Lori's Diner

A cool, vintage style diner with lots of Americana decoration. Loved the classic music playing to match the era. The cable cars come right past this restaurant, so you can hear (and feel) as they pass. The service was good. The waiter was friendly and helpful. He was working alone, but kept up with the demand. The food was typical, greasy-spoon diner style. The bacon was a partially undercooked, but the eggs and pancakes were good. I'd say the price was not too bad, considering it's in downtown.

I'm from NJ (the diner capital of the US), so I've been to a few diners in my life. This place felt like home. The wait staff was friendly, the service was fantastic (always asking to top me off with coffee), the food came out as quickly as expected (I've never waited more than 5 min for diner food), and the atmosphere was unique and fun. Prices were actually pretty reasonable (about the same as NJ) and the food was great! Of course, I only got breakfast food, because if you're from NJ, you know that breakfast at a diner is a must, no matter the time of day! I ordered the cable car and it was delicious!

A Perfect All-American Kickoff! We had our very first American breakfast at Lori’s Diner, and it couldn’t have been a better start to our trip! Walking in feels like stepping into a 1950s time capsule — the retro decor, classic booths, neon signs, and even a jukebox playing oldies instantly set the mood. It’s kitschy in the best possible way. We ordered a classic breakfast (the Lori’s Special Omelet was huge!) and shared some pancakes — everything was freshly made, well-seasoned, and absolutely satisfying. Portions are big (you might consider sharing if you’re not super hungry), and the coffee keeps flowing. The service was friendly and fast, and even though it was busy, it felt relaxed and welcoming. If you’re visiting San Francisco and looking for a fun, authentic diner experience — especially for breakfast — Lori’s is a must. Great food, great vibe, and a little slice of Americana you won’t forget!

This is a super fun place with great food to match. I felt like I had gone back in time when I say down. My chili dog was so loaded there was no hope of picking it up (that makes it even better). The chocolate shake was fantastic. This is definitely on my list for next time I'm in SF.

This place is the ticket in SF. I'm not a local and felt right at home with this place. It was top notch service. From the time we sat down, I don't think we waited anywhere from 1-2 minutes for drinks or refills and food came fast. The veggie omelette was so good 10/10. I like diner food that knows how to make good hash browns. The bacon was good. That's always a good sign that it's a quality restaurant

First of all, I’d like to highlight the amazing 50s American vibe of this place, it’s really impressive! As for the food, it wasn’t anything special, the spaghetti with meatballs was super sour poured with tomato sauce and the Lori’s burger was something usual. And last but not least, the service was okay, but we were a bit annoyed that they only accepted physical cards or cash, no Apple Pay.

Dinner at an old diner. I used to go here when I was little, came back 20 years later, and the place is still the same. Good food centered on burgers, good the vegetarian option I tried. Burgers come with a little sauce on one side, I suggest adding ketchup for more flavour. Service good, a little rushed, waiter selected his own tip. Good and friendly the girl at the entrance with the red shirt, helpful to solve and assisted me in buying the branded shirt. I would recommend to try for a full immersion experience in the old diners vibes ☎️🥤🍔🍟🥫🛢️

What a vibe! I loved the place, I loved the service, had a great experience. But I did not understand the concept of this burger hahaha It was weird, I felt like a do it yourself thing. I ordered the vegetarian burger. Not the best (I feel like it was a bit dry, something was missing maybe some better sauce) but still not the worst. I wish to come back here again and have a very american breakfast, straight from the 80s. Also, thanks for the service! Everyone was kind and friendly, had a great time. Recommend the place.

Nice place I used to go to the one located in ghirardelli square and love thia one as well. Buegers are great the place is Nice and neat and the service is good as well.

Wow, I am honestly shocked to see such poor reviews on here. My experience was great! We were in the area grabbing a bite to eat before a show at a local theater and Lori's was right up the street from the theater location. The diner was clean and super cool! They have a never-driven Edsel that is permanently installed in the space and a lot of cool old posters and paraphernalia from the 50's diner era. The bathrooms were clean, monitored, and well-kept and the food was great! I ordered a patty melt done medium and it was cooked to perfection. My sons got a club sandwich and a BLT, and they were equally as well cooked. I would have to say that their french fries were some of the best that I have ever had! Usually, when I eat out and french fries are included they are mediocre and underwhelming. Not worth the calories.. lol. But not this time! These were excellent. We also had their onion rings and they were excellent as well. This was not a cheap diner by any means, it was just under $20 per plate, but the quality, ambiance, and good food were well worth it. The diner service was not super friendly, but neither were old-school diners! Any other oldies remember the show Mels Diner?.. Anyway, for me, it was a great experience and well with the calories and the money. Hope to get back there soon for some more delicious french fries! I will post some pictures to include in this review. Great job Lori's!

