Sam’s Pizza & Burgers

"Like it or not, San Francisco’s late night scene is, um, a work in progress. But Sam’s has always been holding it down. The old-school burger institution at the North Beach, Russian Hill, and Chinatown border is open until 2am on weekends, and midnight on weekdays. This space is the size (and width) of a U-Haul and filled with old photos of customers, cash-only signs—even though they accept credit cards now—and a “F*ck Off, I’m Hungry” t-shirt. Sidestep and shimmy your way to a stool at the bar, and let a drippy burger come to you. Sam’s keeps theirs simple, like what you’d get at a backyard cookout: it’s loaded with just cheese, onion, tomato, and a fistful of shredded lettuce. Diving into it while it’s pitch black outside is one of the happier half-hours you can spend in SF. photo credit: Brit Finnegan Food Rundown Sam's Double This is as classic as it gets—the usual fixings, charred patties, and a toasted sesame bun. Doesn’t get much better than that. French Fries They’re billed as “world famous” on the menu, and while we can’t verify if these thick-cut babies have gone global, we can tell you they taste damn good at 1am when your stomach’s a tequila bounce house." - Julia Chen

"You’ll smell what’s cooking at Sam’s before you even step foot in the door—burgers are always sizzling away on the flat-top well into the night. The North Beach spot is a simple, almost-too-tight set-up, with a few bar stools down a skinny space. But you’re not here to stay long. Throw back a triple cheeseburger or other fried things like onion rings and corn dogs. Cash only.  " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez

"Of all the burgers on the list, Sam’s is likely to be held closest to San Franciscans’ hearts. Sam’s first opened its doors in 1966 and has been serving comfort food — until the wee morning hours — ever since. This no-frills burger stars a chuck blend with cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a sesame bun. These days they’re flipping patties right off Columbus Avenue until midnight seven days a week." - Lauren Saria, Eater Staff, Paolo Bicchieri

"When that North Beach bar hopping extravaganza starts to wind down, haul the group to Sam’s for a reload. The old-school burger institution is open until 2am weekends and midnight on weekdays, and we’re grateful—it’s one of the few late-night spots in town. The space the size (and width) of a U-Haul is filled with old photos of customers, cash-only signs (even though they do accept credit cards), and a “F*ck Off, I’m Hungry” t-shirt. Sidestep and shimmy your way to a stool at the bar, and let a drippy burger come to you. Sam’s keeps theirs simple, like what you’d get at a backyard cookout: it’s loaded with just cheese, onion, tomato, and a fistful of shredded lettuce. Diving into it while it’s pitch black outside is one of the happier half-hours you can spend in SF. " - julia chen 1, lani conway

"There’s nothing else that’ll do the trick at 2 a.m. in San Francisco, when what the doctor’s ordered is late-night munchies. Sam’s Burgers on Broadway has always been a popular option, dishing out burgers sometimes as late as 4 a.m. throughout its decades in service." - Paolo Bicchieri