Where to Eat: San Francisco 🌁

By Shannon Gomes

Besides my strong passion for travel, I am self-proclaimed “foodie.” I know, I know, “foodie” is a cringy term but when you grow up in the land of food & wine (Sonoma County, CA) and you have called San Francisco – one of the best food cities in the world – home for the past 22 years, it’s hard not to become a “foodie.” I’ve also spent the majority of my career in the food world, representing a variety of national consumer food & beverage brands and heading up PR at Williams-Sonoma partnering with some of the best chefs in the world. I’m not the only “foodie” in the family either – my home-brewing/home chef husband and two teens are obsessed with good food too. So much so that all of our travels typically revolve around finding the very best places to eat (especially the local spots!). And yes, I’m one of “those people” who always takes food photos wherever I go and post on my food Instagram account, good_food_gomes. Because of my deep love and passion for food, I frequently get asked where are my favorite places to eat and drink so today I’m kicking off a new series on The Gomes Guide called, “Where To Eat.” I’ll be sure to highlight some of my favorite food cities such as Nashville, New York City, New Orleans, Paris, Lisbon and many more.

While the restaurant scene in San Francisco is ever-evolving and there are a plethora of incredible eats, the following thirty restaurants are my absolute favorites that I highly recommend. It’s a great list to reference for your next night out or upcoming trip to SF. Feel free to share this post with your food-loving friends & family.

Enjoy & Bon Appétit!

– Shannon Gomes

Top 30 Favorite San Francisco Eats:

(in alphabetical order)

4505 Burgers & BBQ – Hands down my favorite burger in SF. Great place for ribs, Parker House rolls and you must try their “Frankaroni” (crispy fried mac & cheese with a hot dog inside!). Offering outdoor-only seating on a happening corner of Divisadero St., this is the perfect spot for a casual lunch or dinner.
A16 – Classic Italian restaurant on Chestnut St. in the Marina district featuring awesome pastas, great pizzas and a killer wine list. Fun to go with a group to enjoy the lively and vibrant scene.
Aziza – The minute you enter Aziza you feel like you’ve been transported to Morocco. Located on Geary St. in the Outer Richmond district, Aziza features incredible Moroccan cuisine, great cocktails and relaxing vibe.
Bon Délire – Brand new restaurant on Pier 3 along the Embarcadero that is not to be missed. Awesome, hip vibe, fantastic service, and delicious food and wine. Definitely order the Steak Frites and French Toast dish for dessert (wow!).
Burma Superstar – This iconic Burmese restaurant is my go-to lunch spot when meeting up with friends. You must order the Tea Leaf Salad, and then enjoy the variety of curry and noodle dishes. Service is always so friendly and fast.
Che Fico – Every time I eat here, I feel like I’ve been transported to New York City as there is a vibe and energy here that reminds me so much of being in the Big Apple. And the food is just incredible! You must order their homemade focaccia with whipped mascarpone cheese, one of the pizzas, and the wood-fired roasted chicken.
Cotogna – When people ask me what my all-time favorite SF restaurant is, I immediately say Cotogna. To me, it’s the perfect restaurant – casual yet refined, fantastic service, great vibe and stellar food. You haven’t lived until you’ve had their ravioli di ricotta.
Delfina – Based in the Mission District, Delfina is in the SF classic restaurants category. It’s one of those places that has remained consistently great for many, many years. The pasta, pizza and entrees are all so delicious, drinks are fab and it’s always a buzzy, fun vibe inside.
Flour + Water – Oh, the pasta here is divine! And the vibe is super happening. Always a fun and delicious night at this spot on Harrison St. And if you are in North Beach, be sure to check out their new Flour + Water Pizza spot and order the Pesto Pizza – awesome!
Foreign Cinema – Another SF classic that is always a vibrant scene with movies playing on the outdoor wall, and the buzz of SF life swirling through the air. The food and service is consistently excellent and this spot is particularly fun with a group.
Keeva – Our neighborhood favorite spot on Clement St. for Indian food. Run by two sisters who are super friendly, the homemade Indian food is our family’s favorite in the city. You can either pick-up your food to go, and enjoy a meal in their small, casual restaurant where you feel like family.
Kitchen Istanbul – Oh, how I love this restaurant! And it’s the spot where I first fell in love with Turkish food. Every single menu item is divine, and the wine options are insane. The restaurant is so good, I hear it is where many SF chefs hang out late night.
Kokkari – This Greek restaurant located in the historic Jackson Square area is one that I think everyone should experience at some point, and it especially shines during the holiday season. Complete with a lamb always roasting over the beautiful fire, the service and food here are truly outstanding.
Liholiho Yacht Club – Love this place so much! Super fun vibe, and awesome Hawaiian-inspired food ranging from crab, shrimp and tuna dishes to incredible whole fish dishes and more – don’t forget to order any of their desserts as they are top-notch!
Lily – This Vietnamese spot is another spot on Clement St. that is not-to-be-missed. The cocktails are fab, and every dish is presented in such a beautiful and artistic ways, and is delicious to boot!
Lokma – I still haven’t been to Turkey but it’s high on my list. In the meantime, I’ll continue to visit and send people to Lokma on Clement St. in the Outer Richmond district. Friendly service, great wines and fantastic Turkish food. Be sure to order Manti, Turkish dumplings with spiced ground meat served with garlic yogurt & tomato butter sauce. Incredible!
Mister Jui’s – Chef Brandon Jew’s restaurant in Chinatown is a delightful experience. A hip and happening vibe with fantastic service, it’s some of the best Chinese food I’ve ever had. Great for group celebrations or date night.
Nopa – Yet another SF classic on Divisadero Street, Nopa is loud, boisterous, delicious and fun. Order a cocktail at the bar and enjoy the people watching prior to your tasty dinner. Highlights include their Wood Baked Beans, Pork Chop and Burger.
Pasta Supply Co. – Our food-loving family was over-the-moon when Chef Anthony Strong opened Pasta Supply Co. a few blocks away from us on Clement St. Now with a second location open in the Mission district, this spot is a must-visit to either pick up fresh pasta and sauce to cook at home or enjoy a
Pearl 6101 – Located in a quaint corner spot on California Street in the Outer Richmond district, Pearl is the perfect place for date night or a dinner out with friends. Featuring California-Italian cuisine, Pearl is restaurant where you go to relax, enjoy good service and excellent food and drink.
Piccino – This gem in the Dogpatch district features fresh produce from its farm in Healdsburg, and serves delicious pasta, pizzas, sustainably raised meat and fish plus awesome drinks. It’s a fun SF vibe and I recommend sitting at the communal table!
Pizzetta 211 – This tiny, tiny space (inside seats a max. of about 10 people, with more seating outdoors) makes some of the best pizza in SF, and always has the best salads and daily desserts. Reservations are walk-up only, and since it’s such a small space, it’s not the best for groups rather a maximum party size of four.
Plow – Located in Potrero Hill, Plow is the best breakfast/brunch in SF – and it’s worth the wait in the line. While there are so many stand-out dishes, the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are to die for.
Rich Table – Perfect for a date night or an early reservation before going to the ballet, opera or symphony, Rich Table is high on my list of favorite restaurants. With a cozy, welcoming and vibrant vibe, the food is always outstanding. And you must order the Dried Porcini Doughnuts Raclette – trust me.
RT Rotisserie – The causal sister restaurant to Rich Table, RT Rotisserie serves some of the best rotisserie chicken I’ve ever had, and I just adore their RTR Salad topped with chicken as well as their roasted veggies and soft-serve ice cream. Pick it up to-go or enjoy at casual meal at either their Hayes Valley or Nopa location.
Souvla – For the perfect casual lunch, visit one of Souvla’s five locations in SF (Marina, Hayes Valley, Nopa, Dogpatch or the Mission). I absolutely love their salads with either lamb or chicken, and you must order a frozen Greek yogurt for dessert (go with baklava crumbles & honey syrup or Greek olive oil & flaky sea salt for a topping).
Street – One of my favorite neighborhood restaurants that my husband and I have been visiting for 20 years. Located on Polk Street, this is such a great spot for a date night. Classic cocktails, delicious dishes and friendly service – there’s a reason this place has been going strong for so many years.
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – Yep, it’s true. Tony Gemignani really does make the very best pizza in SF (and perhaps the country!). It’s very easy to eat several pizzas here and it is best to go with a group of friends or family. This North Beach spot is a must-visit.
Uma Casa – Since my husband is of Portuguese descent (Gomes is a very common last name in Portugal), we were thrilled with Chef Telmo Faria, opened Uma Casa in Noe Valley years ago. Transport your taste buds to Portugal for the night by enjoying Caldo Verde soup, pasteis de bacalhau, frango piri-piri and pastel de nata for dessert.
Zuni Café – The OG SF classic restaurant, Zuni is one of those restaurants that you must eat at, at least once. Order a classical cocktail at the standing bar upon arrival, and then once seated, the go-to menu items are the Cesar Salad, Acme levain bread, and the Roast Chicken from the wood-fire brick oven.

