The Top 100 Restaurants Near Ham & Cheese Deli
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A neighborhood deli that leans into the bit: pinball machines, vintage hats, cotton candy on the shelves, and sandwiches with names like Beefer Sutherland. The menu punches hard for vegetarians too, with options that actually want to be there rather than apologizing for the missing meat. It feels like the kind of place a college town would be smug about having, which San Francisco absolutely is.
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Rank 2. Hong Kong Lounge
Chinese
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In The Richmond
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Rank 3. Aziza
Moroccan
Mourad Lahlou is one of those celebrity chefs casual diners actually know, so his return to the Richmond district after years away is worth paying attention to. Aziza is a proper sit-down Moroccan restaurant with a California accent, pale walls, and a colorful bar that says "date night" without trying too hard. The staff knows the menu cold and doesn't make you feel like a tourist for asking. The basteeya alone justifies the trip.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- The New York Times The 25 Best Restaurants in San Francisco Right Now
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Rank 4. Volcano
Japanese
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Meals For Under $15 In SF
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In The Richmond
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Rank 5. Dragon Beaux
Chinese
Dragon Beaux is a dim sum spot in the Richmond that feels a step dressier than your usual cart-and-chaos setup, with carpeted walls and glass displays like someone actually thought about the room. The crowd skews family celebrations and couples who coordinate outfits. The kitchen does a contemporary take on Cantonese classics, and the colorful soup dumplings will tempt you, but the siu mai topped with crab roe is the smarter call.
- San Francisco Chronicle Best dim sum restaurants in the SF Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In The Richmond
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Rank 6. Pearl 6101
Cal- Italian
A Cal-Italian neighborhood spot that actually feels like a neighborhood spot, Pearl 6101 lives in a converted retro drugstore out in the Richmond and pulls in the kind of locals who know all the servers by name. The pasta is the move, the wine list is genuinely well chosen without being exhausting, and the menu gives vegetarians a real seat at the table rather than an afterthought. Casual enough for a Tuesday, good enough to plan around.
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Rank 7. Mandalay
Burmese
Mandalay has been around forever and still carries itself like it knows something the newer spots don't. This is a casual neighborhood Burmese restaurant on the Inner Richmond, the kind of place regulars treat like a second kitchen. The tea leaf salad is the real reason to go, built closer to what you'd actually find in Myanmar than anywhere else in the Bay Area. Bring someone curious and order widely.
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Winner · America's Classics: California
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- The Infatuation #4 · The 25 Best Restaurants In SF
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Rank 8. Pizzetta 211
Thin-crust Pizza
- The Infatuation The 19 Best Pizza Places In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In The Richmond
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A cozy Richmond District Thai spot that goes well beyond the usual suspects. The menu is massive and leans into street food and regional specialties you won't find at your average pad thai joint, which is exactly the point. The crowd is a mix of regulars who clearly have a system and curious newcomers still working through the options. Come hungry and willing to explore.
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Rank 10. Kitchen Istanbul
Turkish
- San Francisco Chronicle 2026 · #55 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Best Turkish Restaurants In SF
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
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Rank 11. Tommy’s
Mexican
Tommy's is a no-frills Mexican restaurant on Geary that's been around forever, and the red pleather booths and complimentary shredded-lettuce salad will make you feel like you time-traveled. The real draw is the bar, where Julio runs one of the most serious tequila collections in the country and will happily school you on agave until you forget what you came in for. Regulars and converts fill the room in equal measure.
- San Francisco Chronicle Best classic San Francisco restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle The Best Classic Restaurants in San Francisco
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Rank 13. Lily
Vietnamese
Lily is the rare Vietnamese restaurant in the Inner Richmond that's actually trying to do something new, and mostly pulling it off. The chef riffs on classics without wrecking them, so the chicken phở still tastes like the real thing, just noticeably more considered. The crowd skews curious and a little food-forward, the kind of people who actually read menus. Casual enough to show up in jeans, but the cooking is clearly taking itself seriously.
