| January 28, 2026 | I fell asleep the night before thinking about chicken fried steak and the next morning I was still craving it. I was busy with work but my bf was able to look it up and verify that they had this dish.... So of course we had to come here for lunch! ___________________________________________________ Tennessee Grill has been a staple of San Francisco since 1952, serving up hearty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with Southern roots. Originally founded by a Tennessee native, this classic diner features peach and teal interiors, checkerboard floors, and old-school charm. They're proud to keep the spirit alive - no fuss, just good food. ___________________________________________________ Breakfast served all day. Served with toast & hash brown or home fried potatoes. My bf got the breakfast special with 2 pancakes, 2 eggs & 2 sausage or 2 bacon for $12.25. Pancakes were light and the sausage was DELICIOUS! I got the Chicken Fried Steak & Two Eggs for $17. The gravy was so good, the chicken fried steak was flavorful and so tasty! Can't go wrong with crispy hash browns and the most perfect sunny side up eggs. I wish I had been able to finish it all but the last 2 bites, I saved it as leftovers. Highly recommend! read more

Tennessee Grill - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Service eggscellent ;) *by the way I spelled that incorrectly on purpose for those uninformed* Food was great - very fresh ingredients. Went for the Denver omelette. Tasted great without adding sauce. Highly recommend with my utmost regard. read more

Tennessee Grill - Door Front - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Soups are my taste. I am a Mediterranean so soup for us essential. I choose bowl instead of cup. Coffee is homestyle. Entrees are delicious, stews, burgers. Servers are friendly. Good spirit here no complaints. Family style. read more

Went with a friend and ordered the House Special and the Waffle Combo. It's an old-school place serving classic, no-frills fare--nothing fancy, just the kind of comforting dishes you'd expect. Definitely has that neighborhood feel, with loyal customers. It wasn't crowded, and we ended up staying for about an hour and a half. read more

See all

This is a true neighborhood diner that's been around forever and more. Inexpensive, no frills breakfast, lunch, dinner are your choices with plenty of seating at tables or counter. The atmosphere is laid back 60's with good service and straight forward diner food. I had the Avocado Cheese Burger medium rare with fries, wifey had the Mushroom Cheese Burger medium with fries and a side of BBQ sauce. A little chincy on the grilled mushrooms while I had half sliced up avocado on my burger. Rest of the table had omelette and a corned beef hash. Overall, I'm glad diners like TG are still present in the neighborhood. It gives you a sense of satisfaction and internal happiness in that places like this still exist in fast paced SF. Street parking is your only option on busy Taraval and there were plenty of spaces on a mid day Wednesday. Happy with my burger and fries from Tennessee Grill... no idea where the name is derived as we're not anywhere near Tennessee street... ideas anyone? read more

See all

We arrived for an early morning breakfast of pancakes and Burmese Tea Leaf Salad...and left perfectly satisfied and very happy. Service is always friendly and continues to be efficient as the crowd fills tables. read more

See all

Been here many times for breakfast and lunch. Nothing special but food was passable. Came for breakfast recently, waited over 20 minutes and the waitress dropped off a hard and burnt waffle. I told her it was not edible and she had the kitchen make another. Or should I say warm up another frozen waffle, idk. My coffee cup is usually filled but not that day. It was an off day for them, that I paid for. 2.5 stars rounded up. Just don't order the waffle. read more

No line for brunch on a Saturday. Out of the row of bar stools at the counter, two were dirty. One had a used napkin on it and the other had an old newspaper. I sat down on a clean one and order a mushroom cheeseburger $13.50 and a side of sunny side eggs $5.25. Food arrived quickly. When I assembled and ate the burger, all this grease started spilling out. While it tasted good, that can't be healthy. Service was fine. read more

See all

Came here for the first time with a good friend of mine! I've always walked past it but never made it a plan to come eat. I was craving breakfast food so I got their Mandalay Slam which comes with 2 sausages, 1 slice of bacon, 1 sausage patty, ham, 2 eggs, hash brown & wheat bread. This was only $14.95! I was surprised at the variety of meats for this price, I was expecting it to cost a little more. My friend got their spaghetti with meatballs which was $18. I tried a little bit of hers and it was also really good! Super flavorful! Love how tender the meatball was. read more

