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Best Restaurants in San Francisco (Local Food Guide)
- 1 day ago
- 10 min read
San Francisco has one of the most famous food scenes in the United States, from legendary North Beach pizza spots to historic bakeries and creative fusion restaurants. But with so many options across the city, it can be difficult to narrow down which places are actually worth your time. We’ve spent years living in and exploring the Bay Area, regularly trying restaurants across different neighborhoods and returning to the ones that consistently deliver great food and experiences. This guide focuses on restaurants in San Francisco that we’ve personally visited, enjoyed, and chosen to come back to.
Every spot on this list is based on firsthand experience rather than online hype. Some are well-known local institutions, while others are smaller neighborhood gems that deserve more attention. Whether you’re visiting the city for the first time or simply looking for a new place to try locally, these are some of our favorite places to eat in San Francisco.
Best Pizza & Italian Restaurants in San Francisco
San Francisco has a long history of great Italian food, especially in neighborhoods like North Beach. From award-winning Neapolitan pizza to old-school Italian classics and modern pasta spots, these are some of the pizza and Italian restaurants in the city that we keep coming back to.
Tony's Pizza Napoletana (North Beach):
ony’s serves up a wide selection of Italian dishes and is especially known for its award-winning pizzas. Despite being one of the most famous pizza spots in San Francisco, it still feels like a legitimate local favorite rather than a tourist trap.We’ve visited multiple times and the pizzas absolutely live up to the hype. The Margherita pizza, which famously has a limit of only 73 made per day, is one of our favorites. The crust is perfectly chewy with just the right amount of char, and the fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce are simple but incredibly flavorful.
We also really enjoyed the Pizza Porto, another award-winning pie with bold flavors and a slightly richer profile. Pairing the pizza with drinks here makes for a great North Beach dinner before exploring the neighborhood.
Original Joes (Westlake & North Beach)
A Bay Area classic serving up Italian food since 1937. A popular spot with locals and tourists alike, Original Joe’s is worth a visit. We like the Westlake location because they have a parking lot. Some menu highlights for us are the arancini, meatballs, and the pork porterhouse.
Long Bridge Pizza Company (Dogpatch)
A casual neighborhood pizza spot serving up excellent sourdough crust pies in the Dogpatch neighborhood. Long Bridge Pizza Company is known for its perfectly chewy, slightly tangy crust that gives their pizzas a distinctive flavor. The cheese pizza we ordered kept things simple but really showcased the quality of the crust and sauce. The sourdough base gives the pizza a subtle tang that makes it stand out from more traditional New York–style slices. It’s a great place to grab a pizza and either eat in the restaurant or take a box to nearby parks or breweries in the Dogpatch area.
Roma Antica (Marina)
Some of the best Italian food we’ve had in the Bay Area. Roma Antica genuinely feels like stepping into a small restaurant in Rome.We started with supplì, a classic Roman street food that’s similar to an arancini but with a slightly lighter filling and crispy exterior. It was the perfect appetizer. For the main course, the pizza and pasta dishes were both excellent, with fresh ingredients and authentic flavors. The desserts are also worth saving room for, especially the tiramisu and chocolate cake, which were both standout items during our visit.
Pink Onion (Mission)
Pink Onion is a neighborhood Italian restaurant near the Mission District that offers good food and one of the best midweek deals in the city. Their Wine Wednesdays special includes a small pizza, pasta, appetizer or salad, dessert, and a bottle of wine for around $60, which is surprisingly reasonable for San Francisco. When we visited, the pizza and pasta were both flavorful and well portioned, making it a great option for a relaxed dinner with friends or a casual date night.
Best Mexican & Street Food in San Francisco
San Francisco has one of the best Mexican food scenes in California, with everything from legendary Mission-style burritos to street tacos and creative fusion dishes. These are a few of our favorite casual spots when we’re craving flavorful tacos, burritos, and quick bites around the city.
Señor Sisig (Multiple Locations)
Señor Sisig is one of the most popular Filipino-Mexican fusion spots in San Francisco, and for good reason. The Tosilog burrito is the standout item we always come back for. It’s packed with Filipino sweet pork, garlic fried rice, tomatoes, and a fried egg, creating a combination that’s rich, savory, and incredibly satisfying. We also tried the ube horchata, which was a fun twist on a classic drink. The purple yam flavor gives it a slightly sweet and creamy taste that pairs surprisingly well with the savory burrito.
