Litmaps · Discover SF

Order the roast chicken for two and a Caesar, sit by the window, and watch Market Street go by. Forty years on and still the definition of an SF night out.

The burrito argument starts and ends here. No rice, all attitude, dorado-crisped tortilla. Cash, a line, and zero regrets.

Eighteen stools, a marble counter, a century of practice. Show up early, get the combo and a cold beer, and let the guys behind the counter run the show.

California's oldest restaurant, since 1849. Mahogany booths, white-jacketed waiters, cioppino and sand dabs. Sit at the counter if the wait's long.

Nineteenth-floor sky lounge atop the Mark Hopkins, 360 over the city since 1939. Dress up, order a martini, get the window seat.

Cramped, loud, joyful old-school Italian seafood. The cioppino ('best in the city,' the menu insists) is enormous. Go early, share everything.

Late-night burrito institution. The super quesadilla suiza at 1am is a Mission sacrament. Cash, fluorescent light, no regrets.

Beloved dive with a big back patio, free oysters on Fridays, and a come-as-you-are crowd. Salsa, drag, ping pong. The friendliest bar in the Mission.

Tiny marble-counter Castro institution for cioppino, oysters and crab Louie.

Two-tier oyster tower in a retro floral-wallpaper room

Cheap-and-cheerful takeout institution; oversized baked BBQ pork bun with jammy filling.

Six pristine USBC-sanctioned lanes paired with elevated pub fare and premium cocktails.

Three Michelin stars; Dominique Crenn's poetic French tasting menu.

Corey Lee's three-star temple of precise, Korean-inflected modern American cooking.

Three-Michelin-star Californian tasting menu that defines SF fine dining at its most refined.

Open-fire, California-terroir tasting menu in a rustic-luxe converted warehouse.

Prepaid Tock tickets drop monthly and vanish for the two-Michelin-star dinner

Old-world Italian fine dining in a converted chapel, famed for its lobster panzerotti.

Fire-driven, ingredient-obsessed tasting menu rooted in Pacific Northwest foraging.

Luxe multi-course Mexican tasting menu that earned two stars for elevated regional cooking.

Modern Californian tasting menu that leapt to two stars in its second year.

Intimate Californian tasting menu with a Green Star for sustainability.

Michelin-starred Chinese-American in a former banquet hall above Waverly Place. Refined, rooted, the kind of meal that reframes Chinatown.

Dim-sum-style carts of inventive small plates wheeled to your table. The namesake quail is the move. Came for the buzz, stayed for the pancakes.

Driftwood-walled beach cafe near Ocean Beach. Famous brunch (the Dutch pancake), house bread, the cozy fog-day antidote.

Tiny marble-counter Castro institution for cioppino, oysters and crab Louie.

Playful Filipino-American cooking and natural wine in a colorful Mission room.

Cozy Marina trattoria turning Neapolitan pizza and seasonal pastas into a ritual.

Bib Gourmand; traditional Japanese izakaya with house-made everything.

Three-Michelin-star Californian tasting menu that defines SF fine dining at its most refined.

Open-fire, California-terroir tasting menu in a rustic-luxe converted warehouse.

Corey Lee's three-star temple of precise, Korean-inflected modern American cooking.

Prepaid Tock tickets drop monthly and vanish for the two-Michelin-star dinner

Luxe multi-course Mexican tasting menu that earned two stars for elevated regional cooking.

Three Michelin stars; Dominique Crenn's poetic French tasting menu.

Old-world Italian fine dining in a converted chapel, famed for its lobster panzerotti.

Near-flawless $150 katsu-focused 10-12 course tasting with theatrical touches.

Ambitious 13-course Filipino tasting in the former Sons & Daughters space.

A time capsule of red leather and tableside carving carts. Basically one thing on the menu, perfected since 1949. Book ahead, order the Englishman cut.

Dim-sum-style carts of inventive small plates wheeled to your table. The namesake quail is the move. Came for the buzz, stayed for the pancakes.

The pasta-and-pizza temple that made reservations a sport. Handmade pasta, blistered Neapolitan pies, a tasting menu if you're game. Worth the angling.

