Compiled for a friend, here is a list of the best the City has to offer to regular folks who like good food and drink, with a focus on what’s reflective of the City itself. Places are presented in order of preference, starting with the best-of-breed.
Breakfast
-
Pork Store
Second-best biscuits & gravy in town
Upper Haight -
Just For You
Christina likes the Hangtown Fry; I think they have the best biscuits & gravy in town
Dogpatch -
St Francis Fountain
Soda fountain breakfast
24th St -
Buena Vista Cafe
Best crab benedict or crab omelet (and. of course, the birthplace of “Irish coffee”).
Ghirardelli
Lunch
-
Molinari’s
Best sandwich in town.
North Beach -
Rosamunde
Sausages and beer
24th & Mission Street
Lower Haight (Get sausage at Rosamunde, and eat it next door at Toronado) -
Saigon Sandwich
Best banh mi in town
Tenderloin -
Taqueria San Jose
Best tacos
24th & Mission -
La Corneta
Best burrito, best nachos
24th & Mission -
Balompie Cafe
Salvadorean pupusas (also good for dinner)
18th & Mission
Dinner
-
Le Central
Favorite San Francisco-French bistro
Union Square -
Tadich Grill
As old-school San Francisco as you can get; They have hangtown fry too
Financial District -
Sam’s
A close second to Tadich
Financial District -
La Folie
Finest of fine dining
Russian Hill -
Barbara’s Fish Trap
No other clam chowder like theirs and the drive is an extra treat
Half Moon Bay
Miscellaneous
-
Mitchell’s Ice Cream
Paragon of San Francisco ice cream
Mission -
Anthony’s Cookies
Best. Cookies.
Mission -
Dynamo Donuts
Not your everyday donuts
24th St -
The View
Bar/Lounge at the Marriott; It’s a pretty spectacular view; pray the fog isn’t in
SoMa -
Basa Seafood Express
Mainly a market, they also have ready to eat items (poke, fish sandwiches, fried oysters etc.) The ceviche is a MUST.
24th St