Anyone who has been exposed to the food scene in San Francisco knows how expensive a meal can cost. When people say cheap, it will usually mean around $8. There are a few exceptions, but come on. It’s San Francisco! What did you expect from the city that caters to the tech giants of the world. It is going to be on the pricier side. So in order to not feel so bad about blowing your budget, you might as well make sure the food is worth it! To help you find satisfying and yummy food, I compiled my list of 24 places to eat in San Francisco.
Breakfast Brunch
Zazie – First on our list is of course a small brunch place near the eastern end of Golden Gate Park. After the required brunch wait time established by the brunch gods, you can have your choice of any of their delicious pancakes while sitting in a cozy setting. Haight-Ashbury
Sweet Maple – Continuing with popular brunch spots, we have Sweet Maple near Japantown. Legit everything there is pretty darn good, just make sure to try their millionaire’s bacon! Japantown
Stacks – Situated in Hayes Valley, this larger breakfast spot is great if you don’t want to be rubbing elbows with your neighbor. I usually end up getting their eggs benedict, but I have seen some good pancakes come out of the kitchen as well. Hayes Valley
Brenda’s French Soul Food – I am pretty sure this is where I have spent the record longest time waiting in line for food (2 hours). But holy moly, their beignets are to die for. I have yet to hear anything negative other than the wait time. So be strong, wait in line or wake up real early to experience some awesome food. Tenderloin
The Cliff House Bistro – This last breakfast spot is a little nostalgic for me, since my family has been going to the upstairs portion of the Cliff House for mother’s day/father’s day/random birthdays for years. I will always get eggs benedict (I may be obsessed) and have always loved the warm popovers. With seaside views, this is a popular breakfast spot, so I suggest getting their early in the morning to minimize the wait time. Ocean Beach
Lunch
The Westfield Food Court – “Wow, is she really suggesting a food court in a touristy mall?” Yes I am. Because guess what, the food options are surprisingly good (and at a good price too)! This is a good option especially if you have a group with varying tastes and budgets. Market Street
Super Duper Burgers – Sometimes I just want a no-frills burger, and this place does not disappoint. Packed with flavor, I like to get a Mini Burger with cheese and jalapeños. If I am extra hungry I’ll throw in some garlic fries and a cookies & cream shake. SOMA/Market Street
Mixt – Salad: most people just find it boring. This place may change your mind. Don’t expect some basic lowely salad. Instead be prepared for a large bowl of greens and toppings that will leave you stuffed. SOMA/Financial District
Kaiju Eats Ramen and Izakaya – Sometimes I just crave a good ramen place, and then there are times when I crave the Katsu Curry Ramen from Kaiju. It’s a small place in a more residential part of SF, but I never leave disappointed. Inner Richmond
Chowders – Ok, for cheap clam chowder in a bread bowl, I am going to point you towards Pier 39. Yes it is touristy and no it’s not glamorous, but it sure is good! Throw in some hot sauce and you are good for the afternoon! Pier 39
Lucca Delicatessen – For a monster of a sandwich for around $10 bucks, this is your place. I can never finish The #1 Italian Combo Sandwich, but I wish I could… The Marina
Koja Kitchen – You ask me, what place do you crave the most? And I say Koja Kitchen, because if I could order their Braised Pork Koja or their Umami fries everyday, I totally would. Richmond/Market Street
Sushirrito – It’s sushi… in the shape of a burrito…Has heaven blessed us with yet another delicious trend?? Ok, so I may not go there all the time because of their funky opening hours or the long lines or the price. However whenever someone asks me for an out of the box place to eat, I say Sushirrito. Market Street/Financial District
Dinner
El Farolito – There is one mission burrito and one burrito only that I am going to recommend to you: this place. You really can’t go wrong with any of their options, although I am a sucker for their carne asada burrito. If you don’t encounter a line here, then count yourself lucky. Mission
Foreign Cinema – 3 words: Get a reservation. This place is quite popular for good reason. It’s a beautiful courtyard-esque restaurant with globe string lights and different movies projected on the walls. It’s quite magical, and the food is pretty darn good too! Mission