See all

Well, I didn't have a chance to try any of their meals, but I am going to maybe soon. Just walked in to check the menu and prices, and the staff were welcoming, spacious rooms, not crowded. I like the atmosphere. Will add more after trying something there. read more

Fast, friendly, good food and service. I ordered a Burmese tea leaf salad. It was tasty, refreshing, full of flavor and had everything crispy, crunchy peanuts and broad beans for texture. Jalapeño peppers on the side so you can take out or mix it all in with the fish sauce on the side. Yummy! Shared with several coworkers and they all liked it too!! read more

Tennessee Grill - Burmese Tea Leaf Salad - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food is just ok. Menu has items mentioned but not available. Service is satisfactory ( really not so bad ). Large counter in front, larger dining area to the right side. To be fair Tennessee grill has a large neighborhood ( Parkside ) following , just not for me. San Francisco has too many great restaurants, maybe I'm just spoiled but I have to pass on the 'Grill '. I might be wrong but give the 'Grill' try anyway, portions are a fair size prove me wrong. read more

Tennessee Grill is one of my absolute favorites! There aren't too many old-school, classic spots in the City like the Grill- it's truly iconic. My dad has been visiting since he was in high school in the '60s and, for me, that makes it all the more special. We always go for their all-day breakfast (a pretty rare find these days), and it's fantastic every time- plus, it's super reasonable. They also have surprisingly amazing coffee with unlimited refills. Definitely the sign of a great place! It's not fancy, but it doesn't need to be. That's what makes it so classic San Francisco. Before the rise of tech and influx in prices, SF was a city for everyone (not just those who could afford it). And, the Grill still upholds those values with open arms. It's casual, welcoming, and unpretentious- a place where anyone will feel at home. The staff is always kind, helpful, and greets you with a smile. All in all, the Grill is a cozy spot where you can drop in, grab a bite, and just unwind. If you know, you really know :) & if you're in a pinch, they offer take-out online!! read more

There's still a great selection on the menu. My server was very nice and helpful. You're definitely getting your money's worth dining in

Tennessee grill is a sunset staple diner. Food is what you'd expect and prices are reasonable but have gone up a bit in the past two years. Family owned vibe and everyone in the neighborhood comes :) read more

Really good & lots of food so show up hungry or plan to take a to-go box. The place is big so there's lots of seats. Staff is attentive and will patiently answer questions about ingredients that may not be listed on the menu. I've been back plenty of times but never remember to take pictures of their delicious food. read more

Yes! A neighborhood staple. Meals are huge. Service is great. Walk down to the beach after or take the L train down for the view! You won't regret it. read more

If you want budget eats and a greasy spoon joint--this is your place! Came here with 5 people and here's the rundown. Don't expect high quality food, just expect okay food at reasonable prices and you'll be okay. We ordered the fish with fried shrimp and enjoyed it. The soup was huge, and the salad was okay. The meal came with real mashed potatoes, cheap veggies, hot fried shrimp, and great grilled fish. For the price, you can't beat this in SF. The spaghetti and meat sauce is what you'd expect. Totally worth it for the price. The strawberry milkshake and the chocolate milkshake are low quality McDonald's type flavoring. The coffee is meh. The ground beef patty plate is solid. They ask you how you'd like it cooked and cook it to your liking. Service was good. This is great if you live nearby (parking is a nightmare), and if you have a frugal budget and don't mind average quality food! read more

See all

Still the place to go in the Parkside. Friendly staff, consistently great breakfast, lunch. The Workingmans' Cafe , and not anywhere near Tennessee! read more

Our third trip here and the food, service and ambiance here is always, consistently more than 5 stars. Plus they have the best hash browns in the Bay Area hands down and they serve Burmese tea leaf salad!! read more

