, with a good selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. The seats at the counter are a bit close together and close to the counter, so it could be more comfortable. I got a burger and fries. They were ready quickly. A bonus of sitting at the counter is a good view of the cooks working. The staff were friendly and helpful, but also very busy. read more

Pinecrest Diner - Mushroom and Swiss burger, cheese fries - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've lived in San Francisco since 2009 and have never been to this place; now I understand why! Pretty generic diner menu with very mediocre dishes. And they must go super heavy on the salt since I was quite thirsty for like 4 hours after, even more so than when I down a big bowl of pho. Schwartz Hot Dog w/ Chili: It's a good way to taste their chili with an appropriate pairing. And there is indeed lots of chili! So much so that there's really no way to eat this with your hands, so just skip to a knife and fork. The hot dog is thick, more like a sausage. Not too much bread. Some shredded cheese in the mix. A solid diner choice. Chicken Piccata: Not pounded that thin and the coating was barely there too. Didn't have a strong piccata flavor (lemon, butter, capers). And there was weird salsa-like toppings on top. Strange pairing choice with baked potatoes and steamed veggies. Very overpriced for what it was. Onion Rings: Initially they forgot that I had substituted onions rings for my fries, so they I had to remind them. Not sure if they were rushed or if this is the normal state, but the onion rings were pretty bad. Mushy batter, just out of the frier, not even crispy. read more

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Great greasy spoon. Go to every time in SF. Great service. Line is always out the door.

Update: manager replied to my previous comment when I complained about the service I received, it was dismissed And honestly, the manager's reply focusing on the awning instead of my actual experience just confirms that they are the problem! One thing the manager argued about was that the hours were updated on Google. I included a photo of what hours are listed as their operating hours. It's called having integrity - now im not surprised why my service was horrible! read more

Pinecrest Diner - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, onion rings were perfectly seasoned and delicious. Staff moves fast and cooks are super busy. Inside is old school SF. Outside, panhandlers, gritty sidewalks and the smell of pee. We'll be back ! read more

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Good fried chicken, well seasoned and really crispy. Breast was a tad dry. Honestly best side salad I have had. Burger was ok, ordered medium and came out well done with taste of carbon lingering but at 11:45pm I'm not complaining. Nice service and quaint establishment. Chili has beans just FYI, wanted all beef chili cheese fries but again, not bad read more

Pinecrest Diner - Fried chicken - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One of the only places open late in SF! They're open 24 hours from Thursday through Sunday and it's the perfect late night spot for food if you live in the neighborhood. Service is incredible and the food comes out fast. The servers are very kind, generous, and funny! Everything I've had has been good, not mind blowing food, but pretty much exactly what you would expect from a diner. Prices are super reasonable for the portions too. Highly recommend if you're looking for that classic diner vibe!! read more

Wanted to try a local diner while visiting the city and Pinecrest did not disappoint. There is no waitlist, the server by the door keeps track of who is waiting and will get you when your table is ready. We expected diner food, that's what we got. Service was great. Got plenty of coffee and other drink refills. read more

Usually there is a line to get into this diner. Yes, get in that line. I was craving a real breakfast (which they serve all day and night). I ordered the 2 by 2. It was perfection. 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 sausage. Coffee keeps getting refilled until you tell them to stop. Staff are friendly and polite. Service is excellent and fast. Old fashioned diner experience. read more

Pinecrest Diner - Huge portions and delicious food. - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stoped in here for breakfast last weekend before heading to HSB in the park. Had an omelette was pretty good, coffee was strong, it's a classic diner you don't see these much anymore. I would go back, solid place. read more

We came for breakfast after checking out of our hotel across the street, on New Year's Day and it was good! Really just your average diner with nice vibes and quick breakfast foods. We all got the two by two options since it was the cheapest and it was comfortably filling, although the eggs seemed a little small lol. It was pretty packed so service was just a tad slow but staff were friendly and nice! read more

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When I think about San Francisco, my memories don't really conjure up a bustling diner scene, outside of the classic (and kind of overhyped) Mel's, of course . But as a quintessential part of any Americana culinary map there are definitely more than a decent handful of indie diners sprinkled throughout the city; and Pinecrest is among the better of the bunch that I've been to. There is nothing unexpected here. This isn't elevated brunch or fancy fusion, it's straight up 60s style nostalgia-laden greasy spoon dishes well-executed with speed 24 hours a day (Wed-Sat, at least). Chicken fried steak and eggs is one of my favorite old school diner dishes and Pinecrest hits the mark on everything I'm looking for. I like my gravy on the side so I can preserve the crispness of the steak, and the salty, buttery bounty of food did not fail to deliver exactly what I hoped for. The French toast is also really good -- perfectly fluffy and eggy, these are two dishes that I have had dozens of times and can cross off the list at Pinecrest as being nailed with no notes. I also took the mozzarella sticks for a spin and they totally got the job done but were the least exciting thing I tried. I think 3.5 stars is actually perfect for this place but I am going to round up because it's the best I've had in the area and deserves praise for keeping quality up while being so close to one of the busiest tourist-trap hubs in this special city. read more

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Pinecrest Diner is about as classic as it gets -- the kind of place where the neon glow and old-school booths make you feel like you've stepped back a few decades. It has that timeless San Francisco diner aesthetic: bustling, slightly cramped, but with plenty of charm. The food is solid and comforting, with generous portions that hit the spot when you're in the mood for diner staples. Service is straightforward and efficient, which matches the vibe. That said, it doesn't come cheap. For what is essentially classic diner fare, the bill ends up higher than you'd expect -- you're definitely paying a premium for the 24-hour atmosphere and central location. Overall, Pinecrest Diner is a great stop if you're after a nostalgic diner experience in the heart of the city. Just be ready to spend more than you would at your average greasy spoon. read more

Wow! Delicious! I have eaten at Pinecrest a few times now! It's so good! The service is phenomenal and our smiley and cheerful server Christina was on top of it! She had great service! The food has been consistent and if you go for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a late night grab you won't be sorry! It's a great downtown San Francisco vibe! Great job Pinecrest! P.S. the patty melt burger with feta...it's amazing! read more

Good and service was amazing . Great diner! We went to the Curran theatre and stopped in after the show. The staff were very attentive and friendly. Thank you. read more