We are so lucky in San Francisco to have an incredible and diverse array of restaurants and food producers throughout the city.
Below, I have put together an ever-evolving list of some of my favorite places to eat and drink in San Francisco. It will lead you to some wonderful meals!:
Italian:
Cotogna | North Beach |This is my absolute favorite restaurant in the city. With an open cooking fire, long wooden tables, exposed brick floor to ceiling windows – it is simply a beautiful space and a perfect for a date night or special occasion. I can’t visit without ordering their giant raviolo which is filled with house made ricotta, an egg yolk, and covered in browned butter and parm – it’s divine. Their agnolotti del plin which are laced in a glossy meaty butter reduction are also a must order as well as their sweet corn triangoli if you visit during the late summer. If you have a sweet tooth, it’s pretty much impossible no to the gelato cart (nor should you!). They come tableside to serve you from the fluffy, creamy mountain of freshly churned gelato. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
Bella Trattoria |Inner Richmond | This is a fabulous neighborhood restaurant and a great place for a date night or just for a nice dinner out with your family or friends. I especially love their spinach salad, polpetti, gnocchi, carbonara, and panna cotta. They also have white sangria which is light and lovely.
La Ciccia |Noe Valley | Amazing Sardinian restaurant owned by a husband and wife team. The non-negotiable orders are the spaghetti with bottarga and the baby octopus in a spicy tomato stew. The Sardinian flat bread is crisp and delightful. They also have some incredible olive oils they import that they will offer for a few additional dollars – it was by far the best I’ve ever had, so I would recommend doing it if only to learn what a great olive oil tastes like.
Flour + Water |Mission| A modern SF classic. They make incredible pastas that follow the seasons and have great playlists to boot! If you are a pasta lover (who isn’t?), they do pasta tasting menus so you can just have it all 😊
Tosca Cafe |North Beach| A 100 year old SF institution perfect for a night out in beautiful North Beach. It’s really hard to go wrong here – the menu changes seasonally. The mainstays of the roast chicken and off-menu meatballs (you can ask for them!) as well as their pastas are all delicious. One of their after-dinner espresso drinks is a perfect end to a meal.
Mexican:
La Taqueria |Mission | Hands down the best burritos in the city. Pro-tip: save yourself a wait in the long line and call in your order for pickup in about 10-15 mins. Always order your burrito ‘Dorado-Style’ and they will crisp it up on the outside. I always love to get a cantaloupe agua fresca too – sweet, cold and refreshing.
Tacos El Patron |Mission| This is a new restaurant and great addition to the neighborhood. All of the tacos I’ve had here were great, but you are coming here for the Quesabirria tacos. Cheesy, crispy, and served with a nice cup of chile-laced consommé on the side. Delish!
Californios |Mission| An incredible tasting menu perfect for a special occasion. The interior is so chic – you feel as though you are in Ken Fulk’s moody living room. The modern-Mexican food is unlike any tasting menu you have likely had before. I am still thinking about so many of the courses I had during our meal there two years after the fact.
Chinese:
Terra Cotta Warrior |Outer Sunset| This is a great place to try a different regional cuisine of China. They specialize in a Shanxii cuisine – a region that features the sour flavors of the Northern territories and spicy elements of the Western territories which you will see throughout the dishes. The mian-pi is a must-order – it is a cold dish with thick, chewy hand pulled noodles in a chili oil, softened bread and cucumbers. We also love the spicy and sour pork noodle soup. But have a look around at what other people are eating that looks good and order away!
R&G Lounge |Chinatown| This is a classic Chinatown gem. The dish they are known for is their salt-and-pepper crab, which is indeed, fabulous. Their real strength is with banquet style dining, so go with a group and get one of their group menus in their upstairs dining room.
Hong Kong Bistro *nee Hong Kong Lounge #2* |SoMA| Incredible, classic dim sum. The original location in the Inner Richmond was damaged in a fire, but they will be reopening in mid-2020 in a new neighborhood, SoMA, under the new name of Hong Kong Bistro. * I will add a link to their website once the new page is launched and there is an opening date slated for the new location*
San Tung |Sunset| All you need to know is order the dry fried chicken wings – they are *chef finger kiss*. Sometimes we order a few orders for takeout instead of waiting in line and go enjoy them back at home or around the corner at the sports bar Blackthorn where you can bring your own food while you enjoy a nice cold beer and a game.