Most-hyped 2025 pizza opening with sold-out sourdough pies

Prepaid Tock tickets drop monthly and vanish for the two-Michelin-star dinner

Ten seats and a reservation list that took a critic two years to crack

Buzzy seafood-Mexican from the Dalida team with tough tables

Galbi so legendary you'll happily join a month-long waitlist.

One nightly seating for a 10-12 course katsu menu, extremely limited

Hard-to-book Cantonese hit nailing funky, salty, sweet flavors

Over a dozen baklava varieties plus Turkish maraş dondurma

Most-hyped 2025 pizza opening with sold-out sourdough pies

Glossy maroon-ceilinged French wine bar with lighting so forgiving it doubles as a filter.

2025 smashburger that stands out in a crowded scene

2025 opening with nightly DJs, bone marrow burgers, and carrot cake

2025 dimly-lit seafood destination with usually-open bar seating

2025 sequel matching the beloved original's quality

Cramped, creaky Chinatown survivor with stairs-to-the-kitchen seating and decades of grit.

Gritty Julia Child-endorsed dive with bubbly imperial rolls in a rough-around-edges room.

Fluorescent-lit late-night burrito institution, cash-only and gloriously no-frills.

Tiny cash-only burger counter, a no-frills late-night institution.

Small Vietnamese counter cranking out $7 banh mi in a bare-bones space.

No-frills cash counter for cheap dim sum, eaten on a Portsmouth bench.

Beloved cramped takeout window for char siu bao and pineapple buns.

Tiny Burmese counter with a handful of stools and garlic noodles.

Cramped Polk Gulch counter slinging charred chicken combos for decades.

Cluttered hofbrau crammed with bric-a-brac, carving-station character galore.

Cash, a line, and zero frills; the Mission burrito argument incarnate.

Cult wet burrito from a scrappy, packed Mission taqueria.

Eighteen stools, a marble counter, a century of practice. Show up early, get the combo and a cold beer, and let the guys behind the counter run the show.

The tea leaf salad that started a movement, tossed tableside. Expect a wait on Clement Street, expect to be converted.

A Tokyo ramen phenom's first US outpost. Tonkotsu so rich it's almost dessert, and a wait you'll grumble about then forget mid-bowl.

A world-champion pizzaiolo firing a dozen styles in different ovens. The Margherita is capped at 73 a day for a reason. Grab a slice next door if there's a wait.

Weekend-only line down the block for croissants and guava tarts

Organic, regional Mexican cooking from the Nopa team with carnitas and ceviche.

Tiny walk-in spot for thin-crust pizzas worth the queue

Hayes Valley go-to for juicy soup dumplings and handmade Shanghainese noodles.

Worth the line for crispy pork potstickers and dry-fried chicken wings

Late-night burrito institution. The super quesadilla suiza at 1am is a Mission sacrament. Cash, fluorescent light, no regrets.

The burrito argument starts and ends here. No rice, all attitude, dorado-crisped tortilla. Cash, a line, and zero regrets.

Cult burrito mojado (wet burrito) and veggie burrito.

House-made tortillas; burritos and tacos from a beloved old-school tortilleria.

Under-the-radar Yucatecan cuisine with weekend music

Well-stuffed, juicy quesabirria tacos.

30+ year institution feeding late-night and student crowds.

Burritos with melted cheese and carnitas; reliable cheap eat.

Under-the-radar burrito favorite; get the al pastor.

All-vegan sushi bar and izakaya turning vegetables into convincing nigiri and rolls.

Lighter dashi-based broth; clam ramen and vegan options stand out.

Hidden hinoki-counter omakase down an interior mall hallway

Intimate spot known for inventive twists like squid-ink spring rolls with pepper jack.

Bib Gourmand izakaya with binchotan yakitori and handmade udon.

Some of the city's most impressive tsukemen with housemade noodles and a dashi finishing pour.

Japanese-Thai noodle house; spicy miso and tonkotsu with blistered-skin pork belly.

Japanese AYCE yakiniku with tabletop grills and a wide range of marinated meats.

Sliding-scale omakase ($119-$219) with truffle sesame noodles and A5 wagyu with foie gras.

Ten seats and a reservation list that took a critic two years to crack

A Tokyo ramen phenom's first US outpost. Tonkotsu so rich it's almost dessert, and a wait you'll grumble about then forget mid-bowl.

