The Best American Food in San Francisco
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The best American food in San Francisco, according to the experts: Michelin Guide, James Beard Awards, and AAA have all weighed in, and their honors are what rank this list. Quince comes out on top.
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Lazy Bear and The Progress hold the next two places. The Infatuation shows up on more of this list than any other guide, with San Francisco Chronicle next.
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Rank 1. Quince
Californian
The dining room was overhauled in fawn and sage, the ceilings soar, and there is velvet, which tells you exactly what kind of evening you're walking into. Quince is a tasting-menu restaurant in Jackson Square where the kitchen draws heavily from its own farm, and the chef holds three Michelin stars and a James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef. Service runs seamlessly without tipping into ceremony, which at this level is the harder trick.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: 3 Stars
- James Beard Awards James Beard Awards: 2026 · Winner · Outstanding Chef · Michael Tusk
- AAA AAA: Four Diamonds
- Michelin Guide 3 Stars
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Winner · Outstanding Chef · Michael Tusk
- AAA Four Diamonds
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Rank 2. Lazy Bear
New American
Diners get a pencil and a field notebook on arrival, which sets the tone for what Lazy Bear is doing: a two Michelin star tasting menu dressed up as a very fancy campout. The bi-level warehouse reads like a mogul's hunting lodge, and the kitchen runs childhood comfort food through a fine-dining fever dream, think PB&J reimagined with duck liver mousse. Five sommeliers are on staff, each with a distinct specialty, which is either reassuring or a lot.
The awards
- AAA AAA: Four Diamonds
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: 2 Stars
- Wine Enthusiast Wine Enthusiast: Forward 50 Restaurants
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Rank 3. The Progress
Modern American
A two-story room of wood, stone, and skylights on the Fillmore, this California-meets-Nordic restaurant is built around sharing plates bold enough to stop conversations mid-sentence. The Liberty Farms duck, arriving with a mountain of peanut fried rice, tends to get a round of applause from neighboring tables. The Progress holds a Michelin star and a James Beard nomination, and the martini has its own press clippings.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: 1 Star
- Esquire Esquire: The Progress Martini · The Best Martinis in America
- James Beard Awards James Beard Awards: 2025 · Nominee · Outstanding Restaurateur · Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski - Atomic Workshop
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Esquire 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 4. Madcap
American
The walls at this San Anselmo tasting menu spot are hung with large, deeply strange paintings, the kind that make you wonder if you've wandered into a fever dream. You haven't. Ron Siegel's eight-course prix fixe runs French and Japanese currents through a modern American frame, and the kitchen is as composed as the art is unhinged. A Michelin star, and a fraction of the price you'd pay for comparable cooking in the city.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: 1 Star
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best fine dining restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: #34 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- San Francisco Chronicle Best fine dining restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle #34 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 5. 7 Adams
New American
A railway-style room on Sutter Street with an open kitchen that runs at a quiet hum, 7 Adams is an intimate tasting menu restaurant where the seasonal cooking carries a confident Californian sensibility. The kitchen's instinct runs toward balance, letting a well-made broth or a carefully built sauce do the convincing. It holds a Michelin star, and the service stays warm without tipping into performance.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: 1 Star
- Esquire Esquire: The Best New Restaurants in America
- The New York Times The New York Times: The 25 Best Restaurants in San Francisco Right Now
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Esquire The Best New Restaurants in America
- The New York Times The 25 Best Restaurants in San Francisco Right Now
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Rank 6. Selby's
Modern American
Old-school Hollywood glamour on El Camino Real sounds like a contradiction, but Selby's pulls it off. This is fine dining, the kind where the servers are sharply dressed and seem to have been born knowing which fork goes where. The kitchen leans into classic American comfort, given a subtle lift by produce from the team's own private farm. The chocolate cake has become a signature for a reason. Michelin has awarded it one star.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: 1 Star
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Rank 7. Maillards
American
Maillards is a counter-service smashburger operation tucked inside the Two Pitchers taproom in the Outer Sunset, with pop-ups on the side. The patties come out lacy at the edges and arrive on a squishy potato bun with caramelized shallots and a tangy house sauce. Double is the move. Expect a line, which at least gives you time to pick a beer from the taproom and rehearse your order.
