11 Fantastic Spots to Dine in San Francisco Right Now

Surrounded by ocean, San Francisco boasts an array of seafood delights, from succulent Dungeness crab to fresh oysters from Tomales Bay. Alongside these sea gems and the iconic sourdough, SF’s food scene blends international flavors, especially from Asia and the Pacific Rim, with Northern California’s fresh farm produce.

Local chefs are constantly innovating, merging regional ingredients with their cultural heritage and global experiences. From casual street bites to upscale dining, here’s a glimpse of the must-try dishes in San Francisco today.

1. Try the tea leaf salad at Mandalay

While SF is famous for its diverse Asian cuisine, smaller Southeast Asian countries are gaining the spotlight. The city is now recognized as the Burmese food capital of the US, with Mandalay—the oldest continuously running Burmese restaurant in the country—securing a James Beard Award. The Inner Richmond gem introduced patrons to the crunchy tea leaf salad and rich coconut chicken noodles of nan gyi dok.

How to get it: Open for dinner on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday (closed on Tuesday). Open for both lunch and dinner from Friday to Sunday. Online reservations are available for groups of 5-20, while other group sizes can call to book.

2. Sip the K.T.T.P. noodle soup at Lunette

Cambodian and Laotian cuisine have made waves in the East Bay, but San Francisco is still catching up. Thankfully, Nite Yun, the owner of the now-closed but beloved Cambodian restaurant Nyum Bai, has brought her flavors to SF's Ferry Building with her new spot, Lunette. The concise menu caters to all tastes, from vegan and gluten-free options to pork lovers. The K.T.T.P. (Kuy Teav, Phnom Penh) is a must for the latter, featuring pork prepared three ways—thin slices, ground pork, and crispy pork belly—served in a rich pork broth simmered for eight hours, paired with house-made chili sauce.

How to get it: Place your order at the counter. If seating inside is full, the friendly staff will prepare your order to go. There’s outdoor seating available behind the Ferry Building.

3. Enjoy a modern twist on the classic smash burger at Maillards

San Francisco has seen a surge in top-notch smash burgers. Thin, crispy-edged patties overflow from fresh, locally made buns, delivering a deep umami flavor thanks to the Maillard reaction created on the flat-top grill. Maillards’ popular stall at the Outer Sunset Farmers Market and Mercantile offers juicy burgers with shallots, house-made pickles on a potato bun, and a secret sauce reminiscent of an upscale Thousand Island. Don’t miss the fries, cooked in flavorful duck fat.

How to get it: Head to the burger stand at the Outer Sunset Farmers Market and Mercantile on Sundays between 9am and 2pm. Expect a wait time of around 30 minutes, plus another 5 to 10 minutes for your order to be prepared. Grab a coffee from the Sunset Roasters truck to make waiting more enjoyable.

4. Sip on the Levitation cocktail at Dark Bar

The rise of Asian American and Pacific Islander beverages and brands is no surprise, given the number of AAPI chefs and bartenders making waves in San Francisco’s hospitality scene. Dark Bar, located in the stylish LINE SF Hotel, was opened by Danny Louie, a long-time influencer of the AAPI drinks trend.

Dark Bar features cocktails that spotlight Asian spirits and ingredients, with a focus on seasonality and fermentation. The Levitation cocktail is crafted with Southeast Asian rum and a blend of pan-Asian ingredients like pandan, green Szechuan pepper, ume balsamic vinegar, and concord grape. The small bites by Chef Joe Hou are equally innovative and impressive.

How to get it: Walk-ins only.

5. Indulge in the Pimentel Lamb Shank at Altamirano

Chef Carlos Altamirano continues to elevate his Cal-Peruvian cuisine at Altamirano. With limited Peruvian dining options in the Bay Area, this new restaurant offers a delightful fusion of fresh California ingredients and traditional Peruvian flavors. The standout Pimentel Lamb Shank is slow-cooked to perfection and served on a vibrant choclo corn puree, complemented by roasted pearl onions, baby carrots, grilled peppers, and an adobo demi-glace.

How to get it: Book your dinner reservations online. Brunch and lunch are available from Friday to Sunday, but the restaurant is closed on Mondays.

6. Enjoy the rich flavors of chicken and sausage gumbo at Gumbo Social

Chef Dontaye Ball is on a mission to make gumbo a national favorite. His Gumbo Social made its debut at the Outer Sunset Farmers Market and the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, and now has a dedicated location in Bayview. Ball’s signature gumbo is a soul-soothing dish featuring tender chicken, flavorful andouille sausage, a rich roux-based broth, and okra. This Creole classic is enhanced by bell peppers, onions, celery, and seasoned rice, with a spice blend including cayenne, paprika, and black pepper. Don’t forget the crispy cornmeal hoecake for dipping!

