Welcome to Foodie Heaven - Insider's Guide to the San Francisco Food Scene

An insider's guide to the San Francisco food scene, high brow, low brow and everything in between. Your tastebuds will rejoice as you visit this magical city.

San Francisco is city of unique and vibrant neighborhoods, each with their own personality and food scene. I highly recommend exploring the ones I've highlighted below by foot. I know... I know... the hills are steep af, but trust me here. Get there, with transportation of your choice, and strike it. You'll be able to see all the treasures on one way streets and nestled in a maze of alley ways.

“The seafood in SF is amazing. How amazing? It deserves its own category.”

Embarcadero:

Ferry Building: Amazing renovated space that has artisanal food stalls and blue bottle coffee. Great place to scoop up a bottle of wine and some snacks before relaxing in a park. If you prefer to dine in this gorgeous space, check out these two spots:

• Slanted Door – upscale Vietnamese restaurant with a killer view

• Hog Island Oyster Bar – Seafood and Rose on the water. I don’t think I need to say much more…

SOMA:

• Mourad – Moroccan cuisine

• Zero Zero – Lively spot to enjoy excellent pizzas, pastas and great cocktails too

• Marlowe – Clean, classic American fare

Breweries & Spots with Great Beer:

• Cellar Maker - One of the best breweries in SOMA

• Fort Point - in the Ferry Building

• City Beer Store - Amazing beer selection to drink or purchase for later

Check out my North Beach blog for a local take on one of my favorite neighborhoods!

Union Square:

All the major department stores, high-end shops and major hotel chains are located here, but there are also lots of tourist traps too! BART/MUNI stop: Powell.

Pro Tip: You can take a cable car from Union Square (@ Powell) through Chinatown, North Beach, to Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s a great way to see all these neighborhoods without having to deal with walking over massive hills. Fisherman’s wharf and Ghirardelli Square are the typical tourist spots along the bay. Make sure you stop here:

• Buena Vista – really nice Irish Coffees after you explore Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghirardelli Square.

More excellent restaurants in Union Square(ish):

• Kin Khao – Michelin Starred Thai cuisine in an unassuming location

• Leo's Oyster Bar - Happy hour with a glass of champagne and oysters? Yes please!

• The Saratoga - Great cocktail program and amazing bites.

• The Black Cat - Cool jazz bar

• Mensho Tokyo - Amazing Ramen, well worth the wait in line... it moves quickly people.

• Ippudo - Equally amazing Ramen as above.

• Tropisueno - Great Margaritas and happy hour specials, perfect after exploring museums nearby.

Mission:

This is my absolute favorite neighborhood. Very hipster-y with amazing food, great dives and record shops. From BART, exit 16th Street and walk up to Valencia. Roam on Valencia (from 16th-26th street). If you prefer to Uber/Lyft, get dropped off at 18th and Valencia and walk towards 26th Street.

Tons of shopping, bookstores, bars, and people watching. Here are a few of my favorite spots you can try for a quick bite: Tartine (18th and Guerrero St), Bi-rite Ice Cream (18th and Dolores) or Garden Creamery (20th Street), Arizmendi bakery (Valencia and 23rd), Anthony’s Cookies (Valencia and 25th), Rhea’s Deli (19th Street). End your journey at Dolores Park with a bottle of wine and any foodstuffs you have procured (Bi-Rite market on 18th St. can help with this).

Awesome cocktail bars: Lone Palm, trick dog, Elixir, Orbit Room

More of a dive bar scene (& cash only most spots): Royal Cuckoo, Virgil's Sea Room, El Rio

Wine and Snacks: 20Spot (Valencia and 20th), Mission Cheese (Valencia and 18th)

More Mission Restaurants:

• Barzotto - fast-casual italian

• Beretta - Small plates of Italian food with great cocktails

• Heirloom Cafe - can seat bigger parties, great prix fixe menu

• La Taqueria or Taqueria Cancun – burrito spots

• Old Jerusalem - Casual Mediterranean

• Mau - Casual Vietnamese

High-End:

• Lazy Bear - American cuisine, really hard to grab a table, but totally worth it.