Burmese garlic noodles and tea-leaf salad around $8 a plate at a tiny counter.

Sourdough pies; the Forbidden Fruit Hawaiian variant.

Crispy sourdough pies in a laid-back neighborhood room.

Thin-crust neighborhood favorite; Amatriciana with a runny egg.

Roman pinsa; the Maranella with sausage, broccolini and burrata.

Thin-crust pies that all other slice shops aspire to.

Detroit-style with crispy cheddar frico edges; the pepperoni is the move.

Converted parking lot with garden boxes and succulents at picnic tables.

Iconic square Sicilian focaccia slices, especially clam-and-garlic and pepperoni.

Loaded by-the-slice pizza open until 2am.

NY-style; spicy vodka pie with stracciatella.

Most-hyped 2025 pizza opening with sold-out sourdough pies

Pristine Neapolitan; the Hawaiian with chili crisp surprises everyone.

Sprawling market-and-restaurant complex showcasing pan-regional Chinese cooking.

Beloved takeout window for generously stuffed char siu bao and pillowy pineapple buns.

Lobster har gow with butter injection and swan-shaped taro puffs.

Deep cut bakery counter for silky shrimp cheung fun.

Individual hot pot plus Korean BBQ with 24-hour-simmered broths like coconut curry and roasted tomato.

Combined AYCE hot pot and Korean BBQ with 15 house-made broths and fresh cuts.

Worth the line for crispy pork potstickers and dry-fried chicken wings

Fried sticky rice and lightly fried sesame balls.

Extra-soupy XLB and wrinkly wontons in spicy chili oil.

Coin-sized pan-fried pork buns with an audible crunch.

Hayes Valley go-to for juicy soup dumplings and handmade Shanghainese noodles.

Braised duck leg with wontons and springy egg noodles

Meaty XLB and 'simple perfection' sesame-topped pan-fried pork buns.

Boiled dumplings by the fourteen-piece set; pork/napa and mushroom/fish.

Broth-loaded shengjianbao with crunchy thicker bottoms.

Two-dozen-plus varieties of steamed and boiled dumplings with thin tender skins.

Nineteen varieties; bigger, juicy xiao long bao.

Hayes Valley go-to for juicy soup dumplings and handmade Shanghainese noodles.

Coin-sized pan-fried pork buns with an audible crunch.

Extra-soupy XLB and wrinkly wontons in spicy chili oil.

Deep cut; brothy lamb and beef khinkali dumplings.

Well-seasoned pork XLB plus potstickers and steamed dumplings.

17-course luxury omakase famous for an interactive tuna-anatomy lesson mid-meal.

Fast-casual fusion sushi and boba near the ballpark.

Cozy Russian Hill spot for nigiri and rolls.

Tiny Hayes Valley spot; tight menu of fresh, well-made nigiri and rolls.

Temaki-focused offshoot of Saru on Polk Street.

Beloved Noe Valley sushi bar; small, creative, frequently packed.

Market-style sashimi and sushi by the piece in the Richmond.

Richmond neighborhood spot known for fresh fish and generous portions.

World-class sashimi, robata grills and a deep sake program.

Hushed, spa-like room serving charred white tuna, red snapper with smoky mentaiko and velvety chawanmushi.

Exclusive 7-seat counter with flawless nigiri, silky chawanmushi and dashi-soaked tomatoes.

Two-tier oyster tower in a retro floral-wallpaper room

Coastal raw bar — raw oysters with zingy yuzu tobiko

Daily local and Maine oysters with house-fermented serrano hot sauce; the Big Shucker tower

Waterfront patio; raw Pacific oysters plus grilled chipotle-bourbon oysters in butter and brown sugar

Dark, orb-lit seafood bar from the State Bird team built for flirty knee brushes.

$1 oyster happy hour (2–5pm) with bay views

Wharf classic for cioppino and Oysters alla Scoma with brandy-garlic aioli

Second-floor Pier 39 views of Alcatraz with award-winning clam chowder in a bread bowl.

Operating since 1867, old-school seafood with curtained booths

Buttery griddled Dungeness crab roll with chives

Since 1938, beloved for its silver-dollar pancakes

Order the roast chicken for two and a Caesar, sit by the window, and watch Market Street go by. Forty years on and still the definition of an SF night out.