- San Francisco Chronicle The best Vietnamese restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle 2026 · #42 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In The Richmond
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Rank 14. Cinderella Bakery
Russian Bakery
This cheerful Russian bakery and cafe has been a fixture in the Richmond District's Russian neighborhood for years, and it earns its place. Come for borsch, pillowy piroshki, and pelmeni that feel like someone's grandmother made them, even if yours never did. The crowd is a warm mix of regulars who know exactly what they want and newcomers slowing down to read the case. Save room for cake.
- San Francisco Chronicle Best classic San Francisco restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle The Best Classic Restaurants in San Francisco
- The Infatuation Honey Cake · The San Francisco Dessert Bucket List
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Rank 15. Pasta Supply Co
Italian
- The Infatuation The 13 Best Pasta Restaurants In SF
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In The Richmond
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Rank 16. Rose Pizzeria
Thin-crust Pizza
- The Infatuation The Hit List: New San Francisco Restaurants To Try Right Now
- The Infatuation The 19 Best Pizza Places In San Francisco
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Rank 17. My Tofu House
Korean
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Rank 18. Spruce
Modern New American
Spruce is the kind of polished neighborhood restaurant that actually earns its reputation, a proper sit-down dinner spot in Presidio Heights where the regulars look like they own at least one piece of real estate nearby. The cooking is refined California seasonal without being precious about it, and the wine list leans into the state's best producers. Lunch is relaxed; dinner turns up the formality a notch. Worth the splurge either way.
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Rank 19. Han Il Kwan
Korean
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Rank 20. Good Luck Dim Sum
Chinese
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Little Lucca is a sandwich counter that's been around forever, and the sandwiches are genuinely absurd in size. The bread is the real star and the garlic sauce has a cult following for good reason, though your travel companions will have opinions about that choice. The crowd is locals who know exactly what they're getting, plus the occasional wide-eyed first-timer who ordered two. Do yourself a favor and eat before you board.
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Rank 22. Moku Yakitori-Ya
Japanese
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This tiny 11-seat sushi bar on Balboa runs on pure devotion, the kind you can read on the hand-written notes covering the walls. Show up early because a line forms well before the doors open, and once you're in, you just eat whatever the chef puts in front of you. The nigiri here are genuinely massive compared to most spots, and the sashimi portions are almost absurdly generous. Cash in your Michelin-star reservations for this one.
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Rank 24. MuuKaTa6395
Thai
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Rank 25. Le Soleil
Contemporary Asian
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Rank 26. Wako
Sushi
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Rank 27. Cantina Los Mayas
Yucatecan Mexican
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Rank 28. The Laundromat
Pizza
A former coin-op laundry in the Outer Richmond that pivoted to bagels and pizza, and honestly the pivot worked out great. Mornings belong to the bagels, displayed in metal racks draped with white sheets as a nod to the building's past life. The rye is where it's at, and the Calabrian chile schmear is worth the trip alone. Afternoons shift to pizza, and the crowd is exactly the neighborhood mix you'd expect, locals who've clearly figured something out.
- San Francisco Chronicle Best bagels in the San Francisco Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle 2026 · #85 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 19 Best Pizza Places In San Francisco
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Rank 29. Dalida
Mediterranean
Tucked into the Presidio, Dalida is a lively Eastern Mediterranean spot that draws a devoted crowd of couples and groups who come ready to share everything on the table. The menu nods to Istanbul, built for passing plates around, and the pita alone is worth the detour: rolled and hearth-baked to order, impossibly pillowy, arriving with spreads and pickles. The rest of the menu keeps pace, so bring a group and clear your schedule.
- Spirited Awards 2025 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Restaurant Bar – U.S. West
- Esquire 2023 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
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Rank 30. Yuanbao Jiaozi
Chinese
- The New York Times The 25 Best Restaurants in San Francisco Right Now
- The Infatuation #13 · The 25 Best Restaurants In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Chinese food and restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 31. Cielito Lindo
Mexican
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Rank 32. Acquerello
Italian
Acquerello is the kind of two-Michelin-star Italian fine dining room that actually earns the fuss, with handmade pasta and bold, precise cooking that makes other places feel like they're just trying. The vibe is warm and grown-up, full of people who dressed up and mean it. The Italian wine cellar goes embarrassingly deep, and when the mignardises cart rolls over at the end, you'll understand why everyone looks so smug.
