San Francisco punches well above its weight for food. The city’s proximity to the Central Valley, the Pacific, and Napa and Sonoma valleys gives restaurants access to exceptional produce, seafood, and wine year-round. The Mission and Hayes Valley are the current centres of gravity for ambitious cooking; the Richmond and Sunset districts have strong Asian and Russian cuisine at lower prices; Chinatown and North Beach remain worth visiting for specific dishes rather than a general meal.
Sourdough and Bakeries
Tartine Manufactory (595 Alabama St, The Mission) - The city’s most talked-about bakery. Country loaves ($15–$18 as of 2026) sell out most days; the morning bun (approximately $6) is the thing to order if you arrive before 9am. The Manufactory space is larger than the original Tartine on Guerrero and has a full café menu for breakfast and lunch. Arrive early or expect to wait.
Acme Bread Company (1601 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley - also sold at Ferry Building Marketplace) - Baguettes and batards at approximately $5–$7 as of 2026. Acme supplies many of the city’s best restaurants; the Ferry Building counter is the most accessible option for visitors.
Boudin Bakery (160 Jefferson St, Fisherman’s Wharf) - The tourist option, but the sourdough clam chowder bowl (approximately $17–$19 as of 2026) is genuinely good and works well as a casual waterfront lunch. The bread itself has been made with the same starter since 1849.
Dim Sum
Yank Sing (101 Spear St, Rincon Center, Financial District) - The most polished dim sum experience in the city. Carts circulate during service; expect to spend approximately $50–$65 per person as of 2026. Har gow and xiao long bao are the items to prioritise. Open for lunch only, Monday–Friday 11am–3pm, weekends 10am–4pm. Reservations accepted and worth making on weekends.
Hang Ah Tea Room (1 Pagoda Place, Chinatown) - Claims to be the oldest dim sum restaurant in the US (opened 1920). Much cheaper than Yank Sing at approximately $25–$35 per person, with a shorter menu and more traditional setting. Cash preferred.
Dragon Beaux (5700 Geary Blvd, Inner Richmond) - Modern dim sum with creative riffs on classics; the truffle har gow and XO turnip cake are worth ordering. Approximately $40–$55 per person as of 2026. Weekend waits can be long; book ahead.
Mission Burritos and Tacos
La Taqueria (2889 Mission St, The Mission) - Widely cited as the city’s best burrito, and the line out the door most lunch hours supports that view. Burritos approximately $12–$16 as of 2026; no rice inside (this is deliberate-more meat and beans). Cash only. No frills; order at the counter and eat at a communal table.
El Farolito (2779 Mission St, The Mission) - Open until 3:30am on weekends; the carne asada super burrito is approximately $13 as of 2026. A reliable late-night choice when everything else has closed.
Tacos El Patron (2248 Mission St, The Mission) - Smaller, more focused on tacos than burritos. Street taco-style with quality proteins; approximately $4–$5 per taco.
Upscale and Date-Night
Zuni Café (1658 Market St, Hayes Valley) - An institution since 1979. The signature dish is a brick-oven roast chicken for two (approximately $85 as of 2026), ordered when you sit down and served about an hour later with a warm bread salad. Smaller dishes at the zinc bar are good for a quick lunch. Open Tuesday–Sunday for lunch and dinner; reservations recommended.
Cotogna (490 Pacific Ave, Jackson Square) - Italian-focused with wood-fired cooking. The pasta and rotisserie meats are consistently excellent. Expect approximately $60–$80 per person as of 2026 with wine. One of the more reliable upscale options in the city.
Nopa (560 Divisadero St, NoPa) - Lively, high-quality neighbourhood restaurant open until midnight most nights; useful if you’re eating late. Wood-fired dishes and a strong cocktail program; approximately $55–$75 per person as of 2026. Hard to book; try for the bar seats or walk in at 11pm.
The Progress (1525 Fillmore St, Fillmore) - Family-style large-format menu; order a set of dishes for the table rather than individual mains. One of the city’s best kitchens; approximately $70–$90 per person as of 2026. Reservations essential.
Seafood
Swan Oyster Depot (1517 Polk St, Russian Hill) - A fish counter open since 1912. Cash only; no reservations; line out the door from opening. Half-dozen oysters approximately $20–$24 as of 2026. Dungeness crab when in season (November–June). Worth the wait for a counter seat.
Hog Island Oyster Co. (1 Ferry Building, Embarcadero) - More casual than Swan; sit at the bar or get a dozen to go. Oysters approximately $3.50–$4.50 each as of 2026. Good wine selection. The Ferry Building location is the most accessible; they also have a farm in Marshall on Tomales Bay.
Affordable and Casual
Lers Ros Thai (730 Larkin St, Tenderloin) - Arguably the best Thai food in the city, in an unlikely location. Most dishes approximately $14–$20 as of 2026. The boat noodle soup and pad see ew are consistently good.
Burma Superstar (309 Clement St, Inner Richmond) - Long waits (arrive before opening or use their app-based waitlist). Tea leaf salad and garlic noodles are the standouts; most mains approximately $16–$22 as of 2026.
Ike’s Love and Sandwiches (multiple locations) - Built-in cult following for Dutch crunch bread sandwiches, most approximately $13–$16 as of 2026. Order ahead online to skip the queue.
Where to Drink Coffee
Sightglass Coffee (7th St SoMa and Divisadero NoPa) - Among the city’s most serious independent roasters. Reliable espresso and pour-over; approximately $4–$7 per drink as of 2026.
Equator Coffees (Ferry Building and multiple locations) - Long-established Bay Area roaster with a strong commitment to sustainable sourcing. Good choice at the Ferry Building before a morning on the Embarcadero.
Philz Coffee - Bay Area chain with a loyal following; their Tesora blend is their most popular filter option. Useful when you want a reliably good coffee near any tourist area.
Take a Guided Food Tour of San Francisco
The Ferry Building farmers market on Tuesday and Saturday mornings is the best urban farmers market in the country - Acme Bread, Hog Island oysters, and Cowgirl Creamery in one building, surrounded by Sonoma and Central Valley produce vendors. The Mission District is where the Mission-style burrito was invented - Taqueria La Cumbre on Valencia Street is credited with creating the format in the 1960s, and the neighborhood still has the best concentration of taquerias in the city. A guide covers the distance between the tourist version of San Francisco food (Fisherman’s Wharf sourdough bowls) and the Chinatown dim sum, Hayes Valley restaurants, and Nopa-area locals scene that defines how the city actually eats.
Browse food tours and walking experiences in San Francisco to find options that match your interests.
Plan Your Trip
- Travel insurance: Cover medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost luggage with travel insurance for the USA.
- eSIM: Stay connected from arrival with a USA eSIM - activate before you fly and have data on your phone the moment you land.
- Where to stay: Browse hotels in San Francisco - a base to explore Mission, Hayes Valley, and Chinatown dining.