After a quick 1-hour flight up to San Francisco, we had four days to explore the city. And while attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard Street are exciting, they are not the main attractions. At least, not in our books.
We came to eat.
If you’re visiting soon, this list of the best restaurants in San Francisco is essential. If you have no immediate plans to visit, well, you better bookmark this post for future reference anyway – these legendary joints aren’t going anywhere, any time soon!
So now that that’s settled, let’s start with the best meal of the day. Shall we?
Brunch
Sweet Maple
Another San Francisco brunch staple is Sweet Maple. Omelettes and scrambles, breakfast sandwiches, and the famous Millionaire’s Bacon are the dishes to try. My personal favorite is the Millionaire’s Melt, with Millionaire’s Bacon, arugula, tomato, scrambled egg, gouda, and aioli. Mmmmm!
Where: Lower Pacific Heights
Mr. Holmes Bakehouse
Mr. Holmes Bakehouse has become “Instafamous” via their fluorescent sign, proclaiming, “I got baked in San Francisco.” So let’s clear that up for a second… They’re totally talking about their amazing donuts, croissants, muffins, cookies, and cruffins.
Head here in the morning – early, if you want to beat the crowd – and grab some coffee and the best pastries of your life. Mr. Holmes’ salted caramel and chocolate chunk cookie was basically to die for… And I’m always ready to eat cookies for breakfast.
Where: Between Nob Hill and the Tenderloin
Lunch
Shanghai Dumpling King
Shanghai Dumpling King is where it’s at. Because sometimes, the grimy, hole-in-the-wall places are simply the best. This was one of those times.
At Shanghai Dumpling King, we feasted on pork buns, soup dumplings, beef chow fun, garlic green beans, chow mien, chive pancakes, and potstickers. It was the greatest day of my life.
Where: Outer Richmond
La Taqueria
Voted “The Best Tacos and Burritos in the Whole World,” you cannot miss La Taqueria. As a Mexican food fanatic, this is my favorite restaurant in the city.
From the carne asada burritos and the carnitas tacos, to the fresh agua de melon and horchata, this is the world’s best joint to eat Mexican food. And while some of you will argue that Mexico is the best place to find authentic Mexican, I see your point. But still, no.
Where: The Mission
Hog Island Oyster Co.
As a foodie, you can’t leave San Francisco without visiting the Ferry Building, and subsequently stopping at Hog Island Oyster Co.
Here, we savored the clam chowder, accompanied by a four-cheese grilled cheese, seared scallops atop a cauliflower purée, french fries, sriracha oysters, bourbon-chipotle oysters, and glasses upon glasses of pinot grigio. How’s that for a San Franciscan seafood feast?
Where: Embarcadero
Dinner
Chapeau!
First of all, please forgive me for the dinnertime lighting, resulting in a poor-quality photo of this delicious dish.
If you’re searching for the fine-dining experience of a lifetime, Chapeau! is the answer.
At this French bistro, I devoured four unbelievable courses: 1) Mesclun salad with crème Dijonnaise, red seedless grapes, pistachios, and fried camembert; 2) seared scallop with pesto risotto; 3) Bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with a parsnip purée, kale, and apple-calvados sauce; 4) French toast with salted caramel ice cream and hazelnut crème anglaise. Needless to say, Chapeau! is one of my favorite fine-dining experiences to date. We left, almost too stuffed to move, but happy from copious amounts of amazing food, wine, and laughter!
Where: The Richmond
Delfina
Again with the dimmed lighting…
I think we can all agree that you have to love Italian food. And that means only one thing: you’re going to become obsessed with Delfina.
Back to the basics, Delfina focuses on simple dishes, fresh ingredients, and big flavor. That you can be sure of. Handmade pasta, high-quality ingredients, and a carefully curated wine list, are what helped Delfina rank on our Best Restaurants in San Francisco list. Super simple, but totally delicious. But please note, if you don’t try their panna cotta, you may as well not go at all. Delfina’s panna cotta is life.
Where: The Mission
Dessert
Mitchell’s Ice Cream
After so much savory indulgence, a sweet treat is always in order. Ask any local where to find San Francisco’s best ice cream, and they’ll all tell you one place: Mitchell’s Ice Cream. Personally, I can’t leave San Francisco without having Mitchell’s banana ice cream, but there are a myriad of flavors to choose from. No matter the flavor, instant happiness ensues. Mitchell’s is happiness. And happiness is Mitchell’s. That I promise.
