Chow Lists

• 1. Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

  One Ferry Building, 200 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA

  The Saturday morning farmer's market is one of the best stops in the city for locals or visitors. There are prepared food vendors in addition to the produce vendors, cheesemongers, bakeries, etc, etc

• 2. Zuni Cafe

  1658 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

  Get the famous chicken, oysters, Ceasar salad, burger

• 3. Tadich Grill

  240 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

  One of the oldest restaurants in SF and one of the last places to get authentic good sourdough bread. Recommended dishes are cioppino and sand dabs. Stick to simple preparations

• 4. Scoma's Fisherman's Wharf

  47 Pier 45, San Francisco, CA 94133

  If you insist on eating at Fisherman's Wharf, Scoma's is one of the better options. Stick to the 3 course $22 lunch prix fixe. Dinner is overpriced and sides are average at best. However, Scoma's has its own fishing fleet and some of the freshest fish in SF

• 5. Mama's On Washington Square

  1701 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133

  Great breakfast. Long lines

• 6. Dottie's True Blue Cafe

  522 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94102

  Great breakfast. Long lines

• 7. Yank Sing

  101 Spear St, San Francisco, CA 94105

  Pricy but tasty dim sum. Friendly to those new to dim sum as well. Located in the lovely renovated Old Post office. There's a second location, but this is the better choice.

• 8. 1550 Hyde

  1550 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94109

  One of my favorite restuarants in the city. Excellent California cuisine and wine. It is located right on a cable car stop

• 9. Town's End Restaurant & Bakery

  2 Townsend St Ste 2, San Francisco, CA 94107

  Great breakfast and if on a budget, the 3 course $22 dinner can't be beat. It is in the area of the ball park

• 10. The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton

  600 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94108

  My favorite top scale dining. Chef Ron Siegel has stellar tasting menus. The service at The Ritz is also the best in the city.

• 11. Liguria Bakery

  1700 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133

  Fresh foccacia is the only item this bakery has made for generations. Go early. When the foccacia sells out the store closes. At Christmas they do make panettone which is also available until it sells out.

• 12. XOX Truffles

  754 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

  Excellent truffles that are made while you watch. Best are the caramel and peanut butter.If you buy a cup of coffee there is a free truffle. The coffee is from the excellent Graffeo coffee company across the street. Stop by just for the wonderful aroma.of fresh-roasted beans.

• 13. Belden Place

  44 Belden Pl, San Francisco, CA 94104

  This alley has a number of cafe's with outdoor seating. There's nothing particularily SF about any of them. Most are Spanish or French. However, you will be rubbing elbows with San Franciscans working in the Financial District and it is close to Union Square and a good choice if looking to dine in that area

• 14. Sears Fine Food

  439 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

  Burn any guidebook that tells you to eat here. It is not worth waiting in the long lines. There are few San Franciscans going here for the Swedish pancakes. Sears was sold a few years back and is owned by a local chain.

• 15. Aziza

  5800 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94121

  Often recommended to visitors asking for a unique to SF experience. The Cal-Moroccan food is delicious and unique. The cocktails top-notch. Definately get the spreads. San Franciscans dine here regularily.

• 16. Slanted Door

  Ferry Slip, San Francisco, CA 94111

  Does it live up to the hype? Yes and no. I personally like the food. The ingredients are top notch from the Ferry Plaza farmers market. The wines are wonderful. The view is nice. The restaurant itself is a little stark. People who don't like it feel there is better more authentic food elsewhere. It is really Cal-Vietnamese. Go with that expectation and select the specials rather than the Vietnamese standards.

• 17. Park Chow

  1238 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122

  Often recommended to visitors looking for a restaurant near Golden Gate Park. Kid-friendly and good, reasonably priced California cuisine.

• 18. R & G Lounge

  631 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108

  Often recommended as one of the better choices in Chinatown. Search Chowhound posts about best bets to order. The salt and pepper crab is often recommended

• 19. Golden Gate Bakery

  1029 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

  My favorite baked BBQ pork buns. The egg custard tarts are not as good as before the passing of the baker, but still tasty.

• 20. Cliff House

  1090 Point Lobos Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121

  The Cliff House may finally be more than a tourist stop. In Jan 2009 George Morrone, the chef who earned four stars at Aqua and Fifth Floor, took over the kitchen at Sutro's. I had lunch there and the food is up to the standards of many of SF's better restaurants. <BR><BR> Skip the Bistro. It is run by someone else and is overpriced with average at best food except for the popovers. Avoid the Sunday buffet brunch which doesn't have much of a selection and is poorly organized

• 21. Canteen

  817 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109

  Located in Union Square, this tiny restaurant gets lots of praise for their dinner and weekend brunch

• 22. House of Nanking

  919 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94133

  If standing in a long line to sit at a shabby restaurant and eat carelessly prepared and overly sweet Americanized Chinese food served by a rude staff is your idea of a good time, hang the word 'tourist; around your neck and join the queue. As Herb Cean said, it's not even the best place on the block.

• 23. Jai Yun

  680 Clay St, San Francisco, CA 94111

  The chef shops for food daily and the menu is at his discression. Not the type of place to go if your idea of good Chinese food is sweet and sour pork with fried rice.

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