• Al’s Place - one Michelin star in the Mission.

• Californios - high end mexican cuisine

Brunch/Cafes:

• El Techo - Rooftop cocktails, brunch

• Foreign Cinema - great brunch spot with stunning outdoor space, takes reservations (even for large groups)

• St Francis Fountain - my favorite breakfast/brunch spot

• Ritual - coffee shop

• Tartine Manufactory - Same gorgeous pastry and bread as Tartine on 18th, but with a bit more breathing room. Also, sit-down menu is available and worth the wait.

• Plow - in Potrero Hill, again the wait may kill you, but if not, it’s worth it

Breweries & Spots with Great Beer:

• Almanac - great patio, tons of sours

• Bare Bottle Brewery - Bernal Heights

• Pi Bar - Pizza and beers

Hayes Valley:

Lots of posh shops and great food. MUNI: Van Ness. From MUNI, walk up to Hayes Street (main drag). Check out Azalea for cute boutique shopping, Papito for great Mexican food, and end at fig and thistle for a glass of wine or beer. If it's a nice day you can have a drink on Anina's patio, or check out the Biergarten. If you're feeling extra fancy, there is always the Riddler, a bar that only serves champagne and caviar (and Miller High Life... I mean it is the "champagne of beers" after all).

There are some great fast casual spots like Souvla and Little Gem. For something a little more special, I tend to gravitate more towards the handmade pasta at a Mano or a savory crepe at Chez Maman. Also, the iconic painted ladies are a close upward stumble in nearby Alamo Square.

Cafes:

• Blue Bottle

• Wise and Sons - Bagel & Coffee

Classic Californian Fare in Hayes Valley and beyond:

• Zuni – Delicious California fare (Hayes Valley)

My favorite spot:

• Cala – classic Mexican fare, focused on seafood, small plates, and awesome cocktails. Get the trout tostadas!

High End:

• Petit Crenn - more affordable sister restaurant to Michelin starred Atelier Crenn

Castro/Divisadero/Lower Haight:

MUNI: Castro. To get to Divisadero walk up the hill (worth it), or get dropped off at Divisadero and Haight Street.

Classic Californian Fare:

• Nopa – one of the best restaurants in the city (Divisadero)

• Frances – in the Castro -or- Octavia in Pac Heights

Casual Bites:

• Ragazza - Amazing pizza and homemade pasta

• La med - Mediterranean food, affordable and easy to get a table.

• Namu Stonepot - Korean food and poke bowls

• Nopalito - Great mexican food and margs

Cafes:

• Spikes - Our neighborhood go to, delicious lattes and bagels. Buy the beans, they won't disappoint!

• Philz - Focused on drip coffee, an SF staple.

• The Mill - known for their homemade bread, great for breakfast.

• Sightglass - beautiful little coffee shop

Breweries & Spots with Great Beer:

• Toronado - Dive bar, great beer

Fillmore:

Great shopping and fast-casual food options.

• Jane - great salads, sandwiches, and breakfast

• Noosh - what can I say, I'm a sucker for halloumi

• Snug - solid bar with tasty cocktails and bites

• Roam - Great burgers, with non-carnivore options

Seafood:

The seafood in SF is amazing. How amazing? It deserves its own category. Here are a handful of my favorite seafood and sushi spots:

• Anchor Oyster Bar – Family owned seafood restaurant. One of my absolute favorites, you will see me at the counter at least once a week. (Castro)

• Pro Tip: Put your name on the list, and head across the street to Swirl to grab a glass of wine and dream of your seafood feast.

• Domo - Small sushi spot with big flavor (Hayes Valley)

• Swan’s Oyster Depot – Casual seafood, eaten at the counter (Polk Street)

• Bar Crudo – Raw bar with amazing clam chowder (Divisadero)

• Saru – our go-to Sushi spot. Eat the sashimi and all the bluefish. Drooling as I type this... (Noe Valley)

• Petit Marlowe - Fantastic oysters (SOMA)