More Maps

Here Are the Hottest New Restaurants in San Francisco, December 2023

17 San Francisco Restaurants With Spectacular Views

All the Michelin Star Restaurants in the Bay Area, Mapped

More in San Francisco See more maps

17 Reliable Places to Eat Around Union Square

From an elegant spot for afternoon tea to a modern Vietnamese restaurant, here are your best bets for dining around Union Square

by Paolo Bicchieri and Dianne de Guzman Updated Nov 10, 2023, 1:31pm PST

1 comment / new

View as Map

by Paolo Bicchieri and Dianne de Guzman Updated Nov 10, 2023, 1:31pm PST

1 comment / new

Shutterstock

San Francisco’s Union Square claims so many destination dining options it’s almost dizzying. The California Historical Landmark, designated as such when the public plaza was used as a rallying area for the Union Army throughout the Civil War, is one of the city’s finest areas for a bit of shopping and strolling. Longtime favorites such as Sears Fine Food and the Rotunda at Neiman Marcus have held it down for years, and newcomers including Hed Very Thai and Corzetti make a case for the new brass, too. Try any of these 17 standouts to get a taste of what downtown San Francisco has to offer.

Read More

Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Hed Very Thai

Perhaps nowhere else in San Francisco can a diner order khao gaeng-style Thai dishes, arriving in so many tiny dishes and bowls. Naruephon “Billie” Wannajaro’s first restaurant outside of Thailand is a lovely place to stop in for lunch or dinner, enjoying everything from papaya salad to chicken satay.

Open in Google Maps

88 Hardie Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

Food at Hed Very Thai.

Sons & Daughters

If you’re chasing those shiny Michelin stars around the Bay Area, then don’t overlook dinner at Sons & Daughters. Now leading the kitchen is chef Harrison Cheney, serving tasting menus inspired by Nordic cuisine and built on seasonal produce from local farms. The interior of the restaurant was redone during the pandemic, now featuring warm woods and an elegant fireplace.

708 Bush Street Between Bush &, Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

Dishes from Michelin-starred Sons & Daughters

Also featured in:

Del Popolo

Having slung his top-notch Neapolitan pizzas from a specially rigged, wood-oven-equipped truck for several years, local pizzaiolo Jon Darsky opened this lower Nob Hill spot and now has a Michelin Bib Gourmand listing under his belt. It’s easily some of the best pizza in the city, but the menu also boasts excellent salads and other seasonally changing starters.

855 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

Del Popolo

Also featured in:

Peacekeeper

With soaring ceilings and large skylights, this Lower Nob Hill watering hole feels almost like the outdoors — if the outdoors offered a menu of thoughtful cocktails with Oaxacan influence at a modern bar dressed with wood-topped stools. The namesake Peacekeeper is a spicy blend of serrano tequila, pineapple, ginger, and lime, perfect for sipping next to the bar’s fireplace.

925 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Sears Fine Food

A must-visit for locals and tourists alike, Sears Fine Foods is a historic diner that’s been in operation on the square for over 80 years. The house specialty is Swedish pancakes, served 18 to a plate, and breakfast is served daily until 2 p.m. There’s also a lunch menu, and dinner starts at 5 p.m., featuring an all-American menu of steaks and seafood, such as the cioppino. Be warned, this place tends to be busy, especially around breakfast hours.

439 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Cesario's

Cesario’s is the only spot near Union Square serving up old-school, red-sauce Italian, and it’s some of the best you’ll find outside North Beach. Chicken parmesan, lasagna, and penne Bolognese are the specials of the house, and it’s all served on white tablecloths in a cozy dining room overlooking Mason Street. If Italian comfort food is what you’re craving and you don’t mind the small hike up the hill, it’s a good bet getting a table won’t be a problem.

Open in Google Maps

601 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Ryoko's Japanese Restaurant & Bar

Ryoko’s is way, way outside the ordinary: It’s in a basement and open late-ish, while a DJ (typically a good one) plays loudly to keep the atmosphere lively. When ordering, stick mostly to the basics, though some weird house creations (like the “sexy roll” topped with melted American cheese) are worth a try. Overall, it’s a refreshing departure from the Union Square usual — and pretty much anything else.

