The 10 best restaurants in San Francisco**
(**According to me at this specific moment in time)
Caveats
I love reading best of lists, but making them makes me nervous. Nervous that people will go somewhere based on my recommendation and have a bad experience and then they’ll forever question my taste in food. What could be worse than that?!
I’m heavily influenced by recency bias, so these might not be the best restaurants of all time, but these are the ones I can’t stop thinking about right now. It’s pretty impossible to compare a tasting menu restaurant to a bakery, so I limited myself to no more than three places in each tier (although the line between fancy and nice dinner is admittedly fuzzy). Happy eating!
Tasting menu
Californios — a fancy Californian Mexican tasting menu with two Michelin stars. A little bit of the special feeling was lost with their move to a bigger space, but it’s the only tasting menu I’ve had four times, and it’s the excellent food that keeps me coming back. I still dream of their fancy duck taco.
Saal — is a contemporary Korean restaurant delivering an excellent meal in a small restaurant on Polk Street. The chef at Saal is so proud of his first (well-deserved) Michelin star, and it feels fun to be part of something that’s just getting started.
Noodle in a Haystack — this restaurant has 12 seats (counter-only) and not much in the way of decor, so all of the focus is on the food and the people preparing it. That ends up being a great thing because the small team is passionate and friendly and their ramen and Japanese/Californian dishes are creative and delicious. Bon Appetite also just put it on their best new restaurants in the US list, so it’s about to get even harder to snag a reservation.
Fancy dinner
Rich Table — their menu may be all over the place (so many flavors!), but my last meal here was exciting. Whether it was the classic porcini donuts or a seasonal crab & grapefruit dish, the kitchen was showing off. It’s impressive that it’s still so good!
Nari — Nari has a great combo of beautiful decor (more stylish and leafy than many SF restaurants) and spicy, unique Thai-inspired dishes. Plus a killer cocktail menu! It felt unlike anything else in SF when it first opened, and it’s remained one of my favorites. Don’t miss the eggplant curry and the squid and pork jowl appetizer.
Cotogna — Cotogna’s parklet is one of my favorite places to be on a sunny afternoon for a leisurely lunch. The pastas are all excellent (especially when the corn ravioli is on the menu), and I’ll never tire of the gnocco fritto. Pair them with a spritz and save room for dessert.
Nice dinner
Flour & Water — their recent remodel was a refresh that I didn’t know was needed. The food is still just as good as it always was, but now the decor is a bit darker and the vibe feels a bit more fun. I tend to focus on the pastas over the pizzas, but there’s not a bad dish on the menu.
San Ho Won — I’m so glad San Francisco finally got a few great Korean restaurants. San Ho Won is run by the Michelin starred chef of Benu, and it strikes a great balance between a place that is casual and relaxed, but still fitting for a special occasion. Don’t miss the banchan potatoes, the rib cap, or the dumplings. Ordering a la carte is better than the set menu.
Casual
Laundromat — SF is overflowing with new pizza restaurants. I haven’t tried them all because it’s too hard to convince myself to go anywhere else. The Brussel appetizer and meatball pizza with herby ranch on the side, upbeat soundtrack, and buzzy room (read: loud) make for a fun evening. Thicker Sicilian-style pizzas aren’t normally my favorite, but in this casual, lively setting it feels just right. Be prepared for a wait!
Breadbelly — I go to Breadbelly at least once a month. While their pastries are great — I think it’s their savory dishes that steal the show. Their tomato mortadella sandwich and corn bun were two of my best bites of the summer. I’m also waiting eagerly for the winter Brussels salad to come back the menu (the summer salad isn’t as good).