Al Pastor Papi is a popular San Francisco food truck located near Union Square, serving Mexican-inspired street food like al pastor tacos, burritos, and alpastortas.
Everything we tried here was flavorful and surprisingly generous in portion size.
What we ordered:
Al Pastor Tacos – The tacos were packed with marinated pork and much more meat than we expected. Two tacos here easily had enough filling to make three or four tacos at some other places.
Al Pastor Burrito – A large, filling burrito loaded with flavorful pork, pineapple, cheese, and house salsas.
Banana Horchata – Our favorite item of the visit. It was incredibly creamy and flavorful, with a smooth banana taste that made it stand out from typical horchata drinks.
If you're looking for quick and flavorful Mexican street food near Union Square, this food truck is definitely worth checking out.
Chinatown Restaurants & Chinese Food in San Francisco
Located right on Clay Street in the heart of Chinatown, Spicy & Cloud serves a mix of traditional Chinese dishes and regional specialties. The menu is extensive, with everything from seafood and noodle soups to stir-fried classics. Everything we tried here was flavorful and came in generous portions.
What we ordered:
Fried rice with beef and chicken – Simple but well cooked, with good flavor and a large portion. (We forgot to ask for vegetables, which is why ours didn’t include any.)
Kung Pao Chicken – Easily our favorite dish of the meal. It had a great balance of spice and sweetness with plenty of fresh vegetables. The portion was big enough for 2–3 people to share.
Braised Beef Noodle Entrée – Rich broth with a strong ginger flavor, packed with tender beef and lots of noodles. Another dish large enough for 2–3 people.
Overall, this is a great option if you're looking for a casual Chinatown restaurant with generous portions and bold flavors.
Located on Grant Avenue, Eastern Bakery is one of the oldest bakeries in Chinatown and a well-known local institution. The bakery is famous for traditional Chinese pastries, mooncakes, and savory snacks. We stopped in for the steamed pork buns, and they were surprisingly good, especially for a place that gets plenty of tourist traffic. For $6 cash-only, you get two large pork buns, which is an incredible deal for San Francisco. The buns were soft and fluffy with a generous amount of filling. If you're walking through Chinatown and want a quick snack, this is an easy stop that delivers good value and authentic flavors.
Best Bakeries & Dessert Spots in San Francisco
Salt and Straw: (Hayes Valley & other locations)
Salt & Straw is technically a small chain now, but it still feels like a must-try dessert stop when you’re in San Francisco. We tried the mint chip ice cream, which was incredibly creamy and packed with chocolate pieces. What makes Salt & Straw unique is their rotating menu of creative flavors like pear and blue cheese or peach jam miso blondies. Even if you stick with the classics, the quality of the ice cream here is excellent.
Victoria Pastry Co. (North Beach)
Victoria Pastry is a historic Italian bakery that has been serving North Beach since 1914. Walking inside feels like stepping into an old-school neighborhood bakery. During our visit we tried the tiramisu and chocolate truffle cake, and both desserts were rich, creamy, and clearly made with traditional recipes. The small patio outside is also a great place to sit and enjoy your dessert while watching the energy of North Beach.
Fruitful Dreams (Chinatown)
San Francisco’s first tanghulu shop (candied sugar-covered fruit kabobs), located in Chinatown just steps from the entrance to Ross Alley, where the Fortune Cookie Factory is located. Tanghulu was fun to try, but not our favorite. The sugar cane juice, however, is amazing.
Palmetto Superfoods (Multiple Locations)
Palmetto Superfoods serves authentic Brazilian açaí bowls loaded with fresh fruit, granola, honey, and other toppings. We ordered one of their classic açaí bowls, and it was incredibly refreshing, especially on a warm San Francisco afternoon. The fruit tasted fresh and the portion was large enough to feel like a full meal rather than just a snack. It’s a great stop after a workout or when you’re looking for something lighter than a traditional dessert.
Elena’s Bread (North Beach)
Elena’s Bread is a newer bakery in North Beach that has gained attention for baking Señorita bread, a beloved Filipino sweet roll that has become increasingly popular around the Bay Area. The bakery sits right on Columbus Avenue in a neighborhood traditionally known for Italian bakeries, making it a fun mix of cultures and flavors. We stopped in for iced coffee and a 10-count box of Señorita bread. If you’ve never tried Señorita bread before, this is an excellent place to start. The rolls are small, soft, and slightly caramelized on the bottom, with a buttery sweetness that makes them incredibly addictive. They have a texture similar to dinner rolls, but with a much richer, sweeter flavor and a lightly crisp sugary coating. The price is also great for San Francisco, you get a lot of pieces for a relatively cheap price, making it perfect for sharing.
