Art's Cafe
Breakfast restaurant · Inner Sunset ·
Korean-American diner with unique hash brown sandwiches
Korean-American diner with unique hash brown sandwiches
"Art’s brings the people of the Sunset closer together. The stools at Art’s are close to the kitchen and close to one another. If it wasn’t such an eye-roll, we would say Art’s brings cuisines closer together too… Breakfast at Art’s offers a wonderful example of how well Korean staples can fit into the standard American breakfast. Replace hash browns with rice, substitute bulgogi for bacon, or throw it all together and see for yourself." - Matt Tillquist
"I step into a diner where the rich scent of caramelized onions and peppery chicken lingers over a counter lined with postcards from Bali to Ukraine, and regulars rise from barstools to embrace the familiar fog of the Inner Sunset. It’s been a Korean American hash brown sandwich dealer since 1989; after a pandemic closure, new owners Chol and Young Lee (with their son Joe serving) took over in February 2021 and kept both the Korean offerings and the classic toast-and-coffee crowd. The phenomenal hash brown sandwiches are the major crowd-pleasers: the dakgogi hash brown sandwich is an umami-filled triumph with a light sprinkling of cheddar that locks in the sweet-and-spicy chicken, and bulgogi and hot link sausage sandwiches (plus the “samurai” bulgogi three-egg omelet) round out the menu. They share outdoor seating with neighbor Fresca, and though that parklet could change, they remain known for infusing Korean food into a diner menu while being famous for their hash browns—a true worlds-colliding, two-birds-one-stone situation." - Paolo Bicchieri
"Fans of this Inner Sunset standby got a scare when owners Sarah and Hae Ryong Youn announced plans to close the diner after 30 years of eggs, pancakes, burgers, and bibimbap. Then in early 2021, a duo of new owners gave Art’s a second life, and much to the neighborhood’s relief, Chol and Young Lee kept most everything the same. The menu continues to showcase Korean influences (think bulgogi beef with eggs for breakfast and tofu bibimbap for lunch) but the fan-favorites are the hash brown sandwiches, which see grilled potatoes wrapped around fillings of your choice." - Lauren Saria
"Fans of this Inner Sunset standby got a scare when owners Sarah and Hae Ryong Youn announced plans to close the diner after 30 years of eggs, pancakes, burgers, and bibimbap. Then in early 2021, a duo of new owners gave Art’s a second life, and much to the neighborhood’s relief, Chol and Young Lee kept most everything the same. The menu continues to showcase Korean influences (think bulgogi beef with eggs for breakfast and tofu bibimbap for lunch) but the fan-favorites are the hash brown sandwiches, which see grilled potatoes wrapped around fillings of your choice." - Lauren Saria
"After closing during the pandemic when owners Sarah and Hae Ryong Youn retired after 30 years and prompting an outpouring of nostalgia from generations who grew up at its counter, this beloved Korean-American diner in the Inner Sunset has reopened under local husband-and-wife owners Chol and Young Lee. They don’t plan on making major changes and are keeping the spot’s beloved crispy hash browns and omelettes — including teriyaki beef omelettes and the much-talked-about bibimbap omelette — while adding more sandwiches (a tuna melt and several clubs), burgers with veggie options, and specialties such as bibimbap and spicy pork belly. After three decades the space was deep-cleaned with fresh paint, appliances, and shelving, but the original counter, stools, and the old pictures and postcards preserved under the glass remain; the restaurant, long famously cash-only, now accepts credit cards and even offers online ordering. I’m reassured that a new mom-and-pop team is ready to serve the next generation hungry for all-day breakfasts and classic burgers — they’re open Tuesday through Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m." - Becky Duffett