Pinecrest Diner

"Pinecrest is a longstanding diner just a block or so away from Union Square. It opened in 1969 and, against popular belief, is packed Wednesday through Sunday all through the night. The menu stars the usual suspects including burgers, sandwiches, salads, deep-fried dippables (as in mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and fries), and much, much more." - Dianne de Guzman, Paolo Bicchieri

"Get a glimpse into the graveyard shift at Union Square’s Pinecrest Diner, one of San Francisco’s longest-running 24-hour restaurants. It’s a welcoming room accented by the lingering smell of bacon in the air. Though Pinecrest currently runs on a 24-hour schedule just four days a week — Wednesday through Sunday — owner Peter Foundas remains committed to returning to operating around-the-clock all week. The devotion to serving steak and eggs and stacks of pancakes 24 hours a day goes back to Foundas’s parents. Pinecrest later moved to its current corner at Geary and Mason when their first location’s building sold. It became the place for workers from the nearby hotels to drop in, grab food, and get out. It’s the oldest diner in the area and has even lasted long enough to achieve some unwanted notoriety. Since Pinecrest’s return to late-night food in October 2022, the restaurant at times commands a line out the door at its peak evening hours." - Dianne de Guzman

"Union Square’s Pinecrest Diner is one of San Francisco’s longest-running 24-hour restaurants — and though the all-night schedule only runs four days a week for now, owner Peter Foundas, whose parents opened the diner after moving to San Francisco from Greece by way of New York City, is committed to making it a 24-hour spot seven days a week once more. The menu has been pared back to the basics like breakfast all day and an eclectic collection of dinner entrees including fried chicken, spaghetti Bolognese, and burgers. But it’s enough to draw lines even during late-night peak hours." - Lauren Saria

"Union Square’s Pinecrest Diner is one of San Francisco’s longest-running 24-hour restaurants — and though the all-night schedule only runs four days a week for now, owner Peter Foundas, whose parents opened the diner after moving to San Francisco from Greece by way of New York City, is committed to making it a 24-hour spot seven days a week once more. The menu has been pared back to the basics like breakfast all day and an eclectic collection of dinner entrees including fried chicken, spaghetti Bolognese, and burgers. But it’s enough to draw lines even during late-night peak hours." - Lauren Saria

"In San Francisco, the 54-year-old Pinecrest Diner went back to running 24/7, but only Thursdays through Fridays as of fall 2022." - Nadia Chaudhury