8 Late-Night Eats Along Muni's All-Night Bus Routes [Sponsored]

8 Late-Night Eats Along Muni's All-Night Bus Routes [Sponsored]Photo: SFMTA 
Sponsored
Published on May 26, 2017

If the early shift, late shift or just good old-fashioned midnight cravings keep you out and about before first light or during the wee hours of the night, take heed: Muni's got your back.

The San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency offers a late-night transit service called the Owl. Between midnight and 5am, buses run at least every 30 minutes along the SFMTA's 14 Owl routes.

In addition to covering popular Muni Metro lines (the K, L, M and N) and neighborhoods across the city, the Owl is the largest contributor to the regional AllNighter network, a multi-agency system that aims to make public transportation between San Francisco, the East Bay and Peninsula more convenient for late-night and early-morning commuters. As many of the AllNighter routes offer timed interagency transfers, allnighter.511.org offers an online trip planner to make planning your route painless.

All AllNighter buses are equipped with lifts or ramps to ensure people of all abilities are able to comfortably board. To assist the region's bike commuters, each bus offers a front rack for two bicycles—plus, AC Transit and SamTrans bus operators may allow bikes inside their buses at their discretion.

The expanded late-night service also makes transportation between you and your mid-night craving across town more accessible and affordable. To illustrate, here's a glance at eight of the most palate-pleasing late-night eats within blocks of an Owl stop.

The Halal Guys

Location: 340 O'Farrell St, b/t Taylor & Mason

Nearest Owl Routes: L-Owl, N-Owl, 38 Geary, 90 San Bruno Owl 

The Fare: Street-style sandwiches and platters packed with beef, chicken or falafel, veggies, hummus and rice. Like true New Yorkers, The Halal Guys stay up late: until 4am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 2am the rest of the week. And nothing on the menu costs more than $9.99.

Photo: Lisa Amand/Hoodline

Pinecrest Diner

Location: 401 Geary St.

Nearest Owl Routes: L-Owl, N-Owl, 38 Geary, 90 San Bruno Owl

The Fare: Also in the heart of downtown, one of San Francisco's few remaining 24/7 diners. From breakfast served around the clock, to heaping plates of fried apps, pasta, steak, sandwiches and salads, the menu offers few surprises—to the pleasure of the joint's diverse clientele.

Photo: Julia C./Yelp

The Grubstake

Location: 1525 Pine St, b/t Polk & Van Ness

Nearest Owl Route: 38 Geary

The Fare: The cozy railcar diner has kept Polk Gulch revelers' and locals' tummies full since 1937. Its eclectic menu of greasy American breakfast, lunch and dinner staples, plus authentic Portuguese plates and vinho, is served 5pm-4am weekdays and 11am-4am Saturdays and Sundays. With redevelopment plans on the table, grab a bite before the existing diner is replaced with a modern incarnation.

Portuguese-style New York steak. | Photo: Grubstake/Yelp

Box Kitchen

Location: 431 Natoma, b/t 5th & Mary

Nearest Owl Routes: 14 Mission

The Fare: If you're in the market for a savory bite South of Market, Box Kitchen has you covered until 1am nightly. If you'd rather not down your box of deep-fried goodness at home alone, cozy up to the bar at Tempest and wash it down with a pint of ice-cold draft PBR.

Photo: Box Kitchen/Yelp

El Farolito

Location: 2779 Mission St, b/t 24th & 23rd

Nearest Owl Route: 14 Mission

The Fare: A bit farther down the 24/7 14-Mission line, the beloved Mission District taqueria serves expertly-wrapped burritos, crispy quesadillas and tacos piled high until 2:30am every night of the week.

Photo: Eugenia C./Yelp

Dapper Dog

Location: 417 Castro St, b/t 17th & 18th

Nearest Owl Routes: 24 Divisadero, L-Owl

The Fare: When you're too tired to know exactly what flavor your palate is craving, Dapper Dog has the answer. Niman Ranch beef, chicken or veggie dogs dressed as a slice of pizza, banh mi, reuben, cheesesteak or other worldly cuisines will give your tastebuds an unconventional thrill.

Photo: Victoria T./Yelp

Orphan Andy's

Location: 3991 17th St, b/t Castro & Hartford

Nearest Owl Routes: 24 Divisadero, L-Owl

    The Fare: One of San Francisco's few 24-hour joints, Orphan Andy's is always ready and available with pancakes, french toast, biscuits and gravy, burgers and fries, heaping salads and more greasy-spoon favorites to warm bellies before a long day begins or after a hard day (or night) ends.

    Orphan Andy's "Monte Cristo" | Photo: Greg P./Yelp

    Donut World

    Location: 1399 9th Ave, b/t Irving & Judah

    Nearest Owl Route: N-Owl

    The Fare: Whether you're just starting or finishing your shift, Donut World makes early morning hours quite a bit sweeter. It's open from 4:30am to 2:30am daily and offers all the classics: sprinkled, glazed, maple, apple fritters, jelly-filled, chocolate frosted and so on.

    Photo: Richie W./Yelp

    To learn more about the SFMTA's Owl service and the region's AllNighter system, and to plan your route, visit allnighter.511.org.

    [Editor's note: This is a sponsored post written by freelance writer Brittany Hopkins.]