I’d arrived late for my first diner date, so when my friend Cassey mentions that she’s planning to drive to our diner date today—and offers to pick me up on the way—I readily accept!
We aim for 10 am, and I start my day with a small cup of coffee (knowing full well I’ll be consuming far more of the stuff soon), and peer out of my bay windows at the gorgeous fall day outside.
It’s my favorite type of weather. Crisp, clear, sunny but a bit chilly.
Hopefully, in a couple hours, I’ll be indulging in a hearty diner breakfast. With this in mind, I decide to go for a run to work up an appetite. The route I take winds through a dog park with a curving ramp, past Ghiradelli Square, up through Fort Mason Park, and then down along the grassy fields of the Marina (the only time I enjoy this neighborhood is when I’m out on a run). It’s the perfect way to start the day as views of the Golden Gate Bridge—deep red in contrast with the blue skies—remind me how special this city is.
The only way to enhance this sentiment? Enjoying one of the city’s best diners.
I return home sweaty as hell, and hungry (which I’m grateful for). I shower and change into a pair of loose-fitting jeans and a knit top with a mushroom on it. I top it off with a hand-crocheted sweater and run downstairs to hop into Cassey’s car.
New Taraval Cafe
As the name would suggest, New Taraval Cafe is located on the corner of Taraval Street and 21st Street. We find parking on 21st which is a slanted street, and I’m impressed by Cassey’s ability to parallel park on such a slope. Once parked, we lock the car and walk down the hill.
A blue awning with scalloped edges wraps around the corner of our chosen establishment. It features bold white letters in a sans serif typeface spelling out the name “New Taraval Cafe.” Above it, a rectangular sign protrudes toward the street promising breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as 7up products. For soda lovers out there, never fear, a Coca-Cola logo is also attached to the terra-cotta exterior of the place.
After snapping a quick photo outside, we walk into the diner. It’s a narrow space with pink walls and retro tile floors. Immediately, we’re greeted by a taller Asian man with a big smile and wearing a striped apron. He asks if it’s just the two of us, and when we nod in confirmation, gives us the option of sitting at the counter (available now) or a booth (if we’d be okay to wait for fifteen minutes or so).
We opt to sit at the counter. This is not something either of us have done before. Prior to this experience, we would have considered ourselves “booth girls” when asked our preference for seating choices at diners (though I do not like booth seating in general at other types of restaurants). However, our breakfast at New Taraval Cafe is about to change that.
We take our seats on two round, black cushioned bar stools and peruse the menu. It’s a list of items laminated into a classic sewn-edge menu featuring breakfast on the front and lunch items on the back.
The walls in front of us are a sunny yellow with a variety of “diner art” adorning them. Retro signs tout coffee and orange juice, a chef in a white chef’s uniform warns patrons to never trust a skinny chef, specials are written on a white board, and homemade cookies are in a Tupperware on top of metal wall shelves. Best of all, coffee pots brew diligently while full coffee pots sit on heaters, ready to serve caffeine-dependent customers like myself.
In a matter of moments, a nice man in a black shirt with dark black hair comes up to check on us. He starts by asking us about our day, and if we’ve been there before. Then he asks if we’re ready to order while filling up our mugs with coffee. We tell him we need another minute, and he let’s us know that’s no problem before heading to the left to past the tiny kitchen where a man is furiously washing dishes.
It’s then that we notice the hot sauce set on the counter in front of us. The logo has the bust of a person on it, and after a closer look, we realize that it’s none other than the man who’d just spoken to us.
We decide what to order. I choose a vegetarian omelet while Cassey picks the breakfast burrito. We’re both excited to try the hot sauce made by Orlando, the man in the black shirt, and I’m as ready to ask him questions as I am to get Cassey’s hot takes on diners.
But first, I need another sip of coffee. I like my coffee mugs like I like my space travel—filled with rocket fuel! This coffee is not one of those watery concoctions that you sometimes get from large batch brewing. It’s dark and deep and strong.
I’m not the only one to appreciate it, “this is actually good coffee,” Cassey comments. “I don’t always like diner coffee but this is really good.”
She’s poured some cream from a tiny silver pot the waiter provided and her coffee is now a warm shade of caramel. I couldn’t agree more as I sip again from my black coffee.
Then I pull out my little blue notebook and pen. It’s time to get down to the diner details.
Hot Cakes & Hot Takes
As mentioned, today’s diner date is Cassey. She’s playing volleyball at Ocean Beach later, so selected a diner that’s just a quick car ride away from where the nets will be set up. She’s another friend of mine who has an impressive appetite (could be due to the active lifestyle considering she’s about to play hours of volleyball after this) and always knows the hottest spots for delicious treats. This makes her the perfect companion for this food-fueled adventure.
Cassey’s Diner Takes:
Go-To Diner Meal: When perusing the menu, she opts for a breakfast burrito, but mentions that she usually goes for something that offers both savory and sweet flavors (if there’s a pancake/eggs combo, she’s all over it).
Coffee Preference: If it’s hot coffee, she takes it with a little bit of cream. If it’s cold, she likes a bit of simple syrup and oat milk.
Pancake Preference: Waffles! If there are no waffles, she likes chocolate chip pancakes with extra butter and a little bit of syrup.
Booth or Counter Preference: As I mentioned earlier, we both would have said booth if asked this question prior to our experience at New Taraval Cafe, but after sitting at the counter and chatting with Orlando (getting the inside scoop about how his hot sauce came to be), listening in on the regulars updating the staff about their latest trips and adventures, and getting the fastest coffee refills ever? Well, we both might change our tune to preferring to sit at the counter.
New Taraval Cafe Ratings
Overall, I’d rate New Taraval Cafe a 8.7/10 (+3 promoter points)
Coffee: 9.5/10
Food: 8/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Orlando: 9.5/10
Promoter points -
Super friendly staff: +1
Consistent check-ins on coffee refills: +1
Located Nextdoor to Mr. Bread (outstanding Portuguese egg tarts): +1
Next to the L for easy public transportation: +1
Detractor points -
Space is pretty narrow so not much seating: -1
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