It’s impossible to visit San Francisco and not contemplate the quintessential food you’ll eat. San Francisco restaurants have the reputation for being trend-setting, diverse, and incorporating lots of local seasonal produce, regardless of the cuisine.
And though food trends come and go like fashion, the most iconic San Francisco restaurants continuously secure their place on the “best of” lists because they evolve without losing track of what made them special in the first place. Delicious and creative food, great staff and service, and an ideal location are just some of the things that keep these eight can’t-miss San Francisco restaurants in the spotlight.
Bonus Tip: Bookmark our list of the top 9 foods to try in this post on what to eat in San Francisco!
Kokkari
Many Greek restaurants have attempted to topple Kokkari’s place as the best Greek restaurant in San Francisco. But it remains the most elegant and deliciously authentic place to dig into a bubbling hot gratin of moussaka and just-off-the-spit roast lamb.
With warm plaster walls, muted Turkish rugs, and bronze and stone accents nestled on shelves tucked away for diners to admire, Kokkari’s interiors feel like a warm hug from a very fashionable yia yia (grandmother). An impeccable wine list of hard-to-find Greek wines adds to the allure.
Frances
Melissa Perello is a San Francisco culinary treasure. Frances, her first restaurant in San Francisco, immediately made headlines with her jewel-box dining room in a residential part of the Castro, serving hyper-local seasonal cuisine.
After 13 years, the popular San Francisco restaurant recently switched to a prix-fixe menu, but that won’t deter fans from making reservations and patiently waiting for their spot to dine on king salmon piperade with charred tomatoes, savoy cabbage, and bone broth or Tokyo turnip gratin with caramelized onion and thyme-garlic pangrattato.
Nopa
You can’t refer to San Francisco’s North of the Panhandle (NoPa) neighborhood without thinking about the area’s iconic restaurant, Nopa (560 Divisadero St). It’s the type of place you meet up with friends, take out-of-town family, and enjoy on date nights. The space, though large with high ceilings and California Craftsman architectural details, still feels intimate. The cozy atmosphere comes thanks to a mixture of dining areas in the bar, at comfy booths, upstairs, and in the restaurant’s outdoor dining space.
After more than 15 years of feeding locals and visitors, Nopa’s menu endures with classics like their country pork chop and cheeseburger and seasonal Mediterranean-influenced foods that are touched by the grill and rotisserie.
Aziza
Even though Mourad Lahlou’s newer restaurant, Mourad, has his name on the marquee, his first restaurant, Aziza, is what people think of first when they consider where to go for the best Moroccan food in San Francisco. Chef Lahlou’s modern interpretation of North African dishes continues to draw crowds to the intimate restaurant in the Outer Richmond neighborhood.
Aziza is the perfect spot for a cozy dinner. Share dishes like basteeya (chicken confit, spiced almonds, and sultana raisins) and braised lamb shank with farro and endive. Then, head out into the foggy night.
Tadich Grill
Billed as the third oldest restaurant in the U.S., we think Tadich Grill (240 California Street) has earned its place on this San Francisco restaurant list. Amazingly, it continues to shine with its classic seafood and grill menu.
Its location in the Financial District contributes to its popularity, as it’s convenient for tourists, workers, and near public transportation. You can’t go wrong with pan-fried sand dabs, or broiled petrale sole enjoyed in an old-school San Francisco space.
Mr. Jiu’s
Brandon Jew and his team continue to redefine Chinese food with their fine dining Chinese restaurant, Mr. Jiu’s. A gorgeous dining room pays tribute to the late 19th-century building on Waverly Street in Chinatown. It’s the third restaurant to hold court there, and it’s the most daring.
Classic Cantonese dishes get a California twist with the addition of seasonal California produce like ramps and Meyer lemons. Scallion pancakes are made with sourdough, another nod to the chef’s California-focused commitment.
Boulevard
A window seat looking out onto the bay is one of the most coveted spots at this iconic San Francisco restaurant. Boulevard, with a recent refresh by Ken Fulk, sports creatively dressed walls and ceilings, plush banquettes, and dramatic lighting. It’s a place to splurge on caviar and filet mignon, fine French champagne, or a deep and earthy Barolo.
But Nancy Oakes and her team take a light, fresh approach to the classics. Some surprises include sea scallops with summer truffles, cranberry beans, and sea bean salsa verde.
Omakase
San Francisco is home to several omakase restaurants, but Omakase (665 Townsend Street) continues to rise to the top of the list. Omakase is a Japanese phrase meaning, “I’ll leave it up to you.” Now, it refers to a style of cuisine wherein the customer trusts the chef to prepare seasonal specialties.
With as many as 18 courses, dining at Omakase is a time commitment. The sushi is edomae-style, which means the fresh fish and seafood come from Tokyo Bay. Seating is omakase-style so you face the chef, not your dining partner (if you have one). Hokkaido uni and cedar-torched sea bream are just some of the delicacies you’ll encounter. It’s a lively setting with chefs interacting with diners.
There are plenty of restaurants in San Francisco, but not all of them are created equal. Join us for our Ultimate San Francisco Food Tour for a foodie adventure you won’t soon forget!
Sophia Markoulakis is a San Francisco-based writer with a culinary degree and a passion for scoping out the best Greek and Mediterranean restaurants in the city. She writes for the Bay Area’s most efficient transit system, BART, and guides riders on where to find the best places to eat and drink. A longtime contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle, she now covers lifestyle topics for regional print and digital publications like California Homes Magazine, Punch Magazine, and The Six Fifty blog. More of her work can be found at SophiaMWrites.