Open in Google Maps

619 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Miller & Lux Provisions Cafe

Much has been written about chef Tyler Florence’s new twin outposts in Union Square, and as of November 6, the sweet and savory locations are open. From the pastry team, there are macarons, croissants, and chocolate peanut butter muffins. Over on the savory side, get an entire rotisserie chicken with roasted potatoes or a smoked salmon benedict.

Open in Google Maps

350 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Here Are the Hottest New Restaurants in San Francisco, December 2023

The Rotunda

If you’re going to dine in Union Square, might as well pull out all the stops, right? The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus is all white tablecloths and fine dining, set beneath the store’s iconic stained glass dome with unparalleled views of the square itself. The traditional move is to catch afternoon tea, though entrees are also offered for a heartier meal.

150 Stockton St Level Four, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

The Rotunda restaurant looking towards the City of Paris glass dome at Neiman Marcus San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, September 8, 2015.

Also featured in:

Corzetti

The newest restaurant from Adriano Paganini’s restaurant empire is this testament to Italian coastal cooking. The walls are papered with lemon trees where the cherry red doesn’t show through, and the food itself is nearly as vibrant: seafood and shellfish ciuppin, Ligurian pasta fazzoletti al pesto, and Lambrusco spritzes.

Open in Google Maps

398 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Food at Corzetti.

Also featured in:

Mensho Tokyo SF

This ramen spot comes directly to San Francisco from Japan and specializes in creamy, chicken-y tori paitan ramen. In true Japanese fashion, this is a get-in-get-out type of ramen shop with communal seating and limited options. The ramen options are all good, but if you’re in the mood for something rich and heartier, go for the spicy lamb miso ramen, which comes filled with ground lamb and garnished with chili oil.

672 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Bottle Club Pub

Bottle Club Pub is in that squishy area that is maybe Union Square and maybe Tenderloin, but makes it onto this list for a number of reasons. This Future Bars spot is in an area awash with other bars from the group (namely Zombie Village and Bourbon & Branch). But that’s a definite indicator that you’ll get some strong, well-crafted cocktails with a showstopper element — in this case, an enormous bottle and decanter collection situated on rotating shelves. Plus the pub has a small but mighty food menu featuring fish and chips, a smash burger, and fried chicken. It’s also kid-friendly if you have little ones in tow.

555 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

The back bar at Bottle Club Pub with a middle shelf in blurry motion.

Also featured in:

20 Destination Restaurants and Bars in the Tenderloin

Jasper's Corner Tap and Kitchen

Since it opened, Jasper’s has been a reliable pre-theater, post-shopping destination with a solid cocktail situation and plenty of hearty, slightly upscale, pub-style dinner options. Think poutine topped with braised short rib, wings, and a mac and cheese made with Monterey Jack, Swiss, and cheddar cheeses.

401 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Also featured in:

New Delhi Restaurant

PBS-famous chef Ranjan Dey opened this upscale Indian restaurant in 1988, and while the regal atmosphere might feel a bit dated after all these years, it still serves reliably good food within stumbling distance of Union Square. Prices are a bit higher than your average Indian restaurant, but you won’t go wrong with any of the curries or the tandoori options. There’s also a full bar.

Open in Google Maps

160 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Kin Khao

Chef Pim Techamuanvivit’s popular and more casual restaurant Kin Khao is inside the Parc 55 Hotel. The menu tends toward being seasonal, but among the favorite items is the mushroom hor mok, a curried mushroom dip with coconut cream. It’s served in a jar, for spreading over rice crackers. Try the “pretty hot wings” as well, which are marinated in fish sauce and garlic, then glazed with tamarind and sriracha, or the Yaowaraj noodles with chicken, egg, scallions, cilantro, and XO sauce. There’s a vegetarian version, as well, if you’re so inclined.

55 Cyril Magnin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

A spread of dishes from Kin Khao.

Also featured in:

Bodega SF

Bodega SF is the reimagined comeback for Tenderloin favorite Bodega Bistro, which shuttered back in 2017. Matt Ho, son of one of the restaurant’s co-owners, brought back the family restaurant as a pop-up during the pandemic, but now the Vietnamese spot has permanently relocated to a Union Square-adjacent spot with some modern touches befitting Ho’s time as manager at Nobu Palo Alto. The restaurant serves old favorites, such as the shaking beef and pho at lunch, as well as updated dishes like the bun cha made with heritage pork belly and cha ca, a whole branzino fish that is deboned and butterflied. If you’re feeling thirsty for cocktails, there’s a sister bar, the Felix, conveniently located next door.

