Where to eat in SF?
In town for about a week, any restaurant suggestions? Chez Panisse and R&G lounge are on the agenda. Friends have suggested:
Zazzies
Tao Cafe
Fresca's
Tango Gelato
Boulangerie
Zarzuela
Anamandara
Godzilla
Akiko's sushi
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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35 Comments:
Hi!
You are going to LOVE San Francisco. I went there a few years ago and blogged about both the food and the touristy things I did.
Here are a few links! Hope they help you out ;)
http://cooking-shopping-crafts-etc.blogspot.com/2007/09/san-francisco-day-1.html
http://cooking-shopping-crafts-etc.blogspot.com/2007/09/san-francisco-day-2.html
http://cooking-shopping-crafts-etc.blogspot.com/2007/09/slice-of-heaven.html
http://cooking-shopping-crafts-etc.blogspot.com/2007/09/farmers-markets.html
http://cooking-shopping-crafts-etc.blogspot.com/2007/09/rest-of-san-francisco-adventure.html
Have a great time!!!
orchidgirl at 11:02AM on 05/06/09
Golden Boy Pizza in North Beach for a slice and a pint for lunch!
JudgeFudge at 11:30AM on 05/06/09
I really like Kowloon Tong Dessert Cafe in Inner Richmond for a late-night snack, if that helps at all.
Pics (including menu):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxcriden/tags/kowloontongcafe/
Address:
Kowloon Tong Dessert Cafe
393 7th Ave
(between Clement St & Geary Blvd)
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 876-1289
maxcriden at 11:55AM on 05/06/09
If you are there on a Saturday and like to graze, I would recommend the market down at the Ferry Building. Plenty of samples and small bites to be had.
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/
I believe the inside shops are open throughout the week, but on weekends outdoor vendors set up shop too. I was there last March (maybe April?) and there was one booth selling tempura asparagus - so delicious. My friend that lives there said its seasonal, so hopefully they are still there.
LetThemEatQueso at 12:33PM on 05/06/09
Wow, I need to eat out more, because I haven't been to any of those places, but out of the list, I have heard good things about Boulangerie, Zarzuela, and Anamandara :)
You can also take a look at this list for ideas:
http://7x7.com/content/eat-drink/big-eat-sf-100-things-try-you-die
Some places on the list I like are:
-Turtle Tower for pho ga...try #10 if you like offal :D
-La Taqueria for burritos/quesadillas/tacos...but I'm sure others can chime in with another taqueria (everyone has their own favorite)
-Tartine Bakery for breakfast/brunch. I'm partial to their almond croissants, bread pudding, and cafe au lait, but just know that lines can get long.
-Burma Superstar for Burmese food. The wait for this place can be heinous, but you can put your name & cell phone # down and then walk to Green Apple Bookstore to pass the time
-Blue Bottle Coffee is pretty good if you like coffee. I'm a lightweight, so I like the New Orleans Iced Coffee.
-Hog Island Oyster Co...the recommended clam chowder is pretty good
-Zuni Cafe for their roast chicken & bread salad. It's priced for 2 people and it takes 50min-1hour to cook, so I wouldn't go it alone unless you REALLY want to try it.
-never been but want to try: SPQR/A16, Rosamunde Sausage Grill (I hear you can grab a beer next door), Delfina/Pizzeria Delfina (check out Slice for their review), Aziza, San Tung, Sebo...
Ok, this post is getting way longer than I intended. I'll leave the rest to other SF Serious Eaters :) I hope you have a good trip and happy eating!
caroliiine at 12:56PM on 05/06/09
When i went a few years ago, two of our favorites were the ones listed below. There is an Italian place we went, but can't remember the name.
Memphis Minnies is some great barbecue. Not the greatest neighborhood, but fantastic cue.
Harris Restaurant - Great steakhouse. Up there with any that I've been to in NYC.
10956bbq at 1:10PM on 05/06/09
Caroline has the right ideas--I second La Taqueria, Tartine, Burma Superstar, Zuni and Hog Island. And I can tell you that Delfina, San Tung, the Front Porch, Salt House, Firefly, the Slow Club, Emmy's Spaghetti Shack, and Yank Sing should also be on your list of places to try. Have fun!
hungry dog at 1:14PM on 05/06/09
Also--for great pizza--Little Star on Divisadero or Valencia.
hungry dog at 1:15PM on 05/06/09
http://www.tartinebakery.com/
Tartine Bakery is amazing. Wonderful panini and pastries. I think it's in the mission district.
thbonner at 2:42PM on 05/06/09
I'm going to suggest a few places for dropping-in rather than actual dining.
