Grubstake
The Verdict
"If you're looking for a late night diner 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
Getting there: Pine Street is a few blocks from Polk. 19 Polk and 1 California Muni lines stop nearby.
Explore Nearby
Antique Vibrator Museum
A free museum inside Good Vibrations on Polk Street displaying antique vibrators...
Pacific Cocktail Haven
Kevin Diedrich's award-winning cocktail bar near Union Square.
Red’s Place
Bills itself as the oldest bar in Chinatown.
Book Club of California
Nonprofit dedicated to fine printing, book arts, and California literary history. Founded...
