Must-see restaurants in The Bay Area

  • La Palma Mexicatessen

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    Follow the applause: that's the sound of organic tortilla-making in progress. You've found the Mission mother lode of handmade tamales, and pupusas …

  • Benkyodo

    Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights

    Since 1906, family-owned Benkyodo has survived earthquakes, world wars, even Japanese American internment – and still the Okamura family keeps making life…

  • Molinari

    North Beach & Chinatown

    Observe this quasi-religious North Beach noontime ritual: enter Molinari, and grab a number and a crusty roll. When your number's called, let wisecracking…

  • Mitchell's Ice Cream

    The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill

    When you see happy dances break out on Mission sidewalks, you must be getting close to Mitchell's. One glance at the menu induces gleeful gluttony:…

  • Z & Y

    North Beach & Chinatown

    Graduate from ho-hum sweet-and-sour and middling mu shu to sensational Sichuan dishes that go down in a blaze of glory. Warm up with spicy pork dumplings…

  • Greens

    The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers

    Career carnivores won't realize there's zero meat in the hearty black-bean chili, or in Greens' other flavor-packed vegetarian dishes, made using…

  • Good Mong Kok

    North Beach & Chinatown

    Ask Chinatown neighbors about their go-to dim sum and the answer is either grandma's or Good Mong Kok. Lines snake out the door of this counter bakery for…

  • Village Sake

    Marin County

    Open in 2015 to immediate acclaim, San Franciscans drive over the bridge for the izakaya (Japanese pub-style fare and tapas-like small dishes) paired with…

  • Brenda's Meat & Three

    The Haight & Hayes Valley

    The name means one meaty main course plus three sides – though only superheroes finish ham steak with Creole red-eye gravy and exemplary grits, let alone…

  • Beauty's Bagel Shop

    Oakland

    Few breakfasts can match the sheer perfection of a good bagel loaded with cream cheese, salmon, tomatoes and capers, and the version at Beauty's is, well,…

  • Marufuku Ramen

    Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights

    No Silicon Valley technology excites as much local geekery as a bowl of Marufuku ramen. Its advantages are much discussed: tonkotsu broth cooked for 20…

  • Spruce

    San Francisco

    VIP all the way: Baccarat crystal chandeliers, tawny leather chairs, rotating art collections and 2500 wines. Ladies who lunch dispense with polite…

  • Liguria Bakery

    North Beach & Chinatown

    Bleary-eyed art students and Italian grandmothers line up by 8am for cinnamon-raisin focaccia hot out of the 100-year-old oven, leaving 9am dawdlers a…

  • Oakland–Grand Lake Farmers Market

    Oakland

    A rival to San Francisco's Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, this bountiful weekly market hauls in bushels of fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood, ranched meats,…

  • Pearl 6101

    San Francisco

    Stop by this little neighborhood gem for coffee and wood-fired bagels on your way to the Presidio, or return in the evening for unmissable martinis. Start…

  • Royal Rangoon

    Berkeley

    Excellent Burmese fare includes some of the Bay Area's more authentic takes on mohinga (fish noodle soup), ohn no kauk swe (coconut-curry chicken soup),…

  • Great China Restaurant

    Berkeley

    Berkeley does not lack for good Chinese food, but this enormous, upscale restaurant elevates the genre with Northern Chinese specialties like duck-bone…

  • Calabria Bros

    Excelsior

    Some of the best sandwiches in San Francisco are getting prepped and served in this little counter-service deli. The meats are fresh, and the cheeses are…

  • The Siren Canteen

    Marin County

    This beach-chic canteen with bench seating and a chalkboard menu sits just under the lifeguard tower. Order quality, fresh tacos, nachos, fish and chips,…

  • Cheese Board Collective

    Berkeley

    Worker owned since 1971, this co-op boasts (surprise) a great collection of cheese, a bakery with a changing selection of fresh bread, and a new…

  • Little Gem

    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…

  • The jicama and grapefruit salad with sauteed eggplant on side at bar at Slanted Door in Ferry Building on Embarcadero.

    Slanted Door

    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…

  • La Taqueria restaurant in the Mission District.

    La Taqueria

    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…

  • Petit Crenn

    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…

  • 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…

  • Esan Classic

    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…

  • 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…

  • The Progress

    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…

  • 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…