DESCRIPTION

Nestled in the heart of San Francisco, Brenda's French Soul Food brings the vibrant essence of Southern cuisine to the Bay Area. Located at 652 Polk Street, this cozy establishment has become a beloved haven for food lovers seeking a delightful culinary experience. With its warm ambiance and inviting atmosphere, Brenda's brilliantly marries classic Southern flavors with a distinct French twist, resulting in dishes that are at once comforting and innovative.

As you enter Brenda's, you're greeted with the delightful aroma of fried chicken, rich boudin, and freshly baked beignets. The menu showcases a range of Southern staples that are bound to tantalize your taste buds. Highlights include their four-piece fried chicken, renowned for its perfectly seasoned crust and succulent meat, often complemented excellently by a hint of spicy jelly. Customers rave about the collard greens, which have been dubbed the best ever tasted, and an irresistible mac and cheese that sets a high bar for comfort food.

One cannot visit Brenda's without indulging in their legendary beignets. The variety, including flavors like Ube and Crawfish, has captured the hearts of many, who appreciate their generous size and fluffy texture. A recent diner expressed their amazement, noting the beignets are "no joke" and a must-try. And according to another joyful customer, the flavors in every dish reflect a commitment to excellence and authenticity.

The service at Brenda's is both quick and friendly, providing a welcoming touch that enhances the dining experience. Multiple reviewers highlighted the efficient staff, making it an ideal spot for everything from casual breakfasts to lively dinners with friends and family. While it can get noisy during peak hours, diners appreciate the vibrant atmosphere—a true testament to the restaurant's popularity.

In essence, Brenda's French Soul Food isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a destination for those seeking to enjoy well-prepared Southern fare in a bustling yet inviting setting. Whether you’re visiting with out-of-town friends, treating your family, or simply indulging in a well-deserved meal yourself, Brenda’s promises to leave you with a sense of satisfaction and a full belly. Come for the food, stay for the soul—this is a culinary experience you won’t want to miss!

Accessibility

Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet Wheelchair-accessible car park

From the business

Identifies as Asian-owned Identifies as LGBTQ+ owned Identifies as women-owned

Service options

Offers delivery Offers takeaway Serves dine-in

Highlights

Fast service Serves great coffee Serves great dessert Live music

Popular for

Popular for breakfast Popular for lunch Popular for dinner Good for solo dining

Offerings

Serves alcohol Serves beer Serves cocktails Serves coffee Serves comfort food Serves food Serves vegetarian dishes Serves wine

Dining options

Serves breakfast Serves brunch Serves lunch Serves dinner Serves dessert Seating

Amenities

Gender-neutral toilets Toilet

Atmosphere

Casual Cosy Trending Trendy

Crowd

Family friendly Good for groups LGBTQ+ friendly Popular with tourists Transgender safe space Popular with university students

Planning

Brunch reservations recommended Lunch reservations recommended Dinner reservations recommended Accepts reservations Usually has a wait

Payments

Accepts credit cards Accepts debit cards Accepts NFC mobile payments Credit cards

Children

Good for kids High chairs available

Parking

Paid street parking Difficult to find a space

Meals And DrInks

Large Cole Slaw

16oz

$US$9.00

Pie Du Jour

Let us surprise you! Varies often.

$US$8.75

Plain Beignets Order

For the diehard traditionalist

$US$8.75

1/2 Foster French Toast

1/2 Order Bananas Foster French Toast

$US$8.50

Fort Point Kolsch

12oz can, San Francisco

$US$8.00

OpenIng Hours

  • Monday
    08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Tuesday
    08:00 AM - 03:00 PM
  • Wednesday
    08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Thursday
    08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Friday
    08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Saturday
    08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Sunday
    08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

LOCATION

Reviews

  • Ted Eicher

    7 months ago

    Brenda's is a real treat for eating out. Seated quickly, my food was ready in ten minutes. Four piece fried chicken was fantastic, especially with the slightly spicy jelly. Collared greens were the best I've ever eaten, mac and cheese was amazing. Even my ice tea was excellent, the cream biscuits are incredible. Service was quick, efficient and friendly. This would be a perfect spot to take out of town friends, relatives or business associates. Also would be a great midday date spot. That was the best restaurant meal I've eaten in a long time. Prices are actually very reasonable when you consider the top notch level of food and service. The only thing I can think of that might deter some diners is this place is very loud when it's busy. So if you are looking for a quiet meal here it would be best to go during the week when it's slower. Highly recommend Brenda's! Absolutely delightful experience!

  • Winston Dy

    7 months ago

    Wowzerrrrzzz! The beignets here are no joke! The “Flight” gives you a taste of each type except for the Ube flavor beignet. I still ordered one to try. The price is relative since the size is like a tennis ball. The order of my most favorite to least favorite flavor topping is first the Ube beignet, followed by the Crawfish beignet, the Ghirardelli Chocolate beignet, the Granny Apple beignet and lastly the original flavor beignet. The Original Flavor is so big! It is also shaped differently than the others. I placed my order online and it was ready quick. Service is friendly and efficient.

  • Drew Wraps

    7 months ago

    What an amazing restaurant. Come for breakfast, lunch or dinner and enjoy some amazing cajun food. We had the catfish and fried chicken Benedict, grillades and grits and the bananas fosters french toast. The portions are all shareable, and that we did! Perfect texture and flavors from all menu items. Tomorrow we will be trying all of their famous beignets. We found our new eating spot for our trips to the SF area from now on.

  • John Meyers

    7 months ago

    The food was excellent. We’re not big eaters, so we usually split one order, but we got the Crawfish Beignets and the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, both to split between the two of us. It was plenty of food with room to spare. My favorite was the beignets. They were so soft and crunchy and the seasoning was amazing.

  • StiLL Ro

    7 months ago

    Wow, our server was so helpful and kind. The food spoke for itself. Absolutely delicious. We went on a Sunday morning in June. The vibe was chill lots of small groups and couples coming in and out. We tried several things on the menu. Great flavors in everything. Recommend.

  • Nathan Bell

    7 months ago

    Brenda’s French Soul Food in San Francisco was the perfect addition to our trip. When you enter, you’ll be greeted by the friendly staff and instructed to write your name on the chalkboard if you hadn’t already. They were steady for New Year’s Day lunchtime so booking a table in advance is recommended. We didn’t wait long going for noon, maybe 15 minutes. The plethora of menu options was great! The food came out quick and exactly as ordered. We thoroughly enjoyed it!

  • Luiz Oliveira

    7 months ago

    It is probably one of the best restaurants in San Francisco. The food is incredible and fresh. Catfish and grits are so good, that biscuit OMG! Also, the price is very reasonable because the portions are great. I’ll definitely come back to try everything else they have on the menu.

  • May Li Lau

    7 months ago

    Excellent beignets (favourite being apple then crawfish) and blackened catfish, I would highly recommend for delicious food. The food also came very quickly. This may be a personal preference but I found the constant asking if we were finished with the plates to clear them a bit distracting and I felt a little rushed. But I can appreciate this may be the waiting culture here in the US (I'm a tourist from the UK and used to plates only being cleared at the end when everyone is finished). A small complaint though for an otherwise delicious meal and would definitely come again.

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