Balboa Cafe

4.2(802)

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Location & Hours

Address

3199 Fillmore St
San Francisco, California 94123
United States

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Hours

Closed • Opens Today at 11:30 AM

Monday11:30 AM - 9:00 PM

Tuesday11:30 AM - 9:00 PM

Wednesday11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Thursday11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Friday11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Saturday10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Sunday10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Contact & Links

Contact Information

(415) 921-3944

Restaurant Link

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About Balboa Cafe

Popular bar perfect for people-watching offering an American bistro menu & classic cocktails.

Price range: moderately priced

Google-sourced data last fetched on November 13, 2025.

4.2/5

Based on 802 reviews

Recent Reviews

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Magali Gutierrez

3 months ago

I was excited to try Balboa Café, especially since it’s known for having some of the best espresso martinis in the city. The espresso martinis were smooth and well-balanced. Unfortunately, the food d...

Sean Grandin

9 months ago

Went here for dinner with my wife and in-laws and loved it the service was impeccable our server Carla was great she was attentive friendly and gave great recommendations even gave us recommendations ...

Lisa T K

2 weeks ago

Yes, the food is magnificent. The service is absolutely the best - even the busboys are smiling, polite and gracious, the waiters are genuinely nice. We were seated indoors and had caesar with shrimps...

Craig Stuart Adams

a year ago

Just like my home... only... with better food... better drinks... better atmosphere... ok... pretty much better everything! The Balboa Café is a San Francisco Classic. It was opened in 1914 and has ...

Will McTighe

a year ago

Beat my expectations! The burger in a baguette was tasty, the meat was cooked well. That is their speciality. The fish and chips was also solid (I am British so I feel qualified to opine on this). St...

What People Are Saying

Overall Experience

The restaurant provides a generally positive dining experience, with many customers praising the food and service leading to a high average rating.

Customer Favorites

The burger, especially served in a baguette, is a standout favorite, alongside the paella and espresso martinis which are frequently mentioned. Salmon is mentioned, with mixed experiences.

Atmosphere & Service

The atmosphere is generally considered amiable and friendly, with attentive and engaging service being a consistent highlight; however, the indoor noise level is a recurring concern. Some specific servers, Carla, Sid and Madeline, received positive mentions.

Value & Quality

Many reviews express satisfaction with the food quality, particularly highlighting the freshness and taste of dishes, and the wine selection. No specific comments on pricing or portion sizes are present.

Areas for Improvement

Noise levels indoors are a significant concern for many customers. Cleanliness, specifically regarding tablecloths, was mentioned as needing improvement in one review.

Recent Trends

Recent reviews highlight potential inconsistencies in food quality, with some dishes receiving positive feedback while others, like the salmon, are described as lacking flavor.