The best restaurants San Francisco & Bay Area

This small restaurant serves Mediterranean specialties, particularly Greek, but also Levantine. It doesn't look like much, but the food is fresh and tasty. As an added bonus, dishes are offered at rock-bottom prices, a rarity in Berkeley. We recommend the spanakopita (a kind of spinach and feta mille-feuille) as a starter, followed by the falafel wrap. Another option: a Greek gyros of beef or lamb, to die for, as well as mezzes(eggplant caviar, hummus, etc.). A simple, efficient address that's also a canteen for regulars.

A real success story for this young brand founded in 2009 by Joe Hargrave. The first Tacolicious was a small stand at the Thursday Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco. Today Tacolicious has four successful restaurants, three in San Francisco and one in Palo Alto, which is popular with Stanford students and residents. Brunch, lunch, dinner , you have a choice of tacos and salads. And every day there are new items depending on what's in season. Plus cocktails, wines, beers, tequilas...

When you exit BART's^24th Street station, don't hesitate: head straight to El Farolito taquería for a 100% Mission experience and a killer burrito. El Farolito proudly represents Mission's Latino identity. Don't be fooled by the tiny, suspicious entrance to this joint, you'll be surprised at what can be done in the way of food for so little money. We'll round out the meal with a great burrito, quesadilla, nachos or ceviche. Believe us, you'll love it!

Great French cuisine revisited to go! At the head of this very popular restaurant-caterer in Berkeley, the very dynamic Grégoire, a Frenchman who has been living in the United States for several decades, will be happy to welcome you. He offers refined dishes that change every month according to the fresh and local products. A real treat, it is an ideal quick break at lunch or in the afternoon, especially its delicious hot sandwiches and salads. Takeaway is available, as the counter can only accommodate 2 people.

A modest drive-in, with outdoor tables, serving the region's best falafels for a low price. For a change from burgers, this original fast-food restaurant offers a whole range of delicious falafel sandwiches, mezzés, gyros and keftas. You only have to look at the crowds at mealtimes to realize just how popular it is. And don't forget to try the excellent banana milkshakes! A practical, hearty break on the road to Silicon, with a picnic lunch in a local park.

In the heart of Jack London Square, this American-style restaurant offers burgers, pizzas, tacos and its famous tater tots (potato croquettes). It's also a sports bar , with screens showing game broadcasts. Outdoor games such as corn hole and bocce ball (similar to petanque) are on offer, while bowling and arcade games are available on site. The outdoor beer garden is also very pleasant. It offers a choice of 48 beers on draught. Accessible only to those aged 21 and over after 9pm.

A few minutes from the beach, Neptune's serves the best breakfasts in the city! In a highly guarded setting, you can enjoy typical dishes (Sisters waffles and oeufs), but also some creativity jewels (frites oysters and bacon waffles). Friendly atmosphere and shaded terrace.

Call siam in the heart of Russian Hill. Owner and Chef Toi Sawatdee offers a map where curry is king, and a wide selection of vegetarian dishes.

A dim sum restaurant a little away from the hustle and bustle of Chinatown, City View offers a wide selection of small dishes in a simple and clean setting. The dim sum will be offered to you as it is made in the kitchen on a cart pushed by a waitress. Chinese families gather here for a tasty sharing of steams, pies and ravioli. Don't miss the sesame balls at the end of the meal, all washed down with jasmine tea. A find in the neighborhood where one can be intimidated by the abundance of culinary offerings.

If you have to try one and only one fast-food restaurant during your trip, no hesitation, go to In-N-Out Burger, a Californian chain created in 1948 by Esther Snyder. It's simple, when you enter it, you feel like you're in an American movie from the 50's with the red leather design sofas, the neon signs and the molded plastic outdoor furniture. From the kitchen point of view, its philosophy remains unchanged since the beginning: work with fresh and quality products. It's still a hamburger, but the result is delicious!

This successful local restaurant has seven locations in California. It serves ocean-fresh fish and seafood. On the menu: fish'n'chips, sandwiches of all kinds, sushi, grilled squid, ceviche (beware, sometimes very spicy!) and other dishes to be enjoyed in a Japanese atmosphere. The establishment in front of the Botanical Gardens boasts a large wooden terrace, not particularly well decorated but pleasant enough to enjoy the sunshine. Perfect for a quick break before continuing your tour.

In the face of such a wide and varied menu, one solution: Let yourself be worn by your desires and you will certainly not be disappointed. A map full of surprises from Thailand, in a refined but warm decor. Very good value for money in the neighborhood. Emporter dishes also available.

