Lunch eats in downtown San Francisco?
I've never visited San Francisco before, but this summer I will be attending two conferences in SF (a month apart). The venues are in the Union Square and Embarcadero areas (near the financial district, I'm told). All lunches are on our own, and depending on the schedule, I have 60-90 min. for lunch. I would love some recommendations for good, inexpensive eats in the general area (I've already made note of recommendations for the Ferry Building on other Serious Eats posts, and will definitely make that one of my stops). I'm open to just about any cuisine (but have a weakness for good pannini sandwiches). Thank you!
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22 Comments:
If you like Italian deli sandwiches, Molinari's is excellent. It's on Columbus in North Beach. The prices and quality are excellent. There's a cheesesteak place across the street that looked really interesting, but we didn't have time to check it out. The ferry building is definitely worth checking out. It's like a food mall. I bought a mushroom log there, but, sadly, it didn't survive. At least I don't think it did.
beth1 at 7:34PM on 04/27/09
this is going to sound inappropriate for a venue like serious eats, but i go back to san francisco about once a year and always meet my friends for lunch at the nordstrom in the mall on market street. the food is really good, the service is friendly and prompt, it's not too expensive, it's right in the neighborhood, and the view is stunning, since it's on the 6th floor.
cybercita at 10:30PM on 04/27/09
Yank Sing for dim sum
Sweet E at 12:00AM on 04/28/09
Taylor's Refresher at the farmers market in the ferry building. Love their ahi tuna burger.
fsharp4565 at 11:13AM on 04/28/09
I agree with Yank Sing and Taylor's Refresher. Also, Cafe de la Presse in Union Square is great for food and ambiance; Mondo Cafe at Mission & 2nd has delicious paninis; and Specialty's has good sandwiches and cookies if you're grabbing something quick.
hungry dog at 11:20AM on 04/28/09
Salmagundi was a must almost every day when my mother and I would vacation in SF each summer, staying at a nearby hotel. I love soup and it was quite inexpensive then, hopefully it still is pretty good? SF fostered my love for soups and sandwiches because of the great bread and the awesome varieties of soups to be found.
We also used to eat soup/sandwich downstairs at one of the Macy's buildings.
I'd have to navigate my way down into the Tenderloin myself to figure out that awesome Vietnamese restaurant I went to a few times with some friends from Vietnam. I suppose that's probably not a good idea anyway.
Cassaendra at 11:36AM on 04/28/09
Inexpensive and fun. - Red's - a couple blocks away from the Ferry Building. A burger and a beer - nothing fancy - "joint".
suegsf at 11:51AM on 04/28/09
Bankok Noodles on Powell Street about 2-3 blocks from where you get on the cable cars, its really cheap, quick, and realllly tasty. I always went there with my mom when we would hang out in San Francisco. That would be our quick and cheap eat... It's a little cramped for space, but if it's a nice day, just take it to go and eat at union square!
disneydreamscometrue at 12:24PM on 04/28/09
Totally agree with Yank Sing and Taylor's Refresher. I do recommend Cafe Claude in Belden Alley...located almost literally in between Union Square and the Embarcadero. Also, for a bit pricier lunch, but totally worth it, try Kuletos on Powell Street. Great food, great service. I know the Farmer's Market is at the Ferry Building on Saturday, not sure about mid-week, but if it's there and the guy from Rosti (Roti's) can't remember the name---just the smell, run do not walk to get the 1/2 chicken and potatoes and/or the porchetta sandwich....probably one of the best meals ever...take your food and take in the view. A true SF experience.
jsd517 at 3:58PM on 04/28/09
Roli Roti's is the name I was searching for...
jsd517 at 4:00PM on 04/28/09
The Sentinel (on New Montgomery @ Market) is one of the best lunch spots in the Financial District. The menu changes daily and the chef makes everything from scratch.
haipn at 5:13PM on 04/28/09
I second the Sentinel. If you don't mind a bit of a walk from Union Square you could hit Saigon Sandwiches on Larkin. Personally, I'm not a big fan of Taylor's Automatic Refresher. At the Ferry Building, I'd rather get a sandwich at Boccalone and follow it up with some decent gelato at Ciao Bella.
atomic_violin at 5:54PM on 04/28/09
Shalimar at Jones and O'Farrell.
It's a very authentic hole-in-the-wall Pakistani restaurant, with possibly the best naan in the city. Any of the meat dishes on their menu will satisfy, but my favorites are the saag ghosht and the seekh kabab mughlai. Tandoori chicken is also delicious. For the vegetarians, the aloo methi and the saag paneer are incredible.
synplastic at 10:12PM on 04/28/09
There is an awesome hole in the wall Vietnamese place on 6th and Market called Tu Lan. I think that might be the place that Cassaendra was referring to in the earlier post. The neighborhood is a bit sketch, but totally worth it for the amazing food!
nsa4eva at 11:59AM on 04/29/09
I can't get enough of the offerings in the Ferry Building. Especially Hog Island Oysters (happy hour is best), Tsar Nicholai Caviar (for an informal caviar tastings and bellinis), Delica (for tasty bites and bento boxes - I love their lotus root salad!), Miette (for pastries, salted caramels and caramel panna cotta), Ciao Bella (gelato and sorbet), etc., etc. There is fantastic blog coverage of the Ferry Building on Bunrabs, here, should you be interested.
Of course, there is always The Slanted Door (at the Ferry Bldg.) or Boulevard (across the street). Also, E&O Trading Company is fun for the ambiance, and Bar Crudo is great, too - if you are near Union Square.
Cheers,
~ Paula
Paula Maack at 2:09PM on 04/29/09
Gosh, I'm sorry. When I loaded the page only your question was there, and not your prose, so I thought the question stood alone. Most of my recommendations above don't make sense now that I have read your specs - sorry.
Boulevard and the Slanted Door can be pricey so scratch those, but the Union Square recommendations still stand. :)
How exciting - your first time. I hope you have a supreme blast while you are here!
Cheers,
~ Paula
Paula Maack at 2:21PM on 04/29/09
A new restaurant named Wexler's is opening in the Financial District the first week in June. It will be open for lunch and is featuring a refined take on barbecue. The pre-opening buzz has been really good and the chef is a San Francisco favorite - Charlie Kleinman. I am looking forward to trying it on my next trip to san francisco
Janet Kleinman at 3:41PM on 04/29/09
A new restaurant named Wexler's is opening in the Financial District the first week in June. It will be open for lunch and is featuring a refined take on barbecue. The pre-opening buzz has been really good and the chef is a San Francisco favorite - Charlie Kleinman. I am looking forward to trying it on my next trip to san francisco
Janet Kleinman at 3:55PM on 04/29/09
Burma Superstar in the Richmond District for the tea leaf salad, samusa soup, and Burmese chicken casserole......grab a cab to get there and 90 minutes should be doable. You'll spend the afternoon humming with happiness........
BadgerHound at 4:04PM on 04/29/09
^ The lines at Burma Superstar and the wait can be long, even at lunch.
Larkin Express Deli has Burmese food closer to Union Square.
manda at 4:45PM on 04/29/09
I saw that you love panini sandwiches--I second the mall option. I don't know where it is now, since Westfield mall has eaten San Francisco Centre, but there used to be (and might still be) a great bakery on the first floor of San Francisco Centre (in the heart of downtown) that made the best chicken and pesto panini.
NYminknit at 11:26AM on 04/30/09
Thank you all for the great suggestions - I can't wait to try them out!
studyzone at 10:24PM on 05/02/09