Brenda's French Soul Food in San Francisco

A popular restaurant worth dining at when visiting SFO. The beignets were good and really liked their Chicken & Andouille Gumbo. A must visit.

This place is absolutely amazing. The food was so good I wanted to do my little happy dance, and the service was amazing as well. Im not a fan of eggs benedict, but my sister recommended them. I took my sisters word, and Im so glad I did. I highly recommend this place. 👌

Every time I visit San Francisco, I must stop at Brendas. I brought my mom and sister. They trusted me and all ordered the same thing. Eggs Benedict with hash and fried chicken. It was so good! They loved it as well. The staff was also so amazing.

Not a bad thing in the menu! Everything was so flavor filled, hot, and devine! A must visit!!

Honestly, better "taste of French Quarter" than every brunch food I tried at the actual Nolas French Quarter when I went there 2 weeks ago! Here we have: Three Way beignets (plain, apple & chocolate), Cream Biscuit & Country Gravy with two poached eggs, Corn Succotash & White Cheddar Omelette. Everything tasted flavourfully and like a good quality food!

Insanely good French soul food. Both sweet and savory beignets. Who knew? Chocolate was my fave. Delectable oyster po boy and coffee with that chicory edge. So very very good. Ask for Pablo; hes a darling!

Obsessed with this restaurant. The fried chicken and pepper jelly is amazing. Also love the Mac and cheese, the collard greens. And of course the beignets. Their watermelon sweet tea was fun to try too. Sometimes they have live music and it’s just overall a charming place to eat.

I don’t know where to start! I’m still trying to get over what I just ate. The mimosas were a great size. I’m spoiled now. The fried oysters were cooked to perfection. Crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The gumbo was by far the best I’ve ever eaten. The omelet with fried oysters…dear heavens, what a masterpiece. The homemade jam for the biscuits, the grits were simple but cooked to perfection. I will be back. I must come back! I recommend all to try it when you visit San Fran!

I give this rating based on my husband’s reaction and those sitting around me! My husband said he thought he was in New Orleans the food was so good. I watched a man lick his fingers and go on and on about the fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and greens! The restaurant itself was not the best looking, but continually crowded. The surrounding neighborhood I would say was suspect at best.

This place is fantastic! 1st time there, small wait to be seated but well worth the time. My son had the fried chicken, my wife had the jambalaya and I had the shrimp and grits and red beans and rice... the food was absolutely delicious. We all tried each others dishes and agreed everything was really good. The portions are big and the prices are great. Our server was really nice and attractive as well as the rest of staff. Cant wait to try some of the other dishes. I highly recommend this place!

Gumbo was good & flavorful. Chicken, Andouille, (little heavy on the okra but not too badwould love if they had an "add shrimp for $-" option.Red Beans & Rice with Andouille... smackin! Will order again.Greens had a nice flavor, not too much juice & not dry.Mac & cheese was good. LOTS of cheese (for the cheese addicts lola few more noodles wouldnt hurt but pretty balanced ratio.Beignets... booommb. Every bite has a slight crispness to the exterior. Hollow 👌 (not too breadyoriginal was best imo. The chocolate & granny Smith beignets were pumped FULL of Ghirardelli chocolate & apple pie/cinnamon type apple slices. (Not bad but I was expecting more of a thin layer inside since its a pastry).Food came out HOT. Staff were really nice & welcoming. Great prices (especially for SF). Check em out. 👍Side note: would love if you guys had some dipping sauces for the beignets. (Chocolate, caramel, strawberry etc.)

