There's a place I frequent, in the Castro, about which I never hear anything. It's well-priced, serves satisfying fare, and the owners who run it are always on point and welcoming. Why I thought Paula's Cafe might be anything like that place is a mystery even to me. Paula's Cafe has some good deals announced on the sandwich board out front which I missed upon entering. The menu? These aren't good deals. My carne asada hash, with tax and tip ran $30 which seems whack when one considers the ambiance, service level and, sorrowfully, the food itself. My server delivered my seemingly well-prepared meal to me with a stack of napkins. He never checked back with me, ate a meal at another seat, and cranked the music up to a level that I thought unpleasant. That stack of napkins quickly became useful: the first four bites of carne asada had to be spit into them. This meat was chewy to the point of inedible. Things fared better when I cut pieces very tiny and the eggs and potatoes were good. I told my server this when I rose to pay at the register. His response? "Next time order the meat medium rare". I'd actually not specified or been asked how I wanted my carne asada prepared but I'd go one step further: I'd never again order any meat-containing menu item here. Truth is, there's a million places in this and surrounding blocks and I'm unlikely to return. read more

Paula's Cafe - Carne Asada Hash (much of the meat was inedible) contained none of the promised guaamolec, but it did contain avocado. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cute place for a quick lunch. Nice service. Food came out pretty fast and the plating was cute. We were seated indoors immediately for 3 on a weekday afternoon, plenty of seating. Came with free bread! read more

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As many writers have written, service / food is super slow. Waited a half hour for a breakfast sandwich. 4 meals ahead of me, so I'm guessing it's a one person shop w/minimal prep area. Music was TOO LOUD, but they graciously turned it down. 1st time here @ 1:00 on a Sunday Breakfast sandwich "hot" and FAB. My pet peeve is lukewarm food. Taters nothing like what you see in the photos, so much better, cooked and seasoned perfectly. $17 and so much food, I will have breakfast for tomorrow. Tiny place 6-8 deuce tables w/some counter seating All the food coming out of the kitchen looked great though I will be back. read more

What a great local find. Plenty of seating for Saturday breakfast. Everything was fresh as can be. And recommend the Carnitas and Eggs read more

Paula's Cafe - Inside seating - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

Muy buena atención la comida deliciosa y buen ambiente nos encantó muy accesible si quieres tomar el bus o manejar read more

Paula's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cute decor, a bit noisy as it was right by the street. We had a lunch reservation but didn't really need one as we got seated quickly. The breakfast food was delicious (especially the potatoes). However I did get the birria tacos and they were a bit disappointing, which makes sense as they cater towards breakfast items. read more

Paula's Cafe - Classic Benedicts - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Do not sleep on this cafe! Carne Asada Hash was sooooooo good. I watched our waiter make us fresh squeezed orange juice. Go here!!!!

I had the veggie omelette. It was delicious!! And the home fries were so fresh!! The place is nice and clean. Will definitely return.

The food, friendly staff, and playlist was 10/10. We had the chilaquiles, croissant breakfast sandwich, huevos rancheros, and horchata lattes. Everyone was happy with their choices. read more

The food is delicious! We got the breakfast burrito and the breakfast sandwich and both were amazing. The coffee on the other hand was 2.5/5 and the service was kinda bad. It took a while for us to even get menus after we sat then the food took a while and I got the wrong milk in my coffee. Would return for the food and probably just do take out. The ambiance was chill and was happy they didn't have a line on a Saturday! read more

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The environment was too loud for the small cafe. The TV was playing a soccer game at near max volume and there was a speaker at the entrance of the cafe playing very loud music at the same time. The food wasn't to the same standard as the last time. They also didn't remove the sour cream and queso fresco like requested to my burrito :( read more

Paula's Cafe is hands down one of the best spots to grab breakfast or lunch! The food here is absolutely amazing--fresh, flavorful, and made with care. Whether you're stopping by for a quick bite or bringing the whole family, this place has something for everyone. One of my absolute favorites is the horchata latte, hot or iced, it's always made perfect! The balance of cinnamon, sweetness, and espresso is just right. Beyond the food and drinks, the staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming. They go above and beyond to make sure you have a great experience. Do yourself a favor and try this place out! It's in a great neighborhood too! You can shop around in the shops nearby. Great atmosphere and has both indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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WOW one of the best breakfast burritos I've ever had!! I came here specifically to order a breakfast burritos and was not let down. The salsa that comes on the side is truly divine and it was enough food I saved half and ate it the next day (still delicious!). Prices were quite reasonable, and the staff was very friendly. The burrito was so good I can't knock anything off my rating, but one thing to note was the service wasn't the speediest, though it didn't negatively impact our experience. The restaurant is quite small, and really only accommodates parties of 4 or fewer, so consider going at off-peak times or ordering takeout. read more