We were staying at a hotel nearby and enjoyed dinner and breakfast here recently. We had a good sized group with a couple of kiddos. So it was nice to have a place to dine at that could accommodate us. I was surprised how big the place was once inside. Plenty of booths and the whole place decorated for the 50's diner theme. We had great service at both meals. The menu had something for everyone in our group. For dinner, our group had the whole range from salads, hot dogs, cheese steak, to meat loaf. Shared entrees were prepared on split plates without extra charge. Everyone was happy with their meals. The meat loaf was a surprise. It was light and flavorful with crisp tender veggies. Really good. We had such a good experience, we returned for breakfast the next morning. It was much busier in the morning. Good thing it's a big place. Again, everyone found something they liked off the menu. Our group had the range of pancakes, eggs, benedicts, and corned beef hash and all was good. The staff took good care of us. This is a great find.

The food is always good here, and the service is always amazing. The burgers are really good with onion rings, just fyi :) Beatriz always gives me and my family amazing service whenever we come in. She is very kind, friendly, and attentive. She always makes the atmosphere warm and welcome and takes good care of orders. Her service keeps us coming back and makes our day when we see her. Thank you, Beatriz for all the good service you give us :)

Very fast and polite service! Food is solid and the diner has a very retro vibe. Great for a date or for a family meal.

The food is terrible and the service was so-so. Place was clean and had a fun vibe. I was disappointed with my blues burger (blue cheese! Yaaasss my favorite) wow gross. Onions were old, burgers were mediocre and the blue cheese was mixed with some mystery cheese. I wounded recommend this place even though it's walking distance to your hotel and it's super cute from the outside.

Walking distance from the Philippine general consulate this was convenient for me with my family to have lunch before coming back to the consulate office. Located in Sutter Street in San Francisco. This has been serving the people of San Francisco for a long time. When you enter the premises, you are welcomed with a 50s memorabilia as part of their diner decoration there's jukebox and a Cadillac inside. There are sufficient tables to accommodate all five of us, got ourselves a booth near the kitchen. Just like a typical diner, they serve American style of breakfast, lunch and dinner. We ordered burgers sandwiches and salad for lunch.

Worth a visit 50's American diner fare & decor. Reasonably priced compared to other options in the area, decent diner classics, portions and friendly service.

Came like 5m before they closed just coz we wanted a milkshake, and the guy was nice enough to let us in even though they had already locked the door. Very beautiful aesthetic on the inside - proper Diner vibes, but still classy with the car inside and everything. Sat on the 'bar' and ordered an Oreo Cookie Milkshake to go. (split two ways) DELICIOUS! Thick, creamy and Oreo-y. Husband and I had half each, but we could totally have finished one each if it weren't for that high calories. Loved it. Whipped cream and cherry was not even needed.

The absolute best place to get desert, my stepson wanted to go get apple pie for his birthday and watch the Blue Angels and they canceled the show, he was down because of it. But we made up for it by going to Lori's Diner. It made him extremely happy.

I eaten here a few times over the years, but always forgot to leave a review! I'm making up for that, and I'm glad that I waited until my 20th (?) visit to do so. When my bf and I were looking for a breakfast place, this was located downhill from our hotel, so it made sense to stop in. The menu is extensive, but the breakfast menu is limited, but don't let that deter you from checking this place out. We ordered the cable car breakfast, to split, and it was more than enough. We added the home fries, and unfortunately they did not have American cheese for the eggs. No worries, as the eggs tasted just fine without it. I had a cup of coffee that they kept refilled, and the waitress was polite and attentive, but not at all pushy. My bf enjoyed the 1950s decor, and we enjoyed wandering a bit after we finished eating. It's a little on the pricey side, but it's Cali so expected. We will definitely be returning!

the food was bomb , i messed with the retro Ambiance they had and the service was amazing. would recommend to anyone

