98 Best Restaurants in The Bay Area, California

Tucked along the restaurant row of Caledonia Street, Arawan Thai is a noteworthy destination for some of the tastiest Thai dishes in Marin County. The elegant and cozy interior lends an intimate quality to this wonderful locals' favorite known for its generous variety of  soups, salads, and grilled specialties, along with shareable dishes, such as spicy angel wings (stuffed chicken wings) and prawn and cream cheese puffs. There's a wide selection of local and regional wines, and traditional beverages like Thai iced tea and iced coffee are not to be missed.

The lines can get long at this hole-in-the-wall, no-frills kitchen, where Indian curries are served burrito-style while you wait. Punjabi burritos (in whole-wheat wraps) or rice plates come with savory lamb, chicken, salmon, rock shrimp, vegetarian, and vegan ingredients flavored with seasonal fruit chutneys, tamarind sauce, and aromatic blends. A few tables allow for inside or sidewalk dining, but most people take their burritos to go.

Bay Area residents could debate for days about who truly makes the region's greatest pasta, but this Rockridge shop and restaurant from pasta whisperer Michele Belotti is more often than not on that short list. It's a perfect blend of traditional and comforting with modern influences. Soft potato gnocchi is joined by a Bolognese sauce made of six meats, while wild boar sugo is soaked with grappa and sangiovese wine, then served with tagliatelle. It's not unheard of to see more pasta dishes on a table than diners around it.

As one of the few Georgian restaurants in the Bay Area, many diners from around the region come to this small, cheery spot to learn all about the Caucasus Mountains–region country’s important culinary heritage. Every table has an order of the two iconic dishes from Georgia: kinkhali (juicy dumplings filled with various meats) and the “cheese boat” of khachapuri, which is a trapezoid-shaped, ultra-moist, somewhat puffy bread with cheese in the center and an egg yolk. Georgia's esteemed wine regions are considered possibly the oldest in the world.

One of the Peninsula’s leading examples of a small, farm-to-table-driven, local ingredients–centric establishment is this homey dining room with sidewalk seating just off California Avenue. For more than 25 years, Bistro Elan has been the understated gathering place for many business and celebratory meals, where professors, CEOs, and longtime residents enjoy the signature potato waffle with smoked salmon and a smartly curated wine list. This is a perfect example of a Californian-French bistro, where a Parisian staple like duck confit is almost always on the menu. but the duck is sourced from a nearby farm and the ingredients change based on what is in peak season nearby.

The Peninsula’s leading barbecue has only been grilling and smoking at its El Granada home since 2020, but it’s already a favorite choice for Bay Area residents looking for an excellent hearty lunch on a coastal road trip day. All of the beef and pork is of very high quality and the sausage links are made in-house. Weekends often have intriguing specials like chicken legs and cider and herb-brined turkey breast. Unlike many fellow barbecue destinations, the menu goes well beyond the normal fare with local cod tacos, fresh salads, and a burger made of house-ground brisket. 

One of the Peninsula’s best-known restaurants is this funky, family-friendly brunch specialist in the heart of tiny downtown Woodside. The restaurant is a gathering spot for the tech company executives and venture capitalists who live nearby, but it’s ultimately a blend of a saloon and a diner, where many hungry locals come looking for omelets and tuna melts. You can also get decent beer and wine. It has an outrageously eclectic design full of knickknacks and odd curiosities, like license plates on the bar, planes and bikes hanging from the ceiling, old maps and artifacts of Bay Area history, taxidermy, and about a hundred other bizarre pieces of memorabilia that would never be brought together anywhere else but here.

House-smoked meats, wood-grilled steaks, classic salads, and decadent desserts bring locals and visitors back again and again to this 1937 lodge–style roadhouse. Enjoy a Roadhouse martini at the cozy bar or sip local wine beside the river-rock fireplace. Outdoor dining now extends to a heated garden patio. The Buckeye Joe coffee kiosk offers drive-by java and pastries on weekday mornings.

A open, well-lit space inside with plant-printed wallpaper and a comforting fireplace sets the scene at this lively eatery. The menu features flavor inspirations from all across the globe, from shrimp and grits, to barramundi (a fish) in miso broth. Diners enjoy their meals in the sleek modern-meets-retro dining room with tufted leather booths or the covered outside patio.