Casual cozy cafe serving breakfast and lunch dishes along with Latin American dishes. We went on a Sunday morning around 11:35 am and they were busy. While we got seated promptly, it took them a while to take our order and drinks. The waitress was very apologetic stating that they were short staffed but she was very friendly and attentive once she started to serve us. Food review: Huevos Rancheros (3.5/5): A deconstructed huevos rancheros where every item were placed next to each other on this dish. This might work for some people who want to choose what specific food items to combine together based on their own preferences, but IMO, this presentation didn't make this dish enticing. However, the salsa and fried plantains were good and the over easy eggs were cooked perfectly. Cost: $17.00 Chiliquiles Rancheros (4/5): Good combination of flavors from the crispy tortilla chips, rancheros sauce, eggs and sliced avocados on the side (with add-on: carnitas under the eggs). Cost: $21.00 Note: We originally wanted to order the loaded carnitas hash but they had run out of the crispy potatoes by 12 noon. However, the waitress stated that they could sub french fries instead of crispy potatoes for this dish. We asked the waitress if her name was Paula and she said no. She did tell us that the cafe was under new ownership. read more

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Have a South American breakfast with your friends outside in the Parklet. Fried plantains! Rice & beans! Tortillas & eggs! Beats a boring American breakfast of egg, toast, potatoes, yawn. Then there's lunch, dinner. I go for the Lomo Saltado every time. Minus one star cause the cooks aren't consistent. I've had fantastic Lomo & good Lomo. Still my fav dish, along with the huevos ranchero. I think the portions are quite generous & great for sharing. The more people you bring the more variety, right? Props for Paula's surviving the pandemic, & for offering up great food in the block that time forgot. Enjoy. read more

Cat sitting nearby so came to check out Paula's cafe after almost a year. The chilaquiles were just the right amount of spicy with their house made hot sauce. The eggs over easy runny yolk gave a slight break to the spicy heat and the crunchy and soft tortilla chips gave a nice texture to the meal. The carnitas was a nice salty crunchy and juicy topping. The service was attentive and free refill of coffee was appreciated after a night of sleep interrupted by the cat getting exercise running around in the hardwood floors. Only awkward part was the seat looking out the front window was looking down into the tables right out in front of the cafe. Possibly some colorful window dressing to keep from making eye contact with the other guests would be helpful with this issue. Or is this just me? read more

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Spot has potential with food and service, but the ambiance was ruined when they started blasting loud music making it impossible to have a pleasant lunch. It's too bad it could be such a sweet spot! read more

Pretty good breakfast burrito ..some overpriced items..for lunch on Haight st..try different things read more

Paula's Cafe - Breakfast burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I had walked by this cafe a number of times in the past, but I was never here when it was open. I just seem to stroll in the Lower Haight in the early evening hours since it's on my way home. I merely brushed it off before, but then I discovered this previous brunch-only restaurant was starting to serve dinner. I felt it was a sign to try it, and I'm glad I did. I ordered the $20 Salmon Plate where they provided a large portion of wild Alaskan salmon grilled and served with rice and sautéed vegetables including a couple of asparagus spears (photo: https://bit.ly/3IjGMQL). I took it home to eat it and quite enjoyed it. Go Paula, it's suppertime. FOOD - 4 stars...tasty piece of salmon well turned AMBIANCE - 4 stars...a smallish space but warm SERVICE - 4 stars...very friendly TOTAL - 4 stars...nice to have another dinner option RELATED - Exploring the Haight? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2YK1e99 read more

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Terribly bad service. I might as well have bussed myself. We had to flag down waiters to get seated (80% of the restaurant was empty), get waters, take our order, check if our order was done, clean up the table after eating, and get the check. Shocked. read more

The portion was small and they missed out the ingredients stated on the menu. I got the lox salad and the salmon was very little. They seemed to skimp on the green too. I didn't see the hard boiled egg and everything seasoning. Maybe the staff forgot them? read more

Paula's Cafe - Lox salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

Paula's Cafe impresses with its Eggs Benedict, featuring perfectly poached eggs and a rich hollandaise sauce. The Lomo Saltado offers a taste of Peru with marinated steak and fries Amazing and faster service! Vibrant ambience. read more

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Cute, homey, local spot. Would never have noticed this place if I wasn't meeting a friend who lives in the neighborhood! She comes often enough that she knows the owner, who seemed to be the lone host, server, and cashier, and is very sweet! No wait on a Wednesday at noon. We got one of several available outdoor tables. * Classic Benedict - 4 stars Tasty, filling, straightforward! Just what a benedict should be. read more

Paula's Cafe - Classic Benedict - 4 stars. Tasty, filling, straightforward! Just what a benedict should be. Wed lunch 2022-02-09 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went here yesterday for brunch. Cute little place with good service. Good selection of food. Perfect little spot to meet a friend for brunch. read more

