San Francisco chefs, bartenders divulge favorite late-night eats: Way better than Jack in the Box
Updated 6:03 pm, Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Try out these late-night favorite places to eat from chefs and others from the Bay Area food industry.
Try out these late-night favorite places to eat from chefs and others from the Bay Area food industry.
Nite Yun, chef and owner of Nyum Bai:
I love going to Tacos El Gordo at 4201 International Blvd. in Oakland. There's plenty of taco trucks in the neighborhood but I keep going back to El Gordo for the al pastor taco.
Tacos El Gordo: 4201 International Blvd., Oakland. Hours vary, but does serve late at night.
lessNite Yun, chef and owner of Nyum Bai:
I love going to Tacos El Gordo at 4201 International Blvd. in Oakland. There's plenty of taco trucks in the neighborhood but I keep going back to El Gordo for the al
... moreTacos al pastor with the requisite sliced radish and limes at Oakland food truck, Tacos El Gordo.
Tacos al pastor with the requisite sliced radish and limes at Oakland food truck, Tacos El Gordo.
Jonny Cimone, bar director of Hotel San Francisco:
For late-night eats, my pick is Alamo Drafthouse in the Mission. It's an awesome movie theater that delivers boozy milkshakes and food to your seat, but we often skip the movie and go hang out in Bear Vs Bull Bar, the theater's lounge, for food and cocktails.
Alamo Drafthouse, Bear Vs Bull Bar: 2550 Mission St., San Francisco. Open until 2 a.m. daily.
lessJonny Cimone, bar director of Hotel San Francisco:
For late-night eats, my pick is Alamo Drafthouse in the Mission. It's an awesome movie theater that delivers boozy milkshakes and food to your seat, but we
... moreTony Cervone, chef and partner at Souvla:
After a night out — which I rarely do anymore — I always love the burger at Nopa. You can still get that last cocktail, glass of wine or beer you don't need and have that burger to soak up all of those poor decisions you made throughout the night. Also, Chef Alejandro is always good for a big hug, showing lots of love and a bad joke.
Nopa: 560 Divisadero St., San Francisco. Open most days until 12 a.m., Thursday and Friday open until 1 a.m.
lessTony Cervone, chef and partner at Souvla:
After a night out — which I rarely do anymore — I always love the burger at Nopa. You can still get that last cocktail, glass of wine or beer you don't need and
... moreNigel Jones, co-owner and chef of Kaya:
My go-to, late-night spot is Nopa. It is right next to a live music venue called The Independent, which is owned by a good friend of mine. After service has wrapped at Kaya, sometimes I’ll head over to The Independent to take in some music and unwind. I’ll stop by NOPA after, which is open till 1 a.m. on the weekends, and order their wood-grilled hamburger. It is hearty, but not heavy. It comes on a nice, light brioche bun and is served with French fries.
lessNigel Jones, co-owner and chef of Kaya:
My go-to, late-night spot is Nopa. It is right next to a live music venue called The Independent, which is owned by a good friend of mine. After service has wrapped at
... moreA burger and fries at Nopa.
A burger and fries at Nopa.
Ryan Farr, founder and CEO of 4505 Burgers and BBQ:
If I get a craving for a late-night snack and I'm out in my neighborhood, Hawker Fare is my go-to. Chef James Syhabout creates cravable dishes. Of course, Bar San Pancho for crispy tacos and a bag of 4505 Chicharrones shaken with some of their hot sauce is a close second. I've also been known to be found at Loló, Namu Stonepot, and ABV.
Hawker Fare (shown above): 680 Valencia St., San Francisco. Open until 10 p.m. most days, Friday and Saturday open until 11 p.m.
Bar San Pancho: 3198 16th St., San Francisco. Open until 2 a.m. daily.
Loló: 974 Valencia St., San Francisco. Open most days until 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday open until 1 a.m.
Namu Stonepot: 553 Divisadero St., San Francisco. Open most days until 11:30 p.m., Thursday to Saturday open until 1 a.m. Closed Mondays.
ABV: 3174 16th St., San Francisco. Open until 2 a.m. daily. Kitchen serves food until 1 a.m.