Ramen Yamadaya – Japantown has plenty of places to eat, but one of my favorite spots for good atmosphere and food is this place. There can be a wait sometimes, but when you finally have some Yamadaya Kotteri in front of you it’s totally worth it. Japantown
Off the Grid Fort Mason – If you haven’t been to at least one of the Off the Grid events in San Francisco, then you need to fix that ASAP! Whether you are with a group or just yourself, getting to try different food from 30+ venders is a memory in of itself. The Marina
Fog Harbor Fish House – Listen, you won’t really hear locals suggest dinner at Pier 39. However if you are visiting and are in the area looking for something with ambiance, getting a bowl of clam chowder here is a good option. Pier 39
Mensho Tokyo SF – You know that idea that if there is a line, then it must be good? Well, I thought the same thing after passing by this place for years. When I finally tried it, I knew the hype was worth it. I go for the popular Tori Paitan. Tenderloin
Quick Bite
Genki Crepes & Mini-Mart – Banana, Strawberry, Nutella and Whip Cream Crepes were my late night jam during college. Richmond
Little Sweet – This unassuming little shop became my go to once I discovered my love for White Gourd Milk Tea, Less Ice, and 50% sugar. Richmond
Chai Bar By David Rio – I always wished that my commute into the Financial District of San Francisco went past this trendy bar. That way I could have the almost desert-like Tiger Spice Chai every morning. Market Street
Bi-Rite Creamery – Definitely the “it” place to go for exciting ice cream that changes everyday. I like to go to the Divisadero location for less crowds. Mission/Divisidero
Mitchell’s Ice cream – Growing up, my mom would take me and my sister to this award winning shop for some yummy handmade ice cream. It’s definitely a San Francisco Original. Bernal Heights
Bonus Boba Round
I guess I should change the title to 29 Great Places to Eat in San Francisco… but then this wouldn’t be a Bonus Boba Round. Ok the title will remain unchanged 😎
I would be mistaken not to mention places for boba (aka bubble milk tea). If you haven’t tried boba yet, then you are missing out! The basic ingredients include tea, creamer, and tapioca pearls that are chewy like gummy bears. From there the possibilities are endless as there are so many variations to choose from. So whether you are like me who goes for savory or have a sweet tooth, you are sure to find something you like!
San Francisco has plenty of options when it comes to finding boba, but here are my go to places:
Purple Kow – When I used to live in the Richmond, late night Peach Oolong Crema with boba and spicy popcorn chicken was a great way to wind down after work. Richmond
Little Sweet – I mentioned them before, and I will mention them again. This little shop was my go to spot for so many years. White gourd milk tea is my usual. Richmond
Tpumps – For many people I know, Tpumps was there first exposure to boba. This place has so many drink variations to choose from. I always try something different when I visit. Sunset
Plentea – Talk about good marketing – they serve boba in glass milk bottles that you can take home! So if you want instagram worthy boba in Downtown San Francisco, it doesn’t hurt to stand in line for pricier boba. I usually like to get the roasted oolong classic milk tea. Financial District
Boba Guys – These guys have shops all over San Francisco. So if you are unable to get to any of my other suggestions, Boba Guys is a pretty solid choice. Also they have Horchata Boba Milk Tea, so yes please!! Mission/Financial District/Fillmore/Potrero
All this talk of food has made me hungry…
I once heard that to eat at every restaurant in San Francisco is impossible. With so many options out there, hopefully this list helped you narrow down where you should eat. As for me, I may have spent too much money on food. So I will just pack myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, find a nice patch of grass in Washington Square and enjoy whatever SF sunshine I can find.
The list above is just based off my experience (and of course my tastes). If you have any suggestions of any other mind-blowing food in the city by the bay, let me know in the comments below 🙂 Who knows, I may just add your suggestions to this list…
Follow The Adventure Analyst on Facebook or Instagram for alerts for when the Kickstart Guide to San Francisco comes out!
Great content! Super high-quality! Keep it up! 🙂