Grubstake
The Verdict
"This is the answer to 'where can we eat after the bars close?' The burgers are solid and the all-night breakfast saves lives. Go after midnight for the full Grubstake experience."
What you need to know
Grubstake is a late-night Polk Gulch diner open since 1927, partly built from a converted railcar. Open until 3 or 4 AM most nights. The diner is also a longstanding part of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ history.
The Food
Burgers, steaks, breakfast, and homemade pies. The dinner menu also has Portuguese specialties: bacalhau and other dishes reflecting the kitchen’s history. The pies are baked in-house. Grubstake was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
The Space
Half the room is the original railcar, narrow and lined with booth seats. The other half is a more conventional dining room added later. Both share the same kitchen.
Practical Info
Price: Most items $15 to $25
Reservations: None. Walk in.
Hours: Sun-Wed 6:30pm to 3am, Thu-Sat 6:30pm to 4am
Address: 1525 Pine Street
Getting there: Pine Street is a few blocks from Polk. 19 Polk and 1 California Muni lines stop nearby.
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