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The Best Burgers In America
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The Hit List: New San Francisco Restaurants To Try Right Now
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches In SF
- The Infatuation The Best Burgers In America
- The Infatuation The Hit List: New San Francisco Restaurants To Try Right Now
- The Infatuation The Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches In SF
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Rank 7. Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement
Soul Food
A mural of Fillmore Street circa 1962 covers the wall, which makes sense given that the chef grew up in the neighborhood and spent years dreaming of bringing her soul food restaurant here. The rosemary fried chicken, fragrant with fresh herbs and marinated in housemade spices, is the reason people line up, though the butter cornbread and mac and cheese give it real competition. Bon Appétit named it one of America's Best New Restaurants in 2025.
The awards
- Bon Appétit Bon Appétit: America's Best New Restaurants
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Restaurant
- Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times: The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- Bon Appétit America's Best New Restaurants
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Los Angeles Times The 101 Best Restaurants in California
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Rank 9. Outerlands
American
The levain here has its own following, and regulars make the trek out to the Outer Sunset specifically for a thick slice with house-cultured butter. This cozy, salvaged-wood neighborhood restaurant keeps a short seasonal menu: roasted chicken, a slow-cooked Bolognese, honest food that doesn't overthink itself. Weekend brunch adds pastries worth the foggy commute. It holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand, which the bread alone might justify.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Bib Gourmand
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
- Eater Eater: The 38 Essential Restaurants in San Francisco
- 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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Rank 10. Plow
American
The lemon-ricotta silver dollar pancakes here have a following that generates a line down the block most weekend mornings, which tells you everything about what kind of brunch spot Plow is. It's a casual, easygoing neighborhood place in Potrero Hill with a tight, unfussy menu built around a few things done carefully. The combination plate covers all the bases at once: crispy potatoes, eggs, meat, and those pancakes, with lemon curd on the side if you want to commit.
The awards
- AAA AAA: Approved
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best brunch restaurants in the Bay Area
- AAA Approved
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle Best brunch restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 11. Boulevard
American
The awards
- AAA Four Diamonds
- The 50 The 50 Discovery
- The Infatuation The 17 Best Restaurants Near The Embarcadero & Ferry Building
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Rank 11. Liholiho Yacht Club
Hawaiian
The house-made Spam in the kimchi fried rice is either the menu's punchline or its thesis statement, depending on your attitude. Ravi Kapur's Californian-Hawaiian restaurant on Sutter runs on strong cocktails and shareable plates, with an open kitchen keeping the room loud and sociable. The New York Times has called it one of San Francisco's 25 best restaurants, and it's held a Michelin Guide selection since the buzz was at its loudest.
The awards
- Eater Eater: The Best New Restaurants in America
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Restaurant
- The New York Times The New York Times: The 25 Best Restaurants in San Francisco Right Now
- Eater 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 11. Sandy's
Cajun & Creole
A sandwich shop on Haight doing exactly one thing from New Orleans: the muffuletta, served in a wedge like a slice of savory pie, toasted or cold. The meat version layers prosciutto, mortadella, soppressata, and provolone under a spicy olive spread; mushrooms and scallions handle the vegetarian side. The pickled egg salad with potato chips stuffed inside is its own argument. Seating is tight, but Buena Vista Park is a short walk away, which seems intentional.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: #23 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
- San Francisco Chronicle #23 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
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Rank 11. Sirene
American Wine Bar
Fried chicken and Chartreuse slushies share a menu here, which tells you everything about the spirit of this neighborhood bistro on Grand Avenue. The team behind the Morris in San Francisco brought their seafood-and-ferment instincts across the Bay, and the result is a wine bar with exposed brick, a vine-covered back patio, and wood-fired mussels that make the whole premise feel inevitable. The San Francisco Chronicle named it among the top 100 restaurants in the Bay Area.
