clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

The 10 Best Food Gimmicks in San Francisco

View as Map

Cronuts, Doritos Locos Tacos, the mythical In-N-Out Krispy Kreme burger: few items enter into the food zeitgeist faster than gimmicks, especially of the food-stuffed-into-another-unaffiliated-food type. But these national food crazes have nothing on San Francisco's homegrown food gimmicks, which take the unholiest of food unions and create flavor sensations that just won't quit. How can something so gimmicky taste so good? Find out with our 10 picks for best food stunts in town.


What did we miss? Let us know in the comments.

·All Eater Maps [~ ESF ~]

Read More

Ramenburger at Nombe

Copy Link

Ramenburgers are poised to become the Next Big Thing, and Nombe got there first with a 50/50 beef & pork belly burger sandwiched in a bun made entirely from ramen, plus vinegar onions, pickled Japanese cucumbers, tomato and mizuna. Oh, and they also have bacon-wrapped mochi.

Waffledog at Little Skillet

Copy Link

This particular waffle house has perfected both the "wrap it in bacon" and "stick it in something else" food gimmicks with a Prather Ranch beef hotdog wrapped in bacon, topped with pickles and special sauce and presented in a little waffle.

Sumo Crunch at Sushirrito

Copy Link

Shushirrito took a gimmicky idea and turned it into a success with three popular lunch spots that turn out burrito-sized sushi rolls to the hungry masses. Get in line for the Sumo Crunch with crab, shaved cabbage, cucumber, avocado, green onions and red tempura flakes.

Doughnut Burger at Straw

Copy Link

Dubbed 'The Ringmaster,' this ground chuck cheeseburger on a homemade glazed doughnut commands a circus of gimmicky goodness. If that's not enough for you, add bacon, make it a double double, or ask to put an egg on it.

Pork Fries at Rickybobby

Copy Link

Waffle fries topped with pulled pork, cheese and buffalo sauce make up Rickybobby's heart-stopping pork fries, which ride both the waffle and pork trends to their natural conclusion.

Nutella Burger at Burger Bar

Copy Link

Burger Bar doesn't stop at the $22 burger. Their decadent Nutella Burger is a dessert sandwich made with warm donuts, Nutella ganache, passion fruit gelle, strawberries and kiwi. Chocolate not your thing? They've also got a Cheese Cake Burger.

Tikka Masala Burrito at Curry Up Now

Copy Link

Famed the city over for successfully taking a gimmicky idea and making it good, Curry Up Now is synonymous with the all-Indian burrito concept. They offer a broad and delicious selection, but the Tikka Masala burrito is the undisputed king of curryrritos.

The Bouquet at Bacon Bacon

Copy Link

Is bacon a passé food craze? Maybe, but that just means there's more for the rest of us. The triumphant return to brick and mortar business reminds us of Bacon Bacon's unapologetic ode to the simplest joys of pork: the bacon bouquet.

Frito Pie at Chile Pies

Copy Link

It appears to the uninitiated as a pile of taco fixins on a piece of discarded trash, but this Frito pie is no throwaway. Pinto beans, red chile, pico, cheese and cream sit atop a split bag of Fritos, lending the chile a satisfying crunch that belies its humble looks.

Turducken at 4505 Meats

Copy Link

Traditionally prepared as the Pilgrims would never dare, turducken is perhaps the most unholy of all food gimmicks: a chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a turkey. You'll have to hold off 'til November for this Thanksgiving standby, but the wait it worth it: this turducken is tops.

Loading comments...

Ramenburger at Nombe

Ramenburgers are poised to become the Next Big Thing, and Nombe got there first with a 50/50 beef & pork belly burger sandwiched in a bun made entirely from ramen, plus vinegar onions, pickled Japanese cucumbers, tomato and mizuna. Oh, and they also have bacon-wrapped mochi.

Waffledog at Little Skillet

This particular waffle house has perfected both the "wrap it in bacon" and "stick it in something else" food gimmicks with a Prather Ranch beef hotdog wrapped in bacon, topped with pickles and special sauce and presented in a little waffle.

Sumo Crunch at Sushirrito

Shushirrito took a gimmicky idea and turned it into a success with three popular lunch spots that turn out burrito-sized sushi rolls to the hungry masses. Get in line for the Sumo Crunch with crab, shaved cabbage, cucumber, avocado, green onions and red tempura flakes.

Doughnut Burger at Straw

Dubbed 'The Ringmaster,' this ground chuck cheeseburger on a homemade glazed doughnut commands a circus of gimmicky goodness. If that's not enough for you, add bacon, make it a double double, or ask to put an egg on it.

Pork Fries at Rickybobby

Waffle fries topped with pulled pork, cheese and buffalo sauce make up Rickybobby's heart-stopping pork fries, which ride both the waffle and pork trends to their natural conclusion.

Nutella Burger at Burger Bar

Burger Bar doesn't stop at the $22 burger. Their decadent Nutella Burger is a dessert sandwich made with warm donuts, Nutella ganache, passion fruit gelle, strawberries and kiwi. Chocolate not your thing? They've also got a Cheese Cake Burger.

Tikka Masala Burrito at Curry Up Now

Famed the city over for successfully taking a gimmicky idea and making it good, Curry Up Now is synonymous with the all-Indian burrito concept. They offer a broad and delicious selection, but the Tikka Masala burrito is the undisputed king of curryrritos.

The Bouquet at Bacon Bacon

Is bacon a passé food craze? Maybe, but that just means there's more for the rest of us. The triumphant return to brick and mortar business reminds us of Bacon Bacon's unapologetic ode to the simplest joys of pork: the bacon bouquet.

Frito Pie at Chile Pies

It appears to the uninitiated as a pile of taco fixins on a piece of discarded trash, but this Frito pie is no throwaway. Pinto beans, red chile, pico, cheese and cream sit atop a split bag of Fritos, lending the chile a satisfying crunch that belies its humble looks.

Turducken at 4505 Meats

Traditionally prepared as the Pilgrims would never dare, turducken is perhaps the most unholy of all food gimmicks: a chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a turkey. You'll have to hold off 'til November for this Thanksgiving standby, but the wait it worth it: this turducken is tops.

Related Maps