San Francisco has always been a special place for me. My introduction to the city was during a legendary (at least in my family) summer road trip with my Dad and brother. We started in Denver and ended in Seattle, with stops at several national parks and West Coast cities along the way. Even with visits to Los Angeles (now my longtime home), the Oregon coast, and National Parks like the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Yosemite, San Francisco still left a lasting impression. I returned a couple times in high school. Since 1995, I’ve only skipped San Francisco one year: 2020.

Of course food has always been a major draw. Some of my favorite bites of all time have been in San Francisco. I still smile thinking about eating in Chinatown at House of Nanking during their ’90s peak under Peter Fang’s direction. Charles Phan’s vibrant Vietnamese food at the original Slanted Door in the Mission was similarly memorable. Dim sum feasts, dumplings galore, and seasonal dinners at Boulevard, overlooking the Bay Bridge, also expanded my mind. So did waiting for blowout breakfasts at Mama’s on Washington Square. Waiting for pastries at the original Tartine Bakery when they first opened was also special. So was waiting for, and eventually enjoying, a crab fueled lunch at Swan Oyster Depot’s counter with my wife. San Franciscans clearly enjoy waiting in lines. Nearly as much as they like double parking.

I’ll also never forget multi-stop dinners with my high school friend Ben when he lived near Laurel Village. I’ve nearly burst at the seams many nights in San Francisco. On (maybe) my most gluttonous night, Ben and I ate meals at Cinderella Bakery and Rosamunde Sausage Grill, only to make room for Burma Superstar by running up and over Divisadero Street to the Marina. Cap’n Mike’s Holy Smoke smoked King salmon at the Ferry Building farmers market is also unforgettable.

Travel dynamics are different now that I have two daughters who understandably don’t want to spend every moment in restaurants. However, I still love exploring San Francisco with my wife and family when possible. I’ve posted about many San Francisco culinary adventures since 2005. Learn about my favorite San Francisco food experiences since 2021.

UPDATES SINCE AUGUST 28, 2024
Additions: BaklavaStory, Bodega, Ernest, Four Kings, Leadbetter’s Bake Shop, Mandalay, Verjus

Abacá – Fisherman’s Wharf ↓
Must Order Dishes: BBQ Sticks, Seafood Palabok (When Available)

Arsicault Bakery – Civic Center + Inner Richmond ↓
Must Order Dishes: Double Baked Blueberry Almond Hazelnut Croissant (Seasonal), Ham & Cheese Croissant, Kouign Amann, Plain Croissant, Quiche

b. patisserie – Pacific Heights + Union Square ↓
Must Order Pastries: Kouign Amann, Kouign Amann Ends, Savory Sablé, Seasonal Kouign Amann

BaklavaStory – Mission ↓
Must Order Baklava: Pistachio, Walnut

Bitchin’ Baklava – Outer Richmond ↓
Must Order Baklava: Almond with Dark Chocolate Chips, Cashew, Hazelnut, Walnut

Bodega – Union Square ↓
Must Order Dishes: Banh Cuon, Bun Cha, Mac Khen Lamb Chops, “Tom Rim” Tiger Prawns, Whole Fish Cha Ca

Breadbelly – Dogpatch + Outer Richmond ↓
Must Order Dishes: Kaya Toast, Mt. Tam Basque Cheesecake, Shrimpwich

Brochette Dumpling (fka Mom Dumpling) – Parkmerced ↓
Must Order Dishes: Pan Fried Pork Bao, Pork XLB, Fresh Cucumber with Garlic Sauce, Thinly Sliced Pig Ear with Spicy Sauce

Butter & Crumble – North Beach ↓
Must Order Pastries: Large Pastry Box (Preorder through Hotplate), Blackberry Ricotta Swirl, Bruschetta Danish, Cinnamon Strawberry Swirl, Everything Ham & Cheese

Dalida – Presidio ↓
Must Order Dishes: California Tahdig, Scallops and Rhubarb, Tepsi Kebabl, Turkish Flatbread

Dumpling Home – Hayes Valley ↓
Must Order Dishes: Crab & Pork XLB, Pork XLB, Juicy Pork Bao, Scallop & Winter Melon XLB (Special)

Ernest – Mission ↓
Must Order Dishes: Fish Sticks, Kanpachi Tostada, Osetra Caviar w/Banana Bread, Roasted Sand Dab, Sushi Rice, Kakigori (Seasonal)

Four Kings – Chinatown ↓
Must Order Dishes: Claypot Rice w/Chinese Sausage & Bacon, Fried Squab, Henny V’s Salt N Peppa Flower Shrimp, XO Chinese Cauliflower w/Bacon, XO Escargot w/Milkbread

HK Lounge Bistro – SoMa ↓
Must Order Dishes: Crispy Mary’s Chicken (Preorder), Steamed Red Dragon Cod (Special), Salt & Pepper Shell-On Prawns (Special), Stir Fried Water Spinach in Cast Iron Pot

Holy Nata – Financial District ↓
Must Order: Natas

Kuma Sushi + Sake – Lower Nob Hill + Mission
Must Order Dishes: Nigiri Tasting, Sake-Masu Box

Leadbetter’s Bake Shop – Castro
Must Order Dishes: Breakfast Sandwich with Housemade Sausage, Smoked Salmon

Lokma – Outer Richmond ↓
Must Order Dishes: Branzino, Calamari, Grilled Kofte, Manti, Spreads Trio

Loquat – Hayes Valley ↓
Must Order Pastries: Chocolate Halva Brownie, Labne Cheesecake, Olive Oil Spelt Cake w/Earl Grey Glaze, Poppy Seed Walnut Babka

Maison Nico – Financial District ↓
Must Order Dishes: Brioche Feuilletée Loaf, Croissant de Saison, Pain au Chocolat, Parisian Flan, Quiche Traditionelle

Mandalay – Inner Richmond ↓
Must Order Dishes: Balada, Mandalay Special Noodle, Pumpkin Pork Stew with Sour Mango, Tea Leaf Salad (Lap Pat Dok)

The Mill – NoPa ↓
Must Order Dishes: Almond Butter Toast, Cinnamon Sugar Toast, Smoked Trout Toast, Country Bread, Whole-Grain Wonder Bread

Ming Kee – Westwood Park ↓
Must Order Dishes: BBQ Pork, BBQ Pork Neck, Roast Duck, Soy Sauce Yellow Chicken

Mộng Thu Cafe – Tenderloin ↓
Must Order Dishes: #1 (Rice Noodle Rolls with Shrimp Fritters), Bun Bo Hue

Mr. Bread – Outer Sunset ↓
Must Order Dishes: Portuguese Egg Custard Tarts

San Ho Won – Mission ↓
Must Order Dishes: House Menu, Galbi Mandu

Sandy’s – Haight-Ashbury ↓
Must Order Dishes: Muffuletta, Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie

Swan Oyster Depot – Nob Hill ↓
Must Order Dishes: Crab Back, Louie 3-Way Combo with Bay Shrimp, Dungeness Crab + Prawns, Sicilian Sashimi

Verjus – Jackson Square ↓
Must Order Cake: Coquilles Saint-Jacques et Caviar, Prix Fixe Menu (Saturday Lunch), Pain Perdu

Yasukochi’s Sweet Stop – Historic Japantown ↓
Must Order Cake: Coffee Crunch

WHAT TO DO BETWEEN MEALS (shoutout to A.J. Liebling)

California Academy of Sciences ↓

San Francisco Bay Ferry (to Larkspur or Sausalito) ↓