Absinthe - 389 Hayes @ Gough, Hayes Valley. While they have a full menu (several actually), this is my favorite place to pop into for a sit at the bar and watch people on the street. One of their excellent cocktails (or Absinthe) and some fried garbanzos is a nice way to spend an hour.
Miette- 449 Octavia. Walk about two blocks up Hayes from Absinthe, turn left onto Ocatvia and find this small, amazing sweet shop. Numerous varieties of licorice, bubble gum cigarettes, artisan-made chocolate, cupcakes, and macarons.
Five Star Truffles- 411 Divisadero St. @ Oak. Tiny, nothing-to-look-at joint with excellent espresso and hand-made, rustic-looking (like an actual truffle!) chocolate truffles. And very reasonably priced. (If you have gone to the previous two places, take the Hayes bus and get off at Divisadero. Go left, and it's two blocks up, on the right side of the street.)
http://www.absinthe.com/index.html
http://www.miettecakes.com/index.html
http://www.fivestartruffle.com/index.html
Nick's Crispy Tacos- 1500 Broadway @Polk, Russian Hill. Red shag carpeting, crystal chandeliers, and pinatas- yes, garish and tacky. Very nice tacos, too. (The guacamole is questionable.)
Bi-Rite Creamery- 3692 18th St (between Dolores St & Oakwood St), the Mission. Really good ice cream.
Mitchells Ice Cream- 688 San Jose Ave (between 29th St & Valley St). Mission/Noe Valley. Also really good ice cream.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/nicks-crispy-tacos-san-francisco
http://biritecreamery.com/
http://www.mitchellsicecream.com/
CatBoy at 3:18PM on 05/06/09
I echo many of the suggestions above. Among them, Delfina Pizzeria is a must.
Best deal in town with a gorgeous view? Ferry Plaza Seafood offers up a cup of clam chowder with fresh pain rolls from ACME bread next door, accompanied by a stunning view from the counter of the Bay Bridge crossing the expanse of the bay for under $5! While it is not the best clam chowder I have ever had, it is a nice version. The view makes it even better.
Second best deal in town? Happy hour at Hog Island Oysters in the Ferry Building.
No matter how you slice it (farmer's market or not) the Ferry Building is a must - go inside! In there you will find Hog Island Oysters, Tsar Nicolais Caviar, Miette (lovely pastries, and even better caramel panna cotta and salted caramels), Ciao Bella gelato, The Slanted Door, and so much more. It is a veritable foodie paradise, showcasing the best of SF local fare. Bunrabs put together terrific, thorough post on the offerings of the Ferry building, should you be interested. It is still one of my favorite spots in San Francisco.
If you have a thing for cute female celebrity chefs, try having dinner, or better yet after dinner drinks/digestifs at Orson, where the lovely Elizabeth Falkner is often present - running the kitchen and schmoozing the customers. (I finally got to hang with her for the briefest of moments on my last visit while having drinks, after she finished her shift - yay!!)
Also, though not food-related (except for the cafe or picnic possibilities) while in town you should definitely visit the the de Young Museum. Especially of you are a fan of Andy Warhol.
If you want some really fresh, inexpensive sushi near the museum, try Tazaki Sushi.
Enjoy your stay!
Cheers,
~ Paula
Paula Maack at 5:34PM on 05/06/09
Yank SIng has fantastic dim sum.
My favorite taqueria is La Taqueria in the Mission. I believe 26th? maybe 28th? and Mission. I always forget, I just know where is it. My family has been going there since the early 70's. They're not cheap and they're not ginormous burritos but they are incredibly delicious. The beans are on point and the squeeze bottles of green salsa on the table are a must.
Next door is Dianda's bakery. We hit up the taqueria and then head next door for dessert. A neighborhood classic. An Italian bakery in the Mission that makes old school treats. Napoleons. Panforte. Cookies. Rum Cake.