- Michelin Guide 2 Stars
- AAA Four Diamonds
- World Culinary Awards 2025 · Nominee · North America's Best Italian Cuisine Restaurant
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Rank 33. Caché
Seafood French
- The Infatuation 2025 · #7 · San Francisco’s Best New Restaurants
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In The Sunset
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Rank 34. Prik Hom
Thai
A laid-back neighborhood Thai spot on Geary that quietly punches well above its weight. The chef brought real fine-dining chops home from Bangkok and applied them to a compact menu that feels fresh without being fussy. The cooking leans into aroma in a way most Thai places don't bother with, from hand-pounded curry pastes to a dessert finished with a wisp of incense smoke. Locals who've found it treat it like a personal secret.
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Yo También! Cantina is a cozy all-day café where the brunch food is genuinely good for you but doesn't make you feel like you're being punished. Think vegan rice bowls piled with vegetables, tamales with avocado and a jammy egg, and nonalcoholic micheladas that actually taste like something. The crowd is pure San Francisco, Patagonia puffers over athleisure, and they are absolutely right to be here.
- San Francisco Chronicle Best brunch restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle 2026 · #98 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 36. Arizmendi Bakery
Bakery
- The Infatuation The 19 Best Pizza Places In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In The Sunset
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Rank 37. True Laurel
American
- The Pinnacle Guide 2 Pins
- 50 Best 2025 · #64 · World's 50 Best Bars
- 50 Best 2026 · #14 · North America's 50 Best Bars
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Rank 38. um.ma
Korean
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Rank 39. The Progress
Californian
This Michelin-starred sharing-plates spot near the Fillmore Theater pulls off something genuinely hard: food that looks stunning and actually tastes as good as it looks. The vibe is warm and lively, two floors of wood and stone filled with people who came dressed for a proper night out. The California-meets-Nordic cooking is bold and a little unexpected, and the duck, when it crosses the room, turns heads for good reason.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Esquire 2023 · The Progress Martini · The Best Martinis in America
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Outstanding Restaurateur · Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski - Atomic Workshop
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Rank 40. State Bird Provisions
Californian
Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions runs dim sum-style service with California cooking, meaning carts roll past your table and you grab whatever looks good. It's a genuinely fun way to eat, letting you build a meal out of whims instead of a menu. The room is loud and full of people who planned ahead, because getting a reservation takes real effort. Worth every refresh of the booking page.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Outstanding Restaurateur · Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski - Atomic Workshop
- San Francisco Chronicle 2026 · #36 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 41. Fiorella Sunset
Wood-fired Italian
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Rank 42. Mister Jiu's
Chinese
Mister Jiu's is a Michelin-starred fine dining room in the heart of Chinatown that does something genuinely hard: it makes modern California cooking feel completely at home in Cantonese tradition. The crowd skews date-night and special-occasion, everyone dressed just enough. The Peking duck is the move, and the cocktails are serious enough to linger over. Go hungry, go with someone you want to impress.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- World Culinary Awards 2025 · Nominee · North America's Best Chinese Cuisine Restaurant
- Time Out The best Chinese restaurants in America
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Rank 43. Sandy's
NOLA sandwiches
A tiny sandwich shop on Haight that does one thing the rest of San Francisco mostly ignores: the New Orleans muffuletta. You're choosing between meat or mushroom, both stacked with olive spread and pressed into a tidy triangle that looks like a slice of pie. The crowd is mostly locals who've quietly decided this beats the burrito place. Grab a seat inside if you can, or just take it to the park like everyone else.
