If you’re looking for places to eat in San Francisco, you’ll be pleased to hear that the city’s dining scene is really varied. Whether you’re after a Michelin-starred eatery or a locals’ hangout, there’s a restaurant for you.
Here’s our pick of San Francisco’s best restaurants…
BOUDIN BAKERY
Sourdough is San Francisco’s famous savory snack, and Boudin Bakery on Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the best places to try it. Here you can watch the sourdough being made from scratch before it’s brought to your table. The sights and smells of the bread being baked are mouthwatering enough. And, after watching how it’s made, you can tuck into the famous clam chowder or various other soups and stews which come in an edible sourdough bread bowl.
Day Tour – Red Route, Stop: Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf
boudinbakery.com/boudin-at-the-wharf
Zuni Café
This modern, multi-level bistro is one of San Francisco’s most iconic restaurants. It boasts a stylish, airy setting with floor-to-ceiling windows, and serves up a combination of French, Italian and American dishes made with seasonal organic ingredients. The most famous dish here is a simple one – wood-fired roast chicken served with warm bread salad and seasonings. Zumi’s recipe for the chicken is a complex one which involves prepping it 24-hours before cooking and seasoning it just about everywhere. The result is the perfect crispy skin and juicy, flavoursome meat you just won’t be able to replicate at home.
Day Tour – Red Route, Stop: Civic Centre
zunicafe.com
SWAN OYSTER DEPOT
The best restaurants are often the ones that look pretty unremarkable from the outside, and Swan Oyster Depot is no exception. This part-market, part-restaurant is where you’ll find some of the city’s best seafood dishes and fresh seasonal fish. There’s local oysters, smoked salmon, clam chowder and Dungeness crab to try. If you’re after the most Instagram-friendly dish, pick the ‘crabsanthemum’ off the secret menu which is crab legs in a flower arrangement served with dipping sauce.
Day Tour – Red Route, Stop: Union Square North
RICH TABLE
This Michelin-starred restaurant combines fine dining with a rustic, relaxed ambiance, and it’s a firm favorite with both locals and tourists. The experimental cuisine here is influenced by countries across the globe, so you can expect a real mix of dishes. There’s Indian-influenced foie gras, Polish pierogi and Australian aged beef with black truffle to tuck into. And the table snacks are highly recommended too, with the likes of porcini doughnuts and crispy sardine chips on the menu. Finish up with a creamy after-dinner cocktail or some dessert wine for the perfect finale.
Day Tour – Red Route, Stop: Civic Center
richtablesf.com
BURMA SUPERSTAR
This place will keep both meat eaters and veggies happy with its wide selection of flavorsome meat or veg curries, soups and rice dishes. The queue for this popular eatery often stretches right around the block, but you’ll be offered free tea while you wait, and the wait is definitely worth it. Cuisine influences come from Burma and its neighboring countries, including India, China, Laos and Thailand. And top dishes include the tea leaf rainbow salad – which has won several awards alone – and the samosa soup and coconut chicken curry.
Day Tour – Red Route, Stop: Golden Gate Park
burmasuperstar.com
Start planning your San Francisco foodie holiday today. This city boasts a mix of Michelin-starred eateries, top seafood spots and low-key locals’ favorites. Browse our San Francisco bus tours and attractions for more itinerary inspiration.