The awards
- Wine Enthusiast Wine Enthusiast: Top 50 New Restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: The Best Coffee in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: #73 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- Wine Enthusiast Top 50 New Restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle The Best Coffee in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle #73 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 15. Horn Barbecue
West Coast Barbecue
A mural of an angry steer watches over the counter at this Oakland BBQ shop, and the vibe tracks: the pits here are serious. Matt Horn calls it West Coast Barbecue, which means brisket, pulled pork, and sausages on butcher paper with sides like pit beans and Granny's potatoes. Lines form early and stay long. The Michelin Guide gave it a Bib Gourmand, and it landed a James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant.
The awards
- James Beard Awards James Beard Awards: 2022 · Nominee · Best New Restaurant
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Bib Gourmand
- Esquire Esquire: #5 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- James Beard Awards 2022 · Nominee · Best New Restaurant
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- Esquire #5 · The Best New Restaurants in America
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Rank 15. Ocean Subs
American
Dutch crunch bread is the move at this no-frills sub shop on the edge of the Excelsior, where an 8-inch sandwich still clocks in under $15. The chef behind the counter has Michelin-starred kitchen experience, which explains why the vegetarian sub, built on a hummus base with roasted peppers and cucumbers, quietly outshines the Italian. A classic neighborhood sandwich shop that happens to punch above its weight class.
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: #24 · The 25 Best Restaurants In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: #2 · San Francisco’s Best New Restaurants
- The Infatuation #24 · The 25 Best Restaurants In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation #2 · San Francisco’s Best New Restaurants
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Rank 17. Early to Rise
Southern
Antique stained glass windows filter whatever light San Francisco's summer fog is willing to spare, and the room is cheerful anyway. Early to Rise is a brunch spot in NoPa where the daily doughnut arrives warm while you wait, the French toast comes loaded with seasonal fruit and a few things creamy and crunchy, and the ambrosia salad quietly signals the chef's Southern roots. The owner does his own table rounds, coffee pot in hand, which keeps things easy.
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best brunch restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 18 Best Restaurants In NoPa
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle Best brunch restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 18 Best Restaurants In NoPa
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Rank 17. Nightbird
American
A carved wooden owl marks the door to this intimate Hayes Valley tasting menu restaurant, which feels like someone's very tasteful living room if that person happened to know exactly what they were doing. The multicourse menu shifts with the seasons, and the kitchen's plating leans toward composed and precise without tipping into fussy. The adjacent Linden Room cocktail bar is a natural warm-up act.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Restaurant
- James Beard Awards James Beard Awards: 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: California · Kim Alter
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: California · Kim Alter
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Rank 17. Palm City
American
A hoagie shop and wine store in the Outer Sunset that lets you drink your bottle purchase on-site for a small corkage fee, which is either a genius loophole or just good hospitality. The outdoor tables face roughly toward the ocean, making a clear evening here feel earned. The sandwiches lean ambitious, the wine list runs deep, and the neighborhood tends to show up in layers, from dog walkers to people who know what they're doing with a natural wine.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best restaurants for outdoor dining in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
- San Francisco Chronicle Best restaurants for outdoor dining in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
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Rank 20. Red's Java House
American
A waterfront shack that's been around forever, Red's serves its burgers on crusty sourdough with mustard and pickles, which is not the burger you were expecting but absolutely the one the regulars order without looking up. Anthony Bourdain's photo hangs near the register, which tells you something. Grab a table outside on a sunny day and you get the Bay Bridge thrown in, arguably at the lowest price point the Embarcadero has to offer.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best classic San Francisco restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: The Best Classic Restaurants in San Francisco
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 17 Best Restaurants Near The Embarcadero & Ferry Building
- San Francisco Chronicle Best classic San Francisco restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle The Best Classic Restaurants in San Francisco
- The Infatuation The 17 Best Restaurants Near The Embarcadero & Ferry Building
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Rank 20. RT Rotisserie
American
The fried chicken sandwich here follows a family recipe from the co-owner of Rich Table, which tells you this isn't your average rotisserie counter. Pickled onions, chipotle yogurt, mint, dill, and a honey drizzle all show up in one sandwich, and fermented hot sauce sits on every table for good measure. The fries come dusted with porcini powder. Casual, order-at-the-counter, and close enough to Alamo Square to make a picnic the obvious move.
