Drawing on chef Sylvan Mishima Brackett’s early days as a bona fide bento box artiste, this Mission District izakaya continues to offer one of the best Japanese dining experiences in a city that’s crowded with them. Expect an ever-changing lineup of fresh fish and skewers hot off the restaurant’s binchotan charcoal grill. But don’t overlook the incredibly creamy housemade tofu either.

Pupusas deserve more than this brief aside considering the Mission hosts a lot of great Salvadoran food. But it would also be a great disservice to leave off Panchita’s, with its pupusas stuffed with pork, beans, and cheese, piled with its cabbage slaw.

After a stylish makeover, this bar looks a little bit like the Overlook Hotel — and that is no reason not to go. The speakeasy in back is still being redone, but one can still stop by and grab a beer at this storied neighborhood favorite. There’s a new cocktail menu starring dozen cocktails and a few highballs, including the Friend of the Devil, a clarified milk punch laced with rye, chocolate stout, and cherry, served over an engraved ice cube.

Since opening in October 2021, this itty-bitty izakaya has been bringing the good vibes and great food to Mission near 18th Street. There are no reservations and you can’t order takeout; you’ve got to nab one of the six small tables to order from the quirky menu that spans items like tonkotsu ramen and takoyaki to all manner of charcoal-grilled skewers and fried durian. 

Chef Ravi Kapur’s genre-defying Liholiho Yacht Club has yet to make its return, but in the meantime, he’s empowering a team of LYC alumni to explore food from across the Asian diaspora at Good Good Culture Club. Start your meal with Lao-inspired stuffed chicken wings before diving into dishes like red curry, chili misoyaki-marinated short ribs, and grilled rice balls. If you’re looking for an outdoor dining option, the restaurant’s colorful rooftop terrace is one of the best in town.

Tartine has gone through a number of openings, closings, and changes across the board in the last few years. But through it all, the original bakery on 18th and Guerrero is still, thankfully, a treat, and now the staff are members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) so those morning buns are in support of workers and your Instagram feed.

The art of the smashburger has been all but perfected at Wes Rowe’s eponymous burger joint, each thin patty grilled to achieve those crispy, frilly edges that make the burger style so appealing. He serves them topped with pickles, onions, special sauce, and American cheese if you want to keep things classic, though you can gussy yours up with add-ons like onion rings, jalapenos, and peanut butter and jelly – if you so please. As for sides? It’s got to be tots. 

The Korner Store is nothing short of an absolute gift of an addition to the Valencia corridor. The soju slushies are as good as they sound, and the octopus seaweed salads are excellent. Boiler Room DJ sets blare throughout the tiny, open-air shop, and a raucous crowd will no doubt form every weekend night.

It’s no small feat to snag a table at this latest restaurant from chef Cory Lee, who holds three Michelin stars at his fine dining restaurant Benu. But at this modern and minimalist restaurant in the Mission, Lee and chef Jeong-In Hwang elevate Korean barbecue to elegant heights, presenting thick slabs of charred beef tongue and double-cut galbi along with an array of banchan, bubbling stews, and sweet honey butter corn on the cob.

Clever cocktail menu themes that change every six months keep crowds coming back to Trick Dog. Owners Josh Harris and Bon Vivants Hospitality always have something up their sleeves, and are known for strange ingredients — Ritz crackers have made an appearance in drinks — but deliciousness is typically the guiding principle. During the pandemic, the theme flipped to “Quik Dog,” selling hot dogs and cocktails out to the sidewalk, which you can still order for delivery or pick-up.

Following a months-long closure and renovation, fresh pasta destination Flour + Water returned with a sophisticated new look last year. Wrapped in warm neutral tones, the dining room now feels like the perfect setting for a special night out — one inevitably filled with a mosaic-like platter of crudo and a selection of handmade pasta, whether it be a tangle of rye pappardelle or a neatly folded ravioli stuffed with smoked duck. More than a decade in, this icon remains one of San Francisco’s most excellent Italian restaurants. 

A team of industry pros — Alvaro Rojas (Elda), Nicolas Torres (True Laurel), Nora Furst (Uma Casa), and Claire Sprouse (Hunky Dory in Brooklyn) — flipped the former Californios space into a buzzy but cozy and casual neighborhood bar with an exciting collection of natural wines available to enjoy on-site or to take to-go. On the small food menu look for fancy bar snacks like a fingerling potato salad and sweet Brentwood corn on the cob. The star, however, is the fried mortadella sandwich, a fat stack of meat and melted cheese. 

Nabeel Slimi grew up between the Bay Area and Palestine and, after the Great Recession, found a way to create a space for all of that richness, and everyone else out there with a similar complexity. The coffee is tasty, the familiar milk chocolate notes of a solid light roast anyone on Mission Street would be delighted to find.

This is the best place in San Francisco to get your torta fix, whether you’re craving a soggy, sauce-soaked pambazo or a pierna enchilada stacked with roast pork, avocado, refried beans, pickled chiles, and a red adobo chile sauce. It’s a casual, lively spot for an al fresco lunch or a hearty breakfast. 

Walking onto Calle 24, or Veinticuatro, is a beautiful sensation. The Latino Cultural District hosts more devastatingly delicious restaurants than can be listed here, but of note is Puerto Rican and Cuban joint Fruitlandia. The tiny 55-year-old business deserves all the acclaim — just try the sweet plantains.

La Taqueria — or La Taq, as the locals are wont to say — is more than just another restaurant serving quality tacos and burritos in this storied neighborhood. It’s a veritable institution, having earned the title of America’s Best Burrito. If you’re on the hunt of a Mission-style burrito you’ll find a worthy version here, and it’s famously rice-free, making it a (slightly) lighter option.