Best Dishes in San Francisco
89 restaurants to explore
Restaurants in San Francisco
89 restaurantsA16
Italian·Marina·$$$
Campanian pizza and salumi since 2004—wood-fired Neapolitan pies with house-cured cold cuts.
Absinthe Brasserie & Bar
French·Hayes Valley·$$$
San Francisco's classic French brasserie since 1998 — steak frites, Petrale sole, and craft cocktails in Hayes Valley.
Acquerello
Italian·Nob Hill·$$$$
Two-Michelin-star Italian fine dining in a converted chapel—Suzette Gresham's 35-year ode to Northern Italy.
Anchor Oyster Bar
Seafood·Castro·$$
The Castro institution since 1977 — standing-room-only for Bay Area's favorite clam chowder and raw oysters.
Arizmendi Bakery
Bakery·Inner Sunset·$
Worker-owned cooperative since the early 2000s — a different sourdough pizza daily, all vegetarian, all made fresh.
Atelier Crenn
French·Pacific Heights·$$$$
First female-led 3 Michelin star restaurant in America—pescatarian tasting menus inspired by Brittany's coastline.
Benu
Contemporary·SoMa·$$$$
Three-Michelin-star Korean-American tasting menu that redefined San Francisco dining since 2010.
Bi-Rite Creamery
Ice Cream·Mission District·$
Artisan ice cream with local, organic dairy and intensely flavored seasonal creations across from Dolores Park.
Bodega SF
Vietnamese·Tenderloin·$$
Modern Northern Vietnamese with playful cocktails — banh khot caviar, whole-fried branzino, eight-course tasting menu.
Boudin Bakery
Bakery·Fisherman's Wharf·$$
The original San Francisco sourdough since 1849 — same mother dough from a Gold Rush starter, clam chowder in bread bowls.
Brenda's French Soul Food
Creole·Tenderloin·$$
New Orleans Creole in the Tenderloin—stuffed beignets with crawfish or apple, shrimp & grits with heat.
Burma Love
Burmese·Mission·$$
Sibling to Burma Superstar—contemporary Burmese in the Mission with tea leaf salad, split pea fritters, and bold flavors.
Burma Superstar
Burmese·Inner Richmond·$$
The Inner Richmond legend since 1992 where the tea leaf salad created a cult following and waits still stretch an hour.
Chapeau!
French·Inner Richmond·$$$
Phil and Ellen Gardère's French bistro since 1996 — proper crème brûlée, duck confit, and a Rhone wine corkage policy.
Chili House SF
Sichuan·Inner Richmond·$$
The Inner Richmond outpost of Z&Y where Peking duck requires a day's notice and 20 arrive roasted nightly.
Cotogna
Italian·Jackson Square·$$$
Chef Michael Tusk's wood-fired Italian with house-made pasta and a one-of-a-kind rotisserie grill since 2003.
Craftsman and Wolves
Pastry·Mission District·$$
French pastry café in the Mission with The Rebel Within savory muffin and Japanese-influenced patisserie.
Dandelion Chocolate
Chocolate·Mission District·$$
Bean-to-bar single-origin chocolate factory with a café serving hot chocolate and pastries in the Mission.
Delfina
Italian·Mission District·$$$
Craig Stoll's neighborhood Italian trattoria on 18th Street, pioneering Cal-Italian since 1998.
Dragon Beaux
Cantonese·Outer Richmond·$$$
The glamorous dim sum spinoff from Koi Palace creators — truffle dumplings and purple booths in the Outer Richmond.
El Farolito
Mexican·Mission District·$
The undisputed champion taqueria — massive burritos and cash-only late-night eats since 1983.
Firefly
Contemporary American·Noe Valley·$$$
Noe Valley's seasonal American bistro since 1992 — refined without pretension, gluten-free friendly.
Flour + Water
Italian·Mission District·$$$
Hand-rolled pasta and wood-fired pizza in the Mission District since 2009 — industry standard for thoughtful Italian.
Foreign Cinema
California-Mediterranean·Mission District·$$$
Seasonal Californian cuisine with films projected on the outdoor courtyard wall at dusk — dinner and a movie without leaving.
Frances
California Seasonal·Castro·$$$
Chef Melissa Perello's daily-changing California tasting menu in the Castro — named after her grandmother.
Gary Danko
Contemporary American·Fisherman's Wharf·$$$$
The Fisherman's Wharf fine-dining anchor since 1999 — French-rooted cooking with attentive service and a legendary cheese trolley.
Golden Boy Pizza
Pizza·North Beach·$
North Beach institution slinging Sicilian-style slices from a standing counter since 1978 — cheap, fast, legendary.
Good Luck Dim Sum
Cantonese·Inner Richmond·$
Takeout-only hole-in-the-wall where oversized BBQ buns cost under $3 and lines snake down Clement.
Good Mong Kok
Dim Sum·Chinatown·$
Chinatown takeout-only dim sum bakery with daily hand-made char siu bao, siu mai, and turnip cake — perpetual lines since opening.
