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Food from Mama’s Luncheonette in San Francisco.
Mama’s Luncheonette
Marlon Duenas

The 12 Best Breakfast Sandwiches in San Francisco

There's nothing like a standout BEC

by Dianne de Guzman and Eater Staff Updated
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Mama’s Luncheonette
| Marlon Duenas
by Dianne de Guzman and Eater Staff Updated

When it comes to grabbable, sumptuous, on-the-move dishes, there are more than just great burritos in San Francisco. While the East Coast may have the most well-known BECs in the game, there are still breakfast sandwiches in San Francisco that make both locals and tourists swoon. On the west side, there’s powerhouse Devil’s Teeth Baking Company, on the east side, NYC-style Newkirk’s, and in the dead center, the plant-based newcomer Rad Radish. Here are the finest 12 breakfast sandwiches in the city for each cardinal direction and everything in between.

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Causwells

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This Marina bar and restaurant may be well-loved for inventive bartender Elmer Mejicanos’ drinks and its heaving burger, but the restaurant also has a couple of hefty breakfast sandwich options for its daily lunch and brunch hours. The brunch burger is a single-patty burger with American cheese, fried egg, bacon, and more. There’s also the chorizo, egg, and cheese option, with house-made pork chorizo, two soft-scrambled eggs, and cheddar.

2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 447-6081
(415) 447-6081
Stephanie Amberg

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Mama’s Luncheonette

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Mama’s Luncheonette is a relative newcomer to the dining scene, but its reputation has already spread as the place to go for chicken Caesar salad wraps. That’s all fine and good, but diners should also check out the shop’s Egg McLovin, Mama’s breakfast sandwich. What makes this one stand out? The chicken sausage is made in-house, there’s aged sharp cheddar, and harissa aioli really gives the whole thing some zing. Plus, the menu’s all halal, if that’s what you’re searching for.

3006 Buchanan St (Union Street), San Francisco, CA 94123
Food from Mama’s Luncheonette in San Francisco. Marlon Duenas

Breadbelly

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Is there anything this new-school Asian-American bakery in the Richmond doesn’t do well? In addition to its iconic bright-green kaya toast and its ever-changing lineup of cakes and pastries, Breadbelly also finds the time to put out a pretty damn good breakfast sandwich: a medium fried egg, smoked ham, gruyere, sweet and sour kale, and fermented chile paste — all piled onto a soft housemade “bun-wich.”

1408 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 349-0969
(415) 349-0969

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Lou's Cafe

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This beloved Richmond District sandwich shop is probably best known for its selection of huge, picnic-friendly deli sandwiches, making it a popular stop for folks headed out for a day at the beach. But breakfast sandwiches — like the corned beef hash sammie — also have a big cult following, in part because they’re such a carb lover’s delight: They all come topped with hash brown patties, as well as a smear of Lou’s “special sauce” for a little bit of a kick.

5017 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 379-4429
(415) 379-4429
Lou’s Cafe/Facebook

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Rad Radish

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Hayes Valley newest all day vegan cafe is home to a proper plant-based breakfast sandwich. For just $8 the Just Egg-stuffed sandwich comes with “American cheese” and garlic aioli. For $3, throw on tempeh bacon or Beyond Meat sausage.

301 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 916-8548
(415) 916-8548
Sandwich.
Breakfast sandwich at Rad Radish.
Rad Radish

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Toast'N Egg

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Korean street toast AND croffles? Say less. Well, let’s actually say more: This flashy new spot is the place to go for eggy, sandwich goodness, with a variety of options such as wagyu toast, sugoi beef toast, and mushroom toast. Go as hard or as easy as you want, but it’ll most likely be filling.

1838 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122

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Kahnfections

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An incredibly buttery biscuit from baker Judy Kahn makes the ideal breakfast sandwich bun. Sure, her 20th Street bakery/cafe draws fans for cakes and macarons, but these are her most dangerous daily delight. It’s egg, avocado, and optional ham and cheddar between fresh daily biscuits. Try it with the bacon-cheddar-scallion biscuit for maximum oomph.

