There are lots of foods we remember fondly (and some not so fondly) from the school cafeteria. Fan favorites typically include mac & cheese, sloppy joes, and PB&Js. If you’re craving a bite of nostalgia with a unique twist, there’s a wave of exciting reimaginations of these dishes across the Bay Area. We’re talking Thai mac & cheese, PB&J cheeseburgers, and Cajun sloppy joes.
Mac & Cheese
Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement (San Francisco): A classic mac & cheese at a soul food restaurant that’s made with a cheese blend that’s gooey, savory, and funky. It starts with a bechamel that gets amped up with bay leaf and nutmeg which gives it a warm flavor profile.
Lost & Found (San Francisco): There’s two options here. The first is a tom yum-inspired mac and cheese with hints of lemongrass and lime leaf. The other features pancetta and mushrooms.
Homeroom (Oakland): This spot offers the most mac and cheese variety out of any other on the last. It’s topped with Korean short rib, buffalo chicken, garlicky bacon, elote, and garden pesto. They also have a pick-up location which makes it a solid option for a quick lunch.
Sloppy Joes
Tommy’s Joynt (San Francisco): An iconic, old-school spot still going strong, complete with cafeteria‑style plating and lively murals. They regularly serve a turkey sloppy joe made with their famous turkey.
Brenda’s Soul Food (San Francisco): A Southern‑Cajun spin on the classic, it’s a dish dubbed the “Sloppy Josephine” filled with flavorful meat and onions.
PB&J
WesBurger N More (San Francisco): Wesburger has a solid selection of smash burgers, but the most unique item on the menu features a traditional thick patty. It’s slathered with creamy peanut butter and strawberry-jalapeno jam. It’s finished off with sharp white cheddar and onion rings.
Spread (San Jose): A classic take on the iconic sandwich with high-quality chunky peanut butter, mixed berry jelly, on sliced wheat. Pair your sandwich with a cider, hard kombucha, wine or sake.
Other Old-School Diner and Cafeteria Vibes
Harry’s Hofbrau (Redwood City): keeps the old-school cafeteria tradition alive with dishes like roast turkey, roast beef, prime rib, and mashed potatoes. Every day of the week, they have different specials — bratwurst on Monday; ham hocks on Tuesday; turkey stroganoff on Wednesday; and so on.
Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe: A beloved diner featured on Diners, Drive‑Ins and Dives, with counter seating, oversized breakfasts, and classic diner charm. They serve tofu chilaquiles, patty melts, pastas, soups, and stir fries.