Open in Google Maps

138 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Tenderheart

Chef Joe Hou is the head of the new LINE SF hotel’s restaurant, Tenderheart, serving food that leans on his first-generation Chinese-American heritage. Expect twists on classic dishes, such as sakura boneless ribs made with a fermented black bean glaze, or the fried quail tossed in a sweet and sour sauce. If you’re more in the mood for drinks, head to the rooftop bar Rise Over Run, which also serves small plates and cocktails.

970 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Loading comments...

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Link copied to the clipboard.

Hed Very Thai

88 Hardie Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108

Perhaps nowhere else in San Francisco can a diner order khao gaeng-style Thai dishes, arriving in so many tiny dishes and bowls. Naruephon “Billie” Wannajaro’s first restaurant outside of Thailand is a lovely place to stop in for lunch or dinner, enjoying everything from papaya salad to chicken satay.

Open in Google Maps

88 Hardie Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

Food at Hed Very Thai.

Sons & Daughters

708 Bush Street Between Bush &, Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94108

If you’re chasing those shiny Michelin stars around the Bay Area, then don’t overlook dinner at Sons & Daughters. Now leading the kitchen is chef Harrison Cheney, serving tasting menus inspired by Nordic cuisine and built on seasonal produce from local farms. The interior of the restaurant was redone during the pandemic, now featuring warm woods and an elegant fireplace.

708 Bush Street Between Bush &, Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

Dishes from Michelin-starred Sons & Daughters

Del Popolo

855 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Having slung his top-notch Neapolitan pizzas from a specially rigged, wood-oven-equipped truck for several years, local pizzaiolo Jon Darsky opened this lower Nob Hill spot and now has a Michelin Bib Gourmand listing under his belt. It’s easily some of the best pizza in the city, but the menu also boasts excellent salads and other seasonally changing starters.

855 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

Del Popolo

Peacekeeper

925 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94109

With soaring ceilings and large skylights, this Lower Nob Hill watering hole feels almost like the outdoors — if the outdoors offered a menu of thoughtful cocktails with Oaxacan influence at a modern bar dressed with wood-topped stools. The namesake Peacekeeper is a spicy blend of serrano tequila, pineapple, ginger, and lime, perfect for sipping next to the bar’s fireplace.

925 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Visit Website

Sears Fine Food

439 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102

A must-visit for locals and tourists alike, Sears Fine Foods is a historic diner that’s been in operation on the square for over 80 years. The house specialty is Swedish pancakes, served 18 to a plate, and breakfast is served daily until 2 p.m. There’s also a lunch menu, and dinner starts at 5 p.m., featuring an all-American menu of steaks and seafood, such as the cioppino. Be warned, this place tends to be busy, especially around breakfast hours.

439 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Cesario's

601 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Cesario’s is the only spot near Union Square serving up old-school, red-sauce Italian, and it’s some of the best you’ll find outside North Beach. Chicken parmesan, lasagna, and penne Bolognese are the specials of the house, and it’s all served on white tablecloths in a cozy dining room overlooking Mason Street. If Italian comfort food is what you’re craving and you don’t mind the small hike up the hill, it’s a good bet getting a table won’t be a problem.

Open in Google Maps

601 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Ryoko's Japanese Restaurant & Bar

619 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Ryoko’s is way, way outside the ordinary: It’s in a basement and open late-ish, while a DJ (typically a good one) plays loudly to keep the atmosphere lively. When ordering, stick mostly to the basics, though some weird house creations (like the “sexy roll” topped with melted American cheese) are worth a try. Overall, it’s a refreshing departure from the Union Square usual — and pretty much anything else.

Open in Google Maps

619 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Miller & Lux Provisions Cafe

350 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Much has been written about chef Tyler Florence’s new twin outposts in Union Square, and as of November 6, the sweet and savory locations are open. From the pastry team, there are macarons, croissants, and chocolate peanut butter muffins. Over on the savory side, get an entire rotisserie chicken with roasted potatoes or a smoked salmon benedict.

Open in Google Maps

350 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

The Rotunda

150 Stockton St Level Four, San Francisco, CA 94108

If you’re going to dine in Union Square, might as well pull out all the stops, right? The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus is all white tablecloths and fine dining, set beneath the store’s iconic stained glass dome with unparalleled views of the square itself. The traditional move is to catch afternoon tea, though entrees are also offered for a heartier meal.