Hang Ah Tea Room
Dim Sum·Chinatown·$$
America's oldest dim sum restaurant since 1920 — Chinatown alley landmark with shrimp dumplings and XLB (xiaolongbao) steamed in bamboo.
Hilda and Jesse
Contemporary·North Beach·$$$
Michelin-starred North Beach brunch from queer chef duo—caviar omelets, duck leg karaage, ambitious tasting menus.
Hinodeya Ramen
Japanese·Japantown·$$
Light dashi-based ramen with bonito and kombu broth — Saitama classic perfect for non-heavy meals.
Hog Island Oyster Co.
Seafood·Embarcadero·$$
Ferry Building oyster bar—Tomales Bay farm-to-table with raw bar, grilled oysters, and award-winning chowder.
Hong Kong Lounge
Cantonese·Inner Richmond·$$
Banquet-style dim sum where lazy Susan tables spin with fresh steamed dumplings and char siu.
Humphry Slocombe
Ice Cream·Embarcadero·$
SF's fearless ice cream innovators making Secret Breakfast bourbon cornflakes and foie gras ice cream since 2008.
Ippudo
Japanese·Yerba Buena·$$
Hakata tonkotsu chain from Fukuoka with full bar and 9 ramen varieties — SF's accessible ramen destination.
Izakaya Rintaro
Japanese·Mission District·$$$
Michelin-recommended yakitori spot with 100-year-old redwood booths and owner Sylvan Mishima Brackett sourcing California ingredients.
Ju-Ni
Japanese·NoPa·$$$
12-seat sushi counter (one chef per four guests) serving 14 courses from Japan's Toyosu Market — hard reservations.
Kiln
Contemporary·Hayes Valley·$$$$
Two Michelin stars in Hayes Valley — 20-course tasting menu of cured, dried, and fermented Nordic-influenced cuisine.
Kusakabe
Japanese·Financial District·$$$
San Francisco's first omakase-only restaurant, kaiseki-influenced with clockwork precision — 13 to 18 courses.
La Ciccia
Sardinian Italian·Noe Valley·$$$
The only San Francisco restaurant exclusively serving Sardinian food — hard to book, harder to forget.
La Palma Mexicatessen
Mexican·Mission District·$
Tortilla factory, grocery, and taqueria since 1953 — buy fresh masa and tamales or eat at the counter.
La Taqueria
Mexican·Mission District·$
James Beard Award-winning taqueria that created Mission-style burritos with zero rice since 1973.
Lazy Bear
Contemporary American·Mission District·$$$$
Two-Michelin-star dinner party in a converted Mission loft, 2.5-hour seasonal tasting menu Tuesday-Saturday.
Leo's Oyster Bar
Seafood·Financial District·$$$
Award-winning cocktail bar and raw oyster counter in the Financial District—1950s glam design with craft cocktails and lobster.
Liholiho Yacht Club
Hawaiian·Lower Nob Hill·$$$
Chef Ravi Kapur's Hawaiian fusion—fried rice with crispy pork and rotating Asian-inspired small plates.
Loló
Mexican·Mission District·$$
Contemporary Mexican restaurant with agave cocktails, local ingredients, and a vibe that's perfect for a pre-night-out.
Marufuku Ramen
Japanese·Japantown·$$
Hakata tonkotsu from Fukuoka with creamy 20-hour broth and thin noodles — Japan Center's most reliable queue.
Mensho Tokyo SF
Japanese·Tenderloin·$$$
Michelin-listed ramen with creamy tori paitan broth — perpetual queue since 2016, worth the wait.
Mission Chinese Food
Chinese·Mission District·$$
Weird Chinese restaurant blending Sichuan technique with pastrami, pork belly, and numbing spice.
Mister Jiu's
Chinese·Chinatown·$$$
Chef Brandon Jew's Michelin-starred Chinatown restaurant blending Cantonese heritage with Bay Area ingredients and techniques since 2016.
Niku Steakhouse
Steakhouse·SoMa·$$$$
Japanese A5 wagyu grilled over binchotan charcoal — counter-seat theater watching meat perfection.
Nopa
California·Western Addition·$$
Open until 1am with wood-fired flatbread and thick-cut grass-fed beef burger in a former laundromat on Divisadero.
Nopalito
Mexican·NoPa·$$
Gonzalo Guzman's NoPa Mexican kitchen with masa tortillas made fresh daily and whole-animal cooking.
Omakase
Japanese·SoMa·$$$
18-course sushi with chef sake pours and custardy lobster tamago — feels like a Tokyo happy hour in SoMa.
Original Joe's
Italian·North Beach·$$$
North Beach's Joe's Special — ground beef, spinach, and eggs scrambled since 1937 — sits at the corner overlooking Washington Square.
Outerlands
California·Outer Sunset·$$
The Outer Sunset's wood-beamed surf shack serving sourdough toast with cultured butter and fluffy Dutch baby pancakes.
Perbacco
Italian·Financial District·$$$
Staffan Terje's Piedmontese shrine in the Financial District—hand-rolled tajarin and Italian wine obsession since 1999.