A snug SoMa bistro famous for its burger and brussels-sprout chips. Tin ceilings, a buzzy bar, the kind of dinner that's always a good idea.

Wednesday-night-only double smashburger served with potato salad — a napkins-required stunner

Rosy patty with dill-pickled onions and triple-cooked fries

The Bula with spicy barbecue pineapple sauce

Drive-in institution for juicy burgers open until 2am daily.

2025 smashburger that stands out in a crowded scene

The Americana double smashburger — charred patty stack, melted cheese, crispy onions; a perennial 'best in SF' pick

Double smashburger with some of the crispiest edges in town and caramelized shallots

Double-patty burger with caramelized onions, slinging since the 1980s

Tiny casual spot with authentic pad thai and superior curries.

Pad see ew with minced pork charred to caramelization.

Casual Isan-leaning spot; party wings coated in sticky chili jam.

Worth the trek for the BBQ pork shoulder fried rice.

Unfussy room serving fiercely flavorful, MSG-proud Thai near Union Square.

Deep, no-compromise Thai menu spanning curries, larb and harder-to-find dishes.

Thai fine-dining spot famous for its pandan parfait with salted coconut cream

Thai BBQ with tableside grilling, a deep-cut group favorite.

Kao kana moo krob: crispy pork belly over Chinese broccoli.

Creative spins like fried shrimp cakes shaped like donuts.

Parkside neighborhood spot for homestyle Thai

Richmond eatery praised as some of the best Thai in the city

Long-running Pakistani-Indian institution with consistent tikka masala.

Destination-worthy Goan and regional Indian cooking.

Vegetarian South Indian spot famous for crispy oversized dosas.

Chef Heena Patel's plant-forward western Indian cooking, including gin-spiked pani puri.

High-end spot reimagining traditional Indian cuisine with global techniques.

OG Desi truck since 2009 doing tikka tacos, loaded samosas and pav bhaji.

Upscale South Indian with slow-cooked octopus and passion fruit rasam poori.

Goan seafood specialist known for coconut-rich prawn xacuti curry.

Spice-forward curries plus lamb rogan josh and tandoori chicken wings.

Walk-in friendly with velvety butter chicken and garlic naan.

Halal South Asian and American fusion

Nepali curries and momos in the Sunset

The pasta-and-pizza temple that made reservations a sport. Handmade pasta, blistered Neapolitan pies, a tasting menu if you're game. Worth the angling.

Revived Zanze's crustless European cheesecake with berry sauce

Wood-fired Italian with a face-sized raviolo and blanketed parklet for canoodling.

Tiny North Beach room of instantly comforting Italian daily specials.

Sardinian spot for seafood pastas like squid ink fettuccine.

Northern Italian cooking with gnocchi and meyer lemon spaghetti.

Daily-changing menu with refined housemade pastas.

Raw bar with rotating seasonal fresh pasta paired with oysters.

Italian courtyard with a fountain, dim dangly lights, and wedding-Pinterest flowers.

Old-world atmosphere with classic French bistro dishes.

French bistro with cushioned nooks practically built for cuddling.

Beloved bistro with French onion soup and a heated patio.

Cozy neighborhood bistro channeling a friend's dining room.

Classic brasserie whose cassoulet has cooked for nearly 18,000 days.

Glossy maroon-ceilinged French wine bar with lighting so forgiving it doubles as a filter.

French bistro with a marble bar and velour banquettes made for romantic Fridays.

French staples including onion soup and mussels.

Hidden back patio with tabletop grills; order pork belly, bulgogi and kalbi by the pound plus ginger sesame soy wings.

Consensus best KBBQ in town: deeply flavored spicy pork, sweet-salty bulgogi and generous banchan; get the mandu and japchae.

Modern Korean tasting menu spotlighting rice and seasonal banchan.

Charcoal (not gas) grills for just-sweet bulgogi, spicy pork and boneless galbi with endless banchan.

Galbi so legendary you'll happily join a month-long waitlist.

Opened Sept 2025 by a former Daeho chef, praised for galbi-jjim braised short ribs and oxtail.

Late-night Korean BBQ and pub food open into the early morning hours.

