Ask anyone about phở and they will tell you it's all about the broth, and they do it right here. Read more.
If there was anything else besides Turtle Tower that I crave, it would be these burritos. Killer. Read more.
This is the best New York-style pizza, and it's right by my house. It's so good that I have to eat two slices at a time! Read more.
The best is the pork combo at Saigon Sandwich. It's an ethereal blend of steamed and roasted pork, pâté, cilantro, chilies and sweet pickled carrots on a toasted baguette. Read more.
It's a bit small but fits perfectly in your hands, so that you'll want another one the second the experience is over. A simple burger—just lettuce, bun, meat, cheese and secret sauce. Perfection. Read more.
These guys do a really good job with their dumplings. All of their selections are good, but my favorites are the xiao long bao as well as the spicy chive and pork ones. Read more.
"The flavors are always unique and well-balanced, and the ingredients they use are so fresh." Chef Evan Rich Read more.
"The soups at Nopa change all the time but are always perfect. I once heard that they are Laurence's special, personal project and he devotes a lot of energy to them." Chef Caitlin Freeman Read more.
"I usually go with the onion soup, piping-hot with melted cheese that is so stringy it won't break unless you take a pair of scissors to it." Chef Tim Luym Read more.
"This is such a solid beginning to a meal. The soup has lots of spices and bold flavors that wake up your palate. It's great to share with a couple of people." Chef Adam Keough Read more.
"I find myself thinking about this soup when I should be concentrating on other things. The floating cracklings push it over the top for me." Chef Craig Stoll Read more.
Cellarmaker has no food but its beer offerings are no less interesting for it and they change all the time. Beer aficionados can order 5 oz glasses at about $2.50 a pop and sample the entire menu. Read more.
Once in, order the fries, any curry on the menu, and “limited-availability” fish cuts that you’ve never heard of grilled over binchotan charcoal. Read more.
The best time to go is after lunch on a weekday. Line tip: If you’re with a friend, take turns while one of you goes shopping for the best local foods around the corner at Bi-Rite. Read more.
The chicken skewers—threaded with every part from the knee to the neck to, yes, the butt—are grilled over two types of charcoal because, well, that is the kind of detail that Rintaro is built on. Read more.
Order any and all pancakes, such as sourdough with ricotta, sauerkraut, and Pecorino, and always get the “state bird,” a.k.a. fried quail. Desserts are straightforward and lovely. Read more.
Pull up a stool at the long wooden bar. Have an egg tonnato and some panini with your Trouble in Paradise, or settle in and order the chicken for two—the entire menu is available at the bar. Read more.
Have an Anchor Steam while you wait (it’s okay), then order Dungeness crab, Drake’s Bay oysters, house-smoked salmon, raw scallops, and, if you’re with (patient) friends, the shrimp or crab Louie. Read more.
Ask for your burrito dorado style: They’ll crisp it up on the plancha for you. And while you should definitely partake in the salsa verde on every table, ask for a side of salsa roja at the counter. Read more.
If you can’t get a table, or can’t commit to the cost, you can sit in the bar for cocktails, Japanese whisky, and exquisite à la carte bites. There’s even a bit of a late-night scene. Read more.
Tech workers and creatives flow in for cocktails, fried oysters, and beef-tongue buns, segueing into Spam musubi (always available, even if not on the menu), clams with black bean sauce, and more. Read more.
Try the Kaffe Tonic, a bittersweet creation that adds a little fizz and brightness to your shot of espresso. Read more.
Order the iced cappuccino and ask Cho whether it’s a traditional drink. See what happens. Also: Take home some beans. Read more.
Walk upstairs at the SoMa HQ and check out the Sightglass x Salt and Straw affogato bar, a collab with the Portland ice cream shop. We’ll never say no to floating ice cream in boozy coffee. Read more.
All 16 cocktails on the menu (organized by spirit) feel thoughtful and smart. Highlights include Whiskey in Church (smoky scotch, oloroso, maple, smoked pear bitters) and the Sutro Swizzle. Read more.
Now owned by NYC restaurateur Ken Friedman and chef April Bloomfield, the food and cocktails are top-notch. Best of all, it serves food til 1 a.m., and drinks til 2 a.m. Read more.
Head for a drink at Trick Dog tonight and ask for Caitlin, she's been named to Food & Wine's inaugural class of Best New Mixologists. Read more.
