Where to Eat in San Francisco

Farm-to-table before it was a thing

San Francisco invented California cuisine — the idea that local, seasonal ingredients matter. But it's also burritos the size of your head, Chinatown dim sum, and sourdough everything. Tech money raised prices but the food scene adapted, not died.

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Neighborhoods to Know

Mission District

Vibe: Latino roots, hipster evolution, burrito central

Best for: Taquerias, bars, Valencia Street crawl

Chinatown

Vibe: Historic, dense, authentic

Best for: Dim sum, roast meats, old-school Chinese

North Beach

Vibe: Italian heritage, Beat history, neighborhood feel

Best for: Italian food, espresso, people watching

Hayes Valley

Vibe: Trendy, walkable, design-forward

Best for: Modern California, wine bars, pre-symphony

Richmond/Sunset

Vibe: Foggy, residential, Asian food mecca

Best for: Chinese, Korean, casual neighborhood spots

What to Eat

Mission Burrito

Giant, foil-wrapped, stuffed with meat, rice, beans, guac, sour cream. A San Francisco institution.

Must try: Super burrito from a taqueria with a line

Dim Sum

Chinatown and Richmond have some of the best outside of Hong Kong.

Must try: Weekend cart service — point at what looks good

Sourdough

The city's signature bread. Wild yeast, tangy crumb. Started in the Gold Rush.

Must try: Bread bowl of clam chowder at Fisherman's Wharf (tourist trap, but do it once)

California Cuisine

Local, seasonal, ingredient-forward. This is where farm-to-table started.

Must try: Tasting menu at a chef-driven spot using whatever's in season

Local Tips

→Burritos here are different — rice inside, massive, eaten with hands. Not like SoCal.
→Chinatown dim sum requires early arrival. By 11am, it's packed.
→The Richmond District is underrated — incredible Asian food, less hype.
→Fisherman's Wharf is a tourist trap except for some actual fishing boats selling fresh crab.
→Reservation apps rule here. Resy and OpenTable are essential.

When to Eat

Breakfast

8-10am

Coffee culture is strong. Find a local roaster.

Lunch

11:30am-1:30pm

Dim sum or Mission burrito

Dinner

6-9pm

Reserve ahead, especially Hayes Valley and Mission

Late night

10pm-1am

Limited options — this isn't NYC. Mission has late tacos.

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