Date: 10/8/2023 Time: 12:30 PM 64° Sunny Instead of going to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch, my sister and I decided to have lunch at Lori's Diner. It has been ages since two of my sisters and I dined at Lori's when they were on Mason Street. Back then the food was just okay; not the greatest but edible. Fast forward to today. After reading the menu for a few minutes, we decided what we wanted to order. Eats: Grilled chicken cheese quesadilla for me. California club house sandwich with a side of potato salad for my sister. Beverage: 2 glasses of raspberry iced teas, please. The quesadilla stuffed with jack cheese and grilled chicken was topped with salsa, guacamole and sour cream. Without the toppings, the quesadilla was a tad underwhelming. The California Club House was a toasted croissant with turkey, ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado. My sister enjoyed her sandwich and potato salad. Customer service was good. The waitress was pleasant and attentive. We received a free refill of raspberry iced tea. The ambiance is great. I love the huge jukebox, the pinball machines, those old style vending machines, the car with the RCA dog, music from that era. On display was an old fashioned milkshake machine. Oh, it is so nostalgic and brings back memories of the 50's and 60's. Food and beverage: 3.25 stars. Customer service: 4 stars. Ambiance: 4 stars.

I had a late lunch and early dinner at this location before going to a concert in August hall. There was plenty of seating and the seating area is huge compared to what it looks on the outside. The 1950s theme is consistent throughout the space. Service is attentive to our needs. I had the Lori signature burger with fries. It was a filling meal that lasted me all night from singing and dancing. There are some breakfast items that are available all day. I would love to come back and try the milkshakes and sandwiches

Very cute diner with lots of cool decorations! We didn't get very much but their apple pie was fresh and delicious!

Great food and great atmosphere! The server was quick and friendly! I got pancakes with hashbrowns, sausage links, and bacon. Everything was hot and fresh! A great traditional breakfast!

It's a good place to stop in for lunch. The food, service, and prices were decent. We had the chicken soup (yum) with salad and the sampler platter. Good 60s music was playing in the background, and the decor was cool. Prices were reasonable for this area.

Nostalgic, simple, unassuming, and great if needing something quick in Union Square. Especially for a diner breakfast or brunch that is unfussy or complicated.

The building itself was the only thing that stood out at this restaurant. It was incredibly decorated to give you the diner feel. Unfortunately, the food wasn't very special at all. We got a Caesar salad with grilled chicken and a cheeseburger, so nothing crazy, but even the basics weren't amazing. I asked for my salad with grilled chicken, which cost extra. It came without chicken, and when we asked why it didn't, she told me I said no chicken (not true). She seemed combative to my request to get the chicken I had originally asked for. The salad and burger both looked and tasted like they were straight from cisco, which was surprising given we paid almost $20 for each. Wouldn't go back.

We decided to try this place out for breakfast instead of the hotel since it was down the street. The restaurant is clean and very nostalgic. We were able to get a seat fairly quickly, it was early in the morning. Our waitress was nice and attentive. The food was diner food, nothing really spectacular. It was fine for a quick breakfast.

Ate here on the same day I went to Sears Fine Foods. I ordered the same meal. The staff didn't seem in sync and I had to wait to be seated ultimately by someone bussing tables. After my waitress came in ordered the 2 egg 2 pancake meal. When the food arrived The sausage links were pork, smaller, and lacked flavor; the eggs were rubbery and served on top of my pancakes that were warm but seemed microwaved- neither seemed soft and fluffy. Although they were similarly priced, this meal wasn't as good as Sears, and while decorated more thematically. I won't go back

Went here for breakfast, and I absolutely loved the 50's theme, all of the memorabilia from back in that time was awesome to look at. The food was came quickly and was very good . My husband got the eggs Benedict with a side of corn beef & hash. When he cut into the eggs they were nice and runny just as they should be. Orange juice was very good but $6.00 a glass, which I thought was a little expensive. The service was good. She was nice. We had no problems. And had a great breakfast. They do have lunch & dinner items that also looked good. I just really liked the inside though that was the best part , they had two older pinball machines. A great place to go if you want a quick meal.

Used to be my go-to at the international terminal at SFO airport. This location is the only one open anymore! Classic diner favorites served in a cute ambiance. Great vegetarian options and lots of customization possible. Service is prompt and friendly. I prefer this diner to Mel's across all elements: food, service and ambience.

This is such a cool restaurant. It's too bad the food wasn't great. I came in for a late breakfast after checking out nearby and was happy that there wasn't a wait. I should have taken it is a sign when the woman in the booth in front of me complained that her eggs were cold as soon as they were brought out. It took a few minutes to put in my order. I figured scrambled eggs were a good bet because they have to make those to order, right? Wrong. My eggs came out ice cold (with that tell tale off yellowish color to show that they had been sitting around for a while), my biscuit was raw in the middle and my hash browns were room temperature and flavorless. My bacon was actually pretty good, but only if you like it a little overdone. My waitress was busy but when she did come over, she was very apologetic. I ate what I could and told her I didn't want them to send me new eggs (I feared that they would just be microwaved). My waitress gave me a small discount. I felt a little sorry for her because she was so apologetic so gave her an extra tip. So long story short, I do not recommend Lori's.

