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Joseph Weaver

These 13 Bay Area Restaurants Offer Affordable Prix Fixe and Tasting Menus

Celebrate without breaking the bank

by Lauren Saria Updated
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by Lauren Saria Updated
Joseph Weaver

It’s not hard to find an excellent restaurant with an enticing tasting menu in a city like San Francisco. After all, the Bay Area can proudly lay claim to the highest concentration of three Michelin-starred restaurants in the country — and whether you’re craving refined California-Mexican cuisine or upscale Chinese served in a stunning space, there’s pretty much something for any taste on the list.

Of course, if you’re looking to spend a little less on your night out, well, things get a little more tricky. But never fear: there’s an ever-growing number of restaurants around the Bay Area offering multi-course menus that don’t necessarily break the bank. Here’s a list of more affordable tasting menus and prix-fixe options around the Bay Area.

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Commis

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Shining with its two Michelin stars, Commis lands among a roster of fine dining restaurants across the Bay Area that have recently introduced (or reintroduced) shorter and less expensive tasting menus. At Commis, that means the option to belly up to the bar and enjoy a four-course tasting menu for $85. During the meal, diners may see a dish or two pulled over from the full menu offered in the dining room next door, but mostly expect completely fresh fare with the option to order wine pairings for $55. 

3859 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 653-3902
(510) 653-3902
Lauren Saria

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MAMA Oakland

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The Chronicle’s food critic called Mama one of Oakland’s best dining deals, which makes sense because for about $36.95 they’re serving a full meal including a salad, pasta, and dessert. You can choose from two options for each course, for example between MAMA’s Sugo and Pappardelle and Lemon Ricotta Rigatoni. The menu changes weekly, and the wine list highlights small-production wines for about no more than $16 a glass. 

388 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 974-6372
(510) 974-6372
Emma K. Morris

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Hilda and Jesse

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Retro-fabulous Hilda & Jesse is here to break brunch expectations in North Beach and that includes with its rare brunch tasting menu, which costs a cool $49. You’ll have to get the whole table to participate but you’ll get a taste of unexpected breakfast options – and there’s always the option to add-on a double stack of the fan-favorite buttermilk pancakes. 

701 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 872-7023
(415) 872-7023
A double stack of buttermilk pancakes. Patricia Chang

Also featured in:

Trestle Restaurant

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Trestle’s $39 three-course prix-fixe has made it a San Francisco favorite for affordable dining ever since its debut back in 2015. And after the pandemic ensconced in the Vault Steakhouse space, it’s now back on Jackson Street offering roasted rock cod or citrus brined pork loin for a dinner that’ll be bookended by salad or soup and dessert. 

531 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 772-0922
(415) 772-0922
Trestle
Trestle
Patricia Chang

Also featured in:

Sorrel

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Sorrel, the one-Michelin-star restaurant nestled against Pacific Heights, now offers a shorter and more affordable tasting menu on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights. The four-course seasonal tasting menu spans just 90 tight minutes and includes dishes like yellowtail with coconut, black truffle, and macadamia, and gnocchi with fava beans and mint. 

3228 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 525-3765
(415) 525-3765
Joseph Weaver

Also featured in:

Routier

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Brought to life thanks to a partnership between pastry chef Belinda Leong of B. Patisserie; business partner Michel Suas of Thorough Bread and Pastry; and chef John Paul Carmona, formerly of Manresa, Routier brings elegant French comforts to a sunny corner of Lower Pac Heights. Get a taste of both sweet and savory via the Formule Routier, which encompasses a soup, entree, and dessert for $62.  

2801 California St, San Francisco, CA 94115
A table of plates from Routier. Albert Law

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Sushi Sato

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With restaurants including Tamashisoul in the Marina to Sushi Hon in the Mission, the Mins group has established a reputation for bringing quality fish and good value to the table, and the group’s latest is no exception. At warm and minimalist Sushi Sato, which opened in October in the Tenderloin, there are three options for tasting menus that all come around $50 including the Exclusive Sushi Tasting, which includes five pieces of nigiri with truffles and caviar for $55. 

1122 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 851-8830
(415) 851-8830
Toro tartare at Sushi Sato. Patricia Chang

Also featured in:

Ernest

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Chef Brandon Rice’s sleek Mission District restaurant doesn’t exactly offer a tasting menu but there is a choice to Let the Kitchen Cook For You, which costs $97 per person and means your table sees four courses and damn near every item on the menu. It’s a fun, family-style experience so everyone in your party has to be willing to go in — but you’ll share a giant spread including dishes like gorgeous ikura-topped sushi rice, a flaky scallion pancake with chicken liver mousse, succulent pork ribs, and an irresistible soft serve sundae for dessert. 

