One of California’s most populous cities and an iconic American landmark, San Francisco is largely known for touristic sites like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the San Francisco City Hall, among others. However, the city’s culture can also be seen through its culinary traditions, restaurants, and producers. For those visitors who aim to have an overall experience of “Frisco,” keep on reading.
San Francisco: A Map of Its Compulsory Gastronomic Stops
They were looking for a place to start your Food tour in San Francisco. Here are a few areas that every food lover should have in mind.
· Noodle in A Haystack
Located in Richmond, this charming location originated as a pop-up. Nowadays, it maintains a homely atmosphere by serving 12 guests a night, so make sure to make a reservation in advance.
While the menu includes several Japanese-inspired recipes (including tsukemono and pork karaage, among others), the main attraction is the ramen. This classic dish can take different turns in Noodle In A Haystack, including the yuzu shio version that guaranteed the couple that owns the restaurant a spot as a finalist in 2017’s World Ramen Grand Prix.
· Zuni Cafe
With a long tradition of forty years, this café has achieved the fame of an icon and it is an irreplaceable station in any Food tour through San Francisco. So have some of its plates, like the Zuni Caesar salad or the “chicken for two” (dry-brined for days, cooked in a brick oven, and served with salad). Nevertheless, do not miss out on other recipes, like the anchovies with celery, parm and olives. Get a taste of this classic restaurant, which maintains its Parisian-style copper bar, rotating art gallery, and piano.
· Nari
It took four years from Nari’s opening in 2019 for it to get a Michelin star in 2023. While the name may seem strange, it derives from the Sanskrit word for “women,” and it represents an homage from Pim Techamuanvivit, the owner, to the women who taught her to cook. Nowadays, its kitchen team is largely female led.
The restaurant, located in Japantown, is at the top of the city’s culinary scene and is well known for its mixture of traditional Thai ingredients with locally grown seasonal elements. Here, you can try curries with lamb, eggplant, Cornish game hen, and pork belly, among others.
· Rich Table
This cozy, wood-paneled restaurant in Hayes Valley is known for its traditional yet creative menus. These include bread slices with Douglas fir and butter, potato chips with sardines and horseradish crème fraîche, and house-made pasta with wild toppings.
· Californios
Another one of the Michelin-star owners on our list, you can find this Mexican restaurant in SoMa. Celebre for its aesthetics (the black walls, the restroom’s neon art, the low lighting mixed with vibrant art, and the mirrored front, to name a few), here you can eat dishes just as surprising. Chef Val Cantu amazes his customers with his seasonal menu changes, from a grilled banana topped with caviar to the sturgeon-cream-and-caviar tilapia.
· La Ciccia
If you are looking for an intimate evening, this is your spot. In this candle-lit restaurant in Noe Valley, you will find Sardinian recipes cooked with organic produce and sustainable fish. Famous for its seafood, one of its most renowned dishes is the baby octopus served with a spicy tomato base, the fusilli topped with tuna, or the prawns with basil oil.
Food Tours: A Taste of the City
Every day, more visitors choose to embark on a Food Tour in San Francisco, for it combines a stroll through the local culture, tourism, and cuisine. Some well-known options are:
· Ferry Building Food Tour
The Ferry Building is one of the city’s most popular tours, and nowadays, the circuit has expanded to include other locations (you can try the ones that include the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, known for its artisan cuisine and its mixture of effervescent activity and historical spots. Some other tours even include an Alcatraz excursion).
On this tour, you will be able to taste everything from chocolate to macarons without missing out on churros and loaves. The farmer’s market does not open daily, so check the available dates.
· Japantown Food Tour
You may know many Chinatowns, but Japantowns are rare: the one located in San Francisco is only one of the three remaining in the United States. Salad, onigiri, Japanese street food, and bowls of ramen—take a bite of the local flavors while strolling the streets of the picturesque landscape.
· North Beach Food Tour
There are many alternatives for this tour. While some options offer an overall tour, others focus on Chinatown or Little Italy. Walk around the area while learning about the local history and food.
What to Eat?
Have you been to San Francisco if you have yet to try sourdough bread? Which are the essential dishes to taste before leaving? A quick list includes:
· Irish Coffee
It was not invented in San Francisco but popularized there: the mixture of alcohol and coffee with whipped cream. The popular legend revolves around Buena Vista Cafe, the iconic place where this delicacy is still served.
· Cioppino
A Frisco-classic stew filled with seafood mixed with tomato and wine, characterized by calamari, mussels, and Dungeness crab parts. It is served with sourdough bread.
· Mission Burrito
How are they different from burritos? This considerable dish consists of oversized tortillas filled with rice, meat, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, onions, and pinto beans. Though their origin is not specific, many guess it was first thought of in the Latino community.
· Sourdough Bread
As with Irish coffee, it was not invented in San Francisco, but its popularity rose. It is well known for its chewy, sharp taste and accompanies many of the city’s most traditional meals.
You already know San Francisco’s main sites, but do you know its most renowned recipes? Go on your favorite food tour to experience the city on a whole new level.
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