Welcome to Pork Store Cafe
Pork Store Cafe San Francisco - A Century of Breakfast Tradition
Pork Store Cafe in San Francisco: A century of breakfast tradition. Since 1916, we've been serving up delicious breakfast classics, rooted in our immigrant heritage. Experience the charm of our historic stained glass, authentic recipes, and warm hospitality at 1451 Haight St. Join us for a taste of San Francisco's culinary history!
RESTAURANT LOCATIONS
-
1451 Haight St San Francisco, CA 94117 Hotline: (415) 864-6981 -
3122 16th St San Francisco, CA 94103 Hotline: (415) 830-9663
Established in 1916, Pork Store Cafe is a cherished San Francisco institution with a century-long legacy of serving the city's finest breakfast. It all began when an immigrant couple from Czechoslovakia ventured to the United States and opened the original Haight Street Pork Store, which initially operated as a sausage place and butcher shop. In 1925, the family added a touch of artistry by importing stained glass from Italy, which became the iconic Pork Store logo placed above our front entrance. The metalwork for the stained glass was meticulously crafted on 3rd Street in San Francisco.
As time passed, the business transitioned to the hands of the original proprietors' grandsons in the 1940s. However, in the 1950s, the Pork Store sign was temporarily covered, giving way to various other businesses, including the Three Coin Cafe, a hair salon, and Vic's coffee shop. The cafe's unique character flourished during the vibrant Hippie Era.
The 1960s saw the birth of Vic's coffee shop and, later, Raffies Lebanese Cuisine, operated by an Armenian family until 1979. It was only when they departed that the hidden treasure was unveiled: the original stained glass and the Pork Store sign, perfectly preserved beneath wooden boards. Thus, in that moment, the Pork Store Cafe was reborn.
Fast forward to the present day, and Pork Store Cafe has grown into a distinguished breakfast institution of San Francisco. For 24 years, it has been a symbol of the city's culinary heritage, thanks to the dedicated and expert guidance of Nadia, who captained the ship for 15 years, infusing her unique personal touches into our offerings. Working alongside her is Servando, our talented cook with Mex-Tex influences, adding a delightful blend of flavors to our menu.
In 2003, we expanded our presence, opening a second location in the vibrant Mission District of San Francisco. This expansion was a testament to our commitment to serving exceptional breakfast and honoring our rich history.
Our Mission At Pork Store Cafe, our mission is simple: to provide San Francisco with an exceptional breakfast experience rooted in tradition, quality, and a touch of innovation. We take pride in offering our customers not only delicious food but also a warm and welcoming atmosphere that has been a part of our identity for over a century.
Visit Us We invite you to visit us at 1451 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117, and experience the timeless charm of Pork Store Cafe. Whether you're a local or a visitor, we look forward to serving you our beloved breakfast classics and introducing you to the enduring legacy of San Francisco's breakfast culture.
I struggled with this review. For what it is, this is a five star place. Overall, maybe four? It's a 'greasy spoon'. The gate is heavy, meaty, greasy, and indulgent. We weren't wowed, but we have been on a health kick, so it was a bit much. So, if you want refinement and delicate flavor symphonies...this is not the place. If you want buttery, heavy, 'I can barely walk out of here', nailed it. I had the biscuits and gravy. Flavorful. Great biscuits. Gravy was a bit butter heavy for my taste. My wife had the corned beef and hash browns. Hash browns are potato perfection. The corned beef was a tad burned and Smokey. Pancakes were straight up divine, even if I couldn't finish them. No reservations. No list. You line up. You will NOT be seated without your whole party. Period. Nope. They will sometimes bring you coffee while you wait in line, so customer service points there.
A classic diner style breakfast with great service and tasty food! When we arrived we had a small wait but the waitress came out with coffee mugs and offered us coffee while we stood outside - something small that we really appreciated. Once seated it was an easy decision to go with the Pork Store special with hash browns and biscuits and my boyfriend got the chicken fried steak. I think I licked my plate clean! The pork chops could've been a tad jucier but overall it was a quality breakfast for a bangin' price! The hash browns where amazing and the biscuits were fresh and tasty. The chicken fried steak was awesome! The sauce came with it was outstanding and I kept leaning over to dip my biscuits in it. The staff were all super attentive and I don't think my coffee mug was ever empty. I can't wait to come back and enjoy another good old fashioned breakfast!
The smog check for my Tacoma pick-up truck was due and I was in the neighborhood at Quality Tune-up on Fell St. Too bad their smog machine is broken and I went to the Pork Store because I knew they would be open early and I could sit down and find another smog check station. Although I wanted to try their other dishes, I often find myself ordering the same thing since everything taste better with country gravy. Biscuits and gravy it is. I mean, you wouldn't order biscuits and gravy and a cheeseburger?! That would be weird. In addition, their pork chops are just so darn good, it is hard to deviate.
This local cafe is the best breakfast place on Haight. Great menu, very vegetarian/vegan friendly. The biscuits and gravy is something you've got to try/share. Everything I've ever had here is spot on. Don't make too many special requests, as it's busy. The place is right on Haight. So it might be a little busy. But tables turn over quickly. So wait... The window seats are good for people watching. But sitting at the bar is an even better show, for people who like watching good food being made fast. Did I say the service is awesome? Cause it is.
SO YUM. if you're craving a big hearty breakfast this diner is the place to go. Once I sat down, I took a look at the menu and couldn't decide, everything looked too good! We ended up getting the Eggs in a Tasty Nest (2 eggs, tomatoes, onions, peppers, cheese over hash browns) and the breakfast quesadilla. Both were fantastic. Our server was fabulous, super friendly and gave great recommendations. Loved this spot and would come back