Pretty good!!!!! Got myself a breakfast burrito and my boyfriend got breakfast potatoes, bacon, & eggs. The eggs were PERFECT. The potatoes were AWESOME. The music was also great - they had some Amy Winehouse going, so you can never go wrong with that! I would recommend this place! Thanks again! read more

I was heading to the city to go to the de Young and did a quick sweep on nearby restaurants and found this place. I've been having bad luck recently with finding new spots but this place broke the curse. The cafe was just that; it was quaint with good music. I got the chilaquiles and they were perfection with great flavor. The server was super attentive and gave us some recommendations. I also got an OJ which was freshly squeezed. The portion size was amazing along with the price. I don't find myself out that way often but when I'm back I'll definitely make a stop here again and maybe try out dinner or lunch next time. read more

Paula's Cafe - Chilaquiles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food was delicious have came here a couple of times! Staff is very kind . Will definitely recommend. Place feels very homey read more

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Food is good the service is amazing love itt!!! I would definitely recommend getting the lomo saltado is so good read more

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We were surprised that Paula's cafe was MUCH more than just a cafe. We came in for a restroom then found that there was an extensive menu with burritos and other yummy dishes. We decided to stay for lunch and split a carne asada grilled burrito, and WOWIE! It was so crispy and delicious. If you like beans, you'll be pleased to find plenty of them on the burrito, with a generous amount of the rest of filling as well. The salsa to dip in was also scrumptious. We didn't end up buying a coffee but we did see that there was an extensive coffee beverage menu as well. The decorations were adorable, with a lot of paintings and leafs/floral decor. It felt like a homey hispanic restaurant despite it being in a small nook in SF. The server was very sweet as well, we'd happily come here again when we're in the area. read more

This place is very yummy. The menu selection is huge so there is something for everyone. I get the breakfast sandwich and it was very yummy.

I came across this seemingly inconspicuous restaurant looking for a late lunch. A brunch-focused Mexican style cafe? Yes it is! I recommend getting the bacon over the sausage burrito. Taste: 5/5 Smell: 5/5 Sight: 4/5 Touch: 4/5 Sound: ??? read more

Paula's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

Solid little breakfast burrito cooked fresh with cheese, potato, bacon, and lots of scrambled egg. I think it could use a little more salt, but overall tasty! read more

Paula's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food is delicious the staff is very kind and the pricing is decent. I ordered a breakfast burrito but my man ordered the chicken sausage plate w/French toast which is pictured below. The place is small but nice and clean. Cute little place for a brunch date. I'd recommend anyone to come to this family business. read more

Paula's Cafe - Chicken sausage, scrambled eggs, French Toast with berries. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

Chilaquiles Rancheros were fresh, hot and tasty. Quick, friendly service, fun location in Lower Haight near hip bars, record stores, shops.

satisfying and somewhere I'd return. helpful and efficient staff. glad to have had a chance to visit.

Super cute neighborhood spot. They have a nice little outdoor seating and then a few tables inside although the inside feels a bit cramped. Perfect for brunch or breakfast. I love the huevos, rancheros and tons of flavor. Eggs are cooked to perfection. Really fast kind service Awesome neighborhood location I'd highly recommend read more

Loved my brunch here! Everything was excellent, from the service to the food! Staff was very friendly and attentive. I ordered the chilaquiles and they were delicious! Best chilaquiles I've ever had. The green smoothie was delicious too and perfect for a warmer Sf sunday morning. A lot of their drinks come with a pretty flower and presentation of all dishes was stunning. I can't wait to come back! read more

Paula's Cafe - Chilaquiles w/ carnitas - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I came across Paula's accidentally while looking for a place to sit and have an existencial crisis with my partner. We moved from Mexico and this was our first weekend in San Francisco. Naturally, we were both in a hangry state from walking around overpriced tiny apartments, and we just needed somewhere to sit, eat and complain. Paula's had our back. We ordered chilaquiles and a pulled pork sandwich. Yes, 11 am had those two options and we were to Mexicans on the prowl for mucha comida. They delivered. The chilaquiles were excellent. It has a tid bit of everything you want, from a little bit of scrambled eggs surprising you here and there, quesito, aguacate. Yum. It lacks some spice but you can't have it all. The pulled pork sandwich is the best I've tried. I don't know what it was, maybe the bread mixed with some secret cream and pickled onions, but I can say I forgot about the recession, the stock market plummeting, my future on the brink of death, with some bites of Paula's dishes. read more

Paula's Cafe - Chilaquiles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great neighborhood spot! I had the crab Benedict which was really good - real crab. Hubs had the lomo Saltado which was also really good. There was a ton on the menu that I wanted to try so will definitely be back - including a strawberry salad and chilaquiles. We had a mimosa and a lagunitas to drink, and they also gave us complimentary glasses of sangria which was delicious. Portions are really big. Give this local spot a try! Glad we stopped in. read more

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The chilaquiles and huevos ahogados were sooo good! The ladies who served us were kind and attentive. 10/10 recommend!