The 43 Best San Francisco Restaurants (By a Local)

San Francisco restaurants are some of the best in the state, and, dare I say, even the world. 

And though SF has over 100 restaurants in the Michelin Guide, some of the best restaurants in San Francisco are the local spots you don’t read about. Good news — I’m here to fill you in on both.

I’m a San Francisco local, and I’ve been testing out the city’s incredibly diverse culinary scene my whole life. In this article, I’ll highlight some of the famous restaurants San Francisco is known for, but I’ll also include my local picks for everyday dining that won’t break the bank. 

Eating in San Francisco is truly a lifelong pursuit and one of the best things to do in the city. Ready to find your new favorite restaurant? Let’s dig in!

43 Best San Francisco Restaurants

Cotogna

🍽️ Italian | ($$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +1 (415) 775-8508

Cotogna serves upscale Italian dishes, specializing in fresh pasta and pizza — think Italian classics but with a modern, California-inspired twist. The dishes are surprisingly light yet rich in flavor. Don’t miss the agnolotti del plin, a Cotogna classic. 

Fantastic food aside, Cotogna is chic. The restaurant has a spacious, wood-paneled interior and a gorgeous outdoor parklet. It’s perfect for late afternoon drinks or a fancier evening meal. 

Good Good Culture Club

🍽️ Asian Fusion | ($$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps

Ask any young resident of San Francisco if they’ve heard of Good Good Culture Club, and the answer is likely yes. This trendy restaurant has been rising in popularity since its opening in 2022.

Much of GGCC’s food is inspired by its Hawaiian, Chinese, and Indian roots. The menu is full of shared plates, so be sure to go with a date or small group. 

In addition to fabulous food, the atmosphere at GGCC is just plain fun. Dine downstairs for modern music and ambient lighting, or visit the rooftop garden for a hint of tropical bliss. 

Hog Island Oyster Co.

🍽️ Seafood | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +1 (415) 391-7117

Without a doubt, Hog Island has the best oysters in San Francisco. It also has the best clam chowder I’ve found anywhere west of the Mississippi.

Hog Island Oysters are fished straight from Tomales Bay, just an hour away from San Francisco. Its pride and joy is the Sweetwater — a plump, buttery, rich oyster for which Hog Island became famous.

Hog Island’s waterfront location in the SF Ferry Building adds to the seaside ambiance, but be prepared for long wait times to be seated. 

Brenda’s Meat & Three

🍽️ Southern | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 926-8657

Brenda’s Meat & Three is a perfect neighborhood restaurant. The staff are friendly, the wait time is short, and the food is consistently delicious. Plus, there’s a secret garden patio out back with the best vibes.

Brenda’s offers Southern eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Its breakfast menu has a delectable selection of mimosas to accompany your meal. My go-to is always the fried chicken eggs benedict!

Dinner is served “meat and three” style. First, choose your meat — such as fried chicken, catfish, or BBQ ribs. Then, choose three sides — like mac & cheese, red beans & rice, or fried okra. Finish with beignets for dessert! 

Dumpling Home

🍽️ Chinese | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 503-1666

There are a hundred dumpling places in San Francisco, but I’ve never had a better soup dumpling than the one at Dumpling Home.

The pork xiao long bao is the classic, and also my favorite. Don’t miss the other menu items, like scallion pancakes or ginger noodles. Dumpling Home has a constant line out the door, but once you manage to get a seat, you won’t be disappointed.

Deli Board

🍽️ Sandwiches | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +1 (415) 552-7687

The price of a good deli sandwich has been increasing in recent years, but at least Deli Board gives you a good reason to pay $20 for meat, cheese, and bread. Its sandwiches are undoubtedly the best in San Francisco.

Deli Board doesn’t skimp out on its fillings. The signature sandwiches are piled high with meats like corned beef, pastrami, and salami. It also offers vegetarian options, like a falafel sandwich. 

Deli Board doesn’t have any seating and is carry-out only. 

Zuni

🍽️ American | ($$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +1 (415) 552-2522

Zuni is a local favorite and has been since opening in 1979. Seats are usually hard to come by, so reservations are encouraged. 