If I could give it 0 I would waitress was rude and not friendly and food was horrible on top of it my $ 20 dollar bill almost was $ 52 cause the waitress rung me up on someone else's bill, wich I can bet my life on it she did it on purpose, she looked very hateful.

The ambiance is really fun here! It has a cool retro vibe and the booths are very comfortable, the car in the back is so cool! The food was just okay, we tried the taco ole omelette which was average. The french toast was a little too tough and hard to cut with a fork and knife, definitely not my favorite in SF. The service was great! Would recommend going to this place once to check it out!

Food was good, I wasn't a fan of the hash browns, they could use some more seasoning. the decor was really neat being inside a 50's diner. Service was average. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't amazing either.

Just had the best first time experience at Lori's thanks to Betty!! She was incredibly kind and attentive and I appreciated her friendliness very much! I was having a bad day until she brightened it with her warm personality, thanks Betty! The food was delicious too!! We will be back soon :)

I was skeptical at first because the reviews were so mixed. My husband and I were in the city for a baseball game and we stayed at the hotel right across from this diner. I've seen this on social media and wanted to come here for the aesthetic, but was unsure about the food quality because of the mixed reviews but those reviews were WRONG! This place was absolutely amazing. Quality of food was delicious and the servers were very attentive and the wait was not long at all. Definitely will recommend to friends and family and will visit again when we're in the city, 10 out of 10 from me and my husband. Only downside to this restaurant is the pricing of the food, but that's what you get at a tourist spot!

I just had one of the most amazing samplers ever from Lori's. Plus it was my first time eating there. I wish I could give it 10 stars.

I was excited for this place and really wanted to like it since the ambiance and decor are so fun and unique. However, sad to say we were disappointed with our experience. As a local who works in customer service, I am writing this review in hope that it helps the team in improving so this diner can reach its potential. The main disappointment was the service. It felt like our server was doing the bare minimum: taking our order, delivering the food and check, and checking in once - unenthusiastically. No water refills, no greeting, no smile. Good customer service shouldn't be too much to ask. If our service was good, this could've made a four or five star experience. Instead, it impacted in making everything feel below average. The rest of the employees did not seem very happy to be there either. This could be because they are new though. The food was tasty but the garlic fries seemed soggy and for some reason the burger did not seem hot. I asked for medium well since the server asked how I wanted it but the burger was cooked well done, and not even warm, as if it was sitting for a while. Our milkshake tasted great but was ruined when we found a hair on top of the melting whipped cream. The glass was very small too and the extra cup had a very small amount. Why even provide the extra if we will receive such a small amount anyway? For the high prices (expected in this area) it felt stingy and not worth it. Lastly, something that could have made a big difference is playing louder music for the 50's diner ambiance. The silence was so awkward, especially with rarely any smiles or energy from the employees. If I was mistaken and there was music playing, it was extremely low. You would think a diner would be playing old school music or have a working jukebox. Overall, we were excited to try something new for our date (I know this place re-opened but we had never been) and honestly kind of regret it. Thinking of giving another chance for breakfast since it may be different and just hoping a manager reads and considers this honest feedback. Thank you for reading.

Happy Hour Tuna "sandwich" was 1/2 of a sandwich. Described as made with grilled sourdough. Sandwich was served with bread not toasted. Great nostalgic retro diner feel with memorabilia and vintage cars. Service was prompt.

They first messed my order but then got it right . Latte and my avocado toast was delicious

Food was OK - Bacon a bit salty & left an aftertaste. I love bacon so hopefully better next time! Place was clean.

I've been going to Lori's Diner since it first opened at this location. I was glad that it reopened a few weeks ago. I was there the 2nd week of reopening. Service was excellent. Waiter was attentive and came by frequently to check on us. The menu hasn't changed much. I was surprised that prices relatively remain the same. Compare to nearby food restaurants, this is relatively an inexpensive place to eat. The portions are generous. Ingredients look fresh. Plating was nice. We ordered the pancakes which was fluffy and light and the breakfast burrito which had a lot of filling. Food was well seasoned. If you want comfort food cooked home style, this is the place to go.

Great little diner to get a bite to eat. Came by to grab a light snack and ended up getting the happy hour special of a burger and onion rings. My waitress was very nice and checked on my often after she served me my meal. I surely would recommend this diner for a good cost effective meal and friendly service. They also seemed to have an extensive menu. Basically if you want it they will have it or make it for ya.