Had the Oxtail Stew special on Saturday. I've had this there before a few times but this time I thought the sauce was the best. Nice salad or soup starter if you order the very reasonable dinner choice vs. à la carte. Freshly steamed broccoli and white rice on the side. There were only 2 medium sized tails along with potatoes but oxtail prices are high and the price was only $20. Great service. read more

I like the traditional breakfast. The vintage hash brown is great. The interior is also well preserved. Feels like I'm in the American south. read more

Our favorite restaurant of all times. Excellent customer service. Delicious food. Reasonably priced. Very friendly servers and owner. What else could anyone want? read more

Sunset staple. Best and favorite place for breakfast! Can't miss the hashbrowns, egg, toast, and side of sausage or bacon.

Came upon this diner when visiting SF. Had the best burgers I've had in a long time! The service and the food were excellent!

I've dined here twice. Once was dinner and this time was breakfast. The breakfast was surprisingly pretty good. The place is a little dated. My in-laws like the place so we usually will try to eat here whenever my daughter and I come up to visit. I won't mind coming here for breakfast. read more

See all

From the can to the pan! Just had a Thanksgiving meal around noon. After being seated, the full figured Mexican waitress comes to my table and asks if I am ready to order. I just sat down and was still looking at the menu. In most cases when a guest is still looking at the menu, it generally means that a decision has not yet been reached. When the menu is placed back down on the table, that generally means that it is time to take the order. This didn't just happen to me, it occurred at every table. The owner, a creepy Asian man that looked like he just got back from a skateboard competition by the way that he was dressed, sloppy jeans and a t-shirt attire. Sine he became the owner, the quality of the food declined dramatically and the prices shot up, making the price/food quality an unreasonable bargain. The turkey dinner was third rate. The turkey was 1 step better than Mary's turkeys, which are the worst possible for a quality bird. Mary's products are on par with Boar's Head, which is filled with some of the most harmfully toxic chemicals. The gravy and sauces, including the cranberry sauce, is clearly out of a can. The stuffing (or dressing if you will) was the worst that I have ever experienced. There was far too much of the cheap, dried poultry seasoning, especially the sage, that was thrown into to mix by handfuls. Besides that, the celery was like mush and there were no onions. No yams, no pearl onions, no Brussel sprouts and no biscuits. The pumpkin pie was disgusting, as well. On top of that, the check came to about $20. A wonderful meal will be remembered for a long time but in this case, I hope that it is forgotten as soon as possible! read more

The people in the restaurant were super friendly and great service. The restaurant was 3/4 full of customers for a Saturday lunch. I had the 1/2 fried chicken. I was dry and did not have any seasoning on it. I was disappointed. read more

The kind of place you hope never disappears. Old style luncheonette with decent prices and great food. The Philly cheese steak sandwich with onion rings is tops! Lots of seating too. read more