Legendary farm-to-table fine dining chef David Kinch co-owns this casual restaurant. It’s a loving ode to the good times and great cuisine of New Orleans. With Mardi Gras beads and French Quarter–inspired wrought iron throughout the space and jazz on the soundtrack, it’s hard not to feel transported to the bayou. The renditions of NOLA standards here like oyster po'boys and hurricane cocktails are superb—sometimes even superior to their peers close to Bourbon Street.

Sunny patio seating, hand-tossed pizza, and organic local ingredients are the selling points of this laid-back café. The semi-industrial dining room, built around a brick oven, features glazed concrete floors, warm-painted walls, and a barnlike soaring ceiling. The outdoor patio's picnic tables are a wonderful choice for seating if the weather cooperates. 

Every coastal area needs a great fish-and-chips shop; for the peninsular coastline, it’s this casual establishment that has been serving Pacifica diners since 1969. The batter for the fish is light and sports just the right crispy texture, while fries are of the thick, potato-forward style popular at classic English pubs. There are various other fried seafood options and, in quite the State Fair cuisine twist, deep-fried Twinkies and Mars Bars for dessert.

Relaxed yet trendy, Comal's cavernous indoor dining space and intimate back patio and fire pit draw a diverse, casual crowd for creative Oaxacan-inspired fare and well-crafted cocktails. The modern Mexican menu centers on small dishes that lend themselves to sharing and are offered alongside more than 100 tequilas and mezcals. For quick-service tacos, burritos, and tortas, skip the line and head to sister restaurant Comal Next Door (2024 Shattuck Ave.).

This longtime Rockridge favorite is all about seasonal and globe-spanning small plates, family-style eating, and excellent drinks. Intimate dining nooks, natural light, and a heated patio make this an ideal destination for couples, families, and the after-work crowd.

There is no more glamorous and lively dining setting in San Jose than this downtown sibling to the acclaimed bar Paper Plane—and it isn't even close. With dramatic lighting, loud music, plants throughout the space and gallery-worthy chic design across two levels, this is the energetic (but not clubby) and sleek destination for cocktails and contemporary Mediterranean cuisine that the city needed and didn't have until 2024. Don't miss the loukoumades (like beignets) for dessert.

All things local, organic, seasonal, and sustainable harmonize at Gather. This haven for vegans, vegetarians, and carnivores alike serves up market and grain salads, shareable vegetable plates featuring roast carrots or brussels sprouts, roast chicken with mole sauce, and more in a vibrant, well-lit space that boasts funky light fixtures, shiny wood furnishings, and banquettes made of recycled leather belts.

An organic oasis, this deli, restaurant, and taproom offers a true taste of the Point Reyes foodshed. Classic sandwiches, breakfast bites, burritos, grilled Niman Ranch beef, wild-caught salmon, and vegan burgers are all prepared with fresh local ingredients. Rotating specials abound throughout the week, including weekend fish and chips. IP Market is committed to conserving the area's energy and limited water resources, as shown by the solar tube lighting, the fully compostable tableware used in the taproom, and the no-flush toilets.

More Tokyo street chic than standard sushi house, this izakaya—the Japanese equivalent of a bar with appetizers—is decked with bamboo-screen booths. Servers pour an impressive array of sakes and shōchū and serve up satisfying fare. Savvy diners make reservations and arrive early for the best selection. Several small plates are made in-house and are a must-order, including pickles, gyoza dumplings, and tofu.

Reservations are recommended at this hot spot where the outdoor seating is ideal for people-watching and the Japanese country food is uniquely prepared. Locals come for seasonally changing, eclectic dishes made with a blend of local ingredients, such as perfectly delicate vegetable tempura and tamari-kombu cured salmon or a wonderful salad combining various kinds of sashimi with a spicy miso dressing.

Sausalito's popular beer hall and rotisserie offers ample, open, airy indoor seating at long tables and expanded outdoor deck dining with exceptional views of the bay. It's a relaxing spot to enjoy burgers, sandwiches, guacamole with housemade tortilla chips, and salads along with a selection of local brews on tap. With free parking nearby and easy access for cyclists and kayakers, it's easy to see why this is a local favorite.

