The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
At the Warming Hut, wet-suited windsurfers and Crissy Field kite fliers recharge with fair-trade coffee, organic pastries and hot sandwiches while…
Must-see restaurants in California
Monterey
Our pick of Lighthouse Avenue's lineup of low-key global eateries, Zab Zab channels the robust flavors of northeast Thailand. The bijou cottage is perfect…
South Bay Beaches
Sit in the flowery courtyard, or amid the Asian-inspired atmosphere, at this sanctuary where meat is a no-no and organic, local produce is plentiful…
North Coast & Redwoods
This place may resemble a run of the mill diner but the organic ingredients, cook to order ethos and menu of local favorite dishes guarantees a steady…
San Francisco
The fastest way to a San Franciscan's heart is through Orson's Belly, where Coastal Trail–blazers devour Turkish breakfasts of feta, organic eggs and…
Russian River Area
A Tuscan-born chef makes bona fide cucina Italiana using quality ingredients from local farms at this austere restaurant in downtown Forestville, worth…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
She was from Michigan; he was from Tennessee. But this BBQ-loving couple brought their respective meat traditions with them to SF and absolutely nailed it…
San Francisco
As Korean grandmothers and other Sunset District dwellers will tell you, nothing cures fog chills like home-style Korean cooking. Manna's kalbi (barbecue…
Redding & Around
This funky little old-time place doesn’t look so inviting – the windows are blacked out and it’s dark as a crypt inside – but its popularity with locals…
Pasadena & the San Gabriel Valley
An adorable, locally loved cafe set just a mile over the Colorado Bridge from Old Pasadena. There's a diverse menu, from the Goddess Salad, to banh mi…
San Fernando Valley
Once set in Laurel Canyon, this long-loved Italian cafe serves salads, bison burgers and Italian sausage sandwiches, as well as some terrific pizzas and…
Silver Lake & Echo Park
In a small, simple, modern space packed with convivial locals, chef Zach Pollack delivers contemporary takes on regional Italian cooking. The pasta – made…
Big Sur
At a quaint yesteryear lodge, the candlelit, knickknack-filled dining room has a dependably delicious menu of meat-centric culinary Americana, from bacon…
San Diego
This multi-award-winning hole-in-the-wall is actually two shops – Saffron Thai Grilled Chicken and Noodles & Saté, but you can get both at either shop and…
San Fernando Valley
Hidden in the Encino sprawl, it’s easy to miss this tiny pastry shop, but if you enjoy sweet, light, nutty, syrupy, crunchy desserts, you shouldn’t. These…
North Beach & Chinatown
Find something for everyone at this bustling Chinatown joint with a vast, crowd-pleasing menu – choose anything with Hunan-style vinegary-savory sauce or…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Mexico City’s signature street food gets reinvented to satisfy famished Potrero del Sol skateboarders. These sandwiches are stuffed with farm-fresh…
Silver Lake & Echo Park
This former vaudeville theater is now a casual, industrial-style bar and eatery packed with skinny jeans and beards. Local produce dominates the vegan…
Santa Monica
This LA-born fast-casual mini-chain sources ingredients from local, sustainable producers and serves them in cheery, fuss-free fashion. Get proteins …
Big Sur
Woodsy restaurant with a deck, overlooking a creek teeming with throaty frogs. The food is standard American – burgers, steak, sandwiches, roast chicken…
Hollywood
Colorful, affable La Carmencita peddles delicious, made-from-scratch Baja Californian grub. Go easy on the house-made blue-corn tortilla chips as you'll…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Chef Michael Tusk's tasting menu of Northern California bounty is an adventure and an investment – if you're not entirely sold on this season's menu (see…
Coastal Orange County
The US location of a popular ramen chain from northeastern Japan is known for its chewy, curly, wobbly (their word) hand-crumpled noodles. The broth stews…
San Francisco
Polk St was once better known as Polkstrasse by German immigrants and Leopold's pays homage to neighborhood heritage with lip-schmacking Austrian-German…
Long Beach & San Pedro
From clerks to cops to city-council members, everybody’s got a soft spot for this unassuming joint where breakfasts and sandwiches are served in belt…
Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood & Westwood
Sharing the same owners as its bigger neighbor, South Beverly Grill, this smart, handsome bar serves smashing cocktails, sandwiches, burgers and sushi to…
San Francisco
Early risers and park joggers are rewarded with SF-roasted Ritual coffee and Cassava's housemade, multilingual breakfasts – choose from a Japanese…
Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood & Westwood
This intimate, casual sushi bar bustles with lunchtime office workers. Behind the counter, bantering sushi masters prepare silky sushi and sashimi using…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
An international idea that's pure California: choice seafood served raw in the Italian style, with pan-Asian condiments and East–West beers. Start with…
San Diego
South Coast Winery's gracious main restaurant has an arts-and-crafts-style barn feel and vineyard views from the balcony. Salads and sandwiches are…
Eastern Sierra
Named for a fish found in Death Valley, this small cafe at the back of Spellbinder Books is an excellent place for breakfast or lunch or for whiling away…
Silver Lake & Echo Park
Popular, loft-like Sage dishes out organic vegan fare, from a spicy buffalo-cauliflower salad and tempeh-loaded burger, to tacos stuffed with jackfruit …
Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood & Westwood
Modern, woody, warm – this gastropub is a good standby if you're catching a film at the adjoining Landmark Theatres. The menu's focus is quality comfort…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
Organic pub grub and home-brew samplers keep conversation flowing at communal tables, while grass-fed burgers satisfy stoner appetites in booths – it's…
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
Toss aside ordinary salads. For $13.95, build a mighty mound of organic produce, topped with six fixings, including artisan cheeses, caramelized onions,…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
The Mad Hatter would feel right at home at this tea shop inside New People - kids feed their dolls teensy cupcakes, bunny-eared cosplayers clink teacups…
North Beach & Chinatown
Generations of North Beachers have entrusted the most important meal of the day to Mama and Papa Sanchez, whose sunny Victorian storefront diner has…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
All signs say San Francisco: barkeeps wear white jackets over their tats, couples canoodle around a fireplace salvaged from the 1906 earthquake, and lunch…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Last time you enjoyed casual Mexican dining this much, there were probably balmy ocean breezes and hammocks involved. Instead, you're steps away from SoMa…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
Bay Area chef Ritsu Tsuchida caters to San Francisco's picky eaters with vegetarian miso ramen and tsukemen (noodles for dipping, not soaking in soup)…
