165 Best Restaurants in San Francisco, California

San Francisco has a handful of Peruvian restaurants, but this uber-hip Union Street spot is the first Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) restaurant. Skip the pedestrian appetizers and have fun sampling around the tiraditos (dishes with raw fish) and sushi rolls. Much of the seating is at the bar or on the sidewalk terrace, so be prepared for some high decibels.

Satisfy your craving for outstanding Greek taverna food—albeit at luxe steak-house prices—from a dizzying selection of mezethes such as stuffed grape leaves to main courses that showcase Athenian standards like moussaka, lemon-oregano chicken, and grilled lamb chops. There’s a lively after-work scene in this chic farmhouse setting with wood-beamed ceilings, a roaring wood oven, and candlelight. Service is doting for its many well-heeled regulars (but tends to be less so for other guests).

Right on the water's edge, this perpetually popular destination courtesy of global mega-chef Gastón Acurio imports the signature flavors of his home country, Peru, to San Francisco. Fresh seafood is a big draw here, including a long list of ceviches and the can't-miss causas (whipped potatoes topped with a choice of Dungeness crab, chicken, or vegetable salads). Even though Acurio has many restaurants around the world, this one always feels extra special since it was his first to open in the U.S. back in 2008.

The most well-known—and quite possibly the best—of the burrito choices around town forgoes rice in the filling (almost all burritos in the Mission include rice) to focus on tender meats. The carne asada is the house favorite, but you can't go wrong with the carnitas either. While the burritos deservedly get the hype, the tacos and quesadillas are also worth trying.

It may seem like everyone at this bagel shop/pizza joint knows each other, and they probably do. This place has become so popular in the neighborhood that several new businesses have sprung up around it. Come in the morning for some of the best New York--style bagels in the city (takeout only) or in the evening for thick-crust rectangular pizza. Favorites include the classic pepperoni and the broccoli with shaved fennel; spring for the truffle honey for a surprising lift. Wednesdays they also serve smash burgers---beef and veggie---and there's always a good wine and beer selection.

Neighborhood residents love the dauntless Le Beau, one of the few remaining family-run grocery stores in the city. It's fun to browse around, and their sandwiches are a highlight. If you've never had a sandwich on Dutch Crunch bread (a semisweet, softer, baguette-like roll with a spotted crust thanks to a topping of rice flour), this is a perfect place to pick one up to go.

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.

Argentine fare, a convivial atmosphere, and talented bartenders help explain the long-running appeal of this contemporary steak house in a sceney two-level space with two bars and a rooftop neighbor (El Techo) that offers captivating views—it's no surprise that the crowd sometimes swings young and noisy. While beef is deservedly the headliner, make sure not to miss the chicken empanadas, with flaky pastry and a slight sweetness.

Two long years elapsed between the closure of acclaimed chef Nite Yun's Oakland restaurant, Nyum Bai, and (to the relief of many Bay Area diners) the 2024 opening of its successor across the bay in the Ferry Building, Lunette. Like most Ferry Building venues, it's a fast-casual operation but thankfully more of a relaxed experience given that it's a little tucked away from the main (hectic) passageways. Cambodian cuisine-inspired noodle soups and rice plates are the main features of a small but tempting menu that invites repeat visits to try everything.

This intimate, triangular spot with a beautiful antique oak bar serves great hot focaccia sandwiches, sourcing from nearby Liguria Bakery. Try the toasted combo (ham, salami, cheese), the breaded eggplant, or the meatball drenched in marinara. On sunny days, take your order across the street to Washington Square for a San Francisco picnic.

Hearty American bistro fare and hip design draw crowds to this neighborhood favorite that's ambitious enough to be a citywide draw. The menu boasts one of the city's best burgers, and the dining room gleams with white penny-tile floors and marble countertops. Weekend brunch is always a draw for candied bacon and Parmesan gougères (cheese pastries). The weekday lunch-only crispy fried chicken sandwich deserves to be in the city's sandwich hall of fame.  Avoid the crowds and order a burger at the bar.