Neighborhood Bars & Late Night Spots
Dogpatch Saloon (Dogpatch)
Dogpatch Saloon is one of those classic neighborhood bars that feels like it’s been part of the community forever. The interior has a quirky Victorian vibe and the drinks are affordable compared to many San Francisco bars. When we visited after grabbing pizza nearby, it was a lively spot with a good crowd and strong drinks. If you’re already in Dogpatch, it’s a great place to stop for a drink after dinner.
Great Restaurants Near San Francisco (Short Drive)
Andiamo in Banca (South San Francisco)
An Italian spot with an insane lunch special: three courses for $19.99 Tuesdays through Fridays. The ambiance is fun and upscale, built inside an old bank, and the bathroom door is themed like a vault. The lunch deal comes with an app (soup or salad), select entrée, and dessert.
Cochinita (South San Francisco)
Cochinita has both a food truck and a brick-and-mortar location, serving up delicious traditional Yucatan food. Family-owned and authentic, Cochinita is one of our favorite places to grab a bite in South SF. Some favorites include carne asada street tacos, fish tacos, cochinita pibil platillo, and ending the meal with their churros.
Little Lucca (South San Francisco)
A famous Italian sandwich shop serving up huge sandwiches full of fresh ingredients. Don’t skip the garlic sauce, it adds a tasty tang to the sandwich! The line is always long, but it’s worth the wait.
Best Breakfast & Coffee Near San Francisco
Brothers Cafe (South San Francisco)
A tasty breakfast and lunch spot right by the airport. They have really good scrambles, pancakes, and country-fried steak. We also like their chicken club sandwich and “Egg..cellence Hangover” plate.
Antigua Coffee Shop (South San Francisco)
This cozy café is a local gem. We love their Mexican mocha, the hearty breakfast burrito, and the original breakfast plate with beans and plantains. Great vibe, friendly staff, and a solid way to start your day before heading into the city. We also love their playlist!
Sausalito Bakery and Cafe (Sausalito)
A cute café in Sausalito with patio seating overlooking the Bay. The blueberry bread pudding is our favorite, its Elijah-approved which is rare, since he grew up in the South, but he says it’s one of the best he’s had in California. Grab a coffee, a sweet treat, and enjoy the waterfront view.
San Francisco Tourist Restaurants (That We Enjoyed)
Boudin Bakery & Café (Fisherman’s Wharf) – Famous sourdough bread bowl filled with clam chowder. It can feel touristy and busy, but the bread, atmosphere, and view make it worth a visit if you’re already on the Wharf.
Biscoff Coffee Corner (Pier 39) – We expected this to be an overrated coffee shop at the tourist strip, but we were pleasantly surprised. The hot chocolate (perfect when it’s chilly) and their selection of baked sweets make it a solid stop if you’re walking around Pier 39. A sweet treat-plus-coffee combo that hits when the weather turns cold.
San Francisco Restaurants We Don’t Think Are Worth It
House of Prime Rib – We finally got a reservation at House of Prime Rib and were extremely disappointed. The food was bland and overpriced ($170 pre-tip for two), and the experience didn’t live up to the hype. The highlight of the meal was the spinach and salad. Not worth the wait or price, you can get better food elsewhere in the city.
Elena's Mexican Restaurant – Elena’s is a newer Mexican spot in San Francisco. It’s not bad, but extremely overpriced compared to the city’s incredible Mexican and Latin food scene. For us, it just doesn’t live up to the hype.
Final Thoughts
Every restaurant in this guide is somewhere we’ve personally eaten, and more importantly, somewhere we’ve chosen to return to. San Francisco has no shortage of food options, but this list focuses on places that consistently delivered great experiences for us rather than just one-time visits or online hype.
We update this guide over time as we discover new restaurants and revisit old favorites, so it continues to evolve along with the city’s food scene. If you're planning to explore more of Northern California, check out our complete Bay Area food guide, where we also share our favorite places to eat in San Jose and other nearby cities.
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