- San Francisco Chronicle 2026 · #23 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- Eater The 38 Essential Restaurants in San Francisco
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Rank 44. Kevin & Chris’s Noodle House
Vietnamese
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Rank 45. Nari
Thai
Nari is a Michelin-starred prix-fixe spot inside Hotel Kabuki where the cooking genuinely earns the dramatic room it's served in. The chef runs contemporary Thai through a California filter, and the results are sharper and more interesting than that sounds. Dishes come family-style, which loosens things up nicely. The curries alone are worth the trip. Expect well-dressed couples and food-curious locals who definitely Googled the menu beforehand.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- James Beard Awards 2022 · Nominee · Best Chef: California · Pim Techamuanvivit
- The New York Times 2021 · The Restaurant List
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A sunny, easygoing brunch spot in NoPa with antique stained glass and the kind of vibe that makes you linger way past your second cup. The Southern-leaning menu means French toast loaded with seasonal fruit and a rotating doughnut worth ordering while you wait. The owner wanders the room with a coffee pot like someone who genuinely wants you to stay. Weekend warriors and neighborhood regulars pack the place, all equally unhurried.
- San Francisco Chronicle Best brunch restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
- The Infatuation The 18 Best Restaurants In NoPa
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Rank 47. Mini Potstickers
Chinese
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Rank 48. Routier
French
A neighborhood bistro in the best sense: the kind of place where the food is clearly French but the ingredients are clearly Californian, and somehow that tension makes everything taste better. The room feels lived-in without being shabby, and the crowd matches, locals who know the menu cold mixing with people who just discovered it. The real closer is that dessert comes from the celebrated patisserie next door, which is genuinely unfair to everywhere else.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- San Francisco Chronicle Best French restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation Chocolate Mousse · The San Francisco Dessert Bucket List
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Rank 49. Izzy's
Steakhouse
Izzy's is a classic SF steakhouse that's been around forever and somehow only gotten better with age. The bar hums with regulars who've earned their barstools, and the dining room draws the kind of crowd that actually knows how to order a steak. Open-fire dry-aged beef, timber and brass, and a genuinely warm room that doesn't try too hard. It landed on the World's Best Steak Restaurants list, which tracks.
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Rank 50. Copra
South Indian
Kerala cuisine finally gets the swanky Fillmore treatment at Copra, where the chef channels his home region of southwestern India into a menu built for sharing. The room is lush, the lighting is great, and the crowd knows it, so expect a few people angling for the shot. Order generously, because the portions reward ambition, and maybe reconsider your white shirt before the crab curry arrives.
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Nominee · Outstanding Restaurateur · Srijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
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Rank 51. Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement
Soul food
Soul food done with real love, right in the Fillmore where the chef grew up dreaming of opening this very spot. Minnie Bell's is a full-service restaurant, and the fried chicken, fragrant with rosemary and made for dunking in homemade hot sauce, is genuinely the reason people keep coming back. The mac and cheese has its own fan club too. Wash it all down with a cold beer and settle in with the neighborhood regulars who look very pleased with themselves for living nearby.
- Bon Appétit 2025 · America's Best New Restaurants
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- The New York Times The 25 Best Restaurants in San Francisco Right Now
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Rank 52. Niku Steakhouse
Japanese Steakhouse
A Michelin-starred Japanese steakhouse tucked behind a gold door in the Design District, Niku takes the idea of a steakhouse seriously in ways most don't. The kitchen runs a whole-animal butchery program, ages its beef carefully, and cooks everything over a binchōtan robata grill. The crowd skews tech money and special-occasion couples who dressed up for this. Grab a counter seat if you can and watch the fire do its thing.
- World's 101 Best #49 · World's Best Steak Restaurants
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- The Infatuation #20 · The 25 Best Restaurants In SF
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Rank 53. San Tung
Chinese
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Rank 54. House of Prime Rib
Steakhouse
A classic SF steakhouse that's been around forever and shows zero interest in changing. The drill is simple: a salad spun tableside in an icy metal bowl, then a carving cart rolls up and someone in a white coat slices you a serious slab of roast beef with potato and gravy. The room is dark, the martinis are cold, and everyone is dressed like they're celebrating something, even if they're not.
- Esquire 2025 · Martini · The Best Martinis in America
- James Beard Awards 2022 · Nominee · Outstanding Hospitality
- San Francisco Chronicle Best classic San Francisco restaurants
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Rank 55. Outerlands
American
Way out near the beach, this cozy neighborhood restaurant built from reclaimed wood has a cult following that started with the bread and never really left. The sourdough here is genuinely the reason people cross the city, and the rest of the seasonal menu, simple and hearty and very good, keeps them coming back. Weekend brunch draws a mellow, fleece-heavy crowd who've learned to arrive early and order the sticky bun without being asked.
