40 Best Restaurants in San Francisco, California

Chef Corey Lee's three-Michelin-star fine-dining mecca is a must-stop for those who hop from city to city collecting memorable meals. Lee, formerly of the French Laundry, meticulously ties together cooking techniques and ingredients commonly seen in different cuisines of Asia—such as xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and "thousand year old" eggs—with a deft gastronomic touch. You may find spectacular dishes like an haute take on grilled beef rib that is braised with pear and finishes cooking over lychee charcoal; or a delicate, impeccable salad with shaved abalone and winter melon cooked in tomato water. Bare-wood tables and a hip, minimalistic interior guarantee concentration on the plate. The tasting menu is mandatory and memorable, but the restaurant makes sure to not repeat menus for returning diners.

This Californian-Mexican tasting-menu concept by chef Val M. Cantú continues to be one of the hottest tickets in the entire Bay Area. Cantú and his team's creations, along with an acclaimed wine program that often pours wines from Mexico's growing wine industry, remain as special as ever, crafting what is possibly the country's leading Mexican-influenced fine-dining experience. As wonderful as what's on the table is, the posh black-walled setting with contemporary art and dramatic chandeliers is just as notable. It's also possible to make a reservation for seating at the intimate bar (with the same menu as the dining room), where guests can have a front-row seat for watching the terrific tequila and mezcal cocktails being made.

Chef and co-owner Suzette Gresham has elicited swoons for more than 30 years with high-end but soulful Italian cooking that is worth every penny. Her cuttlefish "tagliatelle" is a star of the menu, which features both classic and cutting-edge dishes. Dinners are prix fixe, with three, four, or five courses and several choices within each course. Co-owner Giancarlo Paterlini oversees the service, and his son Gianpaolo presides over the roughly 2,000-bottle list of Italian wines. The room, in a former chapel, with a vaulted ceiling and terra-cotta and pale-ocher palette, is refined but never stuffy.

Dinner at the spectacularly inventive flagship of San Francisco’s most celebrated chef of the moment, Dominique Crenn, is an exploration of both Crenn's journey as a chef and California's distinct geography and history. Each course is usually eye-opening (and downright delicious) and many dishes feature produce from Crenn's own Bleu Belle Farm. The presentations, textures, and tastes will stay with diners for years after the final chocolate bite from pastry wizard Juan Contreras.

Despite its gritty location a block from Market Street's roughest section (take a cab or rideshare directly to the restaurant), this sweeping, elaborate tasting-menu restaurant with a refined forest-wilderness theme is a destination for discerning fine-dining lovers from all over the country. Chef and co-owner Christopher Bleidorn spread his wings here at his first solo project after working in some of San Francisco's top kitchens (Atelier Crenn, Saison, Benu), and each of the 11 or so dishes he and his team creates is a masterpiece in presentation and taste. Diners are usually still dreaming about the magnificent caviar and cornbread course months later. The superb wine program and sharp service further elevate the experience.

Celebrated local chef Nancy Oakes' high-profile, high-priced eatery in the historic 1889 Audiffred Building has been attracting well-dressed locals and flush out-of-towners since 1993. A striking belle époque interior (originally designed by Pat Kuleto and later touched up by Ken Fulk, both star local architects) is the setting for sophisticated American food with a French accent and a distinct local California produce twist.  The main dining room has a three-course set menu with several options in each course, while most of that menu is available à la carte in the bar area.

There’s no end to the buzz around chef David Barzelay’s 12-plus-course prix-fixe seasonal and imagination-driven dinners, which might include guinea hen with English peas and morel mushrooms or delicate "sandwiches" of Wagyu 'nduja pimento cheese and fried green heirloom tomatoes. An ode to the Western lodge, the high-ceilinged, spacious dining room includes a fireplace, charred wood walls, and wooden rafters. The upstairs "Den" could be the movie set for a luxury countryside estate's living room, complete with camping-themed decorative items.

Inspired but not defined by the chef's native Hawaii, Ravi Kapur's lively restaurant is known for big-hearted, high-spirited cooking. It offers contemporary riffs on staples like poke and Spam, as well as squid served with crispy tripe and Manila clams in coconut curry. The dining room and front bar area are perpetually packed and are dominated by an enormous photo of a beaming woman who happens to be none other than the chef's mother.

Chef-owner Kim Alter's solo debut is this small, charming, seasonally focused tasting-menu destination that is an oasis of calm away from the frantic traffic of Gough Street. The five-course-plus-five-bite menus are beautifully orchestrated, served by a staff that seems to always anticipate the next question or request, making this one of the more relaxed splurges of San Francisco's gastronomic elite restaurants.

To enjoy Michael Tusk's three-Michelin-starred haute California cuisine with a slight Italian influence at dinner, you'll have to splurge on a comprehensive 10-course gastronomy menu, but you'll be rewarded with seasonal items (much of which comes from Fresh Run Farm in Bolinas) reaching the highest fine-dining heights. The elite wine list is among the country's greatest, and seamless service is both refined and welcoming. After an extensive renovation, the still ultra-posh dining room reopened in 2024 with a more contemporary-leaning and sunlight-filled aesthetic (no more white tablecloths), along with an intimate bar and salon, plus the addition of a leisurely Thursday and Friday lunch.

