12 Spots To Eat Alongside The SF Marathon Route

The SF Marathon winds through some of the city's most iconic neighborhoods and conveniently right by lots of great places to eat. Whether you’re cheering on friends, family, or coworkers who won’t stop talking about their training regimen, we’ve got you covered—because waving cardboard signs and ringing your cowbell is hard work, too. These spots open early, but double-check their hours for any marathon-related changes.

THE SPOTS

Ferry Building Marketplace

You’ve sent your runner off at the starting line, taken pictures before their Mile 17 existential crisis, and now you have a lot of time to kill. Wander aimlessly around the Ferry Building Marketplace, a maze of a food hall with restaurants, shops, and stands with locally made everything. Snag a pastry or sourdough loaf to snack on at Acme , caffeinate at Red Bay Coffee , or, if you stick around until lunchtime, grab chowder on the patio at Hog Island .

Abacá

A meal at Abacá is a runner’s high in brunch form. You’ll find Filipino dishes like tocino slabs covered in a zippy pineapple marinade or ensaymada french toast topped with hollandaise, bacon, caviar, and lime juice. Hit up the bakery counter inside the light-filled dining room if you want a quick coffee or ganache-crowned banana bread. And heads up, this spot is inside the Kimpton (just a few miles into the race near Fisherman’s Wharf ) and serves brunch from 8am-1pm.

Causwells

Celebrate the fact that you’re not the one whose toenails are about to fall off by having a leisurely brunch at Causwells. The Marina restaurant about four miles in does solid morning-time dishes, like the burger finished with a runny egg, or french toast bites with pillowy centers. They also have mimosas and coffee-based cocktails, if you want to start the after-party a little early.

Good Luck Dim Sum

Take your meal on the road from this grab-and-go (and cash-only) dim sum spot in the Richmond. Lines can be long here, thanks to people pondering the display case like they’re scrolling through Netflix. Don’t be that indecisive person and make your order easy: get a box filled with some of the city’s best BBQ pork buns, fried taro dumplings, and turnip cakes, then take the 10-minute walk to Golden Gate Park. That’s where you can witness runners passing the 18-mile marker, silently wondering how much an Uber to the finish line would cost.

Breadbelly

When it’s time for a sweet pick-me-up after a couple of hours of getting overly emotional about strangers running, beeline to Breadbelly. The Asian bakery in the Richmond is at about the halfway point of the race and has fantastic pastries and sandwiches , all of which you should enjoy from their spacious parklet. The kaya toast with thick milk bread and a bright green squiggle of pandan jam is non-negotiable, as is the breakfast sandwich loaded with smoked ham and fermented chili paste.

Lokma

After you’ve made contact with your favorite runner, head to Lokma. This Turkish spot on Clement St. feels like a homey den with brick walls, a hodgepodge of plants in fun pots, and dark wooden tables—just the right setting for an excellent Turkish breakfast. The two-person spread features creamy scrambled eggs with chewy sujuk, pita, feta, olives, nutty muhammara, sweet hazelnut spread, fresh fruit, and kaymak with honey. More than enough to power you through the hard work of watching other people exercise.

Manitas Cafe

Getting the breakfast burrito from Manitas Cafe and walking to the Conservatory of Flowers might be the best way to watch people power through Mile 22. This Salvadoran-Mexican spot serves oversized burritos with bacon, chorizo, eggs, avocado, and potatoes that are perfect for eating on the run (even though you won’t be doing any actual running). They tend to be slammed during big events, so make sure to call ahead (and ask for a side of hot sauce).

Panchita's Pupuseria Restaurant #2

For those who don’t want to miss a single sweat-filled second of the race, Panchita’s is the fastest option on this list. Located around mile 22 in the Mission, it couldn’t be any easier to pop in, order two pork and bean pupusas, and eat them straight from the foil while seeing runners mentally preparing for the hill at the end of 16th Street.

Stonemill Matcha is permanently closed

Stonemill Matcha

If you’re looking for a sit-down option in the Mission before heading to the finish line, make your way over to Stonemill Matcha. This Japanese cafe makes thick cups of frothy matcha and plump katsu sandwiches that are perfect for taking a breather from all that cheering. Getting a seat inside this cafe is occasionally competitive, but there’s always takeout if it seems impossible to get in.

Plow

Sure, you might not be the one who needs to carbo-load, but watching the marathon as it passes through Potrero Hill is as good an excuse as any to clear plates of lemon ricotta pancakes, warm biscuits, and Hong Kong-style toast at Plow. It’s just a block away from the course and a couple miles from the end, so you can catch the last bits of the race before the runners collapse across the finish line.

Giuliana’s Just For You Cafe

One of the few options open early enough in the Dogpatch is Giuliana’s Just For You Cafe. This casual brunch spot decorated in road signs is best for stuffing your face with beignets, scrambles, and the mess-in-the-best-way-possible Hatch chili burger. Because the crowds usually thin out around the Dogpatch, the wait shouldn’t be too bad.

Yank Sing

Yank Sing is just two blocks from both the start and finish line, making it the perfect place to go at the beginning or end of the race (or both). The dim sum institution has been around for decades and is still churning out some of the best Cantonese small plates in the city (it’s also one of the few places left that does cart service). Fill your table with a bunch of steamers of siu mai, xiao long bao, and sticky rice while debating the pros and cons of dating a Strava super-user.