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
- Eater The 38 Essential Restaurants in San Francisco
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One of the very few spots in San Francisco doing real Persian cooking, Lavash is a cozy neighborhood restaurant in the Sunset where families and regulars who definitely don't need the menu fill the room. The kebabs arrive piled over rice on giant sheets of flatbread, and the tahdig, Iran's crispy-bottomed rice, is the kind of thing you'll think about later. Grab a table in the parklet if the weather cooperates.
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Rank 57. New Eritrea Restaurant
Ethiopian
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Rank 58. Ken
Omakase Japanese
Six seats, no sign on the door, and a chef who genuinely seems to enjoy surprising you. Ken is an omakase counter in the Lower Haight where the nigiri leans creative without being weird about it, and the small plates tend to steal the show anyway. The room is intimate in the way that actually means intimate, not just small. Expect a crowd that researched this pretty carefully before showing up.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- The Infatuation #6 · The 25 Best Restaurants In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
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Rank 59. Manna
Korean
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Rank 60. The Happy Crane
Cantonese
Snagging a table here is half the battle, but this chef-driven Cantonese restaurant in Hayes Valley is absolutely worth the effort. The kitchen takes the food seriously without taking itself too seriously, folding in unexpected ingredients like artichoke and fennel alongside the classics without making it weird. The room runs young and food-curious, full of people who planned this dinner a week out and are visibly pleased with themselves for getting in.
- Eater 2025 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Chinese food and restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Hit List: New San Francisco Restaurants To Try Right Now
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Rank 61. Palm City
Sandwiches
A wine shop and sandwich spot in the Outer Sunset where the whole idea is to grab a bottle, sit outside, and watch the sun drop toward the ocean. The hoagies are genuinely good, and the crowd is exactly what you'd expect from that neighborhood: laid-back locals who figured out the move before anyone else did. Corkage on your bottle is cheap early in the week, which tells you everything about the vibe here.
- San Francisco Chronicle Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best restaurants for outdoor dining in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In The Sunset
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Rank 62. Banh Mi Crunch
Noodles
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Rank 63. Jules
Pizza
- Esquire 2025 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- San Francisco Chronicle 2026 · #12 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation 2025 · #3 · San Francisco’s Best New Restaurants
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Rank 64. Thanh Long
Vietnamese
Thanh Long is the Vietnamese restaurant that basically invented the garlic noodle, and people have been making the trek out to the Outer Sunset for decades to prove it. Everyone gets a bib, nobody complains. The move is roast Dungeness crab drowned in butter and garlic, with those noodles on the side, non-negotiable. It's a full-contact dinner, and the room is full of people who knew exactly what they were signing up for.
- San Francisco Chronicle Best classic San Francisco restaurants
- The Infatuation #22 · The 25 Best Restaurants In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle The Best Classic Restaurants in San Francisco
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Rank 65. Alexander's Steakhouse
American/Japanese
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Rank 66. Beit Rima
Palestinian Middle Eastern
Beit Rima is a Middle Eastern small-plates spot where the room is as loud and maximalist as the food, giant pink roses on the walls, vintage plates everywhere, a Turkish coffee set hanging from the ceiling. The chef grew up eating this food, and it shows: Lebanese, Palestinian, and Jordanian flavors that feel personal rather than generic. Order a bunch of things and share them, which is exactly what everyone in here is already doing.
- The Infatuation #18 · The 25 Best Restaurants In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Middle Eastern restaurants in the Bay Area
- The New York Times The 25 Best Restaurants in San Francisco Right Now
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Rank 67. Anchor Oyster Bar
Old-School Seafood
This Castro seafood counter has been around forever, and the line out the door on any given night tells you everything you need to know. It's tiny, cash-register-and-checkered-tablecloth old-school, better suited for a date than a group. The oysters are the real deal, the cioppino is the reason regulars never open the menu, and the Bib Gourmand keeps the secret only barely a secret.
