Top 10 Amazing San Francisco Restaurants
I get so many messages and emails of followers and friends asking me, “what’s the best place to eat in SF?” I’ve decided to make a blog post JUST for you guys.
After eating at restaurants all over the San Francisco, I've compiled this list of the best restaurants in the city. Whether this is your first visit, or your second, or your third, or if you live here, I'm sure there's something on this list you've never heard of.
I wrote this blog hungry, which is good, because that means you'll be hearing straight from my stomach. I’ll take you back to my first time at each of these places and tell you the reasons why I keep going back.
1. San Tung
what to get: DRY WINGS!
I live for these wings! San Tung is my favorite restaurant in the city. They’re called Chinese "dry wings". They're super crispy and really addictive. I frequent this place once or twice a month. Pro tip: when the waits are long at San Tung 1, go to San Tung 2 next door, because there’s rarely ever a wait. Trust me, the wings are the same. It’s owned by the same family. The first one is owned by the mom, and the second one is owned by the son, and they’re literally right next to each other. Dinner for 2 here usually consists of 1 order of wings, 1 order of green beans, and 2 order of rice.
2. Sotto Mare
what to get: best damn crab cioppino
The first time I had their crab cioppino, I think I almost cried. It’s honestly the best damn crab cioppino in San Francisco. One order of this can feed two hungry people, so you actually can just come here and order this and share it. It's $45 for the HUGE bowl of crab, mussels, shrimps, fish—all the damn seafood, oh, and also penne pasta. If you’re feeling fat, you can also, and should also, order their sautéed scallops! I promise you’ll lick the plate clean after because their sauce is so good. Oh, and also, there’s always a wait. But you can make reservation if you have more than 4!
3. Aina
what to get: spam & malasadas
Where’s the prettiest brunch in SF? Aina, of course. There are very few Hawaiian restaurants in the city, and Aina does it really well. I LOVE LOVE LOVE their homemade spam, you MUST order this when you are here. I think I can eat 3 of their spam musubis in one sitting. You also can’t find malasadas anywhere else in the city, so make sure to get them too! Everything on their menu is amazing, and their katsu bento has omelet rolls that made me cry. One thing I admire most about Aina is their passion and love for Hawaii, and it shows. Overall, it's an amazing Hawaiian restaurant with great aloha vibes.
4. Farmhouse Thai
what to get: hat yai fried chicken
They take Thai food to the NEXT level here, not even kidding. From the food, to the presentation, it’s just all so crazy. Get ready for a wild ride. Their fried chicken is what keeps me coming back. I don’t know what they put in there (maybe cocaine? not verified yet...), but it’s amazing. It comes with yellow curry and blue rice, which are really good too. It's not just about the looks here—it's authentic, too. Their food truly took me back to Thailand. I love how the staff there are such fun and genuine people. Say it’s your birthday, and they’ll embarrass you with gongs and stuff. Lol. Don't forget to order their thai tea! It comes in a really cool cup.
5. Tony's Pizza Napoletana
what to get: the new yorker pizza
It’s the best Pizza in SF. Yes, I said it. Tony Gemignani is a legend. He’s a 12-time World Pizza Champion. On the menu, you’ll be able to try all of his award-winning pizzas. My favorite, of course, is always the New Yorker. It’s got ALL OF THE MEATS, and is nothing short of amazing. I don’t know what he puts in the sauce, but it tastes significantly better than the sauces I've tried anywhere else. I would recommend visiting Tony’s Pizza Napoletana vs. the Slice House, because I think the grab-and-go doesn’t really do his pizza the justice it deserves. I’ve met him once, and I’ve seen him perform on stage. His personality just shines—and he’s really good at tossing pizza and doing really cool tricks! I love the guy and his pizza.
6. Elephant Sushi
what to get: ocean trout on himalayan rock salt
This is a really small restaurant. It's basically only a sushi bar with about 12 seats total. They don’t accept reservations, and there’s always a line. They open at 6pm, so I suggest getting there 20-30 min before opening to get first seating! Skip the rolls and nigiri here, and go straight for the special stuff, like the ocean trout on Himalayan salt rock, or anything with truffle on it. Oh, and you MUST get the yummy pockets. They’re these sweet tofu pockets with spicy scallops in them. I can eat three, and they’re only $3 per piece! I love this place. It’s not too expensive. They have fresh fish. And it's overall a really unique take on sushi.
7. PPQ Dungeness Island
what to get: set menu for 2
I think I go here once a week. I guess you could say crab is why I’m broke now. PPQ is one of those unpretentious Vietnamese restaurants that serve amazing, and I mean, AMAZING, CRAB. You haven’t had garlic crab until you’ve had PPQ’s garlic crab. It’s called their House Special Roast crab, and one is usually good for 2 people. I normally go there with one other person, and order the set combo for 2. It comes with an appetizer, crab, garlic noodles, and dessert. It's a much better deal than getting the crab and garlic noodles separate. Their garlic noodles are to die for. Seriously. (I'm almost dead) Pro tip: Pour the garlic sauce on your garlic noodles for a happier meal.
8. Kitchen Story
what to get: millionaire's bacon eggs benny
So, I mentioned earlier that Aina has the prettiest brunch, but Kitchen Story is also pretty damn cute. They’re known for their millionaire’s bacon (that I think is now trademarked, haha). I get their eggs benny here. I’ve had all of them, from the millionaire’s bacon, to the chicken mango sausage, to the Dungeness crab—and they're all amazing. The owners are super cute. Thai people are the funnest people! They also own U:Dessert Story next door that serves the best mango bingsoo in the city. So make sure to stop by after your meal!
9. Basa Seafood Express
what to get: spicy salmon poke
Okay. This is the CHEAPEST thing on this list. It’s literally $6 poke, are we back in Hawaii now? $6 for poke is pretty damn cheap for San Francisco. I love Basa for many reasons. There’s never a line, there’s never a wait, it’s a hole-in-the-wall fish market that sells fresh sashimi and poke. You can grab and go or you can eat there, but whatever you do, I guarantee you’ll be satisfied. I come here quite often since it’s so cheap and I’m poor (from spending money on crab). Still a hidden gem. You’re welcome.
10. Hinata
what to get: omakase at the bar
$78 omakase? That’s pretty cheap for SF. And there are 18 courses! You will feel full after leaving this place. Full and happy. Cheap doesn’t mean low-quality though. Hinata is the real deal, they use only the freshest fish with unique garnishes to make the entire experience a magical time. Better than Disney Land. I recommend getting the omakase at the sushi bar so you can watch the chef do their thing. Ask for Gavin! He’s fun. My favorite thing on the omakase menu (if they have it) is the scallop with miso aioli butter. The combination of the two make it taste like foie gras, SO GOOD. One time, I asked for 4 pieces. At one point, he had to ask me to stop. Oops. Also, matcha panna cotta over black sesame ice cream. Make reservations in advance, because there are only 2 seatings per night (6pm and 8pm).
BONUS ONE!
11. New England Lobster
what to get: #1 lobster plate
I also go here 4 times a month, because I'm a fatass with no self control. This eatery gets their lobsters shipped straight from Maine daily, so it’s super fresh. I think the price is pretty reasonable too. Their #1 lobster plate combo is $24 and it comes with a 1 lb lobster, bread, chips, and slaw. You should also order their lobster chowder, which is strangely addicting. I always get it with my combo. Make sure you sprinkle the creole seasonings on your chips! It will change your life. Lots of outdoor seating, perfect for dogs and family. The only downside is it’s not in San Francisco. But it's just a little bit outside, in Burlingame right next to the airport. So maybe stop by there before or after your flight? It’s worth the trip!