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San Francisco’s culinary scene is a rich reflection of its multicultural heritage and cultural movements. From century-old bakeries still serving traditional focaccia to innovative newcomers earning MICHELIN stars, each neighbourhood offers a distinct flavour. Diverse, daring and straight-up delectable, here’s San Francisco’s best eats, one neighbourhood at a time.
Where to eat in North Beach
Liguria Bakery
A cornerstone of North Beach – San Francisco’s Little Italy with no beach in sight – the family-owned Liguria Bakery has been kneading and dimpling some of the best focaccia in the USA for over a century. There are no frills here, it’s just over-the-counter slabs of carby comfort topped with rosemary, olives and more.
Butter & Crumble
Unassumingly tucked between Queen Anne and Victorian-style homes on a suburban street, this pastel-pink bakery consistently has a line spilling down the street. Run by an all-woman team, the rotating menu features inventive takes like herby mushroom and potato Danishes or lemon mascarpone cruffins. The closing time? Whenever they sell out – and they always do.
Golden Sardine
Golden Sardine is the new kid on the block, pairing fine wine with fine verse as both a bar and a poetry bookstore. Enjoy antipasto-style snacks, an extensive wine list and poetry readings in the cosy upstairs loft. Just around the corner from City Lights – the first all-paperback bookstore in the USA – Golden Sardine sits at the heart of where the Beat Poetry movement took off, which embraced writing as a rebellion against rigid social norms.
Molinari Delicatessen
Salami dangling from the ceiling, a front window stocked with imported ingredients and old-school letter boards announcing the sandwich lineup – Molinari Delicatessen brings a slice of Rome to San Francisco. Grab hefty sandwiches loaded with marinated veggies, cold cuts and mozzarella, plus fresh pasta, homemade salads and artisanal cheeses for later.
Where to eat in the Mission District
Dandelion Chocolate
For one of the best hot chocolates in town, try Dandelion Chocolate’s house mix that’s crafted with just single-origin cocoa beans and organic cane sugar, so every sip brings out the specific region’s flavour profile. Visit the factory in a heritage building on 16th Street or grab a takeaway from the Ferry Building by the bay.
Tartine Bakery
Standout bakeries come standard in San Francisco, but Tartine Bakery has reached a cult following, particularly for its country loaf – a crusty, tangy sourdough bread baked in a woodfired brick oven. Husband-and-wife duo Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson have nailed the balance between rustic bread and refined pastries, expanding from their small Mission District bakery to spots across the Bay Area, LA and even Seoul.
La Taqueria
For over 50 years, La Taqueria has been serving its legendary Mission-style burritos – named after the neighbourhood – featuring a signature (and slightly controversial) twist: no rice. Owner Miguel Jara, now aged in his 80s, remains a neighbourhood name. Born in the Mission District in the 1960s, this robust rendition of the handheld, foil-wrapped meal reflects San Francisco’s Mexican-American heritage.
Where to eat in China Town
Empress by Boon
Stroll through Chinatown’s lantern-lit streets to a lift lobby where a suited host sends you skyward. Helmed by chef Ho Chee Boon, Empress by Boon offers a seasonal set menu of modern Cantonese gastronomy. Savour elevated dim sum and more substantial dishes like braised Dungeness Crab with caviar, steamed prawn and pak choi dumplings and scallion noodles.
Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
Let the vanilla aroma pull you down a narrow alley off Jackson and Washington streets to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company. A San Francisco landmark since 1962, this hideaway churns out up to 10,000 cookies a day on a rotating cast-iron wheel, making a store visit feel like a behind-the-scenes peek into production.
Where to eat in Japantown
7 Adams
7 Adams isn’t your typical Japantown spot – it’s a MICHELIN Guide-starred gem, earning the honour in 2024 (less than a year after opening). From husband-and-wife chefs David Fish and Serena Chow Fisher, enjoy a fine dining experience inspired by global flavours and seasonal ingredients. From milk bread served when you arrive to freshly made pasta and sticky buffalo-style stuffed chicken wings inspired by David’s New York roots, this is a degustation experience not to be missed.
Sobakatsu 03
This shoebox-sized spot is entirely dedicated to dishing out hot and cold bowls of slurpy, silky handmade soba noodles. A bamboo tray arrives with 100% buckwheat noodles (gluten-free too) served with dipping sauce and sides like veggie kakiage or inari. Prepare to wait in line for your turn – there are fewer than 12 seats and no reservations allowed.
Where to eat in the Marina District
Greens Restaurant
Since 1979, Greens Restaurant has been a Californian vegetarian icon and pioneer in the plant-based scene. The seasonal menu is sourced from Green Gulch, a sustainable farm at the San Francisco Zen Center where the restaurant was born. Dishes like miso-glazed beetroot ramen and cabbage-ginger broth pop with colour, as do housemade sodas. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge – every bit as impressive as the food.
Fort Mason Friday Night Market
Once a USA military post, Fort Mason is now a vibrant arts and culture hub home to Off The Grid, San Francisco’s mobile food truck market. On one Friday each month, it transforms into a free night market with local artisans, live entertainment and a curated lineup of four-wheeled restaurants. In December 2024, the event drew more than 10,000 attendees – hardly a small fry.
Where to eat in Fisherman’s Wharf
Scoma’s Restaurant
Scoma’s takes pier-to-plate dining literally, with fishermen delivering their fresh catch each morning for the chef to handpick the finest selections of the day. Serving the city since 1965, this family-owned gem has been passed down through three generations, firmly establishing itself on the water’s edge. True to Fisherman’s Wharf’s reputation, the clam chowder is legendary.
Gary Danko
Crisp white tablecloths, curated wine pairings and a caviar menu define Gary Danko, a celebrated fine dining destination with French flair. Operated by its namesake, renowned chef Gary Danko, the restaurant holds the prestigious AAA Five Diamond rating. Expect delicate dishes like beef tartare, seared scallops with fregola and vanilla crème brûlée.
Where to eat in Mission Bay
Miller & Lux
Led by Food Network star chef Tyler Florence, this MICHELIN Guide-listed steakhouse at the Chase Center offers swanky sophistication alongside game-night energy. With jazz music, leather booths and champagne carts, it exudes old-school glamour. Start with oysters or tuna tartare, then watch the signature Caesar salad made tableside. Take it home with a dry-aged steak or the Miller & Lux burger, branded with the restaurant’s crest.
Spark Social SF
A rotating food truck lineup, beer garden and massive fire pit make up Spark Social SF, a watering hole for everyone and their dogs. Just a 10-minute walk from Oracle Park, it’s a popular pre-game spot for baseball fans. The food lineup is posted online daily by 11am and happy hour is available on weekdays.
Feature image: 7 Adams, Tara Rudolph
