Where to Eat & Drink in San Francisco
A16
Marina Neapolitan pizza restaurant on Chestnut Street, open since 2004. VPN-certified pizza and Southern Italian cooking.
Arsicault Bakery
Bon Appétit named it the Best New Bakery in America. Best Croissant in the country.
Buddha Lounge
A Chinatown dive with red lanterns, a jukebox, and stiff, cheap pours.
Good Mong Kok Bakery
Chinatown bakery on Stockton Street, open since 1977. Steamed char siu bao (barbecue pork buns) is the signature; cash only and fast counter service.
Hon’s Wun-Tun House
Hong Kong-style wonton noodle soup with hand-wrapped wontons and clean broth. So Tasty!
House of Nanking
Two-time Chopped champion on Food Network. The family was the subject of the docuseries Chef Dynasty: House of Fang
House of Shields
A 1908 SoMa saloon with no clocks, where Warren Harding reportedly had his last drink.
Li Po Cocktail Lounge
The 1937 Chinatown dive famous for its secret-recipe Chinese Mai Tai.
Local Edition
A speakeasy in the basement of the old San Francisco Examiner, among the printing presses.
Red’s Place
Bills itself as the oldest bar in Chinatown.
Sam’s Burgers
Anthony Bourdain ate here on The Layover and called it “top three in the world.” plus It’s great for late night food after the bar.
Sotto Mare
North Beach seafood counter on Green Street serving cioppino, fresh oysters, and Dungeness crab in a 30-seat dining room. No reservations for parties of two; parties of three or more can book.
Specs’ Twelve Adler Museum Cafe
A North Beach dive since 1968 with walls covered in seafaring memorabilia.
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana
Tony Gemignani’s North Beach flagship, where seven ovens turn out about a dozen pizza styles. The wood-fired Margherita that won the 2007 World Pizza Cup in Naples is capped at 73 a day.
Trick Dog
A Mission cocktail bar whose menu changes theme twice a year. Two-time James Beard semifinalist.
Uji Time Dessert
First shop in the Bay Area to serve taiyaki ice cream in fish-shaped cones baked to order. The Fish Cone is the house specialty.