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- San Francisco Chronicle Best seafood restaurants in the Bay Area
- Eater The 38 Essential Restaurants in San Francisco
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Rank 68. Piccino Presidio
Italian
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Rank 70. Kin Khao
Thai
Michelin-starred Thai in a hotel lobby sounds like a trap, but Kin Khao is the real deal. The room is nothing to write home about, yet the cooking is genuinely exciting, drawing on Thai tradition while leaning hard into Northern California produce. It's creative without being precious, and the spice levels are no joke. The crowd skews adventurous eater over tourist, which tells you something.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Thai restaurants in the SF Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle 2026 · #58 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 71. Tiya
Modern Indian
Tiya is a fine dining room in Cow Hollow where modern Indian cooking gets a California makeover, and it works better than it has any right to. The team leans into local, seasonal produce in ways that feel genuinely creative rather than gimmicky. The room is polished enough that you'll want to dress up a little, and the cocktail bar, with drinks named after SF neighborhoods, gives you a solid excuse to linger.
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Rank 72. Rich Table
American
Buzzy Hayes Valley dinner spot that books out fast and earns every reservation. The room feels like a farmhouse someone made actually cool, all distressed wood and low-key energy, with the bar crowd in their best casual eating whatever the kitchen sends out. The food is California at its core but pulls in flavors from everywhere, and the whole thing lands with way more finesse than the laid-back vibe lets on.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- San Francisco Chronicle 2026 · #8 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 73. Hilda & Jesse
Fine dining
A Michelin-starred brunch spot where the menu is a surprise, because they don't hand you one. The team has serious fine dining pedigree, and it shows in a cooking style that's bold and a little chaotic in the best way, big flavors and genuinely unexpected combinations. The room feels like a modernist diner, bright and unpretentious, and the crowd shows up dressed like they might have places to be later but aren't sure.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- San Francisco Chronicle Best brunch restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle 2026 · #32 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 74. Zuni Café
Californian
Zuni has been around forever and it still runs the room, a California institution where the wood-burning oven perfumes the whole place and the copper bar fills up early with people who know exactly what they're doing. The brick-roasted chicken for two is the reason most of them are here, and ordering it feels like passing a test. Business lunchers, tourist converts, and locals who never need the menu all share the same sun-drenched dining room.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- San Francisco Chronicle Best classic San Francisco restaurants
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Rank 75. Rintaro
Japanese
An izakaya that feels like someone built it in a forest, Rintaro holds a Bib Gourmand and earns it. The space is genuinely beautiful, all redwood and cedar, and the kitchen brings a NorCal farmers-market instinct to Japanese small plates. The crowd skews creative-class, speaking quietly over charcoal-grilled skewers and soft tofu that somehow tastes like a flex. Come hungry enough to order widely and you'll leave very happy.
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Chef · Sylvan Mishima Brackett
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
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Rank 76. Zazie
French
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
- The Infatuation The 21 Best Outdoor Dining Spots In SF
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Rank 77. Shizen
Vegan Sushi
The all-vegan thing sounds like a punchline until the food arrives and your skepticism quietly folds. Shizen is a lively izakaya and sushi bar in the Mission where the kitchen does genuinely clever things with tofu and vegetables, rebuilding Japanese seafood classics without the seafood. The crowd skews young and plant-curious, but plenty of committed carnivores end up here too, looking a little sheepish and very full.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the SF Bay Area
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Rank 78. Maria Isabel
Upscale Mexican
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Rank 79. Tony's Pizza Napoletana
Neapolitan Pizza
- 50 Top Pizza 2025 · #3 · 50 Top Pizza USA
- Sunset 2025 · Inspired Italian · Where to Eat and Drink
- The Infatuation The 19 Best Pizza Places In San Francisco
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Rank 80. Presidio Kebab
Turkish
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Rank 81. Angler
Seafood
Angler is a Michelin-starred seafood spot on the Embarcadero where live fire does most of the talking. The open kitchen pulls focus the whole night, and you can taste the smoke in almost everything that comes out of it. It draws the kind of crowd that orders confidently and dresses like they mean it. The wine list is serious, and dessert is genuinely not optional. Budget accordingly, and snag a reservation.