Brendas is definitely a must try in San Francisco!Food and vibe and everything is perfect!There was a read of about 20 or 30 minutes and it was a bit hot outside but definitely worth the wait.They have so many good options here that its actually hard to pick.I ended up going with a salad and ordered blackened shrimp on that. Dressing on the side.I was hoping for more greens in the salad so I ended up asking for the second salad of just greens instead. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and went really well with the greens.I did not like the dressing at all though. It was extremely tangy and just didnt seem fresh and just not good. There was also salt and pepper on the salad which took me by surprise to be honest.I also ordered a bowl of cornmeal which was just beautiful! Actually so warm and creamy and perfect. I dont think Ive had such good cornmeal before!My fiancee got the Eggs Benedict with fried chicken and he absolutely loved it! I tried some of the biscuit and also the chicken and they were both good. He really loved how everything went together. That really sauce was also perfect and so were the poached eggs. Just a really good dish overall.He also ordered one of the salads and the server didnt understand the order and ended up not even bringing it. We asked for it again and they took at least 10 minutes to bring out just the plain bowl of salad without any protein or anything asked in addition. Kind of a let down there.The best part for me was the beignets! We decided to get just one of the simple plain beignet and regretted not bringing more!The beignet was so large and soft and warm and just perfect and beautiful!There was actual steam coming out of it and we both devoured it in seconds!I would definitely recommend the beignet over anything else!Ive had beignets at other places but theyve all been very oily and felt fried. This one actually felt really light and nice and no guilt at all.

Dont even think about walking in this neighborhood but fried chicken made me do it. Ordered the beignets flight - enjoy while hot! The filling was a bit hardened vs the soft shell. Chicken was great. Could use some spices IMO. Got the typical southern sides like collard greens and grits (got cheese grits but shouldve gone with the normal one - cheese layer was a bit much). Crawfish beignets were more like a hard shelled batter ball - not much filling or flavor.

Great spot for a hearty brunch meal! I especially enjoyed the beignet flight, which is essentially a combination of savoury and sweet filled fried doughs. The walnut iced coffee was also refreshing. Overall, a great experience if youre ever in the area.

Amazing broiled oysters - the voodoo bbq one was delicious! The most surprising highlight for me was the onion soup and how much flavor it packed. The stuffed beignets were interesting, particularly the crawfish beignet. I would skip the fried chicken next time, which came out on the dry side and not as well executed as the rest of the menu.

Very interesting and unique vibe for a restaurant in the TL. Service was a little slow and disorganised. However, the food was phenomenal and spicy. I am planning to come back again. The photo is the Spicy Pasta Orleans.

AMAZINGGGG!! Get everything. The fried chicken, red beans and rice, crawfish beignets, spicy pasta all SLAP. Great latte and watermelon tea as well. Great portion sizes.

This was my second visit to Brenda’s and my first time having a long wait due to an event (Warrior’s paradein SF! The food here has always been stellar and I’d recommend the beignets, shrimp & grits, and red beans with rice. I was disappointed in this visit because the Big Mama spicy chicken sandwich had very soggy breading and overcooked chicken. The potato salad was excellent but I would not recommend the sandwich. The staff was under a lot of stress (understandably), but the manager showcased that stress to us through the seating and payment process by suggesting we don’t stay for after-lunch drinks because there are many people waiting. Still, one of the best food spots in the area!

I went to Brenda’s for brunch. There was some waiting time but the lines moves fairly quickly. We ordered the butter pecan french toast (I don’t remember the other dish loland mimosas. The food was “wow”❤️❤️❤️ will definitely go back again.

Long wait times. The tofu Josephine had an overpowering garlic flavour. Cream biscuit was decent, beignets were good.

Holy moly! The food was amazing! I had the shrimp and grits, the creole bloody mary and the beignets trio. And they were all soooo delicious! The servers were so nice and fun!

Such excellent soul food. Love the fantastic flavors, generous portions, and friendly vibes!Had the Grillades and Grits — the grillades gravy was so delicious especially with the creamy grits.The Fried chicken benedict was also delicious — they put it on the most delicious buttery flaky biscuit. Had the potato hash which was good but kind of wish I had gone for more grits!And the Bananas Foster French toast with rum sauce and whipped cream was super generous and a perfect shareable dish as dessert.