Make sure to get the chicken — a dish so famous it needs no other name. The chicken is slow-roasted in a wood-fired brick oven, and it easily feeds 2-3 people. It requires a full hour to prepare, so get in early and order it immediately. It’s worth the wait. 

Besides the chicken, I’m always a fan of Zuni’s oysters, salads, and other appetizers.

Mensho Tokyo

🍽️ Japanese | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps

Mensho Tokyo originated in Japan before opening a San Francisco location in 2016. It’s now a beloved local spot, and it’s the only ramen restaurant in SF to be awarded a Michelin distinction. 

Its menu consists solely of ramen, a small selection of appetizers, and sake. Don’t miss the tori paitan ramen, a creamy chicken soup with pork chasu, kale, green onion, and pickled ginger. 

There’s very limited seating indoors and usually a line to get in. You’re allowed only one hour to eat, which keeps the line moving quickly. 

Tony’s Pizza Napoletana

🍽️ Italian | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 835-9888

Want the best slice in San Francisco? Look no further than Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, a local favorite in the North Beach neighborhood. Chef Tony Gemignani has won a stunning 13 world titles in pizza-making, making him San Francisco’s most accomplished pizzaiolo. 

Tony quite literally wrote the book on pizza. His cookbook, “The Pizza Bible,” showcases nine regional styles of pizza. Choose from styles like Classic American, Classic Italian, Napoletana, California, New York, Sicilian, Detroit, and more at Tony’s restaurant. 

The place has plenty of seating but is usually packed. Luckily, Tony’s has a separate takeout window for those looking to grab just a quick slice.

Gary Danko

🍽️ French-American | ($$$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +1 (415) 749-2060

Gary Danko is one of San Francisco’s premier fine dining restaurants. , earning several prestigious James Beard awards over its 25-year stint.

Here, indulge in glazed oysters with caviar, roast lobster with potato puree, or stuffed quail with savory corn pudding. It’s all delicious, but my favorite was the cheese course at the end.

Menu items are not priced individually. Instead, you pay by course. 3 courses cost $130 per person, 4 courses cost $158, and 5 courses cost $178. 

Pawn Shop

🍽️ Tapas | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +1 (415) 874-8041

Pawn Shop is a San Francisco hidden gem — literally. This speakeasy-style restaurant is tucked behind the unassuming façade of an actual pawn shop. Diners must bring an item to trade in order to access the lively two-story interior.  

The fun doesn’t end after the unique entrance. Pawn Shop’s menu includes a variety of tapas, including meat, seafood, and veggie dishes. Try the pulpo a la plancha, a seared Spanish octopus with harissa yogurt and rose petal jelly. 

Mission Chinese  

🍽️ Chinese | ($$) | Website |📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 863-2800

The first thing you’ll notice about Mission Chinese is its interior decor. Basketball jerseys, old portraits, and string lights line the walls next to huge papier-mâché Chinese dragons hanging from the ceiling. 

The food is equally unique. Traditional dishes are mixed with unlikely ingredients, like the Sichuan carbonara, a noodle dish made with soft egg, pickled mushrooms, and caramelized onions. Or the kung pao pastrami, a spicy, peanut-y version of the classic meat. 

Somehow, everything is pulled off perfectly, making Mission Chinese one of the best meals I’ve ever had.

La Mar Cocina Peruana

🍽️ Peruvian | ($$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 397-8880

La Mar is a Peruvian restaurant right on the San Francisco waterfront. Its menu includes classic dishes that pay homage to Peru’s indigenous agriculture. 

Don’t miss La Mar’s specialty items, like empanadas, and its impressive raw bar offering nigiri and ceviche. La Mar is one of my favorite spots for a fancier meal. Besides fabulous food, the restaurant offers waterfront dining with great views of the Bay Bridge. 

Zazie

🍽️ French | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 564-5332

Zazie hides in the tiny neighborhood of Cole Valley, but the secret’s out: it’s one of the best brunch spots in San Francisco.

This lively French bistro has an impressive breakfast menu. It has eight different types of eggs Benedict, ten different kinds of French toast and pancakes, and even a “build your own mimosa” option. While brunch is the highlight, Zazie is also a great spot for dinner.