- AAA Four Diamonds
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- The Infatuation Soft Serve Sundae · The San Francisco Dessert Bucket List
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Rank 82. The Yellow Submarine
Sandwiches
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A San Francisco institution, Greens has been doing full-on vegetarian fine dining at Fort Mason since forever, back when that was a genuinely radical idea. The menu is entirely meat-free, so vegetarians can finally stop squinting at asterisks. The room is wide, calm, and Zen-affiliated in the most literal sense. Time it for sunset over the bay and you'll understand why people keep coming back.
- San Francisco Chronicle Best classic San Francisco restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle Best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the SF Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle The Best Classic Restaurants in San Francisco
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Rank 84. Good Good Culture Club
Southeast Asian Vietnamese
The neon sign above the open kitchen asks "did you eat yet?" and the correct answer, upon arrival, is definitely no. This buzzy Mission small-plates spot earns its Bib Gourmand by running Southeast Asian flavors through a very California lens, and the results feel genuinely inventive without being precious about it. Reservations go fast, but bar seats are fair game early or late, and the tropical cocktails are a solid reason to linger.
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- Bon Appétit 2022 · America's Best New Restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle Best restaurants for outdoor dining in the Bay Area
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Rank 85. Foreign Cinema
Californian New American
Foreign Cinema is a Californian restaurant on Mission Street with a secret courtyard out back where foreign films flicker on a 35mm projector while you eat. It's romantic in a way that feels genuinely accidental rather than engineered, and it's earned a James Beard Outstanding Restaurant nod to prove it's not just atmosphere. The crowd runs heavy on first dates and anniversaries, everyone quietly pleased they found the place.
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Restaurant
- San Francisco Chronicle Best seafood restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
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Rank 86. Reem’s
Middle Eastern
Reem's is an Arab bakery and cafe in the Mission that earned its James Beard Award by doing something simple really well. The star is the mana'eesh, flatbreads cooked on a dome-shaped grill called a saj, thin and crisp and genuinely hard to stop eating. The bright dining room draws a neighborhood crowd that looks like it actually lives here, which in the Mission these days is saying something.
- James Beard Awards 2022 · Nominee · Outstanding Chef · Reem Assil
- Eater The All-Time Eater 38
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
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Rank 87. Liholiho Yacht Club
American
Hawaiian soul meets California cool at this lively restaurant on Sutter, where the kitchen blurs the line between the two in ways that actually make sense. Shareable plates and strong cocktails keep the mood loose, and the room fills with groups who came for a good time and stayed for another round. The house-made Spam dish is a genuine flex, and ordering it is basically a personality test.
- Eater 2015 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- The New York Times The 25 Best Restaurants in San Francisco Right Now
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Rank 88. Azalina's
Malaysian
Malaysian cuisine done with real California soul, in a prix fixe format that changes often enough to keep regulars guessing. The room feels like a tropical escape, which is a genuinely funny trick to pull off in the Tenderloin. The chef grew up eating this food, and it shows in every handmade detail. Expect a crowd that came specifically for this, not just to fill a table, and dessert that proves pastry training never goes to waste.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- The New York Times The 25 Best Restaurants in San Francisco Right Now
- San Francisco Chronicle 2026 · #64 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 89. San Ho Won
Korean
Korean BBQ gets the Michelin star treatment here, and somehow it doesn't feel ridiculous. San Ho Won is a nice-casual spot where the cooking lands somewhere between your favorite home-cooked Korean meal and something genuinely refined, with ingredients that earn the price tag. The room is sleek and minimal, packed with people who planned ahead to get a table. Book early, because you're not the only one who heard about this place.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- The New York Times 2022 · The Restaurant List
- Eater 2022 · The Best New Restaurants in America
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Rank 90. Swan Oyster Depot
San Francisco
Cash only, no website, and the line starts before most people have finished their coffee. Swan Oyster Depot is an old-school seafood counter that's been around forever, and it has absolutely no interest in modernizing for you. Once you're on a stool at the marble counter, cracking into a pile of fresh shellfish with a cold beer, you'll understand why the regulars look so smug.