Oysters and appetizers were amazing (especially the shrimp appetizer), and staff were very friendly and attentive. Ill definitely be returning to try the entrées!

This place is AMAZING! Great atmosphere, service, and delicious southern food with a French twist! Theres always a wait but its not too long. Definitely give this place a try if youre new or visiting the area.

Had the fried chicken, biscuit, collard greens, chicken & andouille Gumbo, and the beignets. Everything was absolutely amazing. Definitely a must-visit if youre craving soul food in SF.

Best french toast I ever had! I thought I was going to make a final trip there Saturday for brunch but that was a mistake. Expect a wait on the weekends. I went during the week and was immediately taken to a table.

My first time at Brendas after having it on my list for a long time. My party reserved our spot online so we did not have to wait to be seated. We came on Sunday evening, there a local band plays live New Orleans style music. Ambience 10/10I ordered the special: fried catfish with tomato bacon relish, cornbread dressing, and sauteed veggies. Catfish was perfectly breaded in cornbread and had a crispy crunch, everything had so much flavor. We also ordered crawfish begniets, which were huge! Like the size of my fist! Incredibly delicious, crisp outside, fluffy bread texture with crawfish filling, I would definitely order again!

Absolutely delicious. Food was great. Im southern so I know grits but I never had grits like these. So creamy and even after refrigerated and warmed back up they were amazing and without lumps. The Biscuit just melted in my mouth and the strawberry jam was amazing. I would of course return and order doordash too. This is a place to visit.

So good we went twice in one week! After a recommendation from the barista by our hotel we walked over to Brenda’s for brunch on a Saturday. There was a wait but it moved quickly. I got the Florentine Benedict and my friend got the Corn Succotash & White Cheddar Omelette (not pictured). Everything was great - savory, a little spice, comforting! Friendly and quick service. I ended up going back to try the dinner menu a few nights later - the shrimp and grits was everything I wanted. The beignets are a must try - SO big and fluffy and filled to perfection. Love this little gem of French soul food!

Long wait to get in but brunch is delicious, great service too! Can recommend the Catfish Benedict or any of the beignets!

We came there for Saturday brunch and it was super popular. We waited over half hour to get an outdoor table. An African American waiter was super nice and sweet to serve us. The food is fabulous! Sooooooooo good! You have to order cornmeal and fried chicken! You have to! It’s just simply delicious! And don’t forget to queue the table earlier before going there!

Recommend: YESThis is a must eatery when visiting SFOver All: 4 out 5.I. Food: 4-Taste: 4: Delicious!-portion: 3: just right-quality: 4: Chef prepared-uniqueness: 4II. Price: 3: Freshly made food priced just rightIII. Customer Service: 4: waiters very welcoming and kindIV. Atmosphere: 4V. Venue: 3VI. Cleanliness: 3What I ordered:Shrimp & Grits with Spicy Tomato- Bacon Gravy 19.00Sautéed shrimp, cheddar grits

The coffee and the hot chocolate didnt taste great. The huspuppies were tasting sweet so we didnt like that as well. The only good thing was the omlette it was amazing. I ordered the chicken sandwich which was ok. I dont understand all the hype about this place.

One word: WOW. We ordered several things off the menu (way too much food but made for good leftovers). My partner raved about the gumbo, the chocolate beignet was top notch, and banana french toast was heavenly. Also very much enjoyed the tofu sandwich. Big portions and loved that we were able to do half a portion of french toast. Our server was super friendly and gave great recommendations. Cant wait to go back.

Would highly recommend the Corn Succotash Omelette and of course the Beignets.I really enjoyed eating at Brendas. Even at 9am on a Sunday morning the place was packed. I liked that they have the waitlist on a big chalkboard right by the door. The serving portions were huge. The potato hash that came with the omelette was had some sort of spice in it which i really liked. This was also my first time trying Beignets ever and I think they turned out to be as good as I imagined them to be.