The awards
- Bon Appétit Bon Appétit: America's Best New Restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best fried chicken restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches In SF
- Bon Appétit America's Best New Restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle Best fried chicken restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches In SF
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Rank 22. Deli Board
American
A pastrami-forward deli on Folsom where the menu reads like a roster of characters named by someone's uncle in Canarsie. The Menschkowitz throws cherry peppers into the mix; the BK goes full diner breakfast between two slices of bread. Everything arrives with thick pickles on the side, which is the correct move. Sandwiches aren't cheap, and it's takeout only, so plan accordingly.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 24 Best Restaurants In SoMa
- San Francisco Chronicle Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The 24 Best Restaurants In SoMa
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Rank 22. Lovely’s
American
A smashburger shop built into a shipping container alongside Two Pitchers Brewing Co., Lovely's has a menu that reads like a love letter to drive-through nostalgia. Picnic tables and string lights fill the dog-friendly outdoor space. The fried onion burger, a riff on the Oklahoma classic George Motz made famous, cooks the patty right into thinly sliced onions so the beef fat goes everywhere it should.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best restaurants for outdoor dining in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 25 Best Restaurants In Oakland
- San Francisco Chronicle Best restaurants for outdoor dining in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In Oakland
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Rank 22. Newkirk's
East Coast American
Pinball machines and white walls set the scene at this Potrero Hill sandwich shop, where the menu runs on East Coast bodega logic: Kaiser rolls, poppy seeds, and a bacon-egg-and-cheese that doesn't apologize for itself. Pastrami swaps in for the pork if that's your move. Ask for the lacto-fermented hot sauces, which bring enough acid and heat to make everything sharper. Casual, low-key, and named among the Bay Area's better sandwich spots by the Chronicle.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
- San Francisco Chronicle Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
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Rank 22. Oink & Oscar
American
Every sandwich at this sandwich shop contains pork, which tells you almost everything you need to know. The signature is porkstrami, a brined and smoked pork butt that earns its place alongside coppa, salami, and mortadella in the loaded Salvatore, served hot on a Dutch crunch roll. Turkey and roast beef exist if you insist. Old-timey novelty sodas handle cleanup duty. Bring your appetite and leave your dietary restrictions at the door.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
- San Francisco Chronicle Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
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Rank 22. World Famous Hotboys
Nashville Southern
A hot chicken shop that started as a popup and grew into an East Bay institution with a '90s aesthetic that nobody asked them to drop. The bone-in and the sandwiches are the move, and the heat scale is honest, meaning medium is a real warning and anything above it is a commitment. Complimentary comeback sauce arrives ready to talk you off the ledge. Nashville-style fried chicken done without ceremony.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best fried chicken restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 25 Best Restaurants In Oakland
- San Francisco Chronicle Best fried chicken restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In Oakland
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Rank 27. Prelude
Southern Cocktail Bar
Fried chicken wings stuffed with andouille dirty rice tell you everything about this Southern-leaning cocktail bar and dining room in the Jay Hotel. The chef's Alabama roots show up in pimento cheese dressed with trout roe and banana cream pie reimagined as a chocolate-pretzel tartlet, dishes that straddle Sunday supper and something more deliberate. The room is dusky and quietly glamorous, the kind of place that makes a Tuesday feel like a reason to dress up.