Where: The Mission
The Best Restaurants in San Francisco
While there are hundreds of restaurants to choose from, we’re confident that these are among the best restaurants in San Francisco. On any given day, you can go to these restaurants and expect to be blown away!
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Over to you! Have you been to San Francisco before? Have you dined at any of our picks for the best restaurants in San Francisco? Where are your favorite places to eat and drink in the city?
So much fun hanging with you two! Come back soon and we can add to this list :)
Sounds like a plan. Trying to come back ASAP! :)
All of these sound absolutely delicious! We love fusion, so The House seems like it would be a perfect place for us to try out!
They were… I get hungry every time I have to look at this post!
Definitely try it; The House won’t disappoint! :)
San Francisco is definitely one of my favorite places to eat in the US! There seems to be no end to their fabulous restaurant choices. This food all looks so good!
Totally agree! But some are definitely better than others! ;)
Wow! Food looks so delicious! I’m hungry now! :)
Hugs,
Love from http://www.trangscorner.com {a lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and food blog}
Thanks for stopping by!
I’m embarrassed to say that while I was living less than an hour away from San Francisco, I’ve never been to ANY of these places you’ve mentioned. I love the city but I HATE the traffic so I normally leave the city for food. Perhaps next time I should try just staying in the city and not have a car. Why traffic?! Why?!
WHAT?!? You leave the city for food? When San Francisco is probably the second best place in the country to eat (after New Orleans)??!?!?!?! I think it’s worth all the traffic and then some. Definitely try staying in the city, Hung! There’s no greater joy in life!! ;)
yummy this all looks so good
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
Thanks for stopping by!
Such a cool place, this reminds me would love to go back one day!
It is, indeed!
Ahhh I’ve written about Delphina too! Sooo good isn’t it?? I still haven’t tried Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, but have heard fantastic things. That food at Shanghai and those tacos look AMAZING. Ugh, I love food…
Great post and perfect picks for SF!
Yeah, it’s awesome for sure! After living in SF, did you never go to La Taqueria in the Mission?! Love food, too… I definitely gained a few pounds on this trip, but oh well.
Thanks for stopping by! :)
I see there are fantastic restaurants in SF! Here in the Bavarian country I have to admit the good restaurants are more rare :)
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Some of the best in the USA, if not the best. Yeah, but that probably goes for every countryside! You should try to come to SF one day! :)
Love this list! Will definitely keep these restaurants in mind next time I’m in San Francisco. Those scallops had me drooling!
Yes, do it! You will love them all.
Oh my gosh, those scallops from Hog Island Oyster Co. were just unreal. Definitely go there!
Thanks for stopping by. :)
OMG Thank you so much for sharing! Will be visiting (hopefully) at the end of March. Is it wrong that the Bakehouse is what I’m most excited for?
That’s so awesome! Have you been before?
And no, it’s definitely not wrong! While it wasn’t my favorite on this list… It was still AMAZING. Of these, I would say MOST OF ALL don’t miss La Taqueria and Shanghai Dumpling King! But if you can go to them all, DO IT!!!
Oh, my gosh–each of these places looks better than the one before it! I LOVE trying new restaurants when we travel. It’s been far too long since I’ve been to San Francisco, and all of this amazing food is yet one more reason for me to head back!
There’s always a good reason to go back to SF, right?!?
Everything looks SO delicious. Especially the tacos and Mr. Holmes Bakehouse! I want to eat an exciting dinner tomorrow after reading this!
Evelina @ Fortunate House
Do it! It makes me super excited to visit Mauricio in NYC on Thursday. Bring on the good foooood! :)
Yummy! Now I am really hungry!
Thanks for stopping by.
Great list! There are so many great food spots in SF. I love Mitchell’s ice cream and La Taqueria. I can’t wait to go back to the bay area. Thanks for sharing!
https://www.mintnotion.com
They are both insanely good. Love ’em and love SF!
Can’t wait to go back and eat more!
Me neither… Let’s go soon!
Thanks for the tips! We’re headed to San Fran in December will bookmark a couple of these to try!
That’s great! Enjoy your trip.