Diners enjoy sampling the unique specialties presented by this friendly eatery, one of the few Somali restaurants in the Bay Area. The go-to dish is “kay kay,” a sweet-and-savory stir-fry of chopped chapatti bread, spice-rubbed beef or chicken, African tea, onions, and bananas—and yes, you read that last one right.

In business since 1964, La Ginestra—named for the flowers that grow on Mt. Vesuvius, in the owners' homeland—is a Mill Valley institution renowned for its no-pretense Italian meals and impressive wine list. Given that Naples is a primary inspiration for the menu, the handful of Neapolitan-style pizzas are certainly a highlight of any visit, as are the homemade tiramisu, spritzes, and barrel-aged Negroni cocktails.

Delectable samplings of Spanish cuisine and a lively setting with expanded outdoor seating (Thursday through Sunday only) keep this tapas bar brimming with energy amid savory smells of seafood dishes and small plates of peel-and-eat prawns, lamb sliders with harissa mayo, or goat cheese–stuffed piquillos rellenos. The bar's passion for Spanish cuisine and culture is evident in the wines, the Mediterranean flavors, and the cozy setting with tile mosaics.

The Sausalito waterfront isn't exactly going to remind anyone of the French Riviera's beaches, but everyone enjoys the traditional bistro fare at this longtime bayside classic in a relaxed setting that feels like a sidewalk café merged with an artist's garage studio. The restaurant is both charming and petite, so make reservations or arrive early. While the concise menu might not be trailblazing, there's no better place for miles to enjoy such perfect tried-and-true standards like escargots and duck confit.

For those who think that French-influenced fine dining is passé, San Jose’s gastronomic stalwart since 1977 will change a few opinions. It’s the best of both culinary worlds, where timeless luxury meets a contemporary approach. Here, Burgundy snails are paired with stinging nettle agnolotti (similar to small raviolis) and grilled beef tenderloin is elevated by roasted plum and a marrow emulsion. Diners enjoy a three- or four-course menu with several options available in each course, or a preset six-course tasting menu. The posh dining room (located at the edge of a a nondescript mini-mall by a liquor store) isn’t overly grand but has a refined aura with closed shutters, floral arrangements, and crisp white tablecloths.

This classic Italian meets Californian menu is a stellar value where the nightly menu clocks in at a shocking (by Bay Area standards) $39.95 for three courses (the optional supplements are worth adding on). The quality is sky-high, with no corners cut. It's an energetic, fun place with guests of all ages coming to enjoy exciting pastas preceded by a soup or salad. Each course has two options to choose from.

Every "best patio" article in the Bay Area features this oceanfront restaurant (and former speakeasy) with a beautiful view, whether it's sunny or foggy. The menu is always fresh and fun with a general emphasis on fish and seafood. In reality, it's just as well known for the many dogs who adore the patio. The drinks menu is uninspired, but any beverage will taste better with a sunset vantage point like this restaurant has.

Dungeness crab, the Bay Area’s favorite local seafood, is showcased in a consistently fantastic sandwich on grilled sourdough bread at this timeless Pacifica restaurant and lounge. It’s an all-day restaurant attached to a motel right by the beach, with a vintage Americana atmosphere that looks like a blend of a coastal diner with maritime decor and a throwback martini bar with dim lighting, wood paneling, and tufted leather banquettes.

In a cozy setting down a quiet alley with a beautiful brick-walled courtyard, peak seasonal ingredients are highlighted on the concise, well-composed menu that balances between being comforting and ambitious. Start with one of the beautifully fresh salads or local halibut ceviche before continuing on to a rustic yet refined main like duck breast with sweet potato hash and blackberry gastrique.

Kim Levin’s ode to rustic Italian cuisine in a lofty, natural light–filled space continues to thrill fervent regulars each week. Around 10 pastas are offered each evening, making it very difficult for diners to decide from the many tempting options. Classic preparations like tagliatelle Bolognese and spaghetti puttanesca are given unique touches, like adding pancetta to the former and day-boat scallops to the latter. The adjacent lounge shakes and stirs Half Moon Bay’s best cocktails.