Grassfed beef on a brioche bun, with optional cheese. (You want the cheese.) Eater SF editor Allie Pape says, "Nopa is my favorite white-napkin burger by a mile." Bonus? It's served til 1:00AM.
Bet you never thought a crazy kitschy den of all things tiki could actually serve high-fructose-corn-syrup-free, all-natural drinks. This one can, and the cocktails hold up to the best in town.
The Tradition is complete with its own proprietary bottled, aged spirits, and a lengthy drinks bible divided into various genres of drinking: tiki, Irish pub, speakeasy, dive bar, etc.
If you're a hipster, try to get here before it becomes popular. Oh too late it's already popular.
Very expensive for the portion size. The service is impecable... The staff are so knowledgeable and friendly. The food was delicious (the portions were small), but it was overall a great experience.
The best bathroom in SF. I know this sounds weird... But don't knock it til you try it.
You must get the Rebel Within, William Werner’s most famous (or infamous) pastry from his Tell Tale Preserve Co. days--a muffin with a soft-centered egg in the middle: Read more.
Make the trip out here. Then put your name down and grab coffee at Trouble two doors down. Now try the bread baked fresh on site and order literally anything because its all so good. You just won SF.
Looking for the perfect burger to match that delicious craft brew? Look no further than Black Sands where chef Eric Ehler is making moves beyond the traditional brew food. Read more.
If you're not feeling like a big bowl of steaming hot pho, go for the chili-lemongrass chicken with rice. And always drop a fried egg on it.
Their tacos are bigger than most other places but their burritos are smaller. Chips are extra. The meat is good but the veggie burrito is excellent.
Forget trekking out to the Richmond. You can get delicious dim sum here. Plus Mama Ji is super friendly and lives in the neighborhood herself.
This place is amazing for Dim Sum or for an authentic Chinese dinner. Not a very inventive restaurant but definitely a high. Amazing Shanghai Dumplings and pork buns!
We die for the salted-caramel ice cream...it's #35 on 7x7's Big Eat SF 2010. Read more.
The duck is amazing! :) it's a trip back to France. Good wine selection. The atmosphere and location are great!
Mikkeller Bar just opened a secret private beer room in the basement (use these not-at-all-scary stairs) devoted entirely to sours. Read more.
Try the Kobe burger on a challah bun with roasted garlic mayo and chili-infused "burger booster" sauce that the chef describes as "ketchup on crack." Read more.
I love that a bar can have complimentary iphone 5 chargers at the tables, but still be cash-only (also the zapatos, tacos, and beer selection are all amazing, especially given the area)
Don't fret about deciding amongst the huge selection. Make sure yours has pastrami + brisket + pepperoncini spread + some sort of cheese. You can't go wrong. If they have the JT, you have to get it.
What do we like more, the Marlowe burger or those fried Brussels sprouts chips? Don't make us choose! Read more.
seriously.. Way better than in-n-out. garlic fries + a 4 oz with Ll the free things..
Cheesy tots and truffle fries are delicious. The manly burger med rare is now my goto choice. If you have room get a humphry slocombe ice cream sandwich it's worth it. (4 of 4 petals via Fondu) Read more.
Pretty good burgers. Hit or miss when it comes to the "best burger list" but I'd take this over most places.
If you've tried other Umami Burgers across LA and in SF, the Oakland-exclusive Queso Fundido Burger is excellent!
Charles Phan broke the mold for modern Vietnamese food when he opened the original, and the current incarnation remains the standard-bearer of ingredient-driven Asian cuisine. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
This San Fran landmark serves all its dishes cold (except for the rainy-day staple, clam chowder). Knock back oysters on your lunch break and chat up the cooks for secrets of the century-old spot.
Where to start! Secret cioppino! Amazing food in general. Great service! Charming atmosphere. Sometimes a bit of a wait:(
This downtown spot from the Bar Agricole team has food (including gorgeous charcuterie) all day, with a cognac-focused cocktail list by Thad Vogler. Try the cognac Old Fashioned!
Pork fat fried lobster. Nothing else to say (except that the tacos are also truly epic).
Pro tip: Order the Schnitzel with Spätzle and cucumber salad but switch the meat from chicken to veal.
Everything!! The pizza here is hand made and spectacular. Order several as one won't be nearly enough.
This raw bar now serves $1 oysters and $3 Sierra Nevadas every Monday-Thursday from 5pm-6:30pm. Try $5 glasses of wine, and discounted signature dishes like Seafood Chowder and fish tacos. Read more.
Want a prime-time reservation? Wake up at around 4 AM 60 days before your date of choice. It's worth it!
Great food and attentive service ... but portions are skimpy for the steep price you pay and the family-style format leaves you no way to adjust.
Head to this French bistro, which takes on the classics both familiar (duck confit, steak frites, a burger) and less so (escargot, sweetbreads, beef tongue). There are great cocktails too. Read more.
After eight years at The French Laundry, Corey Lee finally gets the spotlight. At his SOMA-district jewel box, everything is well sourced—from the porcelain to the $160 tasting menu. Read more.
One of the best meals I've ever had. Go for a unique experience, to make some friends and for an incredibly satisfying tasting menu. Opt for drinks a la carte rather than the pairing.
Weird weird decor, but don't be distracted. Delicious brunch menu with no wait (not sure how long this will last). Also the fresh horchata Pina Colada made me feel like I was on vacation.
One of my favorite cafes in the city. Good food and coffee without pretentiousness, beautiful outdoor patio, and wifi (but no plugs, so you can only hog space for so much :). Really great spot.
Like Zuni, a onetime trailblazer inspired by the Chez Panisse mantra. And like Zuni, a fully-fledged restaurant on all levels, from food to service. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
Excellent pizza, their Salsiccia is outstanding. Add Fra'Mani Salame Piccante for extra kick. Don't miss the Prosciutto Pie, perfect arugula and prosciutto combo.
REALLY great food – listed as Italian but really seasonal, local, fresh and extremely well-executed. They have an adorable little pizza place right next door. -Monica Pope, Top Chef
Burma Love's menu has some overlap with its older sibling Burma Superstar (like the tea leaf salad, shown here), but there are plenty of dishes unique to the Mission, too. Read more.
A serious clash of the design awesomeness. But I love Heath Ceramics more than most things that sit in a house. Like a really love them. And now caffeinated. Oops, I used up the word count. Go here.
Sophisticated, local, high-quality wares. Get a cappuccino from the attached Blue Bottle while you shop.
SF: A real biker bar with heart. It’s the last bastion of the pre dot-com rebel/artist. Park benches on a dirt lot; it's like drinking in a junkyard and is one of SF's most loved hangouts. -IFC Staff
The space inside the Phoenix Hotel formerly occupied by Bambhudda Lounge, it’s decorated kind of like a cool ex-goth with gobs of good taste and cash got to have her way with the interior
Here on Tuesday to Friday they do happy hour from 4 pm to 6 pm, and the deal is $3 draft beers, and $5 cocktails, which means their delicious concoctions are half price. Get there early for a seat. Read more.
Red's Java House, where the menu makes things easy for you: burgers, fries, and beer are what's on offer. Order lunch in the front of this 1920s-era little shack, & bring your grub back to the pier. Read more.
Arts + Innovation + Social Change. YBCA's got it right: contemporary art is not about consumption or bling but about being provoked to rethink assumptions from aesthetic experience. Amazing.