1890 Bryant St Suite 100, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 829-2961
(415) 829-2961
Lauren Saria

Also featured in:

Handroll Project

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This more casual restaurant from the team behind Michelin-starred Ju-Ni joined the crowded Mission Dolores restaurant scene in May, bringing exquisite hand rolls to the neighborhood. Choose from a set of five ($36), seven ($55), or 10 ($98) rolls, each of which arrives wrapped in thick sheets of nori, nestled with pristine sushi rice, and topped with combos like creamy scallops, avocado, and crunchy tobiko.

598 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110
A creamy scallop handroll. Patricia Chang

Also featured in:

Mijoté

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Chef Kosuke Tada comes from the world of technique-driven kitchens including Le 6 Paul Bert and Restaurant David Toutain in Paris. Now he’s applying all that skill to seasonal and local ingredients like radicchio, pear, and golden beets. The menu changes frequently — so frequently it’s not available online — but no matter the specifics, the four-course meal will cost you $82. Expect an amuse bouche, followed by an appetizer, seasonal vegetable dish, main course, and dessert — all of which can be paired with a list of natural wines. 

2400 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Lauren Saria

Also featured in:

Mr. Pollo

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After a long pandemic pause, Mr. Pollo took up the roost once again in the Mission. This time it’s 

chef Graham Bellefeuille in the kitchen but he’s still kicking out four-course meals for $45. Fans can count on the second course being an arepa, an homage to the space’s previous life as a South American restaurant. Beyond that though, Bellefeuille rotates the menu every week to highlight what’s growing fresh. 

2823 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(860) 912-9168
(860) 912-9168
The sign outside the Mr. Pollo restaurant on Mission Street. Will McGuire

Marlena Restaurant

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Since opening in August 2020, this mom-and-pop restaurant has quickly become a darling of the San Francisco dining scene. And it’s not hard to see why. Husband-and-wife team chef David Fisher and pastry chef Serena Chow Fisher offer Michelin star-worthy plates that spotlight local ingredients in a simple tasting menu format. Diners choose between two options for each of the four courses; dinner costs $75 per person with the option to add beverage pairings and a selection of supplements if you so choose. 

300 Precita Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 400-5997
(415) 400-5997
Patricia Chang

Also featured in:

Chīsai Sushi Club

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Former Ichi Sushi chef Erik Aplin returned to the narrow Mission Street space in 2021, opening Chīsai Sushi Club with an experimental and relatively affordable 14-course tasting menu. For $90 Aplin rolls out a series of inventive and largely non-traditional small plates including salad, sashimi, nigiri, temaki, and dessert. There’s also a vegetarian omakase available for $70. For those willing to spend a little more, explore the long list of supplements.

3369 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Lauren Saria

Also featured in:

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Commis

3859 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

Shining with its two Michelin stars, Commis lands among a roster of fine dining restaurants across the Bay Area that have recently introduced (or reintroduced) shorter and less expensive tasting menus. At Commis, that means the option to belly up to the bar and enjoy a four-course tasting menu for $85. During the meal, diners may see a dish or two pulled over from the full menu offered in the dining room next door, but mostly expect completely fresh fare with the option to order wine pairings for $55. 

3859 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 653-3902
(510) 653-3902
Lauren Saria

MAMA Oakland

388 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

The Chronicle’s food critic called Mama one of Oakland’s best dining deals, which makes sense because for about $36.95 they’re serving a full meal including a salad, pasta, and dessert. You can choose from two options for each course, for example between MAMA’s Sugo and Pappardelle and Lemon Ricotta Rigatoni. The menu changes weekly, and the wine list highlights small-production wines for about no more than $16 a glass. 

388 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 974-6372
(510) 974-6372
Emma K. Morris

Hilda and Jesse

701 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94133

Retro-fabulous Hilda & Jesse is here to break brunch expectations in North Beach and that includes with its rare brunch tasting menu, which costs a cool $49. You’ll have to get the whole table to participate but you’ll get a taste of unexpected breakfast options – and there’s always the option to add-on a double stack of the fan-favorite buttermilk pancakes. 

701 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 872-7023
(415) 872-7023
A double stack of buttermilk pancakes. Patricia Chang

Trestle Restaurant

531 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Trestle’s $39 three-course prix-fixe has made it a San Francisco favorite for affordable dining ever since its debut back in 2015. And after the pandemic ensconced in the Vault Steakhouse space, it’s now back on Jackson Street offering roasted rock cod or citrus brined pork loin for a dinner that’ll be bookended by salad or soup and dessert. 