This was my favorite place to eat while in San Francisco. Friendly staff. Service was quick, even though it was busy for lunch! Had chicken, Mac n cheese and greens. Everything was delicious!! Try the crawfish filled beignets. My daughter says it was good. Will definitely come back when I’m in town again!

Apple beignet was perfect. Hash was CRAZY flavorful yet light. Fried chicken benedict. Again. FRIED CHICKEN BENEDICT. Rich, creamy, crispy, and YUM. Come with an empty stomach. Savor each bite. It’s worth waiting outside for a bit (have your whole party with you to get seated). Relaxed vibe inside even though the seating is cozy. Been coming for years whenever I visit SF. Never disappoints.

Incredible brunch! Loved the fried chicken and French toast. Highly recommend the beignet sampler

Very delicious the chicken was seasoned perfectly the mac and cheese was very creamy and cheese. But what did it for me wa the shrimp and grits the best ever will be back asap

Great place for dinner, and I cant wait to come back for brunch beignets. The gumbo was amazing! The spicy chicken sandwich is very good, great coleslaw and collard greens. And having beignets is a must. Staff was super friendly and had a great atmosphere.

I really enjoyed my visit to Brenda’s. The decor was very reminiscent of New Orleans, and has a very unique flair, like a house of mirrors.The shrimp and grits were fantastic. Very flavorful and the grits were smooth like butter. Shrimp was well cooked and juicy. Hush puppies were fried well and paired with a tangy sauce.The beignet flight was interesting. I wasn’t a huge fan of the crawfish, but I enjoyed the other sweet flavors.Fried chicken was very crispy on the outside, but somehow the meat was only lukewarm.Waiter was very helpful friendly, and the service was good, but I ordered earl grey tea and never got it. It was not on the check, and he apologized immediately after he realized.

Excellent brunch spot! Quick and friendly service. We did visit on a holiday and we surprisingly did not have to wait in line. Ordered the beignets, cafe au lait and the biscuit with gravy and chicken sausage. Super authentic. We’ll be back!

Cool spot to get some hearty brunch food. We ordered the Grillades and grits (beef cutlets braised in creole gravy, served with grits, 2 eggs and a cream biscuitand the special - Molasses Pork chop with sweet potato hash, 2 eggs, and toast. The beef had some good flavor and the grits were good. The Molasses Pork chop had a lot of flavor and was cooked perfectly. The service here is attentive and quick.

An SF institution. Go for delicious Creole cuisine and a well-organized, laid back, no-frills vibe. Get the Benedict for breakfast. The coffee is great - as are the Beignet’s.

Good food, can understand the soul food aspect of the food.Atmosphere is comfortable and noise is about what you expect from a breakfast dinner.

Delicious food, excellent and fast service, and friendly staff. My husband and I really enjoyed this place. My fave dishes were the hush puppies, fried chicken, and red beans and rice. It was a bit cold temperature wise. Thats the only thing I would recommend improving.

Top spot in SF for Southern food. The fried catfish and fried chicken have delicious, unique breading and the sides were incredible. Would highly recommend the gumbo for those who arent too hungry - its a smaller size and comes with just enough kick. Food came out fresh despite our late arrival around 8:30p and service was attentive.

The food here is absolutely amazing. Requires Vaccine card and ID for entry. The Beignet Flight is a show of how everything can be similar, yet totally different with the flavors from chocolate to apple to crawfish, and still all be incredibly delicious. Even the hot chocolate and the hash were delicious. The service was polite and quick, absolutely recommend coming here a meal.

Went to Brendas French Soul Food after coming back to SF for a concert. We visited the morning after our concert, and the food was the absolute best for that day after fix. The portions were big, so make sure to have an empty stomach when you visit, and the drinks were amazing. A wonderful place for delicious food, drinks, and service.

This was such a good breakfast spot. The crawfish beignet was absolutely amazing, and the Butter Pecan French Toast was rich and delicious. I was very pleased with our experience here. Nice atmosphere, and the service was good.