It’s nearly impossible to be bored in San Francisco — there’s always something delightful to see, do, and of course eat. From clam chowder at Fisherman’s Wharf to pizza in North Beach to dim sum in Chinatown, there’s no shortage of delicious dining options. So when I got the chance to spend a day and a half in San Fran with my family a few weeks ago, I was very excited to eat all the San Francisco food.
Some critics have argued that San Francisco’s restaurant scene is on the decline, especially in the wake of COVID. And maybe in the upper echelons of fine dining à la The Menu, it is. But I have to say that for me, a lowly tourist, the food scene in San Fran did not disappoint. Maybe it’s the fog, maybe it’s the hills, but everything just tastes better in the city by the bay. Here’s a rundown of what I (and my family) ate.
Friday Night
San Francisco’s Chinatown is distinguished as the largest outside of Asia and the oldest in North America. It’s also distinguished by its plethora of flavorful and delicious food options to satisfy every craving, from spicy sichuan noodles to delicate egg tarts. Dinner at Kingbop in Chinatown hit the spot after a long day of travel. We ordered kimbap, tteokbokki, and Korean Fried Chicken (KFC). The fried chicken was amazingly crispy and tender, like a flavorful explosion in my mouth. It came with a side of chicken-mu, a crunchy pickled radish banchan which is often served alongside KFC. The sour, vinegary radish was the perfect contrast to the spicy-sweet fried chicken. The tteokbokki was perfectly chewy and springy and bathed in the most delicious sauce. NGL, I was practically drinking that sauce. So good.
We finished the meal with some sweet corn-flavored turtle chips, a trendy South Korean chip named for their resemblance to a turtle shell. If you see these anywhere, please buy them! You won’t regret it. They’re perfectly crisp and the multiple layers provide maximum crunch without the dangerously sharp edges of a triangular chip. Having been the victim of multiple painful tortilla-chip related mouth injuries, I welcome this innovation.
Saturday
The next morning we stopped at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. With over a hundred vendors purveying all kinds of delicious food, this was the most impressive farmers market I have ever seen. From baba ghanoush to pandan custard, the market was filled with delicious distractions. But I was on a mission to obtain breakfast, and my growing hunger did not steer me wrong. I ended up at Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen where I purchased the most delicious bagel sandwich of my life. It’s a bold statement, I know, but it’s true. The Crunchy Spice sandwich consisted of eggs, everything spice chili crisp, bitter greens, melted cheese and garlic aioli, all jammed into a toasted sesame bagel. And what a bagel. Everyone’s always talking about L.A. bagels vs New York bagels, but have they tried San Francisco bagels? They really should.
Mid-morning, my brother’s girlfriend picked up some mochi from a vendor in Golden Gate Park, which she generously shared with me. I tried sweet soy and black sesame, which were both delicious, but I have to say black sesame was my favorite. Perfectly chewy and semisweet, it was the ultimate morning snack.
We were planning on getting lunch at Pier 39, but (hot take, sorry) Pier 39 is kind of a tourist trap. I did see the sea lions though, so it was worth it. By the time we escaped the crowds to obtain food elsewhere, it was getting quite late and I was getting quite hangry. We stopped at Freddie’s Sandwiches for the perfect cure — classic San Francisco sourdough sammies. The contrast of chewy sourdough, tangy mustard, fresh deli meat, crunchy veggies, and creamy mayo was lowkey addictive. But I did have to take a few breaks…this sandwich is not for the faint of heart (or weak of jaw).
For a sweet mid-afternoon snack, we picked up a (very soft, thankfully) Japanese cheesecake from Yummy Bakery and Cafe in Chinatown. Japanese cheesecake is like a mix between an NY-style cheesecake and a chiffon cake. It’s lighter, fluffier, and less sweet than American cheesecake, and I’m a fan. I loved the contrast between the tougher crust, spongy middle, and custardy bottom. It was perfectly eggy and not-to-sweet, and I was very glad we had a whole cake for everyone to share.
After a few hours exploring North Beach, San Francisco’s Italian-American neighborhood, we stopped for dinner at Georgian Cheese Boat. That’s Georgia, the country, BTW. We satisfied a lifelong dream of mine by trying Khachapuri, AKA the cheese boat. Khachapuri is a Georgian dish consisting of boat-shaped bread stuffed with melted cheese, an egg, and a pat of butter. All things I love, and even better combined. The fluffy, savory cheese mixture and crusty bread were so comforting and tasty.
We also ordered the combo plate, a selection of vegetable dishes. My personal favorite was the pkhali spinach, which featured ground spinach, walnuts, and garlic shaped into a tasty little ball. As a garlic lover, the amount of garlic in the Georgian dishes we tried was ideal.
Sunday morning
The next morning, we stopped at the Ferry Building again for breakfast. Even when the farmers market isn’t in session, the Ferry Building Marketplace has over 40 permanent shops and restaurants and is a wonderful place to stop for a meal any time of day. I picked up a Harvartadella Croissant made by Craftsman and Wolves bakery. The gorgeous croissant was stuffed with mortadella, danish havarti, cornichon relish, and whole grain mustard, and topped with pistachios. It was as delicious as it was beautiful, the perfect breakfast to end my stay in San Francisco.
Lastly, I have to give a shout out to It’s-it ice cream sandwiches. This delicious chocolate-dipped, ice cream filled oatmeal cookie sandwich can be found all over California, but originated in San Francisco in 1928. I tried the vanilla and mint varieties on my trip, and both were incredible. It’s like a Klondike bar, but better and with cookies.
I’m so thankful that I was able to make this amazing trip to San Francisco with my family. It’s truly an incredible (and delicious) place, and I hope to be back soon!