What to Eat During a Trip to San Francisco
San Francisco is one of those cities where eating is basically the whole plan. The fog, the hills, the neighborhoods, they all just happen to be backdrops for the food. Here is exactly what to order and where to go.
Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bread Bowl
This is thick, creamy New England-style clam chowder poured inside a hollowed-out, tangy sourdough loaf that you eat along with the soup. The bread soaks up the broth as you go, and by the end you are eating the bowl itself.
Boudin Bakery at Fisherman’s Wharf is the classic go-to, with a great upstairs view of the waterfront. For something a step above the tourist crowds, Fog Harbor Fish House on Pier 39 has won the Fisherman’s Wharf chowder competition and earns consistent praise for its rich, briny bowl.
The Mission-Style Burrito
This is not your average burrito. It is a massive, foil-wrapped torpedo stuffed with seasoned meat, rice, beans, sour cream, guacamole, and fresh avocado, all inside a warm, griddled flour tortilla. You will likely need both hands and probably a nap afterward.
El Farolito on 24th and Mission is what The Infatuation calls the undisputed champion of the city’s taqueria scene, famous for its tender carne asada and al pastor. It’s cash only, the line moves fast, and the super burrito is roughly the size of a small child.
La Taqueria is the legendary no-rice alternative nearby, run by a James Beard Award-winning owner and named the best burrito in America.
Cioppino
Cioppino is a hearty, tomato-wine broth seafood stew loaded with Dungeness crab, mussels, clams, scallops, squid, and fish, served with crusty sourdough for dipping. It is messy, deeply savory, and absolutely worth the bib they hand you.
Sotto Mare in North Beach is consistently recommended as one of the top three spots in the city for cioppino, serving their “Best Damn Cioppino” in a generous bowl loaded with crab legs and briny shellfish.
Scoma’s on Fisherman’s Wharf is another beloved option, tucked away on its own private pier with stunning bay views.
Dim Sum
Dim sum is the ultimate San Francisco group meal, a parade of small plates, steamed buns, dumplings, rice noodle rolls, and fried bites that arrive continuously at your table. You point, you grab, you share, and you order way more than you planned.
Good Mong Kok Bakery in Chinatown is rated the top dim sum spot on Yelp and is considered a city institution, famous for its char siu bao, har gow, and siu mai at prices that feel almost unreal.
For a more sit-down experience with carts rolling through a soaring atrium, Yank Sing at Rincon Center is a local favorite for consistently excellent xiao long bao and scallop siu mai.
Dungeness Crab
When it is in season, Dungeness crab is what San Francisco eats. It arrives whole, cracked open at the table, and served with melted butter, cocktail sauce, and the understanding that you are going to get messy and you are going to love it.
Thanh Long in the Sunset District is a city institution for roast crab with a famously rich, garlicky butter sauce. For something more casual, Popi’s Oysterette in the Marina serves a chilled version with brown butter that is perfect alongside a round of oysters.
Sourdough Bread
San Francisco sourdough has a flavor that simply does not exist anywhere else, a deep tang that comes from the wild yeast cultures in the Bay Area air.
On its own, toasted with butter, or alongside a bowl of something warm, it is one of those things you eat here and immediately understand why locals are obsessive about it.
Boudin Bakery has been making loaves since 1849 and remains the most iconic spot to grab one.
For a more artisan experience that locals swear by, Tartine Bakery in the Mission draws a daily line out the door for its country loaves and the legendary morning bun, a flaky, orange-scented pastry that doubles as a very good reason to set an early alarm.
San Francisco rewards the hungry and the curious in equal measure, and the best version of any trip here is one built almost entirely around the next meal.
