San Joaquin Valley
Surly Basque gentlemen pass the communal wine carafes at Bakersfield’s family-style Basque institution. The fixed menu includes a procession of dishes…
Must-see restaurants in Northern California
Northern Mountains
Like a stranger you feel you’ve met before, this earthy spot feels warmly familiar, all the more lovable when you consider its commitment to serving local…
Coastal Highway 1
Although it may look fairly run of the mill, this is an exceptional Japanese restaurant. The owner is a former grader at the Tokyo fish market so the…
Sacramento
In the catacombs under the historic Crest Theater, this gorgeous restaurant hosts a menu of creative, meat-focused dishes (including family-style options…
Yosemite National Park
With a killer view of Yosemite Falls, the window tables at this casual yet elegant contemporary restaurant are a hot commodity. Plates of NY strip steak,…
Coastal Highway 1
This is the kind of North Coast coffee shop you’ve been dreaming of: fresh pastries, fog-lifting organic coffee and chatty locals. The expansive view of…
Mono Lake Region
Years after its famed chef moved on to Toomey's at Mammoth Lakes, this Mobil-gas-station restaurant off Hwy 120 is still, surprisingly, a darn good place…
Mono Lake Region
Looking to satisfy your nostalgia for summertime vacations of yore or want to introduce your kids to a classic roadside joint? Mono Cone will not…
Gold Country
Truly delicious soups, sandwiches, baked goods and coffee from well-known Sacramento and local purveyors find their way to this little wooden house in…
Northern Mountains
Head here for the finest dining on the lake with upscale New American, Italian-influenced cuisine (like the simply prepared shrimp scampi), and bar food…
West of I-5
About 8 miles south of Weaverville, this unlikely spot in a roadside lodge serves up the area's finest meals. Try anything with elk, the gnocchi is superb…
North Coast & Redwoods
This unexpectedly trendy restaurant has livened up Garberville's culinary scene with seriously delicious 'Asian soul food.' Gluten-free and vegan options…
Lake Tahoe
On a lazy summer afternoon, grab a table on the back deck that overlooks the boats bobbing at Tahoe City Marina. Barbecue chicken, ribs and steak light a…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
Sunny flavors, healthful ingredients, and easygoing elegance make Little Gem a San Francisco treasure. Chef David Cruz combines fine-dining tradecraft…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Live the dream at this bayfront bistro, where California-fresh, Vietnamese-inspired dishes are served with sparkling waterfront views. Chinatown-raised…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
SF's definitive burrito has no saffron rice, spinach tortilla or mango salsa – just perfectly grilled meats, slow-cooked beans and tomatillo or mesquite…
Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
California farm-to-table gets Thai street smarts in this warehouse restaurant showcasing organic local ingredients and regional Thai street-food…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
Leave gimmicky waterfront bistros behind and find higher ground here, with rustic French seafood and easy social graces. Triple-Michelin-starred chef…
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:…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Do not attempt to order pad thai at this fashionable younger sibling of nearby Lers Ros, where the 120-dish menu is inspired by the cuisine of the lesser…
Healdsburg
Right on the town plaza, you'll no doubt catch a glimpse of this restaurant's elegant dining room with its beautiful people, floor-to-ceiling windows and…
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…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
The sister bistro of State Bird Provisions seems laid-back – the wabi-sabi wooden decor resembles a weatherbeaten boat and Stuart Brioza and Nicole…
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…
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…
San Francisco
Romans and San Franciscans converge around the table at this tiny Russian Hill storefront trattoria, where market-fresh ingredients find peak expression…
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…
Napa Valley
Chef Michael Chiarello opened this Italian market, cafe and mozzeria in Yountville's V Marketplace across from his popular farm-to-table establishment…
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…
Healdsburg
If you're looking to impress somebody, Healdsburg residents suggest Valette. The sleek American restaurant is regularly packed with suits and fancy ladies…
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…
Sonoma Valley
Helmed by chef Ari Weiswasser, who once worked at Thomas Keller's French Laundry, this petite Glen Ellen bistro shines a light on the best of Sonoma farms…
Coastal Highway 1
This fancy spot offers a choice of dining experiences. The Drakes Sonoma Coast Kitchen offers breakfast and dinner, the latter concentrating on such…
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…
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…
