Dining near Union Square SF
 

I'm going to be staying at the Orchard hotel and I will need some meals. I'm with my 16 yo daughter but she's not just a chicken strip and fries kind of girl.

Dinner - can be american, italian, chinese or other - suggest something - but looking to stay under $20 per entree.

Breakfast - anything good will work.

We'll be shopping after breakfast down Powell and then likely Westfield so if you happen to think of a place for lunch that would be great too. Still no more than $20.

Thanks a bunch

There's an EXCELLENT food court in the Westfield Mall. Among other things, there's an "Out the Door" branch, which is the more casual/take-out version of Slanted Door.

Belden Alley is very close to your hotel. There are a number of restaurants on the alley that are good and would fit the bill.

http://www.belden-place.com/

Sam's Grill, which is at the corner of Belden Alley, is an institution:

http://www.belden-place.com/view/menu/samsgrill/

Thank you!!! It would be great to go to Out the Door. I am definitely going to look into that!

Thanks for the tip on Belden Alley!

There's also Colibri, which is just west of Union Square - it's very popular not-traditional Mexican, in your price range. It's not a particular favorite of mine, but it seems to be everyone else's!

http://www.colibrimexicanbistro.com/mylink.php?id=3669

We only had one meal near Union Sq on our recent trip and it was at Sears on Powell St. A really charming place with excellent food, all within your price range.

Here are some reviews.... http://www.yelp.com/biz/sears-fine-food-san-francisco

Kuletos on Powell is Italian, and we have enjoyed the meals there. As long as you order Primi (pastas) and don't order a Secondi you can stay under $20/entree. Their menu is posted on the web.
If you want to venture farther for a meal, take the trolley to the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building. Some vendors serve to go items, and there are restaurants inside, though some of the restaurants are pricey. It's still a fun place to wander and graze for a meal. The market is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, but the businesses inside are open daily.

This is a very expensive and classy restaurant, which offers the best deal at happy hour, which is 4:30 till 7:00 p.m. everyday: Farallon Restaurant, right in Union Square, 450 Post Street, (415) 956-6969.

Check it out:
http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/gr...er_6until7.jpg

My daughter and I stopped in, and it is easy to order two appetizers apiece and get a light dinner for $14 plus tip and drink.

Really a great deal.

Breakfast? Don't miss Dottie's True Blue -- a very short walk, but a little wait in line on the sidewalk -- easily worth the wait though.

Thanks all!!

PeaceOut - My friends go to Farrallon and gush about how good it is but it’s spendy. It's nice to know we could go there and still not spend so much.

Sancrz for the last two summers we have eaten at Kuletos and you are right, it is good. I thought we'd venture out to something new. Though you know how kids are, they love redoing what works.

Thanks for the tip on Dottie's and Sears. I had heard of both but they didn't come to mind when I was planning. Thanks for the reminder. I have really wanted to try both of those. In the past we just went to Pinecrest for breakfast and when I would get back to Fodors I would read about Dottie's and Sears and do the head slap.

While I love the food at Dotties, I've just never figured out the attraction at Sears.

Of course, if you were near Washington Square instead of Union Square, I'd be raving about Mama's instead!

I once walked past Mama's - not knowing anything about it - and the line to get in was down the block. I thought they were giving away the food for free.

I agree with the Sears question. It's like a diner in any midwest town, only over-crowded, very loud, and we had horrid service and cold food. Not on my list of things to do twice.

Fleur de Sel Deli
Good Luck Cafe
Mango's Cafe

All are terrific, and close to your hotel

www.belden-place.com

(you'll need to check menus to make sure the prices fit your budget, but this is a wonderful "alley" with a line up of great SF restaurants)

Mocca Cafe on Maiden Lane just barely off Union Square is my other best suggestion.

Thanks to all who made these fabulous suggestions. As I had anticipated, we recreated our past trips and ate at Kuletos and Pine Crest Diner. At least I didn’t have to go back to the Cheesecake Factory this year!

Where would you all say the best variety of Dim Sum could be had ?

M

The best dim sum is at Koi Palace in Daly City.

http://www.koipalace.com/default.htm

It gets very, very crowded on weekends.

The "best" dim sum for round eyes in the City is Yank Sing. A bit pricey but user friendly for English speakers.

There are several good and smaller restaurants like Mayflower or South Seas which serve Cantonese dim sum.

Unfortunately, there are not any really good Shanghainese dim sum houses yet in San Francisco.

Ton Kiang serves Hakka dim sum, but I've not been impressed with either their selection nor their taste.