The awards
- Bon Appétit Bon Appétit: America's Best New Bars
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Restaurant
- Eater Eater: The 38 Essential Restaurants in San Francisco
- Bon Appétit America's Best New Bars
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Eater The 38 Essential Restaurants in San Francisco
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Rank 28. Spinning Bones
Californian
A rotisserie spot on the little island of Alameda where the meats get a koji and fermented rice marinade before they go on the spit, which explains the depth of flavor you weren't quite expecting. The room is industrial, the counter faces the kitchen, and the menu wanders happily into Hawaiian and Japanese territory. The Michelin Guide gave it a Bib Gourmand, which tracks for a casual place doing this much with a rotisserie chicken.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Bib Gourmand
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Rank 29. Fikscue
Indo-Tex Barbecue
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: #41 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: #8 · San Francisco’s Best New Restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle #41 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- The Infatuation #8 · San Francisco’s Best New Restaurants
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Rank 30. Central Park Bistro
American
The awards
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Rank 30. Menlo Tavern
American
The awards
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Rank 32. Breakwater Barbecue
Texas Barbecue
A BBQ shop inside a historic railroad station in El Granada, ten minutes up the coast from Half Moon Bay. The room leans into a coastal cowboy aesthetic, which sounds like a contradiction until you're sitting in it. Slow-smoked brisket, pork ribs, and spicy sausage links are the reason to come, and the chili braised in smoked pork stock is the reason to stay a little longer than you planned.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Restaurant
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Rank 32. RT Bistro
American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The Hit List: New San Francisco Restaurants To Try Right Now
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 16 Best Burgers In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The Best French Fries In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The Hit List: New San Francisco Restaurants To Try Right Now
- The Infatuation The 16 Best Burgers In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The Best French Fries In San Francisco
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Rank 34. The Cultured Pickle Shop
Vegetarian American
Rows of cloudy jars exhaling tiny bubbles line the production kitchen at this small-batch pickle shop and weekend rice-bowl counter in Berkeley. Saturday and Sunday bring a three-course menu built around a maximalist rice bowl piled with the shop's latest ferments: kimchis, citrusy pickles, miso-braised greens. Drinks run to yuzu kombucha or warm ginger amazake. It may be the most Berkeley restaurant of all time, which is saying something.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the SF Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: #59 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best Berkeley restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle Best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the SF Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle #59 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Berkeley restaurants
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Rank 35. Diamond Head General Store
Hawaiian Coffee Shop
Spam musubi sits by the register for grab-and-go, which tells you exactly what kind of place this is. Diamond Head General Store is a Hawaiian plate-lunch counter in San Bruno where the mochiko fried chicken arrives craggy, peppery, and portioned for two people with ambitions of feeding one. Shave ice rounds out a menu that runs on comfort and not much pretension. The San Francisco Chronicle named it among the Bay Area's best fried chicken spots.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best fried chicken restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best restaurants in Palo Alto, San Jose, the Peninsula and South Bay
- San Francisco Chronicle Best fried chicken restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best restaurants in Palo Alto, San Jose, the Peninsula and South Bay
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Rank 35. Hamburguesa Bar
American
Hamburguesa Bar is a casual SoMa burger counter from the same crew behind Pie Punks, which explains why the beef gets a surprising amount of attention. The Black Label stacks an eight-ounce patty with truffle butter, mushroom ragout, demi-glace, and white American cheese, a pile that sounds excessive and somehow isn't. It comes with a side salad, a small gesture toward moderation that everyone politely accepts.
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The Hit List: New San Francisco Restaurants To Try Right Now
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 16 Best Burgers In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The Hit List: New San Francisco Restaurants To Try Right Now
- The Infatuation The 16 Best Burgers In San Francisco
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Rank 35. Kaokao Grill
Barbecue
Cherry and oak wood smoke is the throughline at this Berkeley barbecue shop, where the char siu and the smoked chicken land somewhere between American pitmaster and Hong Kong roast house, with a detour through Indian curry along the way. The team behind Huangcheng Noodle House in Oakland built the concept around a father's love of American barbecue, and the collision of those three kitchens is less confused than it sounds.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best Chinese food and restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best Berkeley restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Chinese food and restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Berkeley restaurants
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Rank 35. Sam's Log Cabin
American
All the seating is outdoors, which means Sam's Log Cabin operates like a neighborhood backyard that happens to serve breakfast. The kitchen lives in an actual log cabin, the pergola is draped in greenery, and the menu runs hearty, with cornmeal pancakes and corned beef hash doing the heavy lifting. Ask about the weekly specials, which tend toward seasonal pancakes and scones. Albany's not a destination, but on a sunny morning this patio makes a persuasive case for itself.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best brunch restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best restaurants for outdoor dining in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best brunch restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best restaurants for outdoor dining in the Bay Area
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Rank 35. St. Francis Fountain
American
Posters advertising long-gone menu items like cottage cheese salad hang alongside the candy display at this Mission District diner, which has been around forever and looks exactly like it. Wood booths, a lunch counter, and the kind of simplicity that produces genuinely fluffy flapjacks and a patty melt on marbled rye. The city's Legacy Business Program keeps the bones intact, which means new ownership changes nothing a regular would notice.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best classic San Francisco restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: The Best Classic Restaurants in San Francisco
- San Francisco Chronicle Best classic San Francisco restaurants
- San Francisco Chronicle The Best Classic Restaurants in San Francisco
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Rank 40. New England Lobster Market & Eatery
New England
Seawater tanks full of live crustaceans greet you at the door of this sprawling seafood market and casual eatery tucked into an industrial warehouse in Burlingame. You order at the counter, pick your lobster by the pound, and eat surrounded by painted buoys while the place buzzes around you. It functions as a fish market too, so oysters on the half shell are there if you want them. The Michelin Guide has had its eye on it for years.