Japanese:
Mensho Ramen |Union Square / Tenderloin| Hands down the best ramen in the city! Yes, you will have to wait in the line which usually takes around 45 minutes, but it’s worth it. The Tori Paitan ramen is my favorite and their mazesobas are fabulous too if you want something other than a traditional ramen.
Akikos Restaurant |Financial District| Incredible sushi – the best in the city if you ask me. They avoid sourcing overfished species and instead feature sustainable options. Their omakase is incredible, but you can also order a la carte at their sushi bar.
Seafood:
Swan Oyster |Polk Gulch| This is THE place to get no-fuss seafood. Family owned for three generations – you will likely be served by one of the grandsons. If they have it, the uni is incredible. Be sure to always get an order of the ‘Sicilian Sashimi’ along with some crab and oysters. Be warned the line is long – as in 2 ½ hours long - so get their 45 mins before the open if you can to try to avoid it – otherwise bring beer in a paper to drink in line ( I always forget mine) and enjoy the SF people watching while you wait – it’s worth it.
PPQ Dungeness Island – This is THE place to go for a great buttery garlic crab. You can order a la carte, but I think their set menus are the way to go ( Hello garlic noodles!). Go with a few friends and enjoy a few hours of eating, picking crab, and chatting. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon or evening.
American:
Trestle |FiDi/North Beach| Fabulous restaurant for a remarkable $39 (!!) 3-course prix fixe menu. Go for a great dinner out where you will enjoy great seasonal California cuisine, but not break the bank.
House of Prime Rib |Polk Gulch| A true San Francisco classic– you feel as though you have stepped back in time as soon as you are through the door. Go for a special occasions (or just because) for the best baked potato and prime rib.
Wes Burger 'N' More |Mission| Despite their namesake being burgers (which I am slightly ashamed that I have not tried yet…) I come for the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich. It is seriously one of my favorite things to eat in the city. Spicy, crackly-crispy chicken, cool crisp lettuce, and creamy garlic aioli – it is perfect. They also have great buttermilk milkshakes to cool you down.
Wise Sons | Mission, Union Square, Hayes Valley| A haven for Jewish Comfort food. They bake all of their breads and bagels and even smoke their own pastrami. I love going for brunch at their 24th St. location and getting their Semite Sandwich…crispy pastrami, melted swiss cheese, mustard, a fried egg all on their homemade rye bread. Need I say more? They also have a few ‘Baglelry’ locations in the city that focus on their bagels.
Outerlands |Outer Sunset| Located just a few blocks from Ocean Beach, this is a hip and beautiful neighborhood restaurant that is focused on California seasonal produce. Outerlands is popular for brunch and they have a fun menu – think eggs in jail, dutch babies - that changes with the seasons. They bake their own breads, pasties and do their own in-house fermenting.
Ice Cream:
BiRite Ice Cream |Divisadero and Mission| The King of ice cream in San Francisco and for good reason. Their ice cream is so smooth, rich, and flavorful. The honey lavender and salted caramel are my go-to signature flavors and they always have a great rotating seasonal list of flavors too.
Smitten Ice Cream |Hayes Valley and Mission| Fresh churned ice cream made with liquid nitrogen so it is truly the smoothest ice cream you will ever eat. Their menu changes daily and with the seasons, but if you go in the summer… you might be able to catch the fresh corn ice cream and with raspberry coulis on top. Their passion fruit and fresh mint are always favorites of mine too.
Bakeries:
Ariscault |Inner Richmond| Having lived in Paris for a year (during which I tried all 10 of the 10 best croissants in Paris according to Le Monde. No wonder my pants were so tight when I got back to the States...), I know a good croissant when I taste one. These croissants rival, if not exceed, the best in Paris. I love getting one of everything and bringing them home to do a little croissant sampler. What better way to start your day?