Here, they serve a typical Californian cuisine: simple and prepared with fresh and seasonal ingredients. We love their lunch formula to be tasted on the terrace (heated when it's cold) with a breathtaking view on the bay. In the evening, you can enjoy these dishes inside, nicely decorated. The menu is rather short, which is a good sign. The pizzas are excellent and very well garnished with good products. The restaurant also has a small garden that it cultivates in the farm-to-table spirit. A good address!

A warm welcome awaits you at this bistro serving French cuisine reinterpreted according to the chef's whims. You can enjoy coq au vin, beef tartare, mussels marinière or cod. The restaurant has also made roast chicken its specialty. For dessert, we recommend profiteroles and bananas with crème brûlée. Music in keeping with the decor, recalling the spirit of popular Parisian troquets. The cable car that passes incessantly in front of the restaurant will offer you a little more exoticism.

Open only at midday, it would be a shame to go next to this temple of dim sum which, since 1958, has become the high-end alternative of the restaurants of Chinatown. Everything is exquisite and we appreciate all the delicious dishes made to pork and barbecue sauce.

Chouquet's is a French restaurant. The staff were friendly and helpful. The sun terrace is very pleasant at noon.

You wouldn't expect to find such an inexpensive restaurant in this chic neighborhood. But Helmand Palace has made a name for itself with its Afghan specialties. It is, however, only open in the evening. On the menu: various kebabs, vegetarian options based on chickpeas and delicious soups. Located at the foot of Russian Hill, it will transport you to the Afghan mountains with its simmered dishes, tea and exotic baklava. Everything is good, including deygee kabab and seek kabab. Reservations recommended at weekends.

This minimalist restaurant with its attractive metal counter is all about raw seafood. Delicious plates of scallops, tuna, butterflyfish, etc., all raw, but also oysters to delight your palate. Fish arrivals are local and sustainable. These feasts are accompanied by a (very good) glass of white wine. You can also enjoy the superbly stocked seafood platters, or a few hot dishes like the classic San Francisco chowder soup.

This Italian restaurant with its modern, refined decor is located on Chestnut Street, the shopping street in the Marina district. Very popular with San Franciscans, a second restaurant has opened in Union Square. Very welcoming, the pizzas are hearty and the dishes well-stocked. The kitchen is open, with a pizza oven in front of the restaurant, the bar has a wide selection of spirits and you can ask them for any cocktail, which they will prepare in front of you. It's advisable to get there in advance, as the address is quite coveted.

Don't be put off by the bright green frontage, unsightly neon lights and mediocre appearance of this little Chinese boui-boui, where you'll find great seafood and fish at all hours. There are plenty of Middle Kingdom specialties to choose from, starting with the excellent Peking half-duck, as well as Wonton Noodle Soup and dishes spiced with Sichuan pepper, for example. Portions are gargantuan. Late eaters will be delighted to learn that this restaurant stays open until 11pm every day, a rarity in San Francisco.

A successful Peruvian-Californian restaurant with several locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Specialties: ceviche, leche de tigre, grilled meats and the famous anticuchos, Peruvian chicken skewers with chimichurri potatoes and Peruvian corn. Delicious aji sauces and copious quantities. You can accompany your dish withyucca French fries. The atmosphere is noisy and lively. The cocktails are also delicious, like the Diablito (pisco, pomegranate juice, angostura, ginger syrup, lime).

In this Peruvian and Nikkei (fusion cuisine between Peru and Japan) restaurant, you enter the realm of ceviche in its most luxurious version. An emblematic dish of marinated raw fish, lime, onions and corn. It can be enjoyed in its most classic version, but also in other more creative and succulent forms. The menu also includes incredible tiraditos (a kind of Peruvian sashimi), causa (potato millefeuilles) and anticuchos (meat skewers). These marvels are served in a romantic setting.

Here's a restaurant that's out of the ordinary on Californian menus. Chef Brian Fernando, who spent many years in Sri Lanka, offers an inventive and daring cuisine that combines the island's traditions with Californian avant-gardism. This means, among other things, that the dishes are not too spicy, but are infused with exotic flavors. The modern dining room, with its intimate lighting, lends itself perfectly to dinners for two. To round off the evening, the owner, who is very Francophile, plays local music. A chic and expensive table.

Sanraku is one of Nob Hill's top sushi spots. You can eat there while watching the chefs create their wonders at the bar. If they are not too busy, they will even be happy to chat with you and share their knowledge. The decoration is a mix between contemporary Japanese-inspired posters and old-fashioned American furniture. For those who are allergic to raw fish, the udons, special lunch menus, and the donburis (fish or meat on a bed of rice) are excellent and more economical. A very good address

The same concept as its small brother and neighbour, the Crossroads Café, the servers and employees are ex-inmates in a reintegration program (the Delancey Street Foundation). The staff were very friendly and helpful. For the evening, typical American kitchen and excellent cakes (taste chocolate-based, a delight) for a few dollars. A very good address.