The best part? Zazie is completely tip-free. Meal prices include livable wages, paid time off, and healthcare for all staff. 

Lily

🍽️ Vietnamese | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 742-5285

Lily has some of the best upscale Vietnamese fare in San Francisco. It offers modern takes on classic dishes, like duck confit egg rolls, turmeric fried catfish, and BBQ pork noodle bowls. 

Ingredients are sourced from local farms, and dishes can be adapted to be gluten-free or vegan. Make sure to get a drink from Lily’s tasty cocktail menu, like a lychee strawberry slushie or a yuzu whiskey lowball. 

Omakase

🍽️ Japanese | ($$$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 865-0633

To call Omakase just a sushi restaurant would be a vast understatement. This restaurant serves some of the highest-quality raw fish in the world.

The 18-course meal includes small bites centered around the fish, with minimal rice or toppings. The intimate dining room is designed around the chef’s counter, giving each seat a direct view of the food as it is prepared. Dinner at Omakase costs $240 per person, so it’s a spot best saved for a special night out. 

Flour + Water Pizzeria 

🍽️ Pizza | ($$) | Website |📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 529-1617

Flour + Water is an elevated take on the classic pizza joint in modern, chic digs. Getting a reservation here is hard work, but it’s very worth it. 

Flour + Water only does pizza, but it does it well. Start your meal with appetizers like halibut crudo, calabrian chili chicken wings, or the chop salad. Choose from an extensive wine list to complement your pizza, or try one of their inventive house cocktails. 

When it’s pizza time, I’d recommend the Squash Blossom, with caramelized onion, zucchini, ricotta, grated mozzarella, and jalapeño crema. Or try the Sausage, with aged mozzarella, broccolini, red onion, garlic, and fennel pork sausage. 

Mandalay

🍽️ Burmese | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 386-3895

Mandalay has the best Burmese food in San Francisco. It’s been serving up classic dishes in the Richmond District since 1984. Whether you eat in its bustling interior or glowing outdoor parklet, dinner at Mandalay is sure to leave you feeling happy, warm, and very full. 

Mandalay’s long menu offers noodles, curries, meats, seafood, vegetarian dishes, and stir fry. I always start every meal with the satay chicken skewers with peanut sauce and the tea leaf salad. My other favorites include the mango chicken, Mandalay special noodle, and Burmese curry beef. 

San Ho Won

🍽️ Korean | ($$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 868-4479

San Ho Won is a must-visit for Korean BBQ lovers. This gourmet restaurant combines traditional Korean BBQ with modern techniques and local ingredients. Everything is cooked over a charcoal grill and served with a variety of homemade sauces. 

San Ho Won’s standout items are the meat dishes, but it has a nice selection of kimchi, rice, and soups to complement the main course. Don’t miss the marinated short rib, the beef tongue, and the chunjang-glazed pork ribs. 

Bix

🍽️ American | ($$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +1 (415) 433-6300

Bix is a fine dining restaurant tucked away in a little North Beach alleyway. From the white tablecloths to the black-tie wait staff, Bix is classic.

Bix offers simple yet luxurious meals, like lobster spaghetti with shaved black truffles or seared duck breast with a fig compote. Enjoy the ambiance in the two-story dining room, which features a live jazz pianist every night. 

My partner and I came here for our anniversary dinner one year, and it’s one of my favorite meals I’ve had. Maybe that’s because we ended the night doing free shots with our waiter, but who knows.

Beit Rima

🍽️ Middle Eastern | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 703-0270

Beit Rima offers Arabic comfort food that pays tribute to the chef’s Palestinian heritage. Meals here are inspired by old family recipes, with items like the Gazan braised lamb shank or beef kabob over “mom’s rice.” My favorite thing on the menu is the fried halloumi, which somehow tastes better each time I get it.

Beit Rima quickly climbed the ranks in SF’s dining scene after opening in 2019. Tables fill quickly, and reservations are not accepted, so get in early to get a spot.