3321 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 525-3328
(415) 525-3328
Biscuit sandwich from Kahnfections Kahnfections

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Newkirk's

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Within the constellation of fancy breakfast sandwiches tricked out with sous vide eggs and microgreens (not that there’s anything wrong with that), this New York-style breakfast sandwich joint across from SF General is something a breath of fresh air with its relatively straightforward and affordable takes. The classic BEC (crispy bacon, an egg fried over-medium, and cheese) is the thing to get — unless you’re feeling especially decadent, in which case the Horse on the Roof, a kind of breakfast cheesesteak, will get the job done.

1002 Potrero Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 962-7695
(415) 962-7695
Newkirk’s/Facebook

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Breakfast Little

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This Mission District relative newcomer is well-loved for its breakfast burritos, but only a fool would miss the $7.99 breakfast sandwich. The sammie here is done in classic East Coast-style, meaning just egg, bacon or sausage, cheese, and garlic aioli on a pan de sal roll.

3275 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 619-8686
(415) 619-8686

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Devil's Teeth Baking Company

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There’s the breakfast sandwich at Devil’s Teeth, and then there’s the special breakfast sandwich. The latter comes with two scrambled eggs, pepper jack cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, avocado, and lemon-garlic aioli on a house-made buttermilk biscuit. So special, especially considering the fact you can eat it on the beach.

3876 Noriega St, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 683-5533
(415) 683-5533
Devil’s Teeth/Instagram

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Tortas Los Picudos

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There might not be such a thing as a torta that wouldn’t make a good breakfast, especially when the sandwiches are as skillfully constructed as they are at this Mission District mainstay. But Los Picudos’ ham, chorizo, and egg torta is a particular morning delight, crammed full, as it is, with a chorizo-and-egg scramble, ham, and a generous portion of sliced avocado and crema for a maximally rich and creamy experience. Pro tip: You can ask for an egg to be added to any torta on the menu.

2969 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 824-4199
(415) 824-4199

Black Jet Baking Co.

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Baker-owner Gillian Shaw’s Bernal Heights bakery might be better known for its old-fashioned cakes, pies, and pop tarts but her breakfast sandwich, the “Pat Greany,” has a devoted following all its own: ham (or spinach), scrambled egg, and wonderfully melty cheddar cheese on one of the bakery’s good bulkie rolls.

833 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 829-3905
(415) 829-3905
The Pat Greany breakfast sandwich Black Jet Baking Co.

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Causwells

2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

This Marina bar and restaurant may be well-loved for inventive bartender Elmer Mejicanos’ drinks and its heaving burger, but the restaurant also has a couple of hefty breakfast sandwich options for its daily lunch and brunch hours. The brunch burger is a single-patty burger with American cheese, fried egg, bacon, and more. There’s also the chorizo, egg, and cheese option, with house-made pork chorizo, two soft-scrambled eggs, and cheddar.

2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 447-6081
(415) 447-6081
Stephanie Amberg

Mama’s Luncheonette

3006 Buchanan St (Union Street), San Francisco, CA 94123

Mama’s Luncheonette is a relative newcomer to the dining scene, but its reputation has already spread as the place to go for chicken Caesar salad wraps. That’s all fine and good, but diners should also check out the shop’s Egg McLovin, Mama’s breakfast sandwich. What makes this one stand out? The chicken sausage is made in-house, there’s aged sharp cheddar, and harissa aioli really gives the whole thing some zing. Plus, the menu’s all halal, if that’s what you’re searching for.

3006 Buchanan St (Union Street), San Francisco, CA 94123
Food from Mama’s Luncheonette in San Francisco. Marlon Duenas

Breadbelly

1408 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

Is there anything this new-school Asian-American bakery in the Richmond doesn’t do well? In addition to its iconic bright-green kaya toast and its ever-changing lineup of cakes and pastries, Breadbelly also finds the time to put out a pretty damn good breakfast sandwich: a medium fried egg, smoked ham, gruyere, sweet and sour kale, and fermented chile paste — all piled onto a soft housemade “bun-wich.”