"I'll be all right in a minute, I'm just bewildered - by life..." - Tennessee Williams Um. Hankering for a greasy spoon breakfast... Tennessee Grill popped on the Yelp search. I've passed by many times when in the Outer Sunset but never took a second look til one morning in late '21. It's one of the iconic eateries in the Sunset going back to well over 50-years? And I'm always down with supporting local and businesses with OG reputation. A bonus is Tennessee Grill offers modern online orders if you choose take-out. Online take-out was easy enough. I decide to order LOU'S SPECIAL which is Corned Beef Hash, Spinach, Mushrooms, Onions with Eggs (I chose scrambled). Hash Brown and Sour Dough Toast included. After tip around $13. Not bad, but... I received a confirmation that it would be ready by 10am, so after finding a meter parking (only running in and out so not coining) I walk in at 10:05am to find Tennessee Grill hopping with people. People of all shades and walks of life mingling inside. It's a good sign they were busy, but my order wasn't ready yet and so I awkwardly stand near the cashier until it's actually ready. That's, when I noticed... The host that greeted me, nice in a gruff, sas way, nothing wrong with that as I'm in a decades old Diner, right? It's what she did next is what turned my stomach - grabbing my toasts with her bare hands - hands that were touching the counter, the menu, the bags she was handing to other diners. Hmm. I take a step back and think to myself am I being paranoid here, with all that CDC news going on, or should I just accept this was the norm 50-years ago? Hmm probably ignore cause it was the norm to touch everything back in the day, then again less crazy diseases too, right? And let's not forget the same hands touching her rear-end :( Okay, my order is ready and bagged up with condiments. She was actually more pleasant handing me my breakfast. I'll roll the dice this time and see where it lands. Hopefully not in Urgent Care lol. Yet, in fairness to Tennessee Grill, hey at least everything's out in the open, from the grills to the waitresses. In a twisted way one can only forgive them since you wonder what other eateries do behind closed doors. Make sense? :3 So bag with fingerprints in hand I head to my ride to eat it... in my comfortable drivers side seat :D LOU'S SPECIAL wasn't exactly as I expected. It was good and I did eat everything, but just lacking anything memorable. In fact, I can't even recall how it exactly tasted lol. The highlight was the Hash Browns. That's not cutting it for this Tennessee Williams fan. In the end, I would return to Tennessee Grill if craving that old school diner breakfast. Yet, I'd approach with a side of caution, mmk. Heck no, I'd not return until this nasty COVID nightmare is under control! I absolutely support indie businesses that have been around forever, however until the world changes I'm playing it safe and eating at places that follow all the "I care about you" rules... read more

Tennessee Grill - Tennessee Grill in the Sunset District. Old school vibes and quite popular with San Franciscans... - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Is my first time meeting here in the experience was great.. Was highly recommended by my cousins husband for many years . Once I went in, I was a maze. It was a big restaurant and has private room in a large bathroom able to fit a wheelchair in there too. I look at the menu. It has a large selection of breakfast / Salads/ and appetizers too..free refills on drinks. Food came out piping hot...I see they have neighborhood regulars dining here.if I live closer by I would eat here at least 2 times aweek ..lol.. parking is ok. I got lucky found parking right by entrance door .. god is good !!! Will eat there again n again.. read more

Tennessee Grill - Icy water yay - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

On the recommendation of our daughter who literally lives just down the street, we stopped by for a quick lunch. Now, we love diners. I don't know why, but for us, there is a homey feel that you can't get in any other restaurant. Is it because I spent my early adulthood watching Seinfeld? Maybe? Now that I think about it, I love independently-owned Coffee houses as well... thanks, Friends. Back to the point, we were here with our youngest and their partner. Now Kit (the partner) has a multitude of allergies and a severe Peanut allergy so Kit usually just hangs out with us while we eat. On this day, Kit decided they would love some fries and asked what type of oil it was cooked in, if they use nuts in the kitchen, etc. They were FLOORED when the very kind server came out with the label for the cooking oil. Kit told us that whenever they ask at restaurants they only verbally confirm the type of oil. It was appreciated because it meant that Kit could partake in some delicious french fries! My child ordered pancakes and fries, my hubby a tuna melt, and I ordered the grilled salmon with veggies and rice. Once the food came out and I tried one of the fries I ordered my own as well. Ok so since everyone had fries, let me tell you they are the BEST - freshly cooked, crispy and hot and delicious. YUMMY. My hubby and child liked their food, my Salmon was served with tartar sauce (which I used on the fries... delish), good white rice, and mixed veggies (from frozen). All in all the food was good - the fries were exceptional. Oh, and the iced tea was really good as well. It is a solid experience with fantastic service. Need I say more? read more

