Guidebook for San Francisco

Monica
Guidebook for San Francisco

Food Scene

An amazing Japanese izakaya restaurant, and my favorite place in San Francisco. They have a cool vibe and a thoughtfully curated sake menu. Open for dinner only, you probably do not need a reservation during the weekday but I would obtain one for the weekend. Get their scallop & uni sashimi, as well as their garlic fried rice! You won't be sorry.
Chotto - CLOSED
3317 Steiner St
An amazing Japanese izakaya restaurant, and my favorite place in San Francisco. They have a cool vibe and a thoughtfully curated sake menu. Open for dinner only, you probably do not need a reservation during the weekday but I would obtain one for the weekend. Get their scallop & uni sashimi, as well as their garlic fried rice! You won't be sorry.
This place epitomizes gourmet dive - you order from a hatch window off a shady-looking street. Food is either to-go, or you can take it into the bar next door (The Tempest, owned by the same folks as Box). But my, can they make a burger! Juicy, scrumptious, flavorful...the other things on the menu are good too, but the burger is a must-get.
40 personas locales recomiendan
Box Kitchen
2940 431 Natoma Street
40 personas locales recomiendan
This place epitomizes gourmet dive - you order from a hatch window off a shady-looking street. Food is either to-go, or you can take it into the bar next door (The Tempest, owned by the same folks as Box). But my, can they make a burger! Juicy, scrumptious, flavorful...the other things on the menu are good too, but the burger is a must-get.
This place’s banchan game is topnotch. A wide array of all those awesome free Korean snacks/condiments! Also, they pretty often give you a free seafood pancake if you’re eating at dinner! I come for the tofu soup, but their kalbi is really good too. Honestly, this is one of my favorite places to eat in SF.
7 personas locales recomiendan
Muguboka Restaurant
401 Balboa St
7 personas locales recomiendan
This place’s banchan game is topnotch. A wide array of all those awesome free Korean snacks/condiments! Also, they pretty often give you a free seafood pancake if you’re eating at dinner! I come for the tofu soup, but their kalbi is really good too. Honestly, this is one of my favorite places to eat in SF.
Every time I eat here I'm blown away by their flavors. If you like Ethiopian, full-stop this is the one place to go in SF. Their kitfo is really really good here - right level of spice and right amount of fat. Vegetarian plate is bomb too. It's in the Tenderloin so not the nicest neighborhood but hella worth it.
Tadu
484 Ellis St
Every time I eat here I'm blown away by their flavors. If you like Ethiopian, full-stop this is the one place to go in SF. Their kitfo is really really good here - right level of spice and right amount of fat. Vegetarian plate is bomb too. It's in the Tenderloin so not the nicest neighborhood but hella worth it.
This well-loved restaurant serves French comfort food. It’s a small place full of small, crooked tables and chairs. They don’t take reservations, so I recommend going early (5/5:30pm is good, but definitely before 6pm) - on weeknights you will likely get a table without a wait. The food is rich but incredibly delicious. Everyone will tell you to get their French onion soup, and everyone is a winner because it is a masterpiece of cheese and beefiness. I also really love their crepes - they’re made with buckwheat flour and have a distinctive, nutty flavor. Note: there are two Chez Maman locations - Potrerro Hill & Hayes Valley. The Hayes Valley one is a bit bigger so the wait tends to be
68 personas locales recomiendan
Chez Maman West
401 Gough St
68 personas locales recomiendan
This well-loved restaurant serves French comfort food. It’s a small place full of small, crooked tables and chairs. They don’t take reservations, so I recommend going early (5/5:30pm is good, but definitely before 6pm) - on weeknights you will likely get a table without a wait. The food is rich but incredibly delicious. Everyone will tell you to get their French onion soup, and everyone is a winner because it is a masterpiece of cheese and beefiness. I also really love their crepes - they’re made with buckwheat flour and have a distinctive, nutty flavor. Note: there are two Chez Maman locations - Potrerro Hill & Hayes Valley. The Hayes Valley one is a bit bigger so the wait tends to be
There are a lot of bakeries in SF. Mr. Holmes & B Patisserie are hotter, but C&W's "Rebel Within" is worth the trip, as well as their chocolate carrot muffin
137 personas locales recomiendan
Craftsman and Wolves
746 Valencia St
137 personas locales recomiendan
There are a lot of bakeries in SF. Mr. Holmes & B Patisserie are hotter, but C&W's "Rebel Within" is worth the trip, as well as their chocolate carrot muffin
This is my new favorite place to eat when I'm in the Inner Sunset & looking for something non-fancy. They're not inventing the wheel, but all their Viet food is super solid for cheap (by SF standards) prices. The one semi-splurge item that is totally worth it here is their fried taro flour cake. It's sort of like turnip cake in dimsum places but better.
Sunflower Garden Authentic Vietnamese Food
1368 9th Ave
This is my new favorite place to eat when I'm in the Inner Sunset & looking for something non-fancy. They're not inventing the wheel, but all their Viet food is super solid for cheap (by SF standards) prices. The one semi-splurge item that is totally worth it here is their fried taro flour cake. It's sort of like turnip cake in dimsum places but better.
Pocket-sized shack that makes really good, really big falafel pitas. That's all there is to it, but it's enough
10 personas locales recomiendan
The Flying Falafel
1051 Market St
10 personas locales recomiendan
Pocket-sized shack that makes really good, really big falafel pitas. That's all there is to it, but it's enough
Sweet, casual spot to meet up with friends. There's about 8 food trucks all the time, as well as a stand that serves drinks & nice seating (both outdoor & semi-indoor)
95 personas locales recomiendan
SoMa StrEat Food Park
428 11th St
95 personas locales recomiendan
Sweet, casual spot to meet up with friends. There's about 8 food trucks all the time, as well as a stand that serves drinks & nice seating (both outdoor & semi-indoor)
Okay, you'll see people ordering burgers. Don't do it. They are rubes. The fried chicken sandwich is where it's at. The best, crunchiest, moistest, tallest fried chicken sandwich I have ever nommed in my lifetime.
Rove Kitchen
678 Post St
Okay, you'll see people ordering burgers. Don't do it. They are rubes. The fried chicken sandwich is where it's at. The best, crunchiest, moistest, tallest fried chicken sandwich I have ever nommed in my lifetime.
Everything they do is good. Highly recommend their salmon skin katzu salad & their sashimi deluxe. They have such fresh sashimi! It looks expensive but they give you really big pieces, and they even grill the fish collar for you after. My favorite sushi place in SF.
30 personas locales recomiendan
Kazan
2809 24th St
30 personas locales recomiendan
Everything they do is good. Highly recommend their salmon skin katzu salad & their sashimi deluxe. They have such fresh sashimi! It looks expensive but they give you really big pieces, and they even grill the fish collar for you after. My favorite sushi place in SF.
It's an SF staple for a reason. The place is a cross between a warehouse and heaven.
155 personas locales recomiendan
Tartine Manufactory
595 Alabama St
155 personas locales recomiendan
It's an SF staple for a reason. The place is a cross between a warehouse and heaven.
Great place just 2.5 blocks from the apartment for Thai food. Their Gai Tom Kha (lemongrass coconut chicken soup) is particularly good. Everything is solid here though!
14 personas locales recomiendan
Manora's Thai Cuisine
1600 Folsom St
14 personas locales recomiendan
Great place just 2.5 blocks from the apartment for Thai food. Their Gai Tom Kha (lemongrass coconut chicken soup) is particularly good. Everything is solid here though!