The awards
- AAA AAA: Approved
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Rank 40. The Fly Trap
American
The awards
- AAA AAA: Approved
-
The awards
- AAA AAA: Approved
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Rank 43. Arbor
American
The back patio is the whole reason to come: a lush, sheltered garden that you'd never guess existed from the Hayes Street sidewalk. Arbor is a casual American comfort spot with a strong lean toward vegan options, serving burgers, chile cheese fries, and the kind of mac and cheese that makes you stop mid-sentence. On a sunny afternoon the patio fills up fast, which in San Francisco means you should probably just go on the next sunny afternoon.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best restaurants for outdoor dining in the Bay Area
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Rank 43. Causwells
American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
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Rank 43. Chef Smelly’s Creole and Soul Food
Cajun & Creole
A former pop-up that found a permanent home inside Au Lounge in downtown Oakland, Chef Smelly's draws on Creole family recipes to put out Cajun-spiced seafood and soul food. Garlicky Dungeness crab and blackened shrimp anchor the menu, and the platters run large enough to qualify as a commitment. The San Francisco Chronicle named it among the Bay Area's top seafood spots. Dress accordingly: this is crab-cracking, garlic-breath, no-apologies territory.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best seafood restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 43. Goldenette
American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
-
Rank 43. Mymy
American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
-
Rank 43. Sandwich Board
American
The squat brick building on Webb Avenue smells like Thanksgiving every single day, because Sandwich Board roasts its turkey in-house and has been doing so forever. This old-school deli counter is an Alameda institution, and regulars have been known to walk in, say nothing, and walk out with exactly what they wanted. The Dutch crunch sandwiches are the move, loaded with that carved turkey alongside avocado and pepperoncinis.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best sandwich spots in the Bay Area
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Rank 43. Smoke Soul Kitchen
Southern
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
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Rank 43. The Big Four
Old-school American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The Hit List: New San Francisco Restaurants To Try Right Now
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The Best Martinis In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The Hit List: New San Francisco Restaurants To Try Right Now
- The Infatuation The Best Martinis In San Francisco
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Rank 43. The Bird
Fried chicken American
The spicy fried chicken sandwich here comes dressed with apple slaw and pickles, hot enough to make you notice but not so hot you regret your choices. This casual counter-service chicken shack on Hayes Street keeps a line at lunch, though two self-serve kiosks move things along. Wings come with drum, flat, and tip still attached, which purists appreciate. Outdoor tables handle the overflow when the compact room fills up.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best fried chicken restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 43. The Front Porch
Southern
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Brunch Spots In SF
-
Rank 53. Lou's Cafe
American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 25 Best Meals For Under $15 In SF
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 25 Best Restaurants In The Richmond
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Meals For Under $15 In SF
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In The Richmond
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Rank 53. Smish Smash
American
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: #80 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
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Rank 55. 4505 Burgers & BBQ
Barbecue
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 21 Best Outdoor Dining Spots In SF
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 18 Best Restaurants In NoPa
- The Infatuation The 21 Best Outdoor Dining Spots In SF
- The Infatuation The 18 Best Restaurants In NoPa
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Rank 55. The Yellow Submarine
American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 25 Best Restaurants In The Sunset
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Sandwich Spots In San Francisco
- The Infatuation The 25 Best Restaurants In The Sunset
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Rank 57. ATWater Tavern
American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 21 Best Outdoor Dining Spots In SF
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Rank 57. Brenda's French Soul Food
French Soul Food
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 25 Best Meals For Under $15 In SF
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Rank 57. Broderick Roadhouse