Ryan Farr, founder and CEO of 4505 Burgers and BBQ:
If I get a craving for a late-night snack and I'm out in my neighborhood, Hawker Fare is my go-to. Chef James Syhabout creates cravable dishes. Of course,
... moreWes Leslie, bartender at SRO:
On nights when I close the bar early enough, I'll stop by ABV before their kitchen closes at 1 AM. The grilled abalone mushrooms and fried cauliflower are the perfect late night snack, and I could drink their tiki-inspired Pink Flamingo cocktail for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy.
lessWes Leslie, bartender at SRO:
On nights when I close the bar early enough, I'll stop by ABV before their kitchen closes at 1 AM. The grilled abalone mushrooms and fried cauliflower are the perfect late night
... moreHeena Patel, chef at Rasoi and upcoming Besharam:
My late-night favorite is "pav bhaji." Growing up in Mumbai, with busy, buzzing streets and so much street food to choose from, it was always the standout. The tantalizing smell of spices in thick curry with melted butter on toasted bread is brilliant. I will be serving that dish at my new restaurant, Besharam, so our community has the opportunity to enjoy it.
Shown here: Couple eating pav bhaji at a food stall at Juhu Beach in Mumbai, India.
lessHeena Patel, chef at Rasoi and upcoming Besharam:
My late-night favorite is "pav bhaji." Growing up in Mumbai, with busy, buzzing streets and so much street food to choose from, it was always the standout. The
... moreChef Heena Patel's version of the late-night classic, pav bhaji.
Chef Heena Patel's version of the late-night classic, pav bhaji.
Jason Raffin, chef de cuisine at Comstock Saloon:
If I want to get back to my roots of Franzia and frozen onion rings, I head to Sam's in North Beach to disgrace myself in the best of ways with a double burger with bacon and plastic cup of wine. Not only am I greeted by the friendly faces of the owners who work long hours and have carried on the legacy of Sam since his death, but I can count on running into some of the best chefs in San Francisco leaving a late shift at Quince, Cotogna, or Coi. The industry runs deep at this establishment and for good reason.
The burgers remind you of your neighbor’s backyard bbq with no-fuss ingredients treated correctly, and with care. The can taste the love and feel it all around you from people coming from all walks of life.
Sam's: 618 Broadway, San Francisco. Open until 2 a.m. daily.
lessJason Raffin, chef de cuisine at Comstock Saloon:
If I want to get back to my roots of Franzia and frozen onion rings, I head to Sam's in North Beach to disgrace myself in the best of ways with a double burger
... moreA bacon cheeseburger is served at Sam's in North Beach.
A bacon cheeseburger is served at Sam's in North Beach.
Robin Song, executive chef of Gibson:
I've been much less of a night owl these days and my late night snacks are not that exciting — a quesadilla is the easy go-to. However, there are a few spots I do enjoy these days. In Oakland, I stop at Dragon Gate near Jack London often. It's a dark Taiwanese bar, with stiff drinks and tasty street food. If anyone dares, you can even get a karaoke room.
Here in the city, not quite late-night, but after work I've frequented Mensho Ramen and Namu Stonepot to get my spicy noodle fix.
Dragon Gate Bar & Grille (shown above): 300 Broadway, Oakland. Open until 2 a.m. daily.
Mensho Ramen: 672 Geary St., San Francisco. Open until 11:30 p.m. most nights, closed Mondays.
Namu Stonepot: 553 Divisadero St., San Francisco. Open until 11:30 most nights, 1 a.m. Thursday to Saturday, closed Mondays.
Robin Song, executive chef of Gibson:
I've been much less of a night owl these days and my late night snacks are not that exciting — a quesadilla is the easy go-to. However, there are a few spots I do enjoy
... moreRob Lam, chef and co-owner of Perle:
Ramen Shop: That’s the go-to. If I can have a big bowl of noodles at the end of the night, that’ll certainly make me happy — and they have a full bar. It’s not traditional Japanese ramen, but they put their own California, Chez Panisse twist on it, and it’s just quality all around. It’s really an industry spot, for a lot of the us around the Bay Area, in Oakland and Berkeley.
Ramen Shop: 5812 College Ave., Oakland. Open most days until 10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday until midnight.
lessRob Lam, chef and co-owner of Perle:
Ramen Shop: That’s the go-to. If I can have a big bowl of noodles at the end of the night, that’ll certainly make me happy — and they have a full bar. It’s not
... moreA bowl of ramen served at Ramen Shop in Oakland.
A bowl of ramen served at Ramen Shop in Oakland.
Rob Lam, chef and co-owner of Perle (continued):
If you ask me what I cook at home ... it’s just, 'Grab it from the pantry, whatever’s there.' I usually don’t even remember what I ate the next morning.
[There's] two things that I consistently do. One is popcorn: It’s fast, I just put it in that air blower, add some pretty good melted butter and nutritional yeast. I mix the nutritional yeast with parmesan. I put enough butter in there so that you can, you put a straw in there, you could suck it up.