Hakata-style tonkotsu (pork) and extra-intense chicken paitan ramen are the specialties of this modern-looking Japan Center restaurant that serves what many consider the city's finest bowl of ramen and has expanded into a 10-location chain. Long lines here can be daunting, but tables move pretty quickly inside the bustling yet relaxed space decorated with wood design elements and dangling Edison bulbs. A few izakaya small bites, rice bowls, beer, and both Japanese and locally made sake round out the menu.

This California-cuisine-centric restaurant might be named after the architect of the nearby Palace of Fine Arts, but it's very much a hip place for contemporary cooking. The menu wildly varies in terms of inspiration, from charred avocado to truffle spaghetti, but each dish is compelling and consistently executed perfectly. A horseshoe-shaped bar anchors the dining room and produces some of the neighborhood's finest cocktails. 

Look for the lines on busy Geary Street where Union Square blurs into the edges of the Tenderloin and you'll find what eager ramen fans consider the city's best bowl. This was the first U.S. outpost of a prominent Tokyo-based ramen shop, and the quality and consistency of its noodles and broths continue to be spectacular. The decor on the walls is primarily a series of graphics explaining the scientific aspects of ramen; if you want a doctorate in ramen, this is a good place to start.

Very few dining destinations in the Bay Area test the boundaries of what exactly is a "restaurant" quite like chef-owner Ryan Shelton's innovative tasting menu–only concept that moved in 2024 from its original intimate home on Fillmore to an expansive industrial space in SoMa. For 2+ hours, guests are fully immersed into the meal's themes, which range from Humpty Dumpty to Color Theory. Each dinner showcases 10-12 courses (like a baby pea and green goddess salad with a Parmesan flower vase for the "green" color dish on the Color Theory menu), along with various decor flourishes and multimedia elements to enhance the exceptionally creative experience.

With a spacious front bar and dining area and an excellent rear patio, it's easy to just call this Oracle Park–area establishment one of the leading places for a pre-Giants game meal. However, the food and cocktails are so good that it's a neighborhood favorite even when it's the middle of baseball's offseason. Taco Tuesday with 10 different choices is always popular, but regulars love to come for multiple courses, maybe starting with ceviche, followed by pozole verde with slow-cooked pork or a plate of grilled octopus al pastor, then churros with chocolate dulce de leche for dessert.

SoMa's dining scene took a major hit when Deanna Sison's unique contemporary Filipino concept closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and never reopened in its original home. Luckily, Mestiza 2.0 was unveiled in 2024 and is in an even better location, just a block from Oracle Park. Guests fill the delightful patio for "plant-forward dishes" (but not always vegetarian) like mixed vegetable coconut curry bowls and mushroom tofu sisig roti wraps at lunch, and jammy five-spice eggs and braised pork adobo in the evening.

A splashy contemporary steak house attached to a basketball arena? It sounds like a bizarre combination, but it truly works at chef Tyler Florence's glamorous restaurant on the side of the Chase Center. Guests dress up to impress, the Caesar for two is tossed tableside, and shaved truffles and caviar are everywhere, yet the restaurant nicely balances out all of the Vegas-like decadence with enough of a seasonal market backbone to not be too over-the-top. Pricey dry-aged steaks might be the menu centerpiece, but there are many tempting options for diners not interested in beef.

Fresh seafood and waterfront views are some of the many reasons to swing by this fun restaurant in the shadow of the Chase Center (which, confusingly, is not within the Mission Rock development at the other end of the Mission Bay neighborhood). Everything here is casual but is also a big step above typical pub grub, from local rockfish in the ceviche and fish-and-chips to Dungeness crab on the deviled eggs. Some tables go for a proper multicourse meal, while others enjoy all of the tempting small plates tapas-style. Even if it isn't a sunny day, patio heaters and awnings keep diners (mostly) warm.

Brandon Jew's ambitious, graceful restaurant offers the chef's delicious contemporary, farm-to-table interpretation of Chinese cuisine that sometimes tweaks classic dishes with a California spin (hot-and-sour soup with nasturtiums) or enhances fresh produce with unique Chinese flavors (local asparagus with smoked tofu). The elegant dining room—accented with plants and a chrysanthemum chandelier—provides beautiful views of Chinatown, while the tasting menu breathes new life into it.

