The Best "Cash Only" Spots in San Francisco

The other day I ended up in the San Francisco Secrets subreddit and saw a post titled “What’s your go to cash only restaurants?” This of course got my curiosity going and I went down a little rabbit hole to find out which great places are still only take greenbacks. I mean, it was only like 15 years ago when basically every bar and half the eateries in the Mission didn’t take cards. And these days there’s a shit ton of places that don’t take cash at all. Times certainly have changed, but less so in these places:

I don’t know how many times El Faroltio has saved my life after a night of drinking. Also, I don’t know how many times I’ve shown up there and forgotten that it’s cash only. That has to be one of the most used ATMs in SF. While there are multiple El Farolitos in SF I’m pretty sure the one at Mission and 24th is the only one that’s cash only, so it’s basically a tax on drunk people. Regardless, El Farolito is so good it’s worth paying the ATM fee.

2779 Mission St. @ 24th St.
The Mission

As Jake said in this lovely ode: “Saigon Sandwich is a San Francisco treasure I’ll reminisce about well into old age. I’m already nostalgic for it because it feels like a relic of the past, a time when a good meal didn’t break the bank”

560 Larkin St. @ Eddy St.
The Tenderloin

A Richmond District classic, the baked, steamed, and fried little delicacies are out of control. Yes its cash only, and there’s usually a line but it’s all part of the experience.

736 Clement St. btw 8th & 9th Aves.
Inner Richmond

Opened in 1971 and boasting that it serves Boston style sandwiches the Yellow Submarine is an Inner Sunset legend. People come from all over the city to grab a sandwich here. And it’s still cash only.

503 Irving St. @ 6th Ave.
Inner Sunset

This is long time, family owned, Mission District, staple is hands down one of my favorite places to get brunch. I’m a huge chilaquiles fan their chilaquiles are fantastic. Plus they’ve got excellent aqua frescas as well. And as you expect since you’re reading this list, it is also cash only.

3248 18th St. @ Shotwell St.
The Mission

Caffe Trieste claims to be the first espresso coffee house on the West Coast. Considering they’ve been serving up hot cups of Joe since 1956, they may be right. Once you step inside this beat era haunt you can tell not much has changed in the past 70 years, even the fact that they don’t take credit cards.

601 Vallejo St. @ Grant Ave.
North Beach

There was a time in my 20s when Yamo pretty much kept me alive. This place is so good and so cheap and only has like seven or eight seats max. Someone once described this Burmese food gem as “two ladies and a wok” and that pretty much sums it up. And of course that it’s cash only.

3406 18th St. near Mission St.
The Mission

This black owned ice cream shop the Fillmore has over 100 flavors plus oodles of other delicious treats. It’s hard not to stop in when you walk by. Then again that’s probably why I have diabetes. As expected, it’s cash only.

1470 Fillmore St. near O’Farrell St.
The Fillmore

What are your favorite cash only spots in San Francisco that I missed? Leave them in the comments!