This place was like walking into a Time Machine, I loved the car as well and the food was a added bonus, the service was great and ambiance was just wonderful, I'm sad I don't live here because I would make this an every day trip

Yes it's an iconic diner with cool stuff on the inside there's lots to look at while you're sitting inside it's conveniently located on the corner of Powell and Sutter. I'm not sure if it's family run but it certainly has a feel like that so it's very friendly great service. I got the corned beef hash which they touted as the best in San Francisco, I can't comment to that but I can comment that it was great The corned beef was very lean and the way it and the potatoes were cut up you can tell it was done with love. This is not food that comes out of a bag and they warm up they're actually cutting up fresh food in the back I ordered my eggs over easy and they were cooked to absolute perfection.

We went to Lori's Dinner after a long Saturday night as it was across the street from our hotel. They served breakfast all day, so we were able to have a pretty late breakfast. We bother had the Lori's Special Omelet. I had mine with egg whites only. Everything was delicious. They were a little slow with the side of sausage my boyfriend ordered. Otherwise, the service was good. It wasn't too busy, and there was plenty of seating. This was nice because I didn't feel like we were subject to other people's conversations and vice versa. I would recommend if you're in the area and looking for a place that serves breakfast all day.

This has become my go to spot in downtown. It's diner food done right - burgers & fries, meatloaf & mashed potatoes, breakfast for lunch/dinner. All that good stuff. The price is actually reasonable considering it's in downtown plus every time I've been here the staff has been great. The place itself is covered in 50s-60s memorabilia with a lot of great songs playing in the background. Some of the songs I've heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RhsUupVRiY&ab_channel=ClassicHitsStudio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhzZIXvspI4&ab_channel=ClassicHitsStudio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H56qRqHfSRQ&ab_channel=ClassicHitsStudio

A very disappointing experience. Upon entering the restaurant, we were hopeful, because we received a quick and friendly greeting, and we sat without a wait. Our server will not rude seemed very disinterested. Getting the right drinks, drink refills, etc. was near impossible. Then after our food was dropped off, we never saw our server again. We had to ask other restaurant employees to get our check. Couple the poor service experience with the food that can be best described as mediocre and overpriced, and you get the one star rating. Definitely a tourist trap at best.

I started going to Lori's Diner a few years ago, then the pandemic came, and tourism went down so Lori's Diner closed for about three years. I really missed this place, the food, atmosphere, and especially the people who work there is nothing short of outstanding. Then in June, 2023 I found out that Lori's was reopening, I couldn't wait to return. I'm back there as a regular customer, once a week, usually on Saturdays, for an early dinner. I was really happy that nothing had changed.

Today I came to dinner and Miss Beatriz served me very kindly, she gave me an excellent recommendation for dinner, I really appreciate her attention and I will return to dinner soon. I hope to be lucky enough to be served by Betty again, thank you very much.

Lori's Diner is a restaurant near my hotel in San Francisco. I was starving and I didn't know the area very well so I went to Lori's Diner. I ordered the Fettuccine Primavera with Chicken dish. The food was okay, but very expensive because the portion was pretty small.

Decent diner food with great service. Nothing to write home about but I will say their hash browns were delicious. I would say looks like an old school diner. Can't go wrong.

Step inside Lori's Diner in San Francisco and get transported back to the 50's, when listening to the radio was all the rage, and glittery leather was cool! The wait staff there treats you like a local. Don't be shy about spending a few hours there with company. Finally, the food. I went there for breakfast five days in a row. I was in town for a conference with a few work colleagues. Lori's famous French toast and Lori's omelette were the best things on the menu. Hands down, if you are stomped on what to order when you come here, I recommend these two dishes. If you are in San Francisco, Union Square, don't miss this hotspot.

Service is horrible. Young lady that works at front is useless. The only way to get your order in is to wave your hands wildly for 20 minutes. Went in today thinking about my last experience but second chance right? Its raining. She looks at all umbrellas with contempt. She asks a waiter for a bucket for them, but never mind taking customers orders.

During our stay in SF we came to love this restaurant. Thanx to our waitress Beatrice we got our meal fast n right on the spot. Delicious n juicy chicken. New York Steak or something else on the menue. Everything made up in exactly the right way. We'll miss your diner 'til the next time!

So glad they are open!!! I ordered the cream of broccoli soup, side of Fries and a strawberry shake. The soup - delicious, the strawberry shake hand made and delicious- the fries a little soft in the middle and smaller pieces were a bit burnt. Service was good and attentive. Ambiance reminds me of the 50's. Nice crowd for a late lunch!