What's this line for? · United States
The 11 food lines you'll walk past in San Francisco, and what the people in them are waiting for. For each: what to get when you reach the front, how long it usually takes, whether it's worth it, and how to beat it.
Nob Hill (Polk St)
The line is forThe Sicilian sashimi, a crab back, and oysters
A counter of 18 stools and a century of seafood. The line is part of it.
Worth the waitExpect: Often 1 to 2 hours
Beat it: Be in line before opening on a weekday
Mission
The line is forThe morning bun, and a slice of country bread
The bakery that taught a generation how to bake sourdough.
Worth the waitExpect: 20 to 45 min on weekend mornings
Beat it: Go at weekday opening, or after 2pm
Mission (by Dolores Park)
The line is forSalted caramel ice cream
The Dolores Park ice cream stop, with a line down the block on warm days.
Worth the waitExpect: 20 to 40 min on sunny afternoons
Beat it: Go before noon or late in the evening
North Beach
The line is forSquare focaccia slices: clam and garlic, or the combo
A North Beach slice counter that's been crowded since 1978.
Worth the waitExpect: 10 to 30 min late at night
Beat it: Go in the afternoon
North Beach
The line is forThe Margherita, from a world pizza champion's oven
Pizza titles cover the walls, and people wait for it.
Worth the waitExpect: Hour-long waits at weekend dinner
Beat it: Go at lunch on a weekday
Bernal Heights
The line is forUbe, buko (young coconut) or the mexican chocolate
A family scoop shop since 1953, known for its Filipino flavors.
Worth the waitExpect: 20 to 40 min on warm nights
Beat it: Go in the early afternoon. Take a number
Ferry Building
The line is forRaw oysters and the grilled cheese
Bay-view oyster bar in the Ferry Building.
Worth the waitExpect: 45 to 90 min for a table at weekend lunch
Beat it: Sit at the bar, or go on a weekday at 11am
Mission
The line is forA carnitas super burrito, dorado style (crisped on the griddle), no rice
Many still name it the best burrito in the Mission.
Worth the waitExpect: 20 to 40 min at lunch
Beat it: Go mid-afternoon on a weekday
Tenderloin
The line is forBeignets, shrimp and grits, and a fried chicken plate
New Orleans soul food that fills up every weekend.
Worth the waitReviewers say the wait pays off because the food never slips.
Expect: 45 to 90 min at weekend brunch
Beat it: Go on a weekday morning, or get on the waitlist
North Beach
The line is forAn Italian combo on a Dutch crunch roll
A North Beach Italian deli since 1896.
Worth the waitExpect: 20 to 30 min at lunch
Beat it: Go at 10am
Inner Richmond
The line is forThe croissant, plain or almond
A neighborhood bakery once named the best new bakery in America.
Worth the waitWidely called the city's best croissant, and the line moves fast: usually 10 to 20 minutes.
Expect: 20 to 45 min in the morning, sells out
Beat it: Be there before 8am, especially on weekends
Waits are what people usually see, not live times, and lines move and vanish: check hours before you go. Picked from Chef Amazing's Long lines lists (checked open Oct 23 2026) and checked against the press on 2026-11-12: preview-prod.w.sfchronicle.com · hungryhuy.com · jacks-list.beehiiv.com.