24-hour dining

Yesterday I instagrammed that I was having brunch at Sparky’s, and I got some opinionated comments in return. Among them:

  • MAKE SURE U GET ONE OF THOSE AWESOME MIXED DRINKS! [Lizzy]
  • Sparky’s suuuucks. Grubstake is the only 24-hour diner worth going to, IMO. [Carlos]
  • It’s Tops will do the trick if you’re in this hood too. They have a burger with four patties. Nuff said. [Christina]

I’m pretty sure the mixed drinks at Sparky’s are gross and Lizzy is just culture jamming. Grubstake seems cool but when the hell are you ever anywhere near Grubstake? Four patties sounds gross, but I love It’s Tops.

Why the hell aren’t there more 24-hour dining options?

45 Responses to “24-hour dining”

  1. Allison says:

    I tried going there after a show a couple of months ago and they were closed(?!) so we ended up at Orphan Andy’s instead.

    Also, Grubstake isn’t actually open 24 hours.

  2. MrEricSir says:

    I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I miss Baghdad Cafe.

  3. tack says:

    One thing that Sparky’s does that other late night places don’t is delivery. Like, you can order breakfast from bed and have it delivered. If only they would deliver it TO your bed…..

  4. Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

    It’s Tops is pretty awesome, but not really 24 hours. For 4AM dining, my choice is generally the Lucky Penny at Geary + Masonic (at least since the Video Cafe closed, that place was rad.)

  5. tk says:

    My theory is that there isn’t more 24-hour dining because bars close at 2 am in California. If they were open until 4, I bet you’d see a lot more options.

  6. Forest J. says:

    Bars are open til 2 in Michigan and while there’s far more going on in SF than Detroit & Ann Arbor, there are TONS of 24 hr joints.

    • D. Jon Moutarde says:

      I hope that doesn’t include a buttload of Denny’s.

    • Olu says:

      In my experience any relatively large suburb or college town has more 24hr places than SF, I think it’s because of density/ no cars.

      I mean, people will drive five miles (or more) in the burbs- but we wouldn’t go ten blocks in the City. So unless you’re in a very dense area w/ nightlife or drivers there’s not enough business. So the Richmond can have a place or two, both with ample parking, and a college. And the Castro can have a bunch.

      The Mission should be able to support at least one place, maybe on 24th?- I don’t know why they haven’t popped up yet.

    • halle says:

      there are lots more 24 hr places in Detroit and Ann Arbor b/c the auto plants in Dearborn, Ypsilanti, etc. have swing shifts and there are people getting off of work at those hours….which is why you see people doing actual grocery shopping at the 24 hr Krogers and Meijer’s thrifty acres…

  7. moderniste says:

    I really don’t like Sparky’s, mainly because they royally effed up their hash browns with some wierd orange grated veggie–maybe sweet potato or carrot. Hash browns should be plain and simple grated potatoes and lots of salt, with the possible addition of onion.

    Orphan Andy’s has awesome Steak and Eggs, and I will go out of my way to hit up Grubstake for the Caldo Verde soup with kale and linguica. Where else can you get Caldo Verde with an order of chili cheese fries??

    • D. Jon Moutarde says:

      Awww… I like the “orange grated veggie”! I can always add salt (and pepper) myself.

    • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

      Yeah, I really dig Orphan Andy’s. They’ll also make you a Rootbeer Freeze if you ask nicely.

  8. Ariel Dovas says:

    I miss Video Cafe too. Little Orphan Andy’s has great late night fried sandwiches. Bagdad was not great, and overpriced, but I almost miss it too.

  9. Chicken Rabbit says:

    i’m still a fan of pinecrest

  10. BuffetBoss says:

    Not a mention of Lucky Penny?!?

    • Grizzled Mission says:

      That’s pretty far from the MissionMission, isn’t it? I’m not drunkdriving that far!

  11. scum says:

    I miss Zims. I remember Copper Penny.

    • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

      Copper Penny == Lucky Penny. They changed the name, but everything else is essentially the same, in my opinion.

      But, yes, I miss Zim’s too.

  12. Lamb Chop says:

    I miss Clown Alley.

    • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

      Hear, hear. But was it 24-hours?

      • Lamb Chop says:

        I’d always believed so. The last time I went there (85), the Greyhound station was closed from midnight to 4am. I got locked out with my 3 yr old after walking across the street to a fast food place. So, we took a cab to Clown Alley and that’s where we hung out till I could get back in the terminal. Lots of drama and inane BS during that period- I was so thankful that it was still there and open. My fond memories of SF have always included Clown Alley.

  13. D. Jon Moutarde says:

    Bless y’all — as long as y’can’t cook fo’ y’selves, I will always have a job.

  14. Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

    How about WORST 24-hour choices? I think I’d have to say Silver Crest on Bayshore. It’s got plenty of character, but the food is expensive and terrible.

  15. thanks says:

    Sparky’s is ok at 3am, doesn’t really seem worthwhile to go there during normal business hours though. You could walk across the street and get a great meal at Chow for about the same price.

    anyways, the key to Sparky’s is to keep it simple. don’t order the seafood fettuccine and then complain when it sucks; stick with the burgers and pancakes. Also keep an eye on the clock so you can order two more beers at 1:55.

  16. corner soul says:

    Not really Mission adjacent, but the Jack in the Box @ 10th ave and Geary is pretty epic at 3am after Edinburgh/Waziema/Independent/etc. (assuming you’re heading out west)

    • No fish today says:

      lol that place gets hella ghetto after last call.

    • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

      You don’t have to trek way out to the Richmond for that, there’s a 24-hr Jack-in-the-Box on Bayshore, just up the block from Cortland.

  17. Dom says:

    Though Sparky’s has hella good milkshakes. Try the My Chai.

  18. Tiny Tim says:

    Anybody know how to cook for themselves, anymore?
    Free delivery from your stove to your table.

  19. am I the only one who misses the king diner on mission & 10th?