531 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 772-0922
(415) 772-0922
Trestle
Trestle
Patricia Chang

Sorrel

3228 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Sorrel, the one-Michelin-star restaurant nestled against Pacific Heights, now offers a shorter and more affordable tasting menu on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights. The four-course seasonal tasting menu spans just 90 tight minutes and includes dishes like yellowtail with coconut, black truffle, and macadamia, and gnocchi with fava beans and mint. 

3228 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 525-3765
(415) 525-3765
Joseph Weaver

Routier

2801 California St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Brought to life thanks to a partnership between pastry chef Belinda Leong of B. Patisserie; business partner Michel Suas of Thorough Bread and Pastry; and chef John Paul Carmona, formerly of Manresa, Routier brings elegant French comforts to a sunny corner of Lower Pac Heights. Get a taste of both sweet and savory via the Formule Routier, which encompasses a soup, entree, and dessert for $62.  

2801 California St, San Francisco, CA 94115
A table of plates from Routier. Albert Law

Sushi Sato

1122 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94109

With restaurants including Tamashisoul in the Marina to Sushi Hon in the Mission, the Mins group has established a reputation for bringing quality fish and good value to the table, and the group’s latest is no exception. At warm and minimalist Sushi Sato, which opened in October in the Tenderloin, there are three options for tasting menus that all come around $50 including the Exclusive Sushi Tasting, which includes five pieces of nigiri with truffles and caviar for $55. 

1122 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 851-8830
(415) 851-8830
Toro tartare at Sushi Sato. Patricia Chang

Ernest

1890 Bryant St Suite 100, San Francisco, CA 94110

Chef Brandon Rice’s sleek Mission District restaurant doesn’t exactly offer a tasting menu but there is a choice to Let the Kitchen Cook For You, which costs $97 per person and means your table sees four courses and damn near every item on the menu. It’s a fun, family-style experience so everyone in your party has to be willing to go in — but you’ll share a giant spread including dishes like gorgeous ikura-topped sushi rice, a flaky scallion pancake with chicken liver mousse, succulent pork ribs, and an irresistible soft serve sundae for dessert. 

1890 Bryant St Suite 100, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 829-2961
(415) 829-2961
Lauren Saria

Handroll Project

598 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110

This more casual restaurant from the team behind Michelin-starred Ju-Ni joined the crowded Mission Dolores restaurant scene in May, bringing exquisite hand rolls to the neighborhood. Choose from a set of five ($36), seven ($55), or 10 ($98) rolls, each of which arrives wrapped in thick sheets of nori, nestled with pristine sushi rice, and topped with combos like creamy scallops, avocado, and crunchy tobiko.

598 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110
A creamy scallop handroll. Patricia Chang

Mijoté

2400 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Chef Kosuke Tada comes from the world of technique-driven kitchens including Le 6 Paul Bert and Restaurant David Toutain in Paris. Now he’s applying all that skill to seasonal and local ingredients like radicchio, pear, and golden beets. The menu changes frequently — so frequently it’s not available online — but no matter the specifics, the four-course meal will cost you $82. Expect an amuse bouche, followed by an appetizer, seasonal vegetable dish, main course, and dessert — all of which can be paired with a list of natural wines. 

2400 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Lauren Saria

Mr. Pollo

2823 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

After a long pandemic pause, Mr. Pollo took up the roost once again in the Mission. This time it’s 

chef Graham Bellefeuille in the kitchen but he’s still kicking out four-course meals for $45. Fans can count on the second course being an arepa, an homage to the space’s previous life as a South American restaurant. Beyond that though, Bellefeuille rotates the menu every week to highlight what’s growing fresh. 

2823 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(860) 912-9168
(860) 912-9168
The sign outside the Mr. Pollo restaurant on Mission Street. Will McGuire

Marlena Restaurant

300 Precita Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110

Since opening in August 2020, this mom-and-pop restaurant has quickly become a darling of the San Francisco dining scene. And it’s not hard to see why. Husband-and-wife team chef David Fisher and pastry chef Serena Chow Fisher offer Michelin star-worthy plates that spotlight local ingredients in a simple tasting menu format. Diners choose between two options for each of the four courses; dinner costs $75 per person with the option to add beverage pairings and a selection of supplements if you so choose. 

300 Precita Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 400-5997
(415) 400-5997
Patricia Chang

Chīsai Sushi Club

3369 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Former Ichi Sushi chef Erik Aplin returned to the narrow Mission Street space in 2021, opening Chīsai Sushi Club with an experimental and relatively affordable 14-course tasting menu. For $90 Aplin rolls out a series of inventive and largely non-traditional small plates including salad, sashimi, nigiri, temaki, and dessert. There’s also a vegetarian omakase available for $70. For those willing to spend a little more, explore the long list of supplements.

3369 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Lauren Saria

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