Favorite SF Bakeries

Arsicault – About 10 years ago or so Bon Appétit magazine awarded Arsicault on Arguello St. the “best croissant in the U.S.” – and I wholeheartedly agree! So does the rest of SF, as the lines continue to be almost a half mile long on a daily basis. Now with two locations and a third opening soon, you must try all of their pastries – totally worth the wait in line (but pro tip, visit between 12pm-2pm for a short line).
B Patisserie – Oh, the Kouign Amanns (regular, chocolate & seasonal flavors) and Lemon Tart here are just divine! And so are all of the other pastries and bread. Be prepared to wait in line, especially on the weekends, but lines for good food in SF are always worth the wait.
Holy Nata – If you’ve never had a Pastel de Nata from Portugal, now you can have the real-deal right here in downtown San Francisco at Holy Nata. This small space typically has hot out-of-the-oven Pastel de Natas for folks who walk-in, but if you have a larger order – I highly recommend you order online in advance.
Jane the Bakery – Hands down my favorite place for bread in San Francisco. In my opinion, their baguettes rival any bakery in Paris and our family absolutely loves their CA Levain bread as well as the Miche. Be sure to visit their flagship location on Geary Blvd. near Fillmore St. All of their sandwiches and cookies are fantastic too!
Tartine – The original Tartine Bakery on Guerrero St. in the Mission has forever been one of our favorite bakeries in SF. We’ve taken the kids there since they were little to enjoy the Bread Pudding, Tarts and their famous Country Loaf. They’ve expanded to Tartine Manufactory (awesome spot for brunch!) and also have a location in the Inner Sunset.
Boudin Bakery – If you truly want to “taste” San Francisco and a piece of its history, there’s nothing like a fresh loaf of Boudin’s original sourdough bread. Master Baker Fernando Padilla uses the same “mother dough” starter that was first used in 1849 in every single loaf of bread he bakes today, and it doesn’t get much better than a slice of Boudin sourdough with some good salted butter. Heaven!

Want to keep up-to-date with Shannon’s food recommendations? Be sure to follow @good_food_gomes on Instagram, and for travel inspiration and recommendations, be sure to follow @the_gomes_guide on Instagram. Cheers! 🥂