Modern sool jib makgeolli and tapas bar with bold, creative Korean bar snacks.

Sunset shop for trendy cheesy Korean-style corn dogs and boba.

The tea-leaf-salad icon that launched SF's Burmese craze; expect a Clement Street wait.

Inner Richmond institution beloved for tea leaf salad and vibrant Burmese curries.

Stylish Superstar spinoff with a full bar and wok-tossed Burmese plates.

Tiny Mission counter for cheap Burmese garlic noodles and tea leaf salad.

Casual Outer Richmond spot for easy weeknight Burmese dinners.

Inner Sunset comfort Burmese with weekday lunch specials.

Reliable Inner Richmond Burmese with springy garlic noodles.

Food-truck-turned-brick-and-mortar famous for the pork sisig burrito.

Ambitious 13-course Filipino tasting in the former Sons & Daughters space.

Vegan Filipino cooking with an outdoor patio.

Historic dive bar with Filipino-American comfort food and fish lumpia.

All-day Filipino breakfast with standout tapsilog and longsilog.

SF's first Filipino fine dining, with brunch, the Paubaya tasting menu, and Panaderia Abacá pastries.

Daytime turo-turo counter with adobo, dinuguan, and halo-halo.

SF outpost of the cult lumpia maker with crispy rolls in many flavors.

Bourdain-anointed Chinatown mala temple; the explosive chili chicken is the move.

Richmond go-to for Chongqing chili chicken, spicy crispy fish and mapo tofu.

Chinatown spot for authentic mala Sichuan noodles and spicy plates.

Numbing dan dan and Chongqing street-noodle specialties in Chinatown.

Hunan heat with a sweet-and-spicy slow burn on chili-coated proteins.

Cult Inner Richmond Sichuan loaded with mala, fish in chili oil and stinky tofu.

Inner Richmond neighborhood favorite for fiery Sichuan classics at easy prices.

Sichuan and Peking duck from the Z & Y team; check hours after a fire closure.

Sichuan-born chef's home-style mala dishes including Chongqing chicken.

Julia Child-endorsed dive; imperial rolls fried until bubbly and charred pork.

The An family's Vietnamese-Californian spot famed for secret-recipe roasted crab and garlic noodles.

Original home of butter-soaked roasted crab and famous garlic noodles.

Upscale Vietnamese; stylish shaking beef and stylish plates.

Best Northern-style pho gà in town; light-but-layered chicken broth (reopened after 2023 closure).

The #3 pho tái: dark rich broth with paper-thin ribeye that cooks in seconds.

Braised duck leg with wontons and springy egg noodles

Upscale Northern Vietnamese classics with modern twists and standout pho.

Small Vietnamese counter with $7 banh mi on perfectly soft rolls.

No-pho spot specializing in make-your-own banh hoi rice noodle rolls.

Beefy slightly sweet broth with thin steak and brisket slices.

Modern Vietnamese icon with shaking beef and clay-pot dishes, fresh-organic focus.

Fast-casual Greek done right: spit-fired lamb, gyro salads, frozen Greek yogurt with olive oil. Grab a wine and a bowl, take it to the park.

Over a dozen baklava varieties plus Turkish maraş dondurma

Upscale Moroccan known for chicken-confit basteeya.

Upscale Turkish with a wood-fired oven and golden branzino.

Arab bakery excelling at man'oushe and shakshuka.

Palestinian restaurant with kefta kabob and eggplant fatteh.

Counter-service Mediterranean with a seven-dish tapas sampler.

Arab bakery doing shakshuka and just-baked mana'eesh pastries.

Persian institution since 1983 known for succulent lamb kebabs and stews.

Long-running Persian dining room with kebabs, tahdig, and herb stews.

Kosher Israeli bakery cafe with shakshuka, sambousak, and fresh breads.

Fillmore jazz venue and restaurant known for golden crackly-edged sambusas.

Fast counter-service for quick dinners with excellent kitfo.

Counter-service spot praised for depth of spices and layered flavor.

Homey Mission room serving classic Ethiopian dishes and chicken kitfo.

Cozy Sunset staple with standout sambusas and a vegetarian sampler.

Ethiopian-Dominican afro-fusion lounge co-founded by Draymond Green, opened 2025.

