2 Best Restaurants in San Francisco, California

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We've compiled the best of the best in San Francisco - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

Ernest

$$$

After several years as the chef de cuisine at Rich Table, Brandon Rice set off on his own with this creative restaurant, and it's been wildly successful. Rice's cooking emphasizes local ingredients and is inspired by many cuisines, yet always has a few curveballs involved, like pork tonkotsu inspired by Nashville hot chicken and sushi rice topped with salmon roe and raw beef. The industrial yet affable bi-level space is beautiful but can get loud.

1890 Bryant St., San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA
415-829–2961
Known For
  • "let the kitchen cook for you" menu
  • Caviar and homemade tater tots
  • "magic shell" soft-serve sundae
Restaurant Details
Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch

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Merchant Roots

$$$$ | SoMa

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.

1148 Mission St., San Francisco, CA, 94103, USA
Known For
  • Spectacular presentations
  • Kitchen staff interacting with guests while delivering each dish
  • Fascinating, sometimes bizarre dinner concepts that change every 3–4 months
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
Reservations required

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