Marls Barkley at 12:03AM on 05/07/09
Woah, so many places and not enough time to fit it all in! Thanks everyone for your suggestions =).
misterhee at 2:06AM on 05/07/09
Having lived in SF for 15 years I have a few favorites:
Zuni Cafe..a can't miss
Tong Kiang..great dim sum
Any Mission burrito
The cafe at Chez Panisse
Tu Lan..very good, inexpensive Vietnamese
pickled at 9:30AM on 05/07/09
I'll second @pickled's Ton Kiang rec. There are some pics from my last excursion there, if you want to get an idea of what the food looks like there:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxcriden/tags/tonkiang/
Ton Kiang Restaurant
5821 Geary Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 752-4440
maxcriden at 9:40AM on 05/07/09
For breakfast go to the Buena Vista. It's so charming, and you get the feel of the history of San Fran. Order the Irish Coffee and Eggs Benedict.... so amazing.
It overlooks the cable cars and is very near Pier 39.
Karee at 12:47PM on 05/07/09
La Ciccia on Church and 30th. Gialina in Glen Park. Both some of the best italian in the city. Aziza out in the Avenues is amazing high-end Moroccan, great cocktails and decor and the food is fantastic. Cocktails at the Slanted Door-- go around sunset and take your drink outside and grab a table overlooking the water. A16 and SPQR are great but do get crowded and don't (I don't think) take reservations.
foodphilo at 1:14PM on 05/07/09
Range, in the mission. it has a michelin star but it is reasonably priced. Their cocktails are fantastic, but don't leave without trying the chocolate souffle.
spartana07 at 3:56PM on 05/07/09
ALSO Greens- probably my favorite spot!
spartana07 at 3:58PM on 05/07/09
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601099&sid=aQAsesWc_Umc&refer=dine
Soup_Dumpling at 4:26PM on 05/07/09
@Marls is totally right, Yank Sing is not to be missed for dim sum. The soup dumplings are outstanding specimens of the genre and the miso cod is spendy but worth it. Not only is the food delicious, but the atmosphere in the Rincon Center location is many notches above that of your typical dim sum parlor.
I think the best dining in SF right now is at Coi. The ambience is serene, the service is knowledgeable but unobtrusive, and the food is impeccable. Two Michelin stars, but well-priced relative to the quality of the food.
If you want casual (and aren't going to make it out to the Napa Valley for a day, which you really should do if you are going to be in town for a week), I recommend Taylor's Automatic Refresher at the Ferry Market. One ahi burger, garlic fries and a black and white milkshake, please! I also can recommend the mini-corn dogs, the burger, and the spicy tomato soup. The beverage list has good QPR or BYO wine from any Ferry Market merchant for a reasonable $5 corkage (in St. Helena we bring our own glasses and avoid the charge).
Websites are here:
http://www.yanksing.com/
http://www.coirestaurant.com/
http://taylorsautomaticrefresher.com/
Mizbee at 5:02PM on 05/07/09
If you love garlic, you HAVE to try The Stinking Rose. The gniochetti was to DIE FOR!!
http://www.thestinkingrose.com/index.htm
phishfood21 at 2:25PM on 05/08/09
Auberge du Soleil
gammypie at 3:14PM on 05/08/09
My wife and I went to SF for our honeymoon (May, 2004) and met a guy on the plane who lived there. He gave us a list of places to go that aren't on the main tourist map, but are local staples.
Mama's on Washington Square has the absolute best breakfast I have ever had in my life. This is the only place we went to more than once (read, three times in a week!)
Yuet Lee Chinese Restaurant, 1300 Stockton St. This looked a little run down, but was known to have five-star chefs visit for their authentic Chinese food. While looking this information up for you, I ran across some fairly recent reviews that weren't so hot, and a new restaurant may have moved into that location, so YMMV.
Shanghai 1930 Restaurant is a mix between upper-class Chinese food and a 1930's jazz joint. It was slightly touristy, but very delicious. (I had the Firecracker Chicken, which was explosive in heat, but delicious. Their signature dish is called “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall” which is $88/person, minimum 2 people, minimum 72 hours notice. There's a link to their menu on the website. I just want to see what it looks like!)
Unfortunately, that's all I remember from the list, but I insist you try to get to Mama's at least once. It will definitely be worth the effort. Have a great trip!
srisinger at 5:21PM on 05/08/09
Welcome to SF! Definitely don't miss my favorite burrito place: Papalote. A-freakin-mazing http://www.papalote-sf.com/
tienh5 at 5:34PM on 05/08/09
I concur on the Mama's recommendation. Their fresh OJ and french toast at brunch are to die for!
