Welcome to the City by the Bay! If you’ve got a hearty appetite, you’re in luck, because San Francisco is a foodie heaven. Whether you’re moving to San Francisco or just spending some time in the city, you’ll want to hit up these restaurants to get a taste of the city’s best food. In no particular order, here are the 8 must-try places to eat in San Francisco.
Nopa
Ask anyone in this city if they’d recommend Nopa and you’re sure to get a resounding “yes”. Located along the trendy Divisadero Street just a block away from the famous Painted Ladies, Nopa serves up artfully-inspired dishes in a two-story setting. While you’re there, make sure to try the warm goat cheese with seasonal berries and crostini before you dig into the pappardelle with fennel sausage or rotisserie herbed chicken. Their wine list is no joke either; try a glass or a bottle from one of the nearly 100 different varieties they offer.
Iza Ramen
Ramen fans will definitely want to hit up Iza Ramen for, arguably, the best ramen in the city. With two locations–one in SOMA and the other in Lower Haight steps away from one of the wackiest SF bars–Iza offers a menu with just a few items on it and, believe us, you’ll still have a hard time deciding what to get. Try starting with the garlic edamame or the Karaage Fried Chicken, both crowd-pleasers. Order the regular or spicy Iza Ramen and enjoy the perfectly-crafted combination of noodles, pork, and egg. The Iza Tsukemen is also an excellent choice, and they offer a vegetarian miso ramen, as well.
Italian Homemade Company
If you’re craving authentic Italian food, but aren’t in the market for a $150 meal for two, this is your spot. The Italian Homemade Company has been in North Beach for just under 4 years, but the husband-and-wife-duo has certainly made a name for themselves, expanding to open two additional locations. Along with groceries and homemade pastas to-go, this place cooks up fresh pappardelle, gnocchi, meatballs, and offers a number of sauces made in-house. Not only that, but the Italian Homemade Company offers piadina (plural: piadine), which tastes like a combination of a quesadilla and a handheld pita pocket, toasted to perfection and stuffed with melted cheese and meat. Between the extremely affordable prices and the quality of their food, the Italian Homemade Company does it right.
Foreign Cinema
Foreign Cinema isn’t just a restaurant, it’s a full dining experience. Grab a reservation for this place, as you’ll need one, and, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a table outside where the restaurant plays a movie on the patio wall. Their ever-rotating menu currently features oysters from some of the highest-rated oyster farms in the country, their famous sesame-fried chicken, and grilled local swordfish. Paired with a glass of wine, their whiskey of the week, or a brunch cocktail, you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu at this beloved SF establishment.
Boulevard
Dinner with a view? Say no more. Head to Boulevard, where you can request a table with a view of the Embarcadero and the Bay Bridge. The menu is seasonal, but you can almost always find a dressed up Angus Filet or Wild King Salmon. Their fine American food is served with style and elegance, and the massive wine list provides plentiful options to begin your night.
Lolinda
Located in the trendy Mission District and right next door to Foreign Cinema, Lolinda serves up classic Argentinean dishes, but with a California flair. Rather than the stuffy, traditional steakhouse you might be used to, Lolinda’s atmosphere is lively, creative, and fresh, just like its food. Start with one of their two ceviches and try the skirt steak plate with housemade chimichurri or the pork belly with crispy yuca for your main dishes.
4505 Meats
San Francisco and good, Southern BBQ aren’t exactly synonymous, so the city lucked out when 4505 Meats came to town in 2009. Owner and founder Ryan Farr uses one of the last remaining historic wood-fired barbecue pits to smoke meats to perfection. 4505 does it all: choose from brisket, smoked chicken (bone-in or pulled), pork shoulder, spare ribs, or jalapeño and cheddar sausage. And that’s just from the pit. Their menu extends to items like the Frankaroni–crispy fried mac & cheese with a hot dog inside–posole, and a grits and egg vegetarian sandwich. You’ll want to come on an empty stomach.
Saru Sushi
This cozy and intimate sushi spot on 24th Street in quaint Noe Valley is perfect if you want to get a reasonably-affordable meal without sacrificing flavor. Just make sure you’re ready to wait in line or put your name down and hit a nearby bar while you wait. What Saru Sushi lacks in size, it makes up for in quality; it’s impossible to go wrong with their nigiri or sashimi, and their watermelon roll–spicy tuna and avocado wrapped in cucumber sheet with garlic ponzu–is a crowd pleaser. Try their Popcorn Tuna, a panko-crusted spicy tuna roll with masago, scallions, spicy mayo & a sweet soy glaze, or the chef’s specialty tasting spoons which range from seared ankimo with spicy radish, scallions and garlic ponzu to fatty tuna tartare with ponzu, yuzu kosho & shiso.
Is your mouth watering for San Francisco grub yet? Find your next apartment in The City by the Bay and you’ll be ready to hit up these beloved SF restaurants in no time.
This article was updated on 8/7/18.
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