One of the few survivors of the 1906 earthquake, the Belle Epoque Audiffred Building, houses one of San Francisco's most respected restaurants today. Chef Nancy Oakes is inspired by French cuisine to create a refined Californian style. You can taste simple dishes worthy of the great masters. Enjoy a drink at the bar.

This charming Italian restaurant, located in Cow Hollow, offers a complete menu of watering antipasti and controlled dishes. In the programme: Ahi doughnuts, marinated octopus, fresh pasta stuffed handcrafted, asparagus ravioli and a wide selection of pizzas.

This somewhat isolated restaurant in Richmond's district is worth a visit, and if you explore the Golden Gate Park, you can easily go there. On the menu, dumplings made with talent and tradition including the few insiders who know the address! Vegetarians, pork or seafood are all recommended. Stuffed brioches are also delicious and perfectly accompanied by a steam ravioli base. Perfect to regain strength before returning to the park museums. 

This little Burmese jewel in the middle of Richmond will make you discover an exotic cuisine with an abundance of flavors, especially since it is proposed in a classic version, meaning not Americanized. You should try the tea leaf salad(Lap Pat Dok), refreshing and with surprising textures, or let yourself be tempted by the mandalay special noodles or the mandalay chicken, specialties of the chef. This is an excellent opportunity to discover Burmese cuisine, which is much less well known than its Chinese, Thai or Indian counterparts.

A local, no-frills address in the heart of Castro. Starbelly serves what Americans call comfort food: simple, tasty dishes. The wooden interior and herb-scented outdoor patio offer a unique setting for lunch or early evening. As for the cuisine, the menu changes according to the market and the chef's whims. The dishes are inventive and well-seasoned. We love the bacon-arugula (arugula) pizza, homemade pâté and flank steak. Good wine list at reasonable prices.

Brasserie atmosphere for the oldest French restaurant in San Francisco... In Bush Street, on the right going down to Market Street, impossible to miss! A vintage red Tabac sign in the French style marks this establishment which plays on the made in France. It exists since 1974 and it is an institution. The specialities? Cassoulet, black pudding and filet mignon. Unfortunately all this is a bit overrated and rather touristy. But the room is pleasant and the location, just a step away from Union Square, is convenient.

On the quayside, a large, cosy dining room with bar and terrace offers views of the Bay Bridge and Waterfront. This restaurant offers a good selection of fish and seafood in a very chic atmosphere. Without breaking the bank, sit at the counter and order a glass of Napa Valley wine and a small plate of shellfish during happy hour. You can also take the time to enjoy a good meal - you won't regret it. It's a great place to stop off before visiting the nearbyExploratorium.

If you're not lucky enough to be staying on the floors of the luxurious and historic Westin Saint Francis, you can take a shopping break in the luxury boutiques on the first floor and enjoy a gourmet meal at the Oak Room, an elegant and cozy restaurant with thick carpeting, heavy curtains, a wood-paneled ceiling and leather chairs. The American menu is based on products and recipes from the Californian region, with a refined version of course, and excellent macaroons. A break from the hustle and bustle of Union Square.

It's the chic Sofitel Restaurant of the Bay. French service and gastronomy according to group standards. On the ground floor, just steps from the pool, comfortable spaces await you to enjoy the cuisine of Chef Alejandro Abad. On that day, a cute filet with small high-flying vegetables regaled us… Very attentive service with a touch of humour that adds to well-being.

Arguably the best Greek restaurant in town, Kokkari is the little brother of Palo Alto's Evvia Estiatoro Greek restaurant. Here you can enjoy typical Mediterranean recipes cooked with the finest local ingredients, revisited by chef Erik Cosselmon with a modern twist. A delicious example is the soutzoukakia (lamb meatballs) spiced up with cumin and Greek yoghurt . The dining room is reminiscent of typical Greek taverns, especially the room with its exposed beams and subdued lighting, creating a romantic setting.

Built in 1903, the building was long a pharmacy before becoming a café during the 1964 hippie movement. Magnolia Gastropub is now known for its Irish pub atmosphere with a rather classic interior design. Numerous draught beers made in-house and frankly good; traditional pub cuisine revisited. The fragrant homemade sausages are particularly worth a visit, as are the classic weekend brunches.

