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A land of dive bars, package-liquor stores, panhandlers, and … some of the best pho and bánh mì in the city, this seedy district of low rents encompasses Little Saigon. Locals know to come here for great cheap eats, including not just Vietnamese but naans and masalas. This is San Francisco’s rougher neighborhood—one of the last holdouts.
The good times roll at the city's definitive choice for New Orleans cooking. Brunch is the preferred meal here---it's worth the trip for the five $5 breakfast sandwich options---but it's just as good to come for a weekday lunch of gumbo or a fried chicken dinner when the scene is a little more subdued.
Try something beyond the same old pad thai at this authentic Thai standby. Thai herb sausage and papaya salad with salted egg are good appetizers to share, while the pork belly with crispy rind and basil leaves and duck larb (meat salad) come packed with flavor and heat. The food is such a hit that the restaurant has two other spots in the Mission and Hayes Valley. It's a favorite for late-night dining.
Stop by this hole in the wall for some of the best—and cheapest—take-out banh mi in the city. Favorites include thit (roast pork) and ga (roast chicken), but the doors close at 6 at the latest.
When you're not quite sure what you want, pop into this brand-new two-story food hall by IKEA's sister company and see what the 11 food businesses are serving up. Downstairs, a beer bar, burger place, bakery/sandwich shop, and soft-serve counter are permanent installations. Upstairs you'll find two bars and five local food purveyors, which may change. Current offerings include vegan Puerto Rican food at Casa Borinquena, spicy Chinese at Momo Noodle, and Curry Up Now's Indo-Californian cuisine. Open market hall-style seating means you don't have to select just one.
