Where Good Food, Drink, and Soccer Collide

Game one: South Africa vs. Mexico. Kickoff is bright and early Friday morning (if you're on the West Coast, at least). Decisions must be made, but don't get your broekie in a bunch. You want to slurp down some dop and have some lags with your chommas, sure, but you know you'll be too gesuip to work after unless you can eat some boerewors while watching the South Africa vs. Mexico game. We've got you covered on the breakfast front. (Translation for those of you not hip to South African slang: panties, beers, laughs, friends, plastered, sausage.)

(Mos.)

(Duh.)

Consult our list of locations that feature soccer plus food and drink.

San Francisco
The San Francisco Chronicle has made SF the most organized of all World Cup–watching cities with its interactive map of places to catch the games over the next month, but some don't offer food, something you'll definitely need while swigging down beer at 7 a.m. Try La Victoria in the Mission (serving up chilaquiles from De La Paz Coffee company for the opening game) or Mercury Lounge, in SOMA, for egg scrambles, corned beef hash, and bacon cheese fries. Wash it all down with $1 beers if you show up before 7 a.m. kickoff.

New York
While Nevada Smith's may be the central hot spot for NYC soccer fans (tagline: "Where football is religion!"), there won’t be any food in sight. For those who can't live on soccer alone, head to the South African restaurant Madiba in Fort Greene for a "bushman breakfast," or to Hecho En Dumbo, where you can take in the game on special 10-foot screens while eating from the brunch menu. (Check on Eater NY's map for more ideas over the next month.)

Chicago
Ginger's Ale House was voted the #1 soccer bar in the U.S. 2003–2006 by the US Soccer Association. And they should know. With 20 new HDTVs and a full Irish breakfast, we think it'll take back that title in 2010. If you show up at Crew (self-acclaimed as Chicago's premier gay sports bar and grill) for the first game, any beverage purchase gets you a free breakfast buffet.

Los Angeles
Want to ring in the Cup surrounded by real South Africans? Head to Springbok Bar & Grill, founded by four chommas (see above, ahem) hailing from Jo-berg, Durban, and Cape Town. Or, if you'd prefer to support the team right across the border, go to Plaza Mexico in Lynwood (3000 Imperial Highway) for an outdoor Mexican extravaganza, or Guelaguetza (three locations), opening at 5 a.m. with a full Mexican breakfast menu.

Philadelphia
Fado, an Irish pub, is claiming to be the Official Soccer Bar of U.S. Soccer and is serving a menu filled with rashers, black and white pudding, pan-fried potato bread, and, of course, beer.

There are lots more recommendations on Chowhound. Let us know where you'll be watching.