Must-see restaurants in San Francisco

  • Cala

    The Haight & Hayes Valley

    Like discovering a long-lost twin, Cala's California roots cuisine is a revelation. San Francisco's Mexican-ranchera origins are deeply honored here:…

  • Off the Grid

    The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers

    Spring through fall, some 30 food trucks and pop-up cubes circle their wagons at SF's largest mobile-gourmet hootenannies on Friday night at Fort Mason…

  • China Live

    North Beach & Chinatown

    San Francisco has steadily craved Chinese food since 1848, and this fancy food hall delivers regional Chinese taste sensations with Californian flair – it…

  • Delfina

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    Twenty years ago Delfina opened its doors on what was then a sketchy corner of the Mission. It served simple Italian cuisine prepared with fresh…

  • Prairie

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    This is not your nonni's Italian, and actually she might take issue with whether it's Italian at all. Many of the ingredients more commonly appear on…

  • Gary Danko

    The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers

    Gary Danko wins James Beard Awards for his impeccable Californian haute cuisine. Smoked-glass windows prevent passersby from tripping over their tongues…

  • Pizzeria Delfina

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    One bite explains why SF is obsessed with pizza lately: Delfina's thin crust heroically supports the weight of fennel sausage and fresh mozzarella without…

  • Humphry Slocombe

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    Indie-rock organic ice cream that may permanently spoil you for Top 40 flavors. Once 'Elvis: The Fat Years' (banana and peanut butter) and 'Hibiscus Beet…

  • Tacolicious

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    Never mind the name: once you've sampled the carnitas (slow-roasted pork) tacos and passion-fruit-habañero margaritas, you'll be in no position to debate…

  • Seven Hills

    San Francisco

    Romans and San Franciscans converge around the table at this tiny Russian Hill storefront trattoria, where market-fresh ingredients find peak expression…

  • Souvla

    The Haight & Hayes Valley

    Ancient Greek philosophers didn't think too hard about lunch, and neither should you at Souvla. Get in line and make no-fail choices: pita or salad, wine…

  • Vegan Picnic

    The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers

    If all vegan meatballs, faux crispy chicken sandwiches and imitation salami subs tasted this good, every cow, chicken and pig could run free. Okay maybe…

  • Beit Rima

    San Francisco

    Bond over mezze inspired by chef-owner Samir Mogannam's mom, plus stints at the Bay's top Mediterranean restaurants. Hummus tahina traditionalists and…

  • Namu Gaji

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    SF's unfair culinary advantages – organic local ingredients, Pacific Rim roots and street-skater, try-anything attitude – are showcased in Namu's Korean…

  • Zuni Cafe

    The Haight & Hayes Valley

    Gimmickry is for amateurs – Zuni has been turning basic menu staples into gourmet go-tos since 1979. Reservations and fat wallets are key for oyster-and…

  • Starbelly

    San Francisco

    All the laid-back charm and sun-drenched flavors you'd expect from California, at totally chill prices. The Castro farmer's market is right across the…

  • DragonEats

    The Haight & Hayes Valley

    Velvety roast-duck banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) gives opera stars something to sing about at this sunny Vietnamese deli, right around the corner from San…

  • Dragon Beaux

    San Francisco

    Hong Kong meets Vegas at SF's most glamorous, decadent Cantonese restaurant. Say yes to cartloads of succulent roast meats – hello, duck and pork belly –…

  • King of Noodles

    San Francisco

    It's no surprise that the late, great Anthony Bourdain once dropped by this casual dim sum and noodle establishment, where the menu features oddities like…

  • Dim Sum Club

    San Francisco

    Who knew such authentic dim sum was hiding in a Russian Hill motel? Chinese grandmas, of course. Families gather in this friendly dining room around lazy…

  • Commonwealth

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    Wildly imaginative farm-to-table dining in a converted cinder-block Mission dive. Chef Jason Fox serves adventurous compositions like uni (sea urchin) and…

  • Nopalito

    San Francisco

    Head south of Golden Gate Park's border for upscale, sustainably sourced Cal-Mex, including succulent grass-fed beef empanadas, melt-in-your-mouth…

  • E' Tutto Qua

    North Beach & Chinatown

    The Colosseum is 6000 miles from the corner of Columbus and Broadway, but you'll eat like a gladiator at E' Tutto Qua (translation: It's All Here)…

  • Craftsman & Wolves

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    Breakfast routines are made to be broken by the infamous Rebel Within: a sausage-spiked Asiago-cheese muffin with a silken soft-boiled egg baked inside…

  • Mission Cheese

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    Smile and say 'wine' at this cheese bar serving sublime pairings with expert advice and zero pretension. The all-domestic cheese menu ranges from triple…

  • Rosamunde Sausage Grill

    The Haight & Hayes Valley

    Impress a dinner date on the cheap: load up Coleman Farms pork brats, wild-boar sausages, or fig-brandy free-range duck links with complimentary roasted…

  • Foreign Cinema

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    Chef Gayle Pirie's acclaimed California classics such as grilled Monterey calamari and crisp sesame fried chicken are the star attractions here – but…

  • Lovejoy's Tea Room

    San Francisco

    All the chintz you'd expect from an English tearoom, only with a San Francisco crowd: curators talk interactive art over Darjeeling, scones and clotted…

  • Trestle

    North Beach & Chinatown

    If you've got a start-up budget but venture capitalist tastes, you're in luck here: $38 brings three courses of tasty, rustic comfort food. You get two…

  • Thoroughbread

    San Francisco

    Pastries come with pedigree at Thoroughbread – they're creations of Michelin-starred Michel Suas, founder of the San Francisco Baking Institute. If you're…

  • Little Chihuahua

    The Haight & Hayes Valley

    Who says sustainable, organic food has to be expensive or French? Grass-fed meats and organic veggies and beans are packed into organic tortillas, all…

  • Ichi Sushi

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    Alluring on the plate and positively obscene on the tongue, Ichi Sushi is a sharp cut above other seafood joints. Chef Tim Archuleta slices silky,…

  • St Francis Fountain

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    With more than 100 years under its belt, this wildly popular soda fountain is the Mission's oldest ice-cream parlor and diner. The milkshakes and American…

  • Ragazza

    The Haight & Hayes Valley

    'Girl' is what the name means – as in, 'Oooh, girl, did you try the wild-nettle pizza?!' Artisan salumi is the star of many Ragazza pizzas, from the…

  • Bi-Rite Creamery

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    On a sunny day the line snakes around the block for San Francisco's most iconic ice-cream shop. Big sellers include organic salted-caramel ice cream with…

  • Cafe Jacqueline

    North Beach & Chinatown

    The terror of top chefs is the classic French soufflé – but since 1979, Chef Jacqueline has been turning out perfectly puffy creations that float across…

  • A16

    The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers

    Even before A16 won a James Beard Award, it was hard to book, but persevere: the house-made mozzarella burrata, blister-crusted pizzas from the wood…

  • Lucca Delicatessen

    The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers

    Open since 1929, this classic Italian deli is an ideal spot to assemble picnics for Marina Green. Besides perfect prosciutto and salami, nutty cheeses and…

  • El Sur

    San Francisco

    Buttery, flaky Argentine empanadas (pastry pockets) with decadent, savory fillings. To find where your empanada is right now, follow El Sur's vintage 1970…

  • Roli Roti

    San Francisco

    Ingenious: with a built-in rotisserie, this truck turns out perfectly roasted free-range chicken and organic potatoes with lavender and sea salt.

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