Mama's On Washington Square • 1964

Lines snake down Stockton Street before dawn for a table at this North Beach breakfast institution, where the legendary French toast—thick-cut, cinnamon-dipped, and griddled golden—has drawn devoted crowds since Michael and Frances Sanchez opened the doors in 1964. The tiny dining room fills with the scent of homemade biscuits and Monte Cristo sandwiches, while regulars swear by the fluffy omelettes that have made this one of San Francisco's most enduring morning rituals. Arrive early or prepare to wait—some things are worth the line.