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The 38 Essential San Francisco Restaurants, October 2014

The best of the best: our answer to any question that begins "Can you recommend a restaurant?"

by Allie Pape Oct 7, 2014, 10:00am PDT

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by Allie Pape Oct 7, 2014, 10:00am PDT

It's time to update the Eater 38, your answer and ours to any question that begins, "Can you recommend a restaurant?" This highly elite group covers the entire city, spans myriad cuisines and collectively satisfies all of your restaurant needs. Every few months, we add pertinent restaurants that were omitted, have newly become eligible (restaurants must be open at least six months) or have stepped up their game. And keep in mind, this list is presented in no particular order.

As always, a few places must depart the 38, including St. Vincent (currently undergoing a chef shuffle), Greens, and Burma Superstar. In their stead, we offer Verbena, a great new vegetarian option; Trou Normand, home of epic charcuterie and cocktails; and Padrecito, a neighborhood Mexican spot with killer food and drinks. (If you're looking to find a great bar, the Eater SF cocktail heatmap has what you're seeking.)

Rather than having a stage-four meltdown over our having excluded your favorite restaurant from the list, wouldn't it be more productive to just nominate it for inclusion?

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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.

Nopa

Both neighborhood standby and destination restaurant, Nopa does everything right: delicious, seasonal food that's not too precious or pricey, excellent cocktails, interesting wines, friendly waitstaff, late hours. Seven years into its tenure, it remains one of the city's toughest tickets: book early, try brunch, or go later in the evening for the awesome burger.

560 Divisadero St., San Francisco, CA 94117

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Frances

James Beard-beloved chef Melissa Perello has given us Frances, an easygoing, timeless neighborhood nook, serving hearty, yet nuanced seasonal dinners. Always begin with her bacon beignets, and finish with a slice of rich, apple-filled lumberjack cake. The tiny space fills up quickly, and reservations are a must even as it's aged.

3870 17th St., San Francisco, CA 94114

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Lers Ros Thai

Lers Ros is the only Thai restaurant in town with rabbit, frog and venison on its regular menu, but even the pad Thai rivals the best you'll find anywhere in Thailand. The pork belly, duck larb, and chili-garlic clams are perennials. A second location in Hayes Valley offers more ambience, at slightly inflated prices.

730 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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Bar Tartine

Though it opened in 2006, the restaurant from the Tartine Bakery people continues to reinvent itself. Thanks to Nick Balla's ahead-of-the-curve Eastern European menus, this rustic neighborhood staple continues to push boundaries and palates, with an emphasis on housemade everything, from pickles to yogurt to beer. A shout is also in order for its daytime guise as a sandwich shop, touting irresistible smørrebrød on exclusive Tartine loaves like rye and porridge bread.

561 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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SPQR

Chef Matt Accarrino continues to refine his craft, serving his own irresistible brand of Italian food, that remains hearty and homey despite the use of refined technique. Try to score seats at the chef's counter and don't miss the exceptional wine list, curated by award-winning sommelier Shelley Lindgren.

1911 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

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Aziza

Mourad Lahlou continues to redefine Moroccan cuisine in the California vernacular: from the must-order bisteeya, to sous vide short rib with carrot jam, to Melissa Chou's not-to-be-missed, anything-but-rustic desserts.

5800 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121

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Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant

For an alternative take on Chinese fare, Old Mandarin is a beloved industry standby. Cumin lamb, beef pancakes, and a very generous BYOB policy (yes, despite the name) are the keys to its popularity, and while it's definitely not the place to go for health food, it's spicy and reasonably priced.

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3132 Vicente St, San Francisco, CA 94116

Tony’s Pizza Napoletana

World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani bakes every kind of pizza imaginable: New York, Roman, Sicilian, and on. His Neapolitan is an award-winner and his on-site pizza school attracts students from across the country. Bonus points for a bustling, friendly atmosphere, including a bar for date nights and booths for grandpa.