150 Stockton St Level Four, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit Website

The Rotunda restaurant looking towards the City of Paris glass dome at Neiman Marcus San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, September 8, 2015.

Corzetti

398 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

The newest restaurant from Adriano Paganini’s restaurant empire is this testament to Italian coastal cooking. The walls are papered with lemon trees where the cherry red doesn’t show through, and the food itself is nearly as vibrant: seafood and shellfish ciuppin, Ligurian pasta fazzoletti al pesto, and Lambrusco spritzes.

Open in Google Maps

398 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Food at Corzetti.

Mensho Tokyo SF

672 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

This ramen spot comes directly to San Francisco from Japan and specializes in creamy, chicken-y tori paitan ramen. In true Japanese fashion, this is a get-in-get-out type of ramen shop with communal seating and limited options. The ramen options are all good, but if you’re in the mood for something rich and heartier, go for the spicy lamb miso ramen, which comes filled with ground lamb and garnished with chili oil.

672 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Bottle Club Pub

555 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Bottle Club Pub is in that squishy area that is maybe Union Square and maybe Tenderloin, but makes it onto this list for a number of reasons. This Future Bars spot is in an area awash with other bars from the group (namely Zombie Village and Bourbon & Branch). But that’s a definite indicator that you’ll get some strong, well-crafted cocktails with a showstopper element — in this case, an enormous bottle and decanter collection situated on rotating shelves. Plus the pub has a small but mighty food menu featuring fish and chips, a smash burger, and fried chicken. It’s also kid-friendly if you have little ones in tow.

555 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

The back bar at Bottle Club Pub with a middle shelf in blurry motion.

Jasper's Corner Tap and Kitchen

401 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Since it opened, Jasper’s has been a reliable pre-theater, post-shopping destination with a solid cocktail situation and plenty of hearty, slightly upscale, pub-style dinner options. Think poutine topped with braised short rib, wings, and a mac and cheese made with Monterey Jack, Swiss, and cheddar cheeses.

401 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

New Delhi Restaurant

160 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94102

PBS-famous chef Ranjan Dey opened this upscale Indian restaurant in 1988, and while the regal atmosphere might feel a bit dated after all these years, it still serves reliably good food within stumbling distance of Union Square. Prices are a bit higher than your average Indian restaurant, but you won’t go wrong with any of the curries or the tandoori options. There’s also a full bar.

Open in Google Maps

160 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Kin Khao

55 Cyril Magnin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Chef Pim Techamuanvivit’s popular and more casual restaurant Kin Khao is inside the Parc 55 Hotel. The menu tends toward being seasonal, but among the favorite items is the mushroom hor mok, a curried mushroom dip with coconut cream. It’s served in a jar, for spreading over rice crackers. Try the “pretty hot wings” as well, which are marinated in fish sauce and garlic, then glazed with tamarind and sriracha, or the Yaowaraj noodles with chicken, egg, scallions, cilantro, and XO sauce. There’s a vegetarian version, as well, if you’re so inclined.

55 Cyril Magnin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

A spread of dishes from Kin Khao.

Related Maps

Bodega SF

138 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Bodega SF is the reimagined comeback for Tenderloin favorite Bodega Bistro, which shuttered back in 2017. Matt Ho, son of one of the restaurant’s co-owners, brought back the family restaurant as a pop-up during the pandemic, but now the Vietnamese spot has permanently relocated to a Union Square-adjacent spot with some modern touches befitting Ho’s time as manager at Nobu Palo Alto. The restaurant serves old favorites, such as the shaking beef and pho at lunch, as well as updated dishes like the bun cha made with heritage pork belly and cha ca, a whole branzino fish that is deboned and butterflied. If you’re feeling thirsty for cocktails, there’s a sister bar, the Felix, conveniently located next door.

Open in Google Maps

138 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Tenderheart

970 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Chef Joe Hou is the head of the new LINE SF hotel’s restaurant, Tenderheart, serving food that leans on his first-generation Chinese-American heritage. Expect twists on classic dishes, such as sakura boneless ribs made with a fermented black bean glaze, or the fried quail tossed in a sweet and sour sauce. If you’re more in the mood for drinks, head to the rooftop bar Rise Over Run, which also serves small plates and cocktails.

970 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Related Maps