Brenda's French Soul Food in San Francisco: photos, reviews, menu

About

Top Choice Award

2025 Restaurants

Brenda's French Soul Food in San Francisco offers a delightful experience for those seeking traditional American dishes with a unique twist. With a menu that boasts everything from hearty seafood gumbo and pasta to indulgent French toast and shrimp, there's something for every palate, including vegetarians. The restaurant provides a warm and lively atmosphere, often enhanced by live music, making it an ideal spot for enjoying brunch, lunch, or dinner. Outdoor seating is available for those who prefer dining al fresco, and friendly service ensures a welcoming experience. The generous portion sizes serve as a testament to the moderate price range, ensuring each bite is worth every penny. Located in a slightly gritty area, Brenda's makes it up with its vibrant charm and delicious offerings. With options like food delivery, takeaway, and reservations, this soul food hub invites you to indulge in a flavorful dining experience.

Price

$$$$ 20 - 30 $

Meals

Breakfast, Branch, Lunch, Dinner

Cuisines

American, Vegetarian

Services

Delivery, Takeaway, Reservations available, Outdoor seating

Offering

Serving alcohol

Payment

Payment by credit card

Dishes and Beverages

Discover the standout dishes and unique drinks that define Brenda's French Soul Food menu.

Bacon
Beef
Beer
Bouillon
Cheese
Chicken
Chocolate
Coffee
Fish
French toast
Fried chicken
Scrambled eggs
Fried sausages
French fries
Grilled bacon
Ham
Meat
Pancakes
Pasta
Pies
Poached Eggs
Pork

4.4

based on 12,354 reviews

Google

4.5/5 6,038 reviews

Facebook

4.4/5 6,316 reviews

Aaron Belsh

Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

This was the best brunch spot in SF according to Google Gemini. And boy, did it deliver. Make sure you reserve your table via the website before showing up, to ensure you don't wait very long. This was among the best meals I have ever had. My meal was the Shrimp Pot Pie, which was a daily special. (Not on the menu. Just on the chalk board.) Amazing! My friend got the Hangtown fry with cheese grits and a biscuit with homemade strawberry preserves. She said the biscuit was the best she'd ever had, and she's from Florida! I had never seen bacon and oyster cooked together with eggs. My friend sang it's praises. Oh, and we started with the beignets! They were enormous. They come in an order of 3 which is too much for 2 people about to eat a huge meal. I'd recommend asking for 2 instead of you are only 2 people. These were excellent beignets. Our waitsraff were "Johnny-on-the-spot" with the water refills. So kind and helpful too. We will be back. Word of advice- get there betweem 8am and 10am or definitely you'll want a reservation. Leave time for parking too, btw.

Italy Pacheco

Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

Omg the shrimp & grits were basically perfect. I would have it as my last meal desth row meal i will be trying the gumbo next time!!

Lani X

Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Review from 8/2/2025: The new apple cinemas opened up and we caught a movie there. I suggested Brenda's because I still dream of their crawfish beinets, plus it was only a 7 min walk from the theater! This time I got the shrimp and grits (I didn't see the dumplings on the menu this time), hubs and friend got the catfish po boy, and the gumbo. We also ordered their bread pudding for dessert. Shrimp and grits was def my second favorite (my favorite is still the crawfish beinets!). Menu said it was spicy but I asked the server and she indicated it was mild. Which is great for me because my body cannot do too spicy anymore! The grits were so buttery and cheesy, the sauce was mild and actually had a bit of sweetness to it. Service was friendly, although our main dishes took a while to arrive (I think I was just super hungry!) I overestimated the length of the movie and we showed up 45 min early for our reservation. They were super nice about it and say us within 10 minutes anyway. I somehow forgot to take photos of the food but it was all amazing. Hopefully it won't take me another 7 years to come back. ------+ Review from 2018: Paired the Crawfish beignet with the sweet potato dumpling so good. Hubs had the special. Pretty good also.

Brenda's French Soul Food in San Francisco