The other thing I do is just two slices of white bread, scrambled eggs and butter. Soft scrambled eggs and a really good butter, oh man. Think two pieces of completely un-nutritious white bread.
lessMarcus Garcia, sommelier and co-owner of Perle:
Yuet Lee … after all these years, still [here] for the Salt and Pepper Squid and the people who roll in late night. Many great memories over the last 20 years going there. One of the classic late-night hangs amongst restaurant and bar folk: convivial, fresh and fast!
Yuet Lee: 300 Stockton St., San Francisco. Open most nights until 12 a.m., Friday and Saturday, open until 3 a.m.
lessMarcus Garcia, sommelier and co-owner of Perle:
Yuet Lee … after all these years, still [here] for the Salt and Pepper Squid and the people who roll in late night. Many great memories over the last 20
... moreThe salt and pepper squid plate served at Yuet Lee in San Francisco.
The salt and pepper squid plate served at Yuet Lee in San Francisco.
The team at The Snug:
If you were to catch the group at The Snug after a night out, you might see them having a wing or two over at Krispy Krunchy Fried Chicken on South Van Ness. Calling it some of the best fried chicken in the city, one team member stated that "ordering the four-piece combo and eating it on the freezer outside the store is how the pros do it." Duly noted.
Krispy Krunchy Chicken: 599 S. Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. Open 24 hours.
lessThe team at The Snug:
If you were to catch the group at The Snug after a night out, you might see them having a wing or two over at Krispy Krunchy Fried Chicken on South Van Ness. Calling it some of the best
... moreDaniel Parks, beverage director of Pagan Idol:
My favorite thing to eat after a long shift behind the bar is my wife's pork adobo. But, if I'm out looking for late-night food, one of my favorite spots in the city is Louie's Bar on Stevenson. I think they have some of the best chicken wings in SF - they do them either Buffalo style or a Bangkok style with Chinese black vinegar, chilis and sesame seeds. They also do a killer Pozole Rojo — just like abuela used to make. The atmosphere is great. The staff is awesome. There's usually sports highlights or a cult classic film on the TVs. The menu is elevated in comparison to what would be available after midnight elsewhere.
Louie's Bar: 55 Stevenson St., San Francisco. Open daily until 2 a.m.
lessDaniel Parks, beverage director of Pagan Idol:
My favorite thing to eat after a long shift behind the bar is my wife's pork adobo. But, if I'm out looking for late-night food, one of my favorite spots in the
... moreThe Bangkok wings, served with a generous sprinkling of white and black sesame seeds for customers of Louie's Bar.
The Bangkok wings, served with a generous sprinkling of white and black sesame seeds for customers of Louie's Bar.
Adam Tortosa, executive chef of Robin:
Tortosa gave word that his favorite late-night dish to make at home is an Asian instant soup, BCD Tofu Soup Starter (mild), which includes House Foods' tofu and BCD Tofu House's soup seasoning. He's apparently so into this soup, he's stocked up and fully prepared should the need strike. Alongside the included soup flavorings, he adds whatever fresh vegetables are in his fridge — these days that includes zucchini, cabbage, and carrots — to the broth, adds the tofu and cracks an egg inside.
Shown here: Tofu soup, center, with a raw egg served alongside a variety of vegetable dishes.
lessAdam Tortosa, executive chef of Robin:
Tortosa gave word that his favorite late-night dish to make at home is an Asian instant soup, BCD Tofu Soup Starter (mild), which includes House Foods' tofu and BCD Tofu
... moreChrist Aivaliotis, co-owner of The Kon-Tiki:
In Oakland, most places I would like to eat at close early and [at The Kon-Tiki] we close at 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. So if I find myself out and about, I end up craving our cheeseburger. Other than here for late-night food, there are 3 places I like to go. One is Tacos Mi Rancho, the taco truck adjacent to Lake Merritt. The steak torta is my go to. Super chopped up Carne Asada on a grilled stale roll with cheese, shredded iceberg lettuce and jalapenos, slathered with mayo or sour cream (usually I can't tell which!) So good. I skip the beans though as I feel like beans have no business on a sandwich.
The Kon-Tiki: 347 14th St., Oakland. Open until midnight most days, Friday and Saturday open until 1 a.m.
Tacos Mi Rancho (shown above): 1434 1st Ave., Oakland. Open daily until 2:30 a.m.
lessChrist Aivaliotis, co-owner of The Kon-Tiki:
In Oakland, most places I would like to eat at close early and [at The Kon-Tiki] we close at 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. So if I find myself out and about, I end
... moreChrist Aivaliotis, co-owner of The Kon-Tiki (continued):
Also, a standby old favorite is New Gold Medal. Cheap, late-night Chinese in Chinatown. Wonton noodle soup and Peking duck — probably the cheapest in Chinatown — with steamed buns are excellent, and make the Lyft home a little easier after visiting friends at their bar shifts. Finally, Shooting Star Cafe on Webster, just down the block from The Kon-Tiki, is great. Greasy chicken casserole, egg rolls, french fries and waffles! It's so weird with the mish-mash in there, and always satisfying.
