Chez Maman East opened in 2002, bringing French bistro comfort food to Potrero Hill, where neighbors quickly became regulars.
The restaurant recreates childhood memories of mother’s cooking with simple, delicious French basics throughout every meal.
This 18th Street location serves burgers with brie, mussels mariniere, and French onion soup, creating a neighborhood favorite throughout San Francisco.
What Makes Chez Maman East Special
The restaurant delivers French bistro classics inspired by mother’s home cooking with a warm, welcoming atmosphere throughout service.
Basic Burger allows customization with Swiss cheese, creating a perfect cheese pul,l while crispy fries with garlic aioli are complete throughout meals.
The million-dollar views of FiDi buildings lit up at night create incroyable backdrop throughout dinner service.
The Story Behind the Restaurant
Chez Maman launched with the philosophy that you can never eat better than your mother’s cooking, based on childhood memories.
The first location opened on Potrero Hill in 2002, with neighbors coming two or three times a week throughout the years.
The Hayes Valley expansion in 2012 brought the French bistro concept to new neighborhoods while maintaining quality throughout both locations.
San Francisco’s Favorite Menu Items
Food Highlights
- Basic Burger: A customizable burger with options for Swiss, brie, cheddar, or avocado creates a perfect combination throughout ordering. Adding $3 for Swiss cheese delivers a cheese pull worth every penny with crispy fries and garlic aioli throughout the plate. 🍔
- French Onion Soup: Authentic, rich onion soup with concentrated flavor became the star of meals throughout service at $16. The classic preparation delivers a proper French bistro experience with melted cheese on top throughout every spoonful. 🧅
- Moules Mariniere: The must-order mussels for groups feature a creamy sauce that stands as soup by itself throughout sharing. The clean, well-steamed mussels open easily with fries dunked in sauce, creating perfect bites throughout meals. 🦪
- Chicken Burger: Delicious preparation with grilled onions creates a satisfying sandwich option throughout the menu at $22. The generous portion size delivers value with crispy fries throughout lunch and dinner. 🍗
- Pork Chop: Incredible dish guarantees happiness for those unsure what to order throughout the menu at market price. The consistently excellent preparation makes this highly recommended throughout repeat visits. 🥩
- Croque Madame: Classic French sandwich with fried egg on top for only $1 more at $20. The generous portion with a large side salad creates a filling meal throughout brunch service. 🍳
- Beef Tartare: Mustardy delight features fresh beef with Dijon mustard, creating a perfect appetizer at $18. The French preparation showcases quality ingredients throughout traditional techniques. 🥩
- Salmon Burger: Grilled preparation delivers a delicious alternative to beef throughout the burger menu at $22. The fresh fish creates a lighter option throughout lunch service. 🐟
- Hachis Parmentier: Essentially shepherd’s pie with ground beef, potatoes, and a crispy cheese layer throughout preparation. The incredibly rich and flavorful dish creates new comfort food throughout meals. 🥔
- Baked Camembert: Warm cheese with roasted garlic for spreading creates happiness throughout appetizers. The combination delivers French indulgence throughout, sharing with bread. 🧀
- Steak Frites: Classic French bistro preparation with flat iron steak and crispy fries throughout dinner. The simple execution showcases quality beef throughout traditional plating. 🥩
- Frisée Salad: The bomb salad delivers excellent flavors throughout, with lighter options on the menu. The preparation stays consistent throughout repeat visits, creating a reliable choice. 🥗
- Buckwheat Crepes: Savory crepes remind diners of being in Paris with authentic preparation throughout service. The mushroom version creates a satisfying vegetarian option throughout meals. 🥞
Atmosphere
The restaurant sits at 1401 18th St on Potrero Hill with a small, charming space creating an intimate neighborhood vibe throughout service.
Inside, the French countryside’s warm colors with classy music create a relaxing environment throughout lunch and dinner.
The outdoor seating, beautifully decorated with lights, welcomes dogs with million-dollar views of FiDi throughout evening meals.
Bottom Line
Visit Chez Maman East for French bistro burgers with brie and Swiss cheese pulls on Potrero Hill since neighbors became regulars in 2002.
Moules mariniere with creamy sauce, French onion soup, and pork chop guarantee happiness throughout the mother’s cooking-inspired menu.
The unpretentious San Francisco dining, easy parking, and Christopher’s Books across the street create a perfect neighborhood spot worth becoming a regular. 🌟
Chez Maman East
1401 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94107 (Potrero Hill)
📞 (415) 655-9542
🕐 Mon-Fri: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM | Sat-Sun: 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Takeout and delivery available | Outdoor seating | Dogs allowed | Whiteboard waitlist outside