Pho 2000
Vietnamese·Tenderloin·$
Family-owned pho spot in Little Saigon where the broth is rich and the beef variety is endless.
Piccino
Italian·Dogpatch·$$
Dogpatch's original — hand-tossed pizza and housemade pasta with ingredients from their own Healdsburg farm.
Plow
American·Potrero Hill·$$
Farm-to-table breakfast spot on Potrero Hill where lemon ricotta pancakes and long weekend lines are equally legendary.
Quince
Italian·Jackson Square·$$$$
Three-Michelin-star Italian fine dining where Michael and Lindsay Tusk compose 10-course explorations around California's seasons.
R&G Lounge
Cantonese·Chinatown·$$
Chinatown's multi-story Cantonese classic since 1985 — famous for salt & pepper Dungeness crab and multi-generational celebrations.
Rich Table
Contemporary American·Hayes Valley·$$$
Evan and Sarah Rich's Hayes Valley eatery — sardine chips woven with whole fish and porcini doughnuts that taste like umami.
Robin
Japanese·Hayes Valley·$$$$
Chef Adam Tortosa's high-energy contemporary omakase—sliding scale $119-219 with A5 wagyu, foie gras, truffle sesame noodles.
Saigon Sandwich
Vietnamese·Tenderloin·$
Cash-only banh mi at $4 that tastes like someone cares — crusty bread, tender roast pork, bright pickles.
Saison
Contemporary·SoMa·$$$$
Two-Michelin-star fine dining where Chef Richard Lee grills everything over a live oak hearth.
San Tung
Chinese·Inner Sunset·$$
The Inner Sunset line-maker for dry-fried chicken wings coated in garlic, ginger, and caramel sauce.
Sociale
Italian·Presidio Heights·$$$
Northern Italian neighborhood spot in Pacific Heights with year-round garden patio, handmade pasta, and wood-fired dishes.
Sotto Mare
Italian·North Beach·$$$
North Beach seafood institution famous for the Best Damn Crab Cioppino — a broth-based stew with 16-hour cook time since 2007.
Souvla
Greek·Hayes Valley·$$
Modern Greek rotisserie chain with naturally raised lamb, chicken, and pork in a fast-casual format on Hayes Street.
Starbelly
California·Castro·$$
Wood-fired pizzas and California comfort food with a heated garden patio in the Castro's neighborhood favorite.
State Bird Provisions
California·Western Addition·$$$
Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski's James Beard-winning dim sum cart fine dining — California cuisine in bite-sized form.
Swan Oyster Depot
Seafood·Nob Hill·$$
San Francisco's legendary 18-stool oyster counter since 1912—cash-only, no reservations, pure raw bar perfection.
Tadich Grill
Seafood·Financial District·$$
California's oldest continuously operating restaurant since 1849—a Financial District institution serving cioppino and fresh catch for 175 years.
Taqueria Cancun
Mexican·Mission District·$
The reliable baseline for Mission burritos — consistent, affordable, and open until 1:30 AM most nights.
Tartine Bakery
Bakery·Mission District·$$
Chad Robertson's legendary sourdough bakery with a line out the door every morning since 2002.
Tartine Manufactory
Italian·Mission District·$$
Tartine's expanded sibling with wood-fired pizzas, fresh pasta, and a cocktail bar in a converted warehouse.
Thanh Long
Vietnamese·Outer Sunset·$$$
The Outer Sunset institution since 1971 that invented SF-style garlic noodles and roasts Dungeness crab nightly.
The Mill
Bakery·NoPa·$
Josey Baker's flour mill combined with Fourbarrel Coffee — whole grain sourdough toast on Divisadero in NoPa.
The Progress
Contemporary American·Western Addition·$$$
Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski's 100-year-old theatre turned family-style restaurant — roasted duck and roti served on oversized platters.
The Shota
Japanese·Financial District·$$$$
Michelin sushi counter where chef pulls out a fish anatomy model — 17 courses flown from Toyosu Market.
Tommy's Joynt
American·Civic Center·$
San Francisco institution since 1947 — steam-table hofbrau with hand-carved brisket, pastrami, over 100 beers, open until 2am.
Tony's Pizza Napoletana
Pizza·North Beach·$$
13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani's wood-fired temple to Neapolitan pizza with 7 ovens firing 12 different styles.
Tosca Cafe
Italian·North Beach·$$$
North Beach's 1919 cocktail bar serving the legendary House Cappuccino — brandy, chocolate milk, and Prohibition-era history.
Turtle Tower
Vietnamese·Financial District·$
Northern Vietnamese pho where the broth sings — no basil, no bean sprouts, just clear Hanoi tradition.
Wako
Japanese·Richmond District·$$$
Michelin-starred omakase with creative twists — squid ink spring roll with pepper jack on minimalist Clement Street.
Waterbar
Seafood·Embarcadero·$$$
West Coast's largest oyster selection with bay-view dining and sustainable, fresh-catch seafood daily.
Zuni Cafe
California·Hayes Valley·$$$
The original San Francisco institution since 1979 — brick oven roasted chicken for two and anchovies-kissed Caesar salad.