Eat and drink in San Francisco
San Francisco is a multicultural hub that has some of the best restaurants in the country. You can honestly find any cuisine here - Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, French…and so on. While living here, I’ve hunted for the best bang for your buck restaurants. Because let’s face it, SF is a very expensive city. So, hopefully this list helps you avoid the tourist trap pizza shops and gets you to the heart of the best this place has to offer. Since neighborhoods in the city can differ so much, I’ve separated the list by neighborhood.
North Beach
Mona Lisa: Authentic Italian restaurant right on Columbus Avenue.
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana: One of the best pizza places in SF - agreed upon by both locals and tourists.
Chubby Noodle: Go for the boozy brunch and garlic noodles
Caffe Greco - Italian inspired local coffee shops with tasty coffee and tiramisu
The Mission
El Farolito: Classic Mission neighborhood burrito and taco joint
Burma Love: Sister restaurant to the iconic Burma Superstar that features flavorful food and drinks
Pakwan: No frills Indian and Pakistani cuisine with hefty portions
ABV: Local neighborhood bar with trendy cocktails
Blondie’s: Perfect to end the night if you’re in the mood for dancing - music is usually hip-hops and classic pop hits
Financial District
Novela: Fancy and book themed bar that local Fi-Di workers usually frequent for a drink after work
Pawn Shop: Hidden tapas bar connected to a nightclub.
Castro
Castro Coffee Company: Local owned coffee company that makes a mean cold brew. I like pairing the brew with a slice of carrot cake
HighTops: Neighborhood gay sports bar that is home to locals and tourists alike.
NOPA
Saffron Grill: My favorite Indian restaurant in the city. I love the paneer makhni and vegetable briyani.
NOPA: Yes, the restaurant is called NOPA. Rotating seasonal menu, on the pricier side but definitely worth it.
Inner Sunset
Manna: Local neighborhood Korean joint - the kimchi pancake is my favorite
San Tung: I’m vegetarian but San Tung is considered to be the best chicken wing place in the city. Write your name down and walk the neighborhood as the line is usually very long.
