The Best Soul Food in the City
National Soul Food Month only happens once a year, so act accordingly. From holes in the wall to trendy bistros, these are the nine best spots in San Francisco to binge eat chicken and waffles, hush puppies, and all food that’s good for the soul.
Old Skool Cafe
$$ | 1429 Mendell Street, San Francisco, CA 94124
Old Skool Cafe is a jazz-themed supper club in the Bayview District, serving international soul food. Run almost entirely by at-risk youth, the cafe serves as a gang prevention program and real-world vocational training center for the community’s previously incarcerated youth. The menu is curated from recipes the employee’s families would eat at home – Jordan’s Fried Chicken (pictured above) are a favorite.
Order: Abu’s Peanut Butter Stew and Bayview Baby Back Ribs
Hours: Thursday-Sunday: 5:30–9:30PM
Reservations: OldSkoolCafe.org
Rusty’s Southern
$$ | 750 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Rusty’s Southern is a hidden gem in the Tenderloin, serving Lexington-style barbecue. One of the most popular items is the BBQ Plate, which comes with smoked pork, coleslaw and hush puppies. Using an electric smoker, pork shoulder is smoked for 13 hours before being served. Another popular menu item is the chicken fried steak, pictured above.
Order: Collard Greens and Fried Chicken, or BBQ Pork and Hush Puppies
Brunch Hours: Thursday-Sunday: 10:00AM–2:30PM
Dinner Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 5:00–10:00PM
Reservations: OpenTable
Hard Knox Cafe
$$ | 2526 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94017
Located in the Dogpatch, Hard Knox Cafe serves up homestyle comfort food as well as burgers and salads. Some of the restaurant’s most popular items include Chicken ‘n Waffles (obviously) and Country Fried Steak (pictured above). Don’t skip on the corn muffins!
Order: Chicken ‘n Waffles, Corn Muffins, and an Arnold Palmer
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11:00AM–9:00PM, Sunday: 11:00AM–5:00PM
Reservations: 415-752-3770
Brenda’s Meat & Three
$$ | 919 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Brenda’s Meat & Three (not to be confused with Brenda’s French Soul Food) is a New Orleans inspired sould food in NoPa, utilizing a Southern culinary tradition of a meat and three sides. For dinner, the mos tpopular item is Brenda’s Fried Chicken, and for breakfast, go for the Shrimp & Grits. If you’re not into meat, there are some great vegetarian and vegan options.
Order: Oyster Po Boy and Watermelon Sweet Tea
Hours: 8:00AM–10:00PM, Closed on Tuesdays
Reservations: Walk-in only
Frisco Fried
$$ | 5176 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94124
Frisco Fried is a Giants-themed Southern eatery located in Hunter’s Point. This San Francisco institution is best known for their chicken dinners and caramelized garlic butter crab. Be prepared for a little bit of a wait.
Order: 55 Minute Chicken & Waffles or Caramelized Garlic Butter Crab
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11:00AM–7:00PM, Friday: 11:00AM–9:00PM, Saturday: 12:00–9:00PM, Sunday: 12:00–7:00PM
Reservations: Walk-in only
Little Skillet
$$ | 360 Ritch Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Located in an alleyway near AT&T Park, Little Skillet is one of San Francisco’s most popular hidden gems. The most popular item ohere is the Chicken Box, which comes with two pieces of chicken and a selectionof sides ranging from jalapeño coleslaw to cheddar grits.
Order: Chicken Box or Chix and Waffles Combo
Hours: 10:30AM–3:00PM, 4:00–10:00PM
Reservations: Walk-in only
Soul Groove
$$ | 422 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Soul Groove is known for their eclectic Southern creations. Located in the Tenderloin, Soul Groove’s most popular menu item is the Chicken Fried Soul Sandwich – a bacon-wrapped buttermilk fried chicken breast, served between two maple infused waffles, jalapeño cole slaw and spicy maple bbq sauce.
Order: Chicken Fried Soul
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 10:00AM–2:00PM, Saturday & Sunday: 10:00AM–5:00PM. Closed Mondays
Reservations: Walk-in only
Buttermilk Southern Kitchen
$$ | 2848 23rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Buttermilk Southern Kitchen serves up Creole/Cajun cuisine in the Mission District. Fried chicken is on the menu here, but their most popular item here is the Serious Shrimp & Grits, with cheesy grits, blackened shrimp and a fried egg.
Order: Oxtail Hash, Serious Shrimp & Grits
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 11:30AM–3:00PM / 5:30–9:00PM, Saturday & Sunday: 10:00AM–3:00PM / 6:00–9:00PM
Reservations: 415-341-1031
The Front Porch
$$ | 65A 29th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Located in Bernal Heights, The Front Porch is known for their Bucket o’ Chicken, containing 10 pieces of savory, fried chicken. With starters like Blue Crab Hush Puppies and sides like garlic fries with lemon aioli, The Front Porch offers southern food with a San Francisco twist.
Order: Bucket o’ Chicken
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 5:30–10:30PM, Friday & Saturday: 5:30–11:00PM, Sunday: 5:30–10:00PM, Weekend Brunch: 10:00AM–2:30PM
Reservations: SeatMe (Yelp)
Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments! Not in the mood for soul food? Check out our list of the best burger joints or the best Chinese restaurants in San Francisco.