Tartine |Sunset and Mission |For likely the best loaf of bread you will ever have, you must go get a loaf of their Country Bread. They have so many other great baked goods to enjoy too…their banana cream tart, morning buns, croissants. I always love their bread pudding too. It’s hard to go wrong here!
Craftsman & Wolves |Mission| This is a very hip, fun bakery and patisserie. They have an ever-changing menu of beautiful, creative pastries. One constant and their signature item is the Rebel Within – a savory muffin made with asiago, scallions, and sausage at the center of which is an oozy soft cooked egg. It is heavenly!
Neighbor Bakehouse |Dog Patch| An incredible bakery with creative, and incredibly delicious pastries. Their pistachio blackberry twice-baked croissant, passionfruit stuffed brioche ‘doughp bun’, sauerkraut smoked cheddar peppadew tart… the list goes on. Don’t mind me - I will be the girl in line ordering one of everything…
Devil’s Teeth |Outer Sunset| Small co-op bakery walking distance to the ocean. It’s a perfect stop for breakfast. Get their special breakfast sandwich which is a buttermilk biscuit topped with bacon, avocado, soft scrambled eggs, pepper-jack, and lemon garlic aioli. It’s to die for! Their cinnamon rolls are great too. Walk it all off with a stroll down to the beach.
Beer & Breweries:
Cellermaker |Mission and SoMa| SF Brewery that is focused on hop-forward beers and IPA’s. Their SoMa location is great if you just want to grab a drink, but their Mission location serves Detroit style pizza that is truly excellent (think toasty pepperoni cups and crispy cheesy corners) in case you want to grab food with your beer.
Barebottle |Bernal Heights| Great local craft brewery. This is a big brewery space that is very family and pet friendly and you can bring in your own food. The beers are fabulous, and they always have a great variety of styles from the extra hoppy to nice, light beers as well as some house made kombuchas. I always find some lush, tropical pales and hazy IPA’s to enjoy while I am there. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon.
Toronado |Haight| A pub on Haight street that has a rotating list of 40 craft beers. They always have a great selection of beers from a wide variety of small producers. They also always manage to get kegs of Pliny the Younger when it’s released. The service tends to be a bit gruff but that’s part of the character.
Zeitgeist |Mission| This is a great beer garden and bar that has been around since the 70’s. It’s got a badass rocker style to it, a great tap list, and is one of the few bars in the city that has outdoor seating.
Other Fabulous Spots:
Dandelion Chocolate / Bloom Chocolate Salon |Mission| Bean to bar chocolate produced right here in San Francisco. Their chocolates are fabulous, but their cafes in both their original location and new, larger space, Bloom Chocolate Salon, are especially fun. They use all parts of the bean, so beyond different decadent hot chocolates and pastries, you can even items featuring the lychee-esque cacao fruit.
Mission Cheese |Mission| This is a great little cheese and wine bar in the city. They feature artisan cheeses from makers across America. They have cheese flights (so cool!) which are always delightful. I always especially love their roasted garlic potatoes with melted raclette cheese on top.
Mandalay |Burmese| My favorite Burmese restaurant in the city – it’s casual enough to go any time, but is also a great place to bring out of town guests for a memorable meal – we take all of our out of town visitors here and it is always a hit. The restaurant is so vibrant and colorful, as is the food. The must-order items are the Balada, Tea Leaf Salad, and Mandalay Special Noodle.
Ferry Building |Embarcadero| My favorite place to spend a few hours. Located right on the water, the Ferry Building is filled with local food companies – from Cowgirl Creamery, Far West Fungi, Acme Bread, Miette just to name a few – you can find so many treats to enjoy yourself or buy for gifts. On Saturday mornings, they have the best farmers market in the city with incredible farmers and producers from throughout the Bay as well as some incredible food and coffee stands. If you make it to the farmers market, I highly recommend a stop at Roli Roti for one of their porchetta sandwiches – crackly roasted pork skin, juicy herby pork, caramelized onions, arugula, flaky salt on top of an Acme roll – one of the best sandwiches you will ever eat with one of the best views.
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