8 Best Restaurants in Russian Hill, San Francisco

Tucked into the back of a tiny produce market is a counter serving up some of the biggest, juiciest, best sandwiches in town for lunch—strictly to go. Try the turkey-bacon-pesto Sanfranpsycho sandwich.

Excellent, somewhat affordable sushi is the main event at this locals' favorite, so get ready to add your name to the waiting list; then watch the cable cars go by on Hyde Street. Luckily, post-wait, the creative sushi rolls and excellent, high-quality fish, as nigiri or sashimi, are always a delight.

Red-meat connoisseurs will appreciate this old-school restaurant, home to some of the best dry-aged steaks in town, including Kobe-style Wagyu rib eye. Enjoy a generous martini or Manhattan and you'll feel transported back in time at one of the city's few lavish, wood-paneled classic steak houses. You can also pick up raw steaks to go at the well-stocked beef counter.

This handsomely outfitted spot will introduce you to the aromas and tastes of traditional Afghan cooking, with sauces and spices reminiscent of Indian cuisine and an emphasis on lamb. Highlights include aushak (leek-filled ravioli served with yogurt and ground beef) and kadoo (a sweet-savory dish of sugared pumpkin in a beef sauce). Basmati rice pudding, perfumed with cardamom and pistachio, is a wonderful way to finish. The calm restaurant, with white tablecloths and real Afghan rugs, also does a quick-paced delivery service.

This quaint, family-run Korean fried chicken–focused establishment serves quite possibly the leading wings in the city. Cover the crispy, tender wings with your choice of more than a dozen sauces, from tangy lime-fish to fiery habanero-mango, and take them to go.

As the American child of a Japanese immigrant—the definition of nisei— Chef David Yoshimura wants us to know that there's more to Japanese cuisine than ramen and sushi. At his new, low-key and elegant black-walled restaurant—already awarded its first Michelin star—Yoshimura puts his own creative spin on washoku, traditional seasonal Japanese cooking, to deliver what he calls "Japanese soul food." The multicourse tasting menu may include examples of the bold flavors and stark contrasts he favors such as banana dorayaki (filled pancakes) with caviar and black curry with sweetbreads. The wine pairing is a good bet, as the chef is also a sommelier.

This longtime Italian favorite is spacious and lively, with consistently excellent contemporary-upscale Italian cuisine and a superb wine list. It has many local regulars for good reason but is also one of the city's most popular restaurants with visiting celebrities and athletes.

The original Swensen's has been a neighborhood favorite since 1948.