spartana07 at 6:41PM on 05/08/09
Definitely go to:
For overall quality of food, try:
Bi-Rite Creamery, best ice cream ever: http://biritecreamery.com/
Tartine Bakery, cafe and bakery deliciousness: http://www.tartinebakery.com/
Spork, hipster location, seriously awesome food: http://sporksf.com/
For a cheaper but fresh and delicious, more casual meal, try one of the four locations of Chow Restaurant: http://www.chowfoodbar.com/
Also cheap but innovative and delicious is Kasa Indian Eatery in the Castro: http://www.kasaindian.com/
In the Haight, I love Magnolia Pub and Brewery: http://www.magnoliapub.com/
For really fun ambiance and delicious food, go to Foreign Cinema:http://www.foreigncinema.com/
For a great burger, shake and fries (and I mean delish) go to Taylor's Automatic Refresher while you're at the Farmer's Market in Ferry Plaza (a must see): http://taylorsautomaticrefresher.com/
I loved living there, have fun!
LizLemon at 2:13PM on 05/09/09
la taqueria is on 25th and mission, and please oh please go there and have a quesadilla and a cantaloupe licuada for me. then go to dianda next door and have one of their swoony pastries.
cybercita at 12:37PM on 05/10/09
+1 for Zazzie. Go there for weekend brunch and prepare for a wait. Definitely try the mimosas.
+1 for Nick's Crispy Tacos. The best deal is Tuesday's -- $2 for all tacos and chips+guac. The 95 cent "Nick's Way" addon is essential.
Check out AA Bakery in Chinatown for Tsa Shao Bao (BBQ Pork Buns) and Dan Ta (Egg Custard Tart).
Shalimar on Polk has great Pakistani food.
If you've never had real mochi, check out Benkyodo in Japantown for freshly made mochi and manju. Closed on Sundays.
unavaca at 1:07PM on 05/10/09
Oh yes, also try Aziza in the Richmond for awesome Moroccan food.
unavaca at 1:09PM on 05/10/09
I have to disagree with the person above who suggested Stinking Rose-- I took some friends who were visiting there, and everyone unanimously agreed it was the worse restaurant experience EVER. bad food with expensive prices, and the service was HORRIBLE. i can't even walk past that place without hissing. so i would suggest not going there.
foodphilo at 2:31PM on 05/10/09
So now that my week here is coming to an end, thought I'd share what I actually ate!
R&G lounge- great peking duck, ginger scallion crab, stir fried pea shoots - my favorite
Zuni Cafe - Fantastic food - I had the pork chop, my friends had the flat iron steak and cod.
Tartine Bakery - I had the gougere, croissant and hot chocolate for breakfast. All delicious.
Taylor's Refresher (the one in napa) - Ahi burger, garlic fries and a strawberry shake. Best garlic fries I've had so far.
Yank sing for dim sum - food was excellent, though over-priced. You'll find comparable dim sum in most other cities at half the price (i.e. Boston, Chicago, New york).
Cafe at Chez Panisse - I've never tasted vegetables that were so tasty in my entire life. Food was incredible, same for the desserts.
Drinks at the bar at Aqua - really nice space, tasty cocktails.
Blue bottle coffee - espresso so good it almost made me weep.
Ferry building - farmers market on Sat was amazing. St. benoit yogurt was particularly good. Also liked Acme bread, cabot clothbound cheddar at the cheese store, boccalone had a nice fennel and brown sugar salami. Oh I also had pretty incredible scharffen berger gelato at the gelato place.
Pho at Pho Huynh Hiep III a.k.a. Kevin's Noodle House - soooo good. That's all I can remember for now, thanks again to everyone for all the comments!
misterhee at 3:49AM on 05/12/09
I loved Fresca for great Peruvian food. The lobster ceviche was the best ceviche I have ever tried. The lomo saltado is also incredible.
I liked Rose Pistola a lot too.
EatWisconsin at 6:47PM on 05/12/09
The Peruvian restaurant La Mar at Embarcadero is also fabulous for ceviche, I think there are 5 or 6 kinds - but you can order the ceviche sampler. They were all good!
abqfoodie at 11:47PM on 05/12/09
@foodphilo-- you are right on regarding the Stinking Rose! I first went there in '96 and my husband and we had a tremendous meal. However over the years when we were in town we discovered it was in steady decline.
I was in SF with a friend 3 years ago and she'd somehow heard about it-- probably from somebody who was there in the good old days. So against my better judgment, we went. Terrible food. What is more unforgiveable was the most unfriendly, snooty service ever. Ever. Be sure to hiss for me when you walk by.
carhoff at 2:47PM on 05/13/09