When the fog and wind roll into the Richmond, savvy locals dive straight into this all-you-can-eat joint serving Japanese shabu shabu and other hot pot options. Guests can pair an inventive soup base, like fire coconut crab or spicy miso, with the restaurant's signature perfectly marbled Wagyu beef or Kurobuta pork for a satisfying meal. There's a full bar and a karaoke option for large groups.

The eastern Mission's seasonal Californian charmer is a delightful stop for a concise menu of "won't ever leave the menu" dishes, plus a few always-changing farmers' market–driven creations. Owner Paul Einbund is one of the city's top sommeliers, so, on cue, the wine list is particularly impressive, and so is the industrial yet cheery dining room and impressive parklet. The bathroom is a trip—literally—where the decor is film footage of a countryside drive set to a soothing musical score.

The idea of a chic, contemporary steak house didn't really exist in San Francisco before this runaway favorite opened by the Design District's traffic circle. It's one of two high-end restaurants for the popular Omakase Group in this immediate area (the other being nearby luxury sushi bar Omakase) and perfectly balances a menu of creative small plates and flame-kissed mains. The one downside is that most of the steaks aren't south of $100. But if you're going to splurge on a tasting of different Wagyu beef cuts, this is the place to do it. During the daytime (and at a fraction of the evening cost), the adjacent Butcher Shop by Niku Steakhouse offers one of San Francisco's greatest burgers.

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.

For a little bonhomie before the symphony, it's hard to go wrong with this buzzy (and typically crowded) ramen spot. Noodles are the star of the menu, and deservedly so, but you'll also find izakaya-style small plates, including pot stickers and chicken fritters. Seating is at a premium in the mod Japanese/San Franciscan dining room with windows overlooking Franklin Street.

Those in the mood for a fresh take on both common and seldom-seen Mexican dishes will adore Nopa's nearby little sibling. All the tortillas are made from organic house-ground masa, and Mexico's peppers find their way into many of the spice-filled offerings. Standout dishes include a robust, tender plate of carnitas and a powerful fish-filled ceviche verde. The casual atmosphere is popular with families, while adults adore the margaritas and tequila selection. Reservations aren't accepted and waits can be daunting at peak times, so plan strategically.

A three-decade-old favorite for business lunches and special dinners, this white-tablecloth spot caters to suits brokering deals and well-dressed romantic dates, who carve their way through upscale dishes accented by local produce and often intricate sauces. Its menu skews seasonal and meaty, and its largish front bar is popular for Financial District/pre-commute happy hour. At lunch, New York-style deli sandwiches and smoked salmon-topped latkes (originally a COVID-19 pandemic pivot that proved so popular it couldn't subsequently leave) take center stage.

It's hard to describe this ode to France's many culinary specialties without a map diagram, as this is a full six-story, four-concept venue just a block from Union Square. The shimmering gem of the house is upstairs, the exquisite fine-dining tasting menu space O' by Claude Le Tohic (tasting menu from $210); the other floors house a modern cocktail bar (Elements), a ground-floor bakery and patisserie, and a more casual and worthwhile bistro and grill.

Clubby, vibrant, and radiating old-school charm, this San Francisco mainstay has been serving classic Italian American fare since the 1930s. Folks flock to this third incarnation---run deftly by the third generation of the founder’s family---for classic cocktails and large portions of favorites like prime rib and chicken parmigiana. Expect high decibel levels, high energy, and a wait.

In an immaculate setting boasting a long communal table, firewood as decor, and an enormous open kitchen, chef-owner Seth Stowaway's complex and invigorating tasting menus change their concept every few weeks. However, the firewood is a hint at the overarching theme of every experience: live-fire cooking incorporated into every dish. That touch of flames might be demonstrated by a more subtle smoke influence in a sauce or delicate, direct grilling for an elaborate meat or seafood centerpiece.