7 San Francisco Restaurants to Satisfy Every Foodie

The first thing I did when I learned that I would be tagging along on a trip to San Francisco was jump up and down. The second thing was search Instagram for hours to find places to grab some good eats, people watch, and let’s be honest, snap Instagram-worthy pics. I also reached out to Tamryn, my favorite San Francisco blogger, and was grateful to see many of my picks on the list of recommendations she graciously sent. Thanks, Tamryn!

Food and art are usually at the top of my travel priorities and San Francisco was no exception. I wanted to experience food in as many neighborhoods and to take in as much art as possible. I’ll have more on my art and culture adventures later. For now, let’s chat about some of the amazing food I had the pleasure of enjoying during my six-day adventure.

MEDIA NOCHE – The Mission District

Have you ever walked into a place and just knew it was going to be good? That’s exactly how I felt the moment I walked into the fast-casual Cuban counter of Media Noche. The decor, the crowd, and the aroma of freshly fried empanadas welcomed me to my new favorite place. Try the Gloria Cubano, the queso and black bean empanadas, or really just choose anything off the menu and eat it with their self-proclaimed famous green sauce. You’ll will be back for more!

DUMPLING TIME – SoMa

The name says it all, but just in case you’re confused, there’s a neon pink sign to remind you what time it is! I was surprised to find this SoMo eatery packed at 9PM on a weeknight, but I completely understood why after one bite. I have no excuse for what I am about to say next, besides to say that the crispy tofu had the most amazing spices and breading I’ve had since my meat-eating days. I managed to stuff myself with garlicky green beans, crispy vegetable spring rolls, and crispy sesame tofu squares before making it to the actual dumpling portion of the evening— rookie mistake! However, the seafood gyoza received rave reviews from my date. Pro tip: write your party number and name on the clipboard outside then wait to be called for a table. Second pro tip: pace yourself and don’t miss out on the dumplings!

PIZZETTA 211 – Outer Richmond

Flying, Ubering, and checking into the Airbnb left me hangry. I was so relieved to find there was a local pizza place just a short walk away then my little heart sank when we arrived to find the place absolutely packed with people. There were literally folks hanging out on the sidewalk and sipping wine as they waited in line. While I usually take this as a good sign, I didn’t think I would make it waiting for one of the four tables in the suspiciously small dining area. Luckily, we struck up a conversation with the host. He chatted us up about favorites of his regulars, the charm of the neighborhood, and the wine list. Before I knew it, a table opened up and we were greeted with the most amazing cheese board. It changes daily, but ours was piled with delicious spiced nuts, dates, the creamiest cheeses, fresh bread, and olives so good that I changed my mind about not liking olives.

TARTINE MANUFACTORY – The Mission District

The smell of freshly baked bread will greet you before you make it to the corner where Tartine Manufactory is housed. A sign stating that all are welcome and a super fashionable hostess will round out the greeting. Tartine managed to deliver an experience that felt luxury yet attainable and simple yet wildly complex in preparation. I had the egg sandwich with cabot cheddar and greens. It was easily the tastiest breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had and on the freshest bread I ate for the entire trip. My single regret was not taking a loaf to go.

KOJA KITCHEN – Inner Richmond

Koja Kitchen is where Korean fare, Japanese delights, and the San Francisco street food scene collide in the best possible way. Imagine someone offering to replace the bread buns on your burger with fried garlic rice buns. You just got excited, didn’t you? Well, so did I when I read about the famous Koja burgers. My excitement grew when the Teriyaki Zen Koja, the vegetarian version of the original Koja, arrived to the table. I highly recommend complimenting whatever flavor adventure you choose with one of their strawberry mango mint lemonades.

MAC’D – Marina District

Four words: build-your-own mac & cheese. Okay, that was more than four words, but it’s an OMG MAC AND CHEESE BAR! This incredibly fun space welcomes you with a neon sign, a wall of sauces (you want the Garlic Goodness), pasta bases, mix-ins, and toppings (umm, hello Hot Cheetos crumbles). What I really love about this place is that they encourage you to be as adventurous as you want to be with my mac and cheese creation. No judgements and no regrets— unless you skip the Garlic Goodness sauce!

GRACIAS MADRE – The Mission District

Vegetarian and vegan foodies rejoice! Gracias Madre has an extensive seasonal menu featuring plant-based Mexican cuisine. I arrived in time for brunch and had the pleasure of being overwhelmed with options, which is typically a rare experience for this vegetarian living in the BBQ capital. My party grabbed seats on the patio for optimal people watching then promptly ordered mimosas and mojitos. I also chose the chimichanga, which arrived in a portion that suggested sharing, but was quickly devoured by party of Denise. It came stuffed with with a perfectly spicy tempeh chorizo, red peppers, caramelized onions, potatoes, and black beans. Yes, all the things. I completed my meal with a mojito.

Have you visited San Francisco? Is it on your travel list? If so, comment below and let me know your favorite eats or places you want to check out!

PS – You can see more of my travels on my Travel page and by following #theelletravels on Instagram 🙂