Thanh Long Restaurant  

🍽️ Vietnamese | ($$) | Website |📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 665-1146

Hidden deep in the Outer Sunset, just a few blocks from the ocean, is one of San Francisco’s best crab restaurants. And it comes from an unlikely place — Thanh Long Vietnamese Restaurant. 

Thanh Long serves a variety of seafood and noodles, but the signature dish is the whole roasted Dungeness crab and garlic noodles. After hearing the hype for years, I finally tried it. The crab is buttery and soft, and it pairs perfectly with the garlicky noodles. I can’t recommend it enough.

Atelier Crenn

🍽️ French | ($$$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 440-0460

There is not a single San Francisco restaurant that compares to Atelier Crenn. This restaurant holds three Michelin stars and was recently named one of the world’s 50 best restaurants. If I could afford to eat here, you bet I would.

Atelier Crenn’s dishes come as part of a multi-course dining experience. Look for unique flavors such as sea urchin, white truffle, and acorn on the tasting menu. 

Sustainability is at the core of Atelier Crenn’s mission. The restaurant is plastic-free, dairy-free, and pescatarian. All produce is locally sourced from the restaurant’s farm in Sonoma County. 

Foreign Cinema

🍽️ Californian | ($$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 648-7600

Foreign Cinema is a staple for date nights, birthday dinners, and impressing visitors from out of town. At Foreign Cinema, patrons are treated to a movie screening while dining in a glowing courtyard.

Although Foreign Cinema is most well-known for its outdoor dining setup, the food stands out on its own. The meals are inspired by California cuisine, which focuses on using seasonal ingredients.

Montesacro Pinseria

🍽️ Italian | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +1 (415) 795-3040

Montesacro is a cozy Italian joint where the wine flows freely, the wood-fired pizza is fresh, and even the olive oil tastes gourmet. Step inside this rustic restaurant to taste the “Roman-style” pizza, called pinsa, which replicates the local food of Rome. 

I’ve been here multiple times, and I always get the namesake pizza, the Montesacro. It’s topped with rosemary potato, artichokes, lamb sausage, buffalo mozzarella, and chili. 

Montesacro has two locations, one in SoMa and one in the Marina. The SoMa restaurant is located across from the Golden Gate Theatre, making it an excellent spot for a pre-show dinner. 

Prubechu

🍽️ Guamanian | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 853-0671

Prubechu is a breath of fresh island air in the middle of San Francisco. This tropical restaurant serves classic meals from Guam and the Mariana Islands. Highlights include crispy pork belly, roasted Japanese yams, and coconut flatbread. 

The food is fantastic, but the ambiance at Prubechu is even better. Eat outside on a heated patio decorated with tropical plants and market lights. 

The best time to go to Prubechu is for its whole roasted pig feast, which is both a decadent banquet and a huge party. Visitors enjoy live music, a whole roasted pig plus sides, and island vibes all day. 

Tsunami Panhandle

🍽️ Japanese | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +1 (415) 567-7664

There are plenty of upscale raw fish restaurants in San Francisco, and they’ll often cost you an exorbitant price to eat there. Tsunami Panhandle offers an alternative. It’s a quaint neighborhood restaurant that serves up loaded sushi rolls at a good price. 

The interior of Tsunami has a romantic and casual ambiance, with plenty of seating either at booths or on comfy plush chairs. Tsunami also has a fantastic drink menu. Sip on bottles of crisp sake or sweet shochu to complement your meal.  

The real star of the show is Tsunami’s happy hour. Between 5 – 7 pm, you can order a bottle of sake and get a dozen oysters for free along with it!

Bouche 

🍽️ French | ($$$) | Website |📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 956-0396

When I first found Bouche, I felt like I had found a true hidden gem. Located in a small building close to Union Square, this French restaurant has delicious food, excellent wine, and the kind of warm, cozy interior that reminds you of a Parisian café. 

Bouche has one of the more affordable prix fixe tasting menus I’ve seen in San Francisco, starting at just $60 per person for a 3-course meal. It’s a great spot for an intimate date night or a special occasion that won’t break the bank. 