How to get it: Visit the Bayview counter-service spot for lunch or dinner from Wednesday to Saturday, or find them at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturdays and Outer Sunset Farmers Market on Sundays.

7. Kick off your morning with the Shrimp Talk Toast at Toast’N Egg

Inner Sunset’s new Toast’N Egg, San Francisco’s first Korean street toast spot, offers the Shrimp Talk egg sandwich. It features a succulent fried shrimp patty, mixed with carrots and corn, paired with fluffy scrambled eggs, cabbage slaw, Japanese mayo, and nori, all nestled in soft milk bread. This unique shrimp patty is a rare gem in breakfast sandwiches. Snap a photo of the giant egg display, and enjoy your meal in the cozy back patio seating area.

How to get it: Use the self-serve kiosk to place your order (it defaults to a combo, but tap 'Toast Only' if you prefer no sides). Order online during weekends to avoid in-person wait times of up to 30 minutes.

8. Sink your teeth into the crispy miso bacon egg cup at Tiny Croissanterie

The new Tiny Croissanterie, located inside the Bayview Makers Kitchen, is part of the growing trend of Asian-French patisseries in the Bay Area. The Miso Bacon Egg Cup is a flaky croissant cup filled with rich miso béchamel, thick bacon, and a perfectly poached sunny-side-up egg. Also available are trendy flat croissants like the piña colada, a giant palmier-style pastry coated in coconut white chocolate and topped with pineapple chunks and rose petals.

How to get it: Visit Bayview Makers Kitchen from Wednesday to Saturday, 8am to 3pm, or until sold out (free drip coffee included!). Pre-orders are encouraged due to frequent sellouts. Pick-up windows are available in SF, Burlingame, Sunnyvale, and San Jose, with delivery to select Bay Area locations on Wednesdays and Thursdays for an extra fee.

9. Savor the flavors of The Earthly Eats Bowl at Kayma

Downtown SF's new multi-story IKEA features a two-floor, plant-centric food hall called Saluhall – a surprising addition from the home of flat-pack furniture. The upper level showcases local vendors, offering an array of plant-based dishes. One standout is Kayma, SF’s only Algerian restaurant, now housed here after moving from La Cocina’s old Municipal Marketplace.

Kayma's updated menu emphasizes more plant-based versions of its popular couscous bowls. The Earthly Eats Bowl is packed with mushrooms, artichokes, and carrots, served with three cold Algerian sides: smoky eggplant, sweet roasted red peppers, and chickpeas, all over a bed of ras al hanout-spiced couscous. Omnivores can add yogurt-tomato-cumin-marinated chicken, as featured in The Dajaj Paradise Bowl.

How to get it: Simply walk up to the counter and place your order.

10. Experience the ultimate cheese pull with the pepperoni slice at Outta Sight Pizza

In a city where exceptional bread and top-notch local produce reign supreme, it's no surprise that fine dining chefs are venturing into the affordable pizza scene. Located near the Asian Art Museum in the Tenderloin, Outta Sight Pizza serves $5 slices alongside natural wines and beers, curated by chef Eric Ehler of Michelin-starred Mister Jiu’s. Their New York-style pizzas are meticulously crafted with perfect sauce and topping ratios, featuring standout touches like the pepperoni slice with aged dry jack cheese, fresh basil leaves, a drizzle of olive oil, and pepperoni that crisps up into flavorful rings.

How to get it: Drop by the pizza shop anytime, or pre-order by phone or online for pick-up. Delivery is available within a specific area via DoorDash. Look out for a new location in Chinatown soon, offering unique Chinatown-inspired pizza creations.

11. Indulge in crispy pan-fried soup dumplings at Dumpling Home

In Hayes Valley, Dumpling Home has quickly risen to prominence among Northern-style Chinese dumpling spots, having opened in 2020 and earning a spot on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list by 2021. Renowned for its sheng jian bao – also known as SJB or pan-fried pork soup dumplings – this restaurant serves dumplings with a thin, stretchy skin that’s fried nearly to the top, encasing a generous amount of piping hot soup that erupts if you’re not careful with your bite.

How to get it: They don’t take reservations, so arriving early to queue up before opening is advisable. There are a few outdoor chairs available to help make the wait a bit more pleasant.