Southern fried chicken with crispy skin and house hot honey in the Fillmore.

Southern comfort plates, chicken and waffles, beignets and bottomless mimosa brunch.

Theater-district club pairing Creole-Cajun-Southern plates with live blues.

Walk-up window for chicken and waffles and football-sized po'boys.

New Orleans comfort food with a line out the door; the beignet flight is a must.

Eskender Aseged's seasonal cooking blends East African and Southern soul influences.

Laid-back joint for ribs, pulled pork and house sausages with beans and rolls.

USDA Prime brisket smoked 15+ hours, plus brisket bao and gochujang pulled-pork bao.

Longtime SF barbecue counter for slow-smoked brisket, ribs and pulled pork.

Smoked brisket, ribs and wings in a casual bar setting in SoMa.

Smoked brisket, ribs and classic American BBQ plates in the Castro.

2025 Texas-style barbecue with Indonesian sides on the waterfront.

Neighborhood BBQ joint doing ribs and smoked plates on select days.

A Tokyo ramen phenom's first US outpost. Tonkotsu so rich it's almost dessert, and a wait you'll grumble about then forget mid-bowl.

Hakata-style tonkotsu with noodles thin as thread. Put your name down, wander Japan Center, come back to a creamy bowl.

BBQ pork wonton noodle soup with shrimp-and-pork wontons

Braised duck leg with wontons and springy egg noodles

Numbing dan dan noodles and spicy Chongqing street-noodle specialties.

Coin-sized pan-fried pork buns with an audible crunch.

Some of the city's most impressive tsukemen with housemade noodles and a dashi finishing pour.

Lighter dashi-based broth; clam ramen and vegan options stand out.

California's oldest restaurant, since 1849. Mahogany booths, white-jacketed waiters, cioppino and sand dabs. Sit at the counter if the wait's long.

Cramped, loud, joyful old-school Italian seafood. The cioppino ('best in the city,' the menu insists) is enormous. Go early, share everything.

The An family's Vietnamese-Californian spot famed for secret-recipe roasted crab and garlic noodles.

Original home of butter-soaked roasted crab and famous garlic noodles.

Tiny marble-counter Castro institution for cioppino, oysters and crab Louie.

Bay Bridge views and floor-to-ceiling aquarium pillars over a raw-bar feast.

Salt-and-pepper Dungeness crab with crispy fried garlic

Buttery griddled Dungeness crab roll with chives

Wharf classic for cioppino and Oysters alla Scoma with brandy-garlic aioli

Longtime Mexican-seafood spot for ceviche tostadas and cocteles.

Fresh aguachile, ceviches and family-style spreads with giant micheladas.

Waterfront Peruvian-Mexican cebicheria for upscale ceviche.

Yucatecan cuisine with seafood dishes and weekend music.

Sinaloa-style mariscos with some of the best aguachile in the Bay Area.

Mission mariscos spot for fresh ceviche, aguachile and shrimp plates.

Mission spot ranked for mariscos, ceviche and aguachile.

Seafood-forward modern Mexican with standout aguachile.

Birria plus Mexican seafood with rich consome and massive burritos.

Single-serving individual pots so nobody jostles over a shared broth.

Japanese-style shabu shabu, a top pick for the genre in SF.

Outer Sunset hot pot with customizable broths and self-serve sauce and veggie bars.

Dim sum house that also serves creative Hong Kong-style hot pot.

Szechuan-leaning hot pot with elegant interiors and private rooms.

Inner Mongolian herb-and-spice broth hot pot near Union Square.

Outer Sunset neighborhood Chinese hot pot with customizable broths.

Cozy family hot pot with three soup bases and house-made sides.

All-you-can-eat with customizable broths and self-serve sauce and veggie bars

Brazilian rodizio churrascaria with continuous tableside skewers of grilled meats.

Japanese AYCE yakiniku with tabletop grills and a wide range of marinated meats.

Combined AYCE hot pot and Korean BBQ with 15 house-made broths and fresh cuts.

Individual hot pot plus Korean BBQ with 24-hour-simmered broths like coconut curry and roasted tomato.

All-you-can-eat-and-drink sushi and hotpot with upscale cuts like American wagyu and Kurobuta pork belly, drawing lines.