More expensive than its neighbors, the Great Eastern Restaurant is nonetheless worth a visit for its kitschy, gilded setting and its wonderful dim sum prepared at lunchtime. This Cantonese restaurant used to have a reputation as one of the best Chinese restaurants in San Francisco. Unfortunately, it has lost some of its former quality. Don't expect fancy service; the waiters are pretty gruff. But don't take offense - it's part of the charm! For the record, President Obama once dined here.

A magnificent gastronomic stopover in Vietnam at this two-storey restaurant with outdoor patio. Dine on the first floor, in the large, tropical dining room, then head upstairs for a cocktail at the bar, where you can listen to guest jazz players on certain evenings. On the menu, a fine selection of dishes blending Vietnamese and French inspirations. Specialties include swordfish stew with green bananas and rack of lamb with curry. A real delight. On the other hand, the bill is rather salty.

Chambers is the restaurant of the Phoenix Hotel, with the same pop chic ambience. In the evening, dine on the poolside terrace before gliding over to the library-bar, home to thousands of vinyl records. The menu features seasonal American dishes with French, Mediterranean and Japanese influences. The burger is a particular favorite with regulars. A splendid restaurant-bar frequented as much by hotel guests as by a host of Bay Area hipsters, as well as a poolside terrace.

We go there to brunch on French toast, eggs Benedict and black pudding (rather rare in California). Housed in a former architect's studio, this farm-to-table American comfort food restaurant serves organic, local fare in a post-industrial atmosphere beloved of the Potrero Hill and Dogpatch Boulders neighborhoods. Popular with locals, expect long lines, especially on weekends. The house also organizes dinners at local wineries - it's worth a try! Takeaway service.

Romantrattoria in the colors of La Botte, with a warm atmosphere. Chef Maurizio Bruschi serves a small but tasty selection of recipes taught by his grandmother. Everything here is homemade, from the bread to the fresh pasta, and it's all very well. Special mention goes to the octopus and, in a completely different genre, the tiramisus. There's also a good selection of Italian and Californian wines, mainly from the nearby Sonoma Valley. One of the best Italian restaurants in San Francisco, you can go there with your eyes closed.

Very popular, this small restaurant serves dishes from El Salvador (the chef's country of origin) in a warm, family atmosphere. You can spot it by the queue outside at dinnertime. Of course, it serves the famous Salvadoran pupusas. These are thick cornmeal or rice cakes, the equivalent of Colombian or Venezuelan arepas. They are stuffed with cheese, chicharrón (pork), squash or refried beans, and escorted by a spicy coleslaw called curtido and a tomato sauce.

The lobby of the Beacon Grand Hotel's Art Deco skyscraper is home to this restaurant-lounge bar. Chandeliers, mirrors, high ceilings and retro furniture lend an incredible Roaring Twenties majesty. Californian specialties with a Mediterranean accent, French nouvelle cuisine style. On our visit, the avocado tuna Ahi Tuna with sumac lime sauce was divine, as was the whole sea bass roasted with artichoke and pesto. The counter comes alive at the end of the evening, as the cocktails are as refined as the dishes. Concerts at weekends.

In Japantown, which is bursting with good addresses, this restaurant is very much in the Japanese spirit. Take a seat at the bar, equipped with screens, to order your sushi. We recommend tempura rolls, California-style dragon rolls and lobster rolls. Get ready, they're delivered by a little electric train that runs along the bar connected to the kitchens! When it arrives, it rings, and don't forget to send the wagon away!

This new California-style seafood restaurant is located in Pacific Heights. Specialties include oysters, crabs and mussels to take away or eat in, crispy sandwiches (bay shrimp and avocado, crabmeat rolls). The fish tacos with choice of black beans and pico de gallo are delicious, as is the San Franciscan Cioppino with mussels, clams, crab, cod, shrimp and scallops.) Everything is very hearty, so don't bite off more than you can chew. The dining room is pleasant and bright, and prices are reasonable.

Boudin (pronounced "boudine") is a true San Francisco institution. You can taste the famous clam chowder, a creamy clam soup served in a ball ofsourdough bread. The place has certainly become touristy, but it is one of the must-sees of your visit to Fisherman's Wharf. Even though it may seem industrial in terms of the flow, you can feel that everything is fresh. And delicious. There is also a free museum. It's that the origin of the business goes back 160 years!

The house has been in existence since 1971, and the queue on Saturday afternoons is the longest in the neighborhood! The pizzas here vary according to the season and the chef's inspiration. The pizzas are, of course, delicious and generous. The choice of ingredients seems endless, but there's plenty of time to choose! And on some evenings, there's live music. Cheese Board is also a bakery and a cheese shop a few steps away (at 1504), both equally renowned and open at different times.