Burger American
Old-timey bulbs hang over leather booths inside this rock-and-roll burger joint, where the menu leans loud and the vibe leans louder. The Johnny Cash Burger piles on bacon, crisp onions, peppers, and barbecue sauce in a way that manages to feel both retro and inevitable. A lamb burger with goat cheese is there for anyone who wants to go funkier. Most people pair either with a cold beer from the full bar.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best restaurants in Walnut Creek
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Rank 57. Constanso's
American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 25 Best Meals For Under $15 In SF
-
Rank 57. Fable
American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 21 Best Outdoor Dining Spots In SF
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Rank 57. Gott's Roadside
American
The garlic fries alone have launched a thousand detours off the freeway. Gott's is a California roadside grill doing burgers and shakes with Niman Ranch beef and seafood sourced with the same seriousness, which is more than most places in this price range bother with. The classic cheeseburger hits the produce-and-seared-beef formula cleanly, and when the soft-shell crab sandwich is on the menu, it's the move. Plenty of outdoor tables if the sun cooperates.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best restaurants in Walnut Creek
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Rank 57. Hawaiian Drive Inn
Hawaiian
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 25 Best Meals For Under $15 In SF
-
Rank 57. Little Aloha
Hawaiian
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: Hurricane Tots · The Best Potato Dishes in SF
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Rank 57. Maggie & Mac's
American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 20 Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants In SF
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Rank 57. Marlowe
American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 16 Best Burgers In San Francisco
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Rank 57. Pearl's Deluxe Burgers
American Burger Joint
This is a counter-service burger joint in Lower Nob Hill where napkins sit on every table, which is less hospitality than a warning. The patties come in beef, turkey, chicken, or veggie, and the bigger plays involve hot dogs or housemade chili stacked on top. Dress for sauce, because the barbecue pineapple one tends to travel down the wrist. White shirts are a bold choice here.
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 16 Best Burgers In San Francisco
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Rank 57. Pig in a Pickle
Barbecue
A chalkboard behind the counter maps exactly which farm each cut of meat came from, which tells you most of what you need to know about this counter-service BBQ shop tucked inside a Corte Madera mall. The ribs arrive with an obsidian crust and pink flesh underneath, the pulled pork is rich and salty, and a lineup of ten house condiments covers everything from Alabama white sauce to chow chow relish. It holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand, suburban strip mall and all.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best restaurants in Marin County: Sausalito, Novato and San Rafael
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Rank 57. Sequoia Diner
American
The yeasted waffle is what people come back for at this daytime diner on Macarthur, light enough to make the standard griddle version feel like a practical joke. Sequoia keeps the American breakfast plate honest while also running a loco moco where the gravy soaks into Koda Farms white rice in a way that feels earned. They cure their own pork belly, make three hot sauces in-house, and generally behave like a diner with something to prove.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best restaurants in Oakland
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Rank 57. Smelly’s
Cajun & Creole
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 25 Best Restaurants In Oakland
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Rank 57. World Famous Hotboys
Nashville Southern
Hundreds of flags and string lights cover the ceiling, CRT TVs along the bar counter are loaded with old-school video game consoles, and a mural of Walnut Creek landmarks greets you before you even open the door. This hot chicken shop does Nashville-style fried chicken and sandwiches, with heat levels that go from polite to genuinely humbling. The outdoor picnic tables are there when you need air, or perspective.
The awards
- San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle: Best restaurants in Walnut Creek
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Rank 72. Burger Littles
American
The awards
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Rank 72. Eddie's Cafe
American Coffee Shop
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 18 Best Restaurants In NoPa
-
Rank 72. Pier 23 Cafe
American
The awards
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Rank 72. Rusty Ladle
American
The awards
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 25 Best Restaurants In The Sunset