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…
Must-see restaurants in San Francisco
San Francisco
VIP all the way: Baccarat crystal chandeliers, tawny leather chairs, rotating art collections and 2500 wines. Ladies who lunch dispense with polite…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Trust chef Mitsunori Kusakabe's omakase (tasting menu). Sit at the counter while the chef adds a herbal hint to fatty tuna with the inside of a shiso leaf…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
The space is cramped, dingy and covered in street art, including several graffiti chickens. But the Korean 'tapas' are sublime, and Aria is famous for its…
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…
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…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
The 1889 belle epoque Audiffred Building once housed the Coast Seamen's Union, but for 20-plus years James Beard Award–winning chef Nancy Oakes has made…
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 –…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
Once even Pacific Heights gourmands weren't sure how to pronounce kouign amann (it's 'queen-ah-man') – until James Beard–winning pastry chef Belinda Leong…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Dinner theater can't beat brunch at Boulette's communal table, strategically placed inside a working kitchen amid a swirl of chefs with views of the Bay…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
Wait: broccoli rabe on pizza with no sauce? Believe it – Pizzeria Delfina proves the Italian/Californian theory that a few farm-fresh ingredients, well…
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…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
The pride and joy of SF foodies, the Ferry Building market showcases more than 100 prime purveyors of California-grown organic produce, pasture-raised…
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…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Chef-owner Brenda Buenviaje blends New Orleans–style Creole cooking with French technique to invent 'French soul food.' Expect updated classics like…