1408 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 349-0969
(415) 349-0969

Lou's Cafe

5017 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118

This beloved Richmond District sandwich shop is probably best known for its selection of huge, picnic-friendly deli sandwiches, making it a popular stop for folks headed out for a day at the beach. But breakfast sandwiches — like the corned beef hash sammie — also have a big cult following, in part because they’re such a carb lover’s delight: They all come topped with hash brown patties, as well as a smear of Lou’s “special sauce” for a little bit of a kick.

5017 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 379-4429
(415) 379-4429
Lou’s Cafe/Facebook

Rad Radish

301 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Hayes Valley newest all day vegan cafe is home to a proper plant-based breakfast sandwich. For just $8 the Just Egg-stuffed sandwich comes with “American cheese” and garlic aioli. For $3, throw on tempeh bacon or Beyond Meat sausage.

301 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 916-8548
(415) 916-8548
Sandwich.
Breakfast sandwich at Rad Radish.
Rad Radish

Toast'N Egg

1838 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Korean street toast AND croffles? Say less. Well, let’s actually say more: This flashy new spot is the place to go for eggy, sandwich goodness, with a variety of options such as wagyu toast, sugoi beef toast, and mushroom toast. Go as hard or as easy as you want, but it’ll most likely be filling.

1838 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Kahnfections

3321 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

An incredibly buttery biscuit from baker Judy Kahn makes the ideal breakfast sandwich bun. Sure, her 20th Street bakery/cafe draws fans for cakes and macarons, but these are her most dangerous daily delight. It’s egg, avocado, and optional ham and cheddar between fresh daily biscuits. Try it with the bacon-cheddar-scallion biscuit for maximum oomph.

3321 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 525-3328
(415) 525-3328
Biscuit sandwich from Kahnfections Kahnfections

Newkirk's

1002 Potrero Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110

Within the constellation of fancy breakfast sandwiches tricked out with sous vide eggs and microgreens (not that there’s anything wrong with that), this New York-style breakfast sandwich joint across from SF General is something a breath of fresh air with its relatively straightforward and affordable takes. The classic BEC (crispy bacon, an egg fried over-medium, and cheese) is the thing to get — unless you’re feeling especially decadent, in which case the Horse on the Roof, a kind of breakfast cheesesteak, will get the job done.

1002 Potrero Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 962-7695
(415) 962-7695
Newkirk’s/Facebook

Breakfast Little

3275 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94110

This Mission District relative newcomer is well-loved for its breakfast burritos, but only a fool would miss the $7.99 breakfast sandwich. The sammie here is done in classic East Coast-style, meaning just egg, bacon or sausage, cheese, and garlic aioli on a pan de sal roll.

3275 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 619-8686
(415) 619-8686

Devil's Teeth Baking Company

3876 Noriega St, San Francisco, CA 94122

There’s the breakfast sandwich at Devil’s Teeth, and then there’s the special breakfast sandwich. The latter comes with two scrambled eggs, pepper jack cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, avocado, and lemon-garlic aioli on a house-made buttermilk biscuit. So special, especially considering the fact you can eat it on the beach.

3876 Noriega St, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 683-5533
(415) 683-5533
Devil’s Teeth/Instagram

Tortas Los Picudos

2969 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

There might not be such a thing as a torta that wouldn’t make a good breakfast, especially when the sandwiches are as skillfully constructed as they are at this Mission District mainstay. But Los Picudos’ ham, chorizo, and egg torta is a particular morning delight, crammed full, as it is, with a chorizo-and-egg scramble, ham, and a generous portion of sliced avocado and crema for a maximally rich and creamy experience. Pro tip: You can ask for an egg to be added to any torta on the menu.

2969 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 824-4199
(415) 824-4199

Black Jet Baking Co.

833 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110

Baker-owner Gillian Shaw’s Bernal Heights bakery might be better known for its old-fashioned cakes, pies, and pop tarts but her breakfast sandwich, the “Pat Greany,” has a devoted following all its own: ham (or spinach), scrambled egg, and wonderfully melty cheddar cheese on one of the bakery’s good bulkie rolls.

833 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 829-3905
(415) 829-3905
The Pat Greany breakfast sandwich Black Jet Baking Co.

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