You know those movies where the underdog overcomes extreme odds, using his diligence and determination to make a better life for his family and him. Reading a weekly local newspaper column named "Native Son", I read as he chronicled his recent visit here as well as the above story of the owner here. The attention grabber was his mention of ox tail being his popular Friday menu special, so you know I had to come. It's been over seven years since my review. Most of my meals were breakfast just due to timing. As I walked in after finding street parking a couple cars away from the entrance, I couldn't help but notice the pictures in the main dining room (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=iN1cPFnwBdvI6HGR5Gd7pg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). I chose to sit at a counter side table (tempted to sit on the counter since I came solo). After seeing the specials board (), it was a quick decision to have the ox tail dinner (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=QhtumqIbohUU7hDfHQiYsw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) which came with broccoli and white rice. I also asked for a bowl of the red clam chowder soup (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=RhVpM9RGsF3_kVYN08uwdw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) (that's a generously filled bowl) which came with two slices of bread (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=zwQsqycKc7iHJGTAwtcnwA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) perfect for sopping every last drop. The food did not disappoint starting with the soup which had soft chunks of potatoes and a mix of whole and chopped clams. The ox tail pieces were tender but not to the point where it melted, holding just firm enough; the sauce went well with the white rice and al dente broccoli. The potatoes that came with the meat were also just firm enough so it wasn't mushy. The owner and a few diners were sitting along the counter and the dining room was about 40% full as I ate. There were also some take-out orders but the consistent thing was that all if not most of the customers knew and conversed with the owner, evidence that there is a heavy demographic of regulars here. Sadly, my office is downtown so weekends are the most practical times for me to come here. But, if I have a slow Friday again, you know where I'll be thinking about coming to for lunch. *** Oh, and if you are a Chronicle subscriber, here is the column that led me here (https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/nativeson/article/Autumn-weather-in-S-F-may-be-confusing-but-green-17576522.php). read more

See all

At the suggestion and photos from Nextdoor, I had to go here. Had 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon w/a side of hash browns. $13.85 Eggs cooked perfectly, light and fluffy. Bacon more like 1 strip, burned and not hot. Pancakes, meh! They don't serve w/Butter but w/Margarine. Glad I asked 1st. Then I was handed 3 frozen pats of butter. They didn't look anything like the cakes that were in the photo. Not fluffy at all. Looked as if the bubbles (the rise) had been spanked or smashed out of them and they were somewhat chewy and rubbery. HB's, o.k., cooked on top and bottom but raw in the middle. Great prices, I gave it the old college try as they say. read more

Delicious and reasonably priced café. Attentive friendly service. We had breakfast. Chicken fried steak and eggs. Refills on coffee, not a she, she expensive eating establishment. Seems like the lier's club meets here, due to what seem to be locals. The classic American cafe ambiance, down to the checkered linoleum. read more

See all

The Grill has been a fixture in the Parkside for decades. Unfortunately the interior decor has not been updated during that time. Most of the customers are seniors from the neighborhood. The food is average to good. I usually get the breakfast special with pancakes, eggs & bacon. This time I had ham, eggs, country potatoes & sourdough toast. Better than usual. Priced moderately. Good service from Susie. An occasional breakfast spot. read more

Tennessee Grill - Ham, eggs, country potatoes & sourdough toast!! - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Had not been here for several years, but recently dropped by for lunch with my fiancée. Not fancy, but very pleasant, friendly service, and has good food at very reasonable prices. I had filet of sole, which came with a choice of several starches, a vegetable, and choice of soup or salad - all for about $15. My fiancée had a nice beef stew, which came with tasty clam chowder (also for about $15). We also shared a slice of good apple pie (I believe it was $5). We plan to return soon! read more

Good food, nice local, great service, would love to go back. Breakfast was tasty, coffee was great. Decor was like an old diner, tables, counter, watch your food being cooked. I loved it. read more

Portions are big. I got a side of grits and it turned out to be a huge bowl! Breakfast was pretty standard but the service was friendly and I really do like the old school diner feel. I also appreciate the affordable price for todays time. read more

Tennessee Grill - Side of oatmeal topped with brown sugar and milk. - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Tennessee Grill is an old school, no frills diner on Taravel. The decor is a bit dated but the servers and owners are very friendly. The portions here are huge. Unfortunately this place has become kind of the local gerontological restaurant to fill the niche of a Dennys. The food tastes like it's not seasoned, at all. I can understand being under seasoned to serve the older patrons, but I don't taste any seasoning at all. If you eat here, dine in and take advantage of the great service. read more