Without a doubt, San Francisco is one of the best cities for food in the world. There are a large number of stunning restaurants in the town. They serve a variety of Hawaiian food, Chinese food, Mediterranean food, and classic American cuisine.
The wide variety makes it difficult to choose. Whether you are looking for cheap eats or Michelin stars, the place has everything. Here is a list of a few restaurants that you can consider. You can eat like a local with our guide to the best restaurants.
Let's have a look at the places. And get them to your bucket list while exploring the city.
Sam Wo Restaurant
Sam Wo Restaurant is a century-old Chinese restaurant. You can still get authentic Chinatown meals there. Further, the restaurant offers delicious Chinese. Also, they offer fantastic service.
The place is a short walk south of Portsmouth Square. It has maintained its iconic serving styles that locals have come to love. You can go there and try out the luscious food over there.
San Ho Won
This is a premier Korean restaurant. In addition, you can savor the authentic taste of Korean food. The dark, minimalist restaurant is one of the best places for birthdays, special group feasts, and date nights. Every bite of the delightful food will make you dance in your seat.
The golden-brown rotisserie chicken is one of the famous dishes. Soy, sake, and garlic marinade add a perfect savory and sweet taste. Moreover, the light and soft egg soufflé, crispy scallion pancakes, and honey butter-topped grilled corn are also worth trying.
House of Prime Rib
House of Prime Rib is a decades-old restaurant. Their famous dish is steak and American cuisine. Roasted beef is a dish that you must try when you visit the place. Their beef includes only the top 2% of all beef on the market.
Additionally, it gets aged for 21 days to guarantee tenderness and flavor. You can also try out the salad bowl or mashed potatoes. The Yorkshire pudding can take you along with the taste of England.
The restaurant has options for dinner. Thus, you can enjoy plenty of sides, incorporating mashed or baked potato, tossed salad, Yorkshire pudding, and creamed spinach.
The bar is always full of people staying for a seat in the comfy English-style dining room. And the service is always perfect. It is a few blocks east of Lafayette Park in Polk Gulch.
Nopa
Nopa is one of those restaurants that are always full. You might have to struggle for a seat over there. Thus, it is better to think ahead and make a reservation. Nopa remains open until 1 am on the weekends.
The star dish of the place is a burger, and you can get it at all hours of the day. Also, the custard French toast is so rich in taste. Plus, Nopa also offers outstanding cocktails. So, if you don't have a great hunger, you can try out some snacks and drinks.
State Bird Provisions
State Bird Provisions is among the most in-demand restaurants. The restaurant serves inventive flavor combinations. Besides, they serve the food to you on dim sum-style carts and trays.
If you are planning a day out with friends, you can hop on this restaurant. The fun vibe will make your day. And the comfort food served there is all you need for a relaxing day. The restaurant is at 552 Green St.
Try out the crispy balls of corn mochi garnished with goat gouda and Fresno chiles. Pork belly salad and dumplings with ramp pesto and pine nuts are also famous dishes. Visit the restaurant and soak in the vibrant aura.
Sotto Mare
Sotto Mare is a great place to enjoy fresh seafood. The busy restaurant serves food in an Italian style. They provide fresh ingredients, with much of it caught locally, specifically the oysters. In addition, the restaurant is in North Beach, a short stroll from Washington Square.
Their food has zesty tastes and an original Italian flair. You can enjoy crab cioppino or other prepared seafood plates. If you want to cook for yourself, buy fresh fish and oysters here.
Delfina
Delfina is all you need in a neighborhood Italian restaurant. The atmosphere of the restaurant is so energetic and good. Not only locals but also lures people from all over the Bay. You can relish rustic Italian cuisine made with local California ingredients.
The spaghetti and the roasted chicken are one of the favorites from their menu. They are just simple and perfect to taste. That is the reason those masterpieces are still on the menu. You will feel like ordering them every time.
Nari
Nari is a fabulous Thai restaurant in Japantown. The sophisticated decor and cuisine make it a perfect spot to sit and enjoy delicious food. But you have to make sure to get a reservation as the place remains full most of the time.
When you enter the restaurant, the bold flavors will blow your mind. The pork jowl and squid is a sticky-sweet flavor bomb. You will get a blast of flavors on the first bite.
The charred mushroom salad with Thai bird chilis is also great to taste. In addition, they have rich curries with lamb, eggplant, and a Cornish game hen. And the traditional Thai ingredients make it a must-visit restaurant.
Angler
Angler is another decent place to enjoy seafood. The space, service, and food, everything is perfect. It also stands out in areas of hunting, ranching, and gathering.
The restaurant has two dining rooms. Both of them have panoramic views of the Bay Bridge. Select the main dining room if you want a breezy and spacious feel. Opt for the Game Room if you want a more intimate experience. And do not mind taxidermy creatures as scenery.
The whole grilled chicken is one of the star dishes. Further, you can also order some raw dishes, like antelope tartare and oysters.
Rich Table
Rich Table Hayes is on Valley spot. The place is perfect for birthdays, date nights and any other special occasions. If you like cocktails, you must go there. The restaurant has a variety of good mocktails.