Schlok’s Bagels

🍽️ Bagels | ($) | Website | 📍 Google Maps 

Contrary to many New Yorkers’ beliefs, the West Coast has bagels too. NoPa’s neighborhood joint Schlok’s makes some of the best in San Francisco. You won’t find a classic BEC (bacon-egg-cheese), but you will find fresh salmon that’s been cured and smoked in-house. 

The best bagel at Schlok’s is the Classic, which features sliced salmon, caper schmear, tomato, and onion sprouts. Schlok’s bagels are baked fresh every morning and often sell out before the closing time of 2 pm. The earlier you get there, the better. 

Saison

🍽️ New American | ($$$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 828-7990 

Saison is a fine dining restaurant famous for its open-hearth cooking in wood-fired ovens. 

Saison’s rustic warehouse setting makes the restaurant feel casual and laid-back. However, don’t let this fool you. The food exemplifies true artistry, with items on the tasting menu like “barbecued” caviar and seared duck breast. 

Saison holds two Michelin stars and has earned a spot on the world’s 50 Best Restaurants list. 

Che Fico

🍽️ Italian | ($$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 416-6959

Che Fico is an upscale restaurant that combines traditional Italian dishes with California cuisine. It focuses on serving meals made with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients

Che Fico is unique in that it embraces something called “Cucina Embraica”, a Jewish-Italian culinary practice. Many of its meals are inspired by this dual heritage. Items like the Barbabietola — a salad of roasted beets, whipped ricotta, pomegranate, sunflower, marigold, and poppy seeds — reflect this tradition. 

Cantoo

🍽️ Chinese-Venezuelan | ($) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 400-5399

Cantoo is only a few years old, but it’s already establishing itself as a San Francisco staple for years to come.

The combination of Venezuelan and Chinese cuisine gives Cantoo a unique edge. The menu is full of noodle dishes, empanadas, rotisserie meats, and more.

Make sure to get the Combo Valenciano, a dish that includes the signature rotisserie chicken, vegetarian fried rice, Venezuelan-style coleslaw, and house sauces.

Chez Maman

🍽️ French | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 355-9067

Chez Maman is a French bistro that specializes in authentic, homestyle meals. The name, which translates to “Mom’s House,” evokes the warm, welcoming style of French cooking that Chez Maman does so well. 

Step into Chez Maman and you’ll be instantly transported to the French countryside. It’s casual dining, with simple meals like baked camembert, pork chops, or savory crepes. However, each meal is prepared using high-quality ingredients and unexpected flavor combinations. You’ll leave feeling cozy, happy, and well taken care of. 

Panchita’s Pupeseria

🍽️ Salvadoran | ($) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 431-4232

Panchita’s is a Mission District icon. The family-run restaurant has been serving up delicious Salvadoran food since 1989. Panchita’s was my first experience of Salvadoran food, and it quickly turned me into a repeat customer. It’s a place you’ll want to come back to.

Make sure to order a couple of pupusas from the 15 different varieties Panchita’s offers. It also serves other Latin American staples like tamales, carne asada, huevos rancheros, fried plantains, and more. 

Hinodeya Ramen

🍽️ Japanese | $$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 216-5011

In a city of competing ramen joints, I will fight for Hinodeya Ramen to get the respect it deserves. The wait time is never long, and the cozy interior is great for solo or group dining. On a cold day, Hinodeya Ramen is comfort in a bowl. 

I’ve tried most of the ramen here, and the vegan ramen is undoubtedly the best. It’s surprisingly creamy, and the sweet fried tofu, Kabocha squash, and crispy kale go together wonderfully. 

Nopa 

🍽️ New American | ($$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 864-8643

Nopa follows the tradition of California Cuisine, using fresh, locally-sourced, organic ingredients for expertly-crafted meals. The menu changes daily to reflect seasonal ingredients, so no two visits to Nopa are ever the same. 

Small plates include items like duck liver mousse, warm goat cheese with melon, and smoked trout with heirloom tomatoes. Large plates include smoked brisket with a stonefruit barbecue sauce and fried chicken with a side of chili honey. 

This is a restaurant for an elevated night out, perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or when visitors come to town. 