Long-running Korean spot popular for generous grilled-meat sets.

California's oldest restaurant, since 1849. Mahogany booths, white-jacketed waiters, cioppino and sand dabs. Sit at the counter if the wait's long.

A Tokyo ramen phenom's first US outpost. Tonkotsu so rich it's almost dessert, and a wait you'll grumble about then forget mid-bowl.

Tiny marble-counter Castro institution for cioppino, oysters and crab Louie.

Solo diners get ushered straight to the long sushi counter.

Low-lit leather booths and decadent white bolognese for prolonged eye contact.

Bib Gourmand; traditional Japanese izakaya with house-made everything.

Red-leather institution built entirely around tableside-carved prime rib

Old-school steakhouse known for juicy dry-aged New York steak

Polished room with well-executed dry- and wet-aged steaks

FiDi steakhouse plating steaks with a caviar-topped potato pave

1908 chophouse from 'The Maltese Falcon' famed for steaks and chops

Brazilian churrascaria with endless tableside skewers of grilled meats

Argentine spot for a giant gaucho steak for two with chimichurri

Dim unmarked old-world pub known for its pepper steak

North Beach institution with classic steaks on a big Italian-American menu

Wagyu-focused fine-dining steakhouse pouring A5 beef

Historic windowless FiDi room with red booths and big dry-aged cuts

Clubby room serving crisp-edged tender filet mignon

Landmark 1916 marketplace of top local vendors plus a farmers market.

Sprawling market-and-restaurant complex with multiple Chinese food vendors.

Bustling public-market stretch of produce, seafood and bakery vendors.

Year-round multi-vendor farmers market, one of the city's most affordable.

Neighborhood multi-vendor market with fresh produce and weekend music.

Plant-forward food hall with several exclusively vegan vendors under one roof.

Downtown glass-atrium mall with a multi-vendor food court and weekly market.

Weekly market of farm stalls and prepared-food vendors.

Iconic Filipino truck famous for the pork sisig burrito

OG Desi truck since 2009 doing tikka tacos and loaded samosas

Philly-style cheesesteaks among the rotating SoMa StrEat trucks

Deaf-owned wood-fired Neapolitan pizza truck at Off the Grid

Korean truck slinging bulgogi burgers and kimchi fries

First US gourmet rotisserie truck, cult porchetta sandwich at the Embarcadero

Singaporean and Malaysian street food from a well-liked SF truck

Himalayan momos and noodle bowls from a popular roving truck

Rotating daily sandwiches from a beloved tiny takeout window

North Beach temple of house-cured Italian meats and stacked deli subs

Tank-sized stuffed sandwiches with killer pastrami

Jewish deli with house-cured pastrami on rye and matzo ball soup

Classic no-frills Italian combo sandwiches with pickled peppers

Widely called SF's best banh mi, crispy roll with perfect pickle-mayo-heat balance

Tight sandwich menu on toasted Dutch-crunch rolls

Baguette sandwiches stuffed burrito-thick with balanced flavor

Hidden hinoki-counter omakase down an interior Japantown mall hallway only locals find

Under-the-radar Yucatecan cooking in the Mission with weekend live music

Outer Sunset neighborhood wine bar slinging arm-length hoagies and great salads

Underground Castro counter for chirashi and torched nigiri away from the crowds

Easy-to-miss North Beach counter for fresh pasta with seasonal sauces

Tucked-away Haight shawarma and falafel with meat-loaded hummus locals swear by

Mission Terrace sleeper with a four-sandwich menu on toasted Dutch-crunch rolls

Outer Sunset Vietnamese institution for pho and noodle soups under $15

Cole Valley spot for shareable Arabic and Jordanian comfort dishes off the radar

Bib Gourmand izakaya with binchotan yakitori, handmade udon and a great drink list.

Inner Sunset izakaya pub known for skewers and sake small plates.

FiDi izakaya with robata small plates, sashimi and a deep sake program.

Upscale SoMa izakaya with live-fire small plates and a strong sake list.

Casual Nob Hill sake-and-skewers pub with a broad small-plates menu.

Tiny Inner Richmond izakaya where the deep-fried mochi alone earns the wait.

Cozy izakaya with homestyle Japanese small plates and sake.