You can enjoy perfectly salty potato chips fried with horseradish crème fraîche. Also, silky mapo tofu stacked over crispy pork schnitzel is a comforting dish. But, the house-made pasta is the true standout from the menu.
Try out the thick-cut, tangy slices of bread infused with Douglas fir. It is full of cultured butter and porcini mushroom doughnuts. The cozy restaurant is the best spot to sit and hog some delicious food.
Swan Oyster Depot
Swan Oyster Depot is a historical seafood restaurant. You can get a wide variety of fresh catches. Although their main dish is oysters, they offer rare oysters. The menu is full of pre-made dishes. Also, there are ingredients that you can get for your cooking.
They have a secret menu. Locals often requested to have them, so they just put them on the hidden menu. Some of these items contain Sicilian sashimi and Dozen Eggs, which include several raw scallops in sriracha and ponzu sauce.
Liholiho Yacht Club
Hawaiian food is pretty dominant in San Francisco these days. But Liholiho offers it with more creativity and flair. Apart from Hawaiian cuisine, they also serve Chinese, Indian and Californian food.
Their star dish is homemade spam. They serve it with smoked egg yolk, kimchi fried rice, tamari, and clamshell mushrooms. Furthermore, the food is so comforting to the tastebuds.
Liholiho Yacht Club has a relaxed atmosphere. It will make you want to hang out for a while. You can try the variety of dishes served over there. Also, do not forget to sip on the flavorful cocktails.
Verjus
Verjus is also a famous San Francisco restaurant. They focus on sourcing food from independent, small-scale growers. That's how they provide local and fresh flavor in every dish.
The aura of the restaurant is very relaxed and amusing. Also, it derives an atmosphere of elegance. Just like that, the food is also very delightful. The wine bar portion of the restaurant is rich, featuring an eclectic array of wines. So, you can enjoy outstanding drinks also.
Much like the ingredients for the food, they get the wine from independent vineyards with a priority on organic growth. The restaurant is in Jackson Square, over the street from the Transamerica Pyramid.
Pork Store Cafe
If you want to grab brunch, Pork Store Cafe is one of the best places in town. The cafe offers high-quality dishes which also include breakfast platters. The platter has everything you need to have for a satisfying brekkie.
The portions are also in a good amount. So, you won't feel hungry for a long time. And you can plan your activities for the day according to that. The restaurant also comprises a menu for lunch and dinner. Hence, you can enjoy them as well.
You can have burgers, salads, and entrees like steak and pork chops. Those who are vegetarian can grab a vegetarian platter. The restaurant is in Haight-Ashbury, just west of Buena Vista Park. So, you can pay a visit and try out the dishes yourself.
Wildseed
Wildseed is an easy breezy, plant-based restaurant. The food is approachable and tasty. Furthermore, they offer snacks, salads, and heartier plates like the Meatball Masala.
Moreover, the restaurant has a calm and relaxing vibe. Hence, you get time to relax and enjoy the meal. The meatballs they serve are made from lentils and mushrooms. And they serve it with a creamy sauce and pickled carrots over a bowl of whole grains.
Also, they offer some kind of Impossible Burger. It is incorporated into a bolognese and burger. They make the burger using mushrooms and spinach. And the burger tastes fabulous and it has toppings of roasted tomatoes and onions.
The curried cauliflower is also a must-try. And have a bite of the warm chocolate cake. They serve it with chocolate gelato. And it melts in your mouth on the first bite itself.
Prubechu
Prubechu is San Francisco’s island celebration. The vibrant aura and great food will light up your mood. Twinkle lights, colorful tablecloths, big-leaf plants, and loud reggae music could provoke you to leave your day job to evolve into a full-time island hopper.
The place remains always packed and is also the only Guamanian restaurant in town. They serve knockout Chamorro dishes. The flavors they provide are new and fascinating to the people as they have never tasted them before at a restaurant.
The mouth-watering and tender BBQ pork ribs are heavenly to taste. The coating of sweet, sticky sauce and egg noodles with coconut braised beef makes it more appetizing.
The chicken wings from the menu are also a hit. They serve it with lemon-vinegar fina’denne’ sauce. And the combination is full of flavors. Also, try out the occasional pig roast, fizzy sake highballs, and punch-colored wine-based refreshers.
The restaurant is a go-to spot for birthdays and dinners. Plus, it is the best spot to visit when you want to devour phenomenal food and soak in positive energy.
Fiorella
Fiorella serves authentic Italian cuisine. From the wood-fired pizza oven to the innovative toile wallpaper featuring Bay Area legends, Fiorella is as much a resident spot as it is a destination.
The chef in this restaurant is skillful, and they offer a variety of items. The menu here is full of flawless classics, like spaghetti, alla cacio e Pepe, and spicy salami pie with marinated chilis, onions, and provolone Picante.
The brunch menu has options like sweet banana bread with whipped coconut, cocoa, hazelnuts, and coconut crisps to the flavorful green, egg & ham pie (broccolini with egg, fior di latte, pancetta, and Bellwether ricotta).
Conclusion
These are some of the best restaurants you can find in San Francisco. They offer the best food and top service in the city. If you are in San Francisco, do visit these places. You will leave the place with delightful food and in a good mood.