New Gold Medal Restaurant (shown above): 389 8th St., Oakland. Open daily until 2:45 a.m.
Shooting Star Cafe: 1022 Webster St., Oakland. Open daily until 2 a.m.
lessChrist Aivaliotis, co-owner of The Kon-Tiki (continued):
Also, a standby old favorite is New Gold Medal. Cheap, late-night Chinese in Chinatown. Wonton noodle soup and Peking duck — probably the cheapest in
... moreChrist Aivaliotis, co-owner of The Kon-Tiki (continued):
When I was working in the city at Hawker Fare/Holy Mountain, I would always always end up at ABV. Great food and the burger there is always killer. Also, the bartenders are more than generous to their industry friends with the mezcal cheekies. Also, the burger at It's Tops made me endlessly happy and helped to soak up all the rum I would have out and about. I love that place: So old-school. One cook churning out dozens of fried bits of this and that and those burgers saved me many a night.
ABV (shown above): 3174 16th St., San Francisco. Open until 2 a.m. daily, kitchen serves food until 1 a.m.
It's Tops Coffee Shop: 1801 Market St., San Francisco. Open until 3 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 11 p.m. on Sundays, and 3 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.
lessChrist Aivaliotis, co-owner of The Kon-Tiki (continued):
When I was working in the city at Hawker Fare/Holy Mountain, I would always always end up at ABV. Great food and the burger there is always killer.
... moreChrist Aivaliotis, co-owner of The Kon-Tiki (continued):
The Brazen Head was a favorite as well. Escargot and Peppered New York Strip steaks are things one should never eat at midnight, yet, here we are. I would have a caesar salad, french onion soup, and if they ever had creamy lobster ravioli, these would be my steak sides. Finally, Yuet Lee on Broadway. Salt and Pepper squid almost makes me wish I still worked in the city.
The Brazen Head (shown above): 3166 Buchanan St., San Francisco. Open until 2 a.m. daily.
Yuet Lee: 1300 Stockton St., San Francisco. Open until midnight most days, Friday and Saturday until 3 a.m. Closed Tuesdays.
lessChrist Aivaliotis, co-owner of The Kon-Tiki (continued):
The Brazen Head was a favorite as well. Escargot and Peppered New York Strip steaks are things one should never eat at midnight, yet, here we are. I
... more340 Bayshore Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94124
The neon sign out front says "WE NEVER CLOSE," and the owner pours shots of ouzo so if you're looking for a place to continue your party (and get something in your stomach), this is your spot.
340 Bayshore Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94124
The neon sign out front says "WE NEVER CLOSE," and the owner pours shots of ouzo so if you're looking for a place to continue your party (and get
San Mateo
San Mateo
The quest for late-night food in the Bay Area can be a rough one, if you don't know where to turn.
Who amongst us hasn't shown up to the Burger King on Van Ness Avenue, or stood with the crowds outside of the Jack in the Box on Geary Boulevard, feeling that perhaps it's the only chance at food for the night?
(Don't answer.)
But late-night food can be better. The dining scene after dark can be limited, but there's no need to always succumb to fast food corporations after a late movie or a longer-than-planned happy hour.
SFGATE put the call out to chefs, bartenders and owners of local establishments and asked them what they're eating late at night: Where do you go, or what do you cook, when it's late at night and hunger strikes?
Whether you're a newcomer or long time San Francisco resident, it's worth checking out these dishes.
Media: Kiley Roache, Elizabeth GersonWhile a few acknowledged the Bay Area late-night food scene is challenged — a constant conversation among midnight warriors — a number of industry folks took the questions to heart. Many used this as a time to celebrate those places they turn to in a hunger crunch.
One such believer in the late-night food scene is Christ Aivaliotis, co-owner of The Kon-Tiki in Oakland. Admitting the Bay Area is "woefully underserved" in the food arena past 10 p.m., Aivaliotis took the time to rattle off a lengthy list of places he goes to at night. He ended his screed with an apology over the number of recommendations, writing, "I really want to champion those of us that go for it after midnight with the unnecessary calorie intake, at a time when we should be asleep."
Indeed. Night owls, scroll through the slideshow above for a list of places to head to — and some ways to up your midnight snack game — when you're in need of some food.