- San Francisco Chronicle Best classic San Francisco restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle Best seafood restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle The Best Classic Restaurants in San Francisco
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Rank 91. Cordon Bleu
Vietnamese
Tiny counter-diner on California Street that's been around forever and runs almost entirely on one woman's cooking. Katie Yu works the charbroiler like she could do it in her sleep, and the smoke coming off the five-spice chicken is reason enough to find a stool. The combo plates feed you properly for next to nothing, and the imperial rolls are the crunchiest thing you'll eat all week. Twelve seats total, so don't be precious about sharing space with strangers.
- San Francisco Chronicle Best classic San Francisco restaurants
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Meals For Under $15 In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle The Best Classic Restaurants in San Francisco
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Rank 92. Zentarou
Sushi
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- Time Out The best bakeries in America
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
- The Infatuation The 19 Best Pizza Places In San Francisco
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Rank 94. Miller & Lux
Steakhouse
Tyler Florence's elegant steakhouse near Chase Center is a genuine reason to dress up, even if the arena next door is doing its best to lower the bar. The room has quiet glamour, marble and leather, the kind of place where couples on big nights and suits celebrating deals both feel at home. The dry-aged steaks are the main event, the raw bar is serious, and the martinis arrive exactly right.
- World's 101 Best #25 · World's Best Steak Restaurants
- AAA Four Diamonds
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
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Rank 95. SPQR
Italian
Fillmore's favorite loud Italian is a slim, skylighted room that somehow fits a crowd of people who all seem to know each other. The prix-fixe format keeps things moving through creative California-meets-Italy cooking that leans hard on whatever looks good at the market. The handmade pastas alone justify the trip. Dress like you made an effort, because everyone else did, and pace yourself on the wine list.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Italian food and restaurants in SF Bay Area
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Rank 96. Outta Sight Pizza
Thin-crust Pizza
Outta Sight is a slice shop with actual personality, the kind of place where the walls are covered in skate photos and a Mos Def painting, and the pizza is good enough that nobody's just there for the vibe. The thin, New York-style pies are the move, but the sandwiches pull real weight too. It draws a creative, laid-back crowd who know a good thing when they find it, and they keep coming back.
- The Infatuation #19 · The 25 Best Restaurants In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Meals For Under $15 In SF
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Rank 97. Pizzeria Delfina
Neapolitan Pizza
- Sunset 2025 · California Classics · Where to Eat and Drink
- Eater The 38 Essential Restaurants in San Francisco
- Time Out The 12 best restaurants in the Mission
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Rank 98. Verjus
French wine bar
Reservations here are tough to score, so show up early and charm your way onto a barstool. Verjus is a French wine bar and bistro tucked near the Transamerica Pyramid, where the crowd leans into natural wine with the conviction of people who've given it real thought. The kitchen keeps things deceptively simple, leaning on great seafood and whatever's in season, and the duck pâté en croûte has become something of a reason to return.
- The Infatuation 2025 · #9 · The Top-Rated New Restaurants
- Eater 2019 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- The New York Times 2025 · The Restaurant List
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Rank 99. Bodega SF
Northern Vietnamese
Northern Vietnamese with an upscale edge, Bodega SF sits in the middle of downtown and draws the after-work crowd in from the cold. The wood-heavy room feels genuinely polished without trying too hard, and the menu earns it, running from solid lunch phở to dinner dishes where turmeric cakes arrive topped with caviar. The family behind it has been doing this for years, and it shows in how composed everything feels.
- The Infatuation #11 · The 25 Best Restaurants In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle The best Vietnamese restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation Mochi Pandan Bar · The San Francisco Dessert Bucket List
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The outer Richmond locals have been quietly hoarding this dim sum spot for years, and honestly you can see why. Har gow comes generously stuffed, siu mai are light and tender, and the full menu stretches well beyond the cart classics into roast squab and clay pot brisket territory. Prices are noticeably kinder than the downtown spots. The room runs on regulars who know exactly what they're ordering before they sit down.