The constantly evolving tasting menu that chef-owner Teague Moriarty serves at his standout, two-star Michelin restaurant serves as a primer for how to do highly seasonal cuisine right. Though the preparations are intricate and often luxurious, there is a pretension-free, contemporary elegance that makes this one of the most relaxed (and fun) fine-dining experiences in the city. The accompanying wine list is equally stellar.

After a long run as one of San Francisco’s most important dining pop-ups, Alex Hong’s refined seasonal Californian cooking can be found in one of San Francisco's most dramatic dining settings, with a skylight and floral arrangements that epitomize California “good life” architecture. That vibe is reflected in dishes like a springtime dry-aged duck with green garlic and kumquat, where Hong beautifully blends contemporary techniques and local ingredients. The tasting menu and à la carte offerings change relatively frequently, but the signature sourdough focaccia and oyster with sorrel ice are staples. Hong, an alum of Quince's esteemed kitchen, is also immensely talented at the pasta craft, and an elegant pasta or two is offered each evening.

This modern Italian favorite continues to be a special destination for chef Matthew Accarrino's inventive seasonal cooking. The five-course tasting menu includes tempting antipasti, superlative pastas like mustard capellini with guinea hen ragù, and a few hearty secondi; save space for the fantastic desserts. The Italian wine list is also full of gems and divided by region, providing a great education with your bottle. The polished yet relaxed atmosphere, with travel posters on the wall, attracts a dedicated neighborhood following of all ages. Singles and walk-in couples can sit at the two counters (one looks into the galley kitchen). Doughnuts and coffee are served weekends for Fillmore's steady stream of power shoppers and walkers.

After a short but strong run as the Wagyu-beef-centric restaurant Gozu, executive chef/founder Marc Zimmerman changed course in 2024 and unveiled a mostly different concept with The Wild. The main similarity between the two is the sleek U-shaped dining counter around the open kitchen and its featured hearth with binchotan charcoal. Many dishes are cooked over those coals with the most precise, laser-like grilling care. The Wild is all about bringing together creativity and nature, where superb local ingredients are gently integrated into exciting but not overly elaborate compositions. Even though there isn't a physical bar, the cocktails, wine, and spirits here are a standout.

The title of "best omakase" has many worthwhile contenders in the city, but many would name this sleek destination in downtown's "East Cut" area as the most captivating sushi-centric tasting menu. It's undoubtedly a splurge and can feel a little Vegas-flashy, yet the raw and gently torched fish nigiri preparations are nothing short of remarkable. Service, glassware, ceramics and the ultra-polished, wood-heavy design centered on an abstract triangle-shaped sushi bar are of the highest level of contemporary luxury.

A husband-and-wife team serves up classic French cooking and wines at this warm neighborhood bistro where you may run into romantic couples on date night or a small but convivial pre-wedding party. Favorites like bouillabaisse and filet mignon are beautifully served with loving attention. Servers are polite and friendly without being stuffy, and tables are set with white tablecloths and fresh flowers each night.

Dark and sexy, this rooftop restaurant delivers glamour and innovative Japanese-Peruvian dishes such as king oyster mushroom tostadas and Peruvian sea bass ceviche on a menu that includes small bites, several prix-fixe options, and sushi and raw bars. The DJ in the lounge area gives the indoor space a club vibe, and islands of plants divide seating areas in the large restaurant into more intimate spaces. Floor-to-ceiling windows look onto the city and the large outdoor dining area, perfect for sunset.

This ever-popular specialist in kalbijjim, a Korean braised beef short rib soup, is set in an industrial-feeling space, with serene images of mountains on the walls. Each soup is large enough to feed a small family and comes with a choice of toppings, like rice cakes or oozing cheese (melted tableside, it's an Instagram sensation). Be prepared to wait at peak times.

One of the hottest tickets in town, chef Melissa Perello's simple, sublime restaurant is a consummate date-night destination. Perello's seasonal California-French cooking is its own enduring love affair, with standouts including the savory bavette steak, grilled Sakura pork chop, and panisse frites. For dessert, the lumberjack sundae is a perennial favorite. The space has a limited number of tables, the tasting menu changes weekly, and service is professional and warm.

This classic for prix-fixe dining has earned legions of fans since 1999 for its refined and creative seasonal California cooking, displayed in dishes like glazed oysters with Osetra caviar and roasted quail with pork and scallion stuffing. The posh-contemporary banquette-lined rooms, with stunning floral arrangements, are as memorable as the food and impeccable service. The cost of a meal is pegged to the number of courses, from three to five, with several choices in each course. The wine list is immense.

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.

Van Ness's temple to a British Sunday roast is one of San Francisco's most timeless dinner experiences. Waiters continuously wheel prime rib carving stations around a sprawling complex that feels like the vast dining hall of a Cotswolds manor, complete with fireplaces and chandeliers. The prime rib dinners, including potatoes, creamed spinach, and Yorkshire pudding, are bountiful and consistently excellent. Meanwhile, the martinis are reliably large and stiff, adding to the whole mystique.

With just a dozen counter seats—its name means "12" in Japanese—this NoPa (North of the Panhandle) omakase sushi favorite is one of the Bay Area's most exquisite sushi experiences. Diners sit in pods of four at the sushi bar, with one sushi chef serving each quartet in the serene-meets-modern room. It's no doubt one of the most intimate dining rooms anywhere in San Francisco. After the first sake is poured, the lucky dozen diners at each seating get treated to an array of pristine fish and a few splashy Californian-Japanese bites prepared by chef Geoffrey Lee and his small team behind the bar.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.