Joyride Pizza

🍽️ Pizza | ($) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 295-2914

Real pizza connoisseurs may find this controversial, but Joyride Pizza has some of my favorite pizza in town.

It’s not your typical New York slice. Joyride specializes in Detroit-style pizza, with lots of toppings on a thick-cut focaccia bread crust. It’s a great spot for a cheap meal you can take on the go.

You can build your own or choose from Joyride’s specialties. The Green Goddess is a fan favorite. It includes pesto, arugula, cherry tomatoes, black olives, red onions, and mozzarella, topped with dollops of sweet ricotta cheese.

Cha Cha Cha

🍽️ Caribbean | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 386-7670

Cha Cha Cha offers incredible Caribbean and Spanish-influenced food in huge portions. 

I’ve been wanting to try it for years after walking by the Haight Street location and seeing it packed with people dining outside, drinking pitchers of sangria, and listening to lively music. 

I finally went with friends recently, and it did not disappoint. We got 2 tapas and 2 entrees to share between 4 people. The plates were so huge, we only finished half our meal and had to take the rest home!

Nari

🍽️ Thai | ($$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 868-6274

Nari isn’t your average Thai restaurant. Instead, it focuses on crafting contemporary, Californian-style Thai food. Nari opened in 2019 and currently holds one Michelin star.

Nari’s dishes are full of bold flavors that combine fresh Californian ingredients with classic Thai cooking. Think scallops with coconut milk and chili jam, crispy eggplant in spicy bumbai curry, or braised lamb shanks with gooseberry. A prix fixe tasting menu is available for $125 per person.

La Taqueria

🍽️ Mexican | ($) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 285-7117

It’s almost a universal understanding that La Taqueria has the best burritos in San Francisco. There’s constantly a line out the door, but most orders are ready in 20 minutes or less! 

La Taqueria is family-owned and operated, and it has been a San Francisco staple since 1973. Its burritos don’t contain any rice, which means they are packed with even more meat, beans, cheese, guac, and salsa. 

I’ve had both the carne asada and the carnitas burritos, and the carne asada is by far the best. Order your burrito “dorado style” to have the tortilla grilled, making it perfectly crispy on the outside.

Scoma’s

🍽️ Seafood | ($$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 771-4383

Scoma’s has been serving fresh seafood on Fisherman’s Wharf for the past 50 years. Instead of farm-to-table, it offers a “pier-to-plate” menu. Each day, fishermen bring fresh-caught fish to the Scoma’s chefs, who select only the best. 

Get the Dungeness crab cakes or the Pacific king salmon with mint saffron aioli. A dinner on the waterfront at Scoma’s is a classic San Francisco experience, one that every visitor (and resident!) should have before they leave the city. 

Shanghai Dumpling King

🍽️ Chinese | ($$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 757-0439

For the past three years, I have devoted a significant portion of my time and money to this hole-in-the-wall family-style restaurant. I have never been disappointed. 

Shanghai Dumpling King specializes in casual, dim sum-style dining. It’s one of the best places in San Francisco for a gigantic meal of noodles and dumplings.

Make sure to get the Shanghai steamed soup dumplings, the spicy wontons with peanuts, the stir-fried noodles Shanghai style, the bok choy with garlic, and the cucumber salad. 

Arsicault Bakery  

🍽️ Pastries | ($) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (415) 750-9460

Although not a restaurant, Arsicault deserves a spot on this list because it is famous for one thing: croissants. Many locals praise Arsicault as the best croissant in San Francisco. As a result, this small bakery has exploded in popularity and has a constant line out the door. 

Arsicault makes plain croissants, chocolate croissants, almond croissants, chocolate almond croissants, and a variety of scones and buns. The chocolate almond croissant is my favorite. 

There is no seating inside — it’s takeaway only. For the shortest wait time on a weekend, get there either early in the day (before 9) or at the end of the day (just before 3). 

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Dining at San Francisco’s restaurants is one of my favorite parts of living in this incredibly diverse city. Have you tried any of these restaurants? Let me know in the comments below!

Searching for a post-dinner drink? Check out my list of San Francisco’s best bars.