1570 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133

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Namu Gaji

The Lee Brothers hit a gold mine when they opened their sophomore effort on Dolores Park, serving the most nuanced, contemporary take on Korean food in town. Menu standouts include the KFC (chicken wings), stonepot rice, okonomiyaki, and dumplings. It's worth going in early for happy hour, the only time gamja fries and Korean tacos are served.

499 Dolores St., San Francisco, CA 94103

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Maven

In new chef Isaac Miller, Maven now has a culinary force that's the equal of Kate Bolton's always-great cocktail program. Whether you're in for a burger and a cocktail or a five-course extravaganza with drink pairings, you'll leave satisfied, and the buzzing energy of the dining room is hard to resist.

598 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

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Nopalito

Though it shares ownership with Nopa, Nopalito is very much its own beast, serving smart, sustainable sit-down Mexican fare that provides a nice counterpoint to the taqueria grind. From the addictive totopos con chile to the comforting tortilla soup to the killer carnitas, there's something for everyone here (plus damn good margaritas).

306 Broderick St, San Francisco, CA

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Kokkari Estiatorio

A crazy crowd-pleaser (especially for parents in town), Kokkari rocks something of an older crowd, but it's hard to deny its appealing meld of Cal-Greek fare, a wood-burning hearth, and a busy, urban vibe. The zucchini cakes, hearth-grilled lamb chops, and baklava ice cream are all perennials.

200 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111

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Range

From the training ground for greatness behind their bar to the always delicious seasonal menu and friendly service, Range is one of the most consistent restaurants in town. It's a grown-up place, good for date nights, dinners with the parents, and anything else that requires some peace, quiet, and space.

842 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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R & G Lounge

The Richmond and Sunset are consistently better sources of Chinese food than Chinatown itself, but for group dining that's a notch above hole-in-the-wall, R&G is one of the few Chinatown spots that delivers. Bring a group and settle in amongst the families going to town on its famed salt-and-pepper crab, Peking duck, walnut prawns, and other Cantonese banquet favorites.

631 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108

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Perbacco

Mature and stylish, Perbacco has established itself as one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. Owner Umberto Gibin is a presence in the front of house, and chef Staffan Terje continues to surprise with his seasonal and refined Northern Italian fare.

230 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

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Trick Dog

Trick Dog would have been good enough just as a bar-- the cocktails, from The Bon Vivants, are some of the city's most innovative, and the industrial space is lively and cool. But the affordable, all-hours food, from a tasty beef tartare to a top-notch kale salad to the most perfect fries on Earth, is proving to be not only worthy of return trips, but trendsetting in terms of local menus.

3010 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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Padrecito

Nearly always packed, Padrecito is another modular restaurant that can be whatever you want and succeed at every element: delicious agave-centric drinks at the bar; thoughtfully constructed, hearty Mexican fare in the attractive central restaurant; brunch on the patio. It's not purely authentic, but a fun take on Mexican flavors.

901 Cole St, San Francisco, CA 94117

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Foreign Cinema

While the beloved brunch, flickering hearth and nightly movies continue, Gayle Pirie and John Clark are keeping things fresh at their 20-year-old Mission standby, with new North Africa and Mediterranean menu leanings and a deepened wine program.

2534 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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Super Duper Burgers

Although it's lovely that there is Straus milk in the shakes and 100% Niman Ranch beef in the patties, what really matters is taste, and Super Duper's burgers—with their perfect ratio of meat to bread and cheddar cheese—continually rank among the best in the Bay Area.

721 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103

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Rich Table

Evan and Sarah Rich's inventive food may have been slightly overshadowed by the other couple that opened a great and deeply personal restaurant in SF this year, but this spot is every bit as good as State Bird, with wildly inventive, consistently delicious food and a smart wine selection and cocktail program. Don't miss the sardine chips, flatbreads, and pastas.

199 Gough St, San Francisco, CA 94102

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Flour + Water

The opening media buzz has died down, but F+W continues to gather lines at 5 p.m. nightly, packing the house with its sophisticated pizzas and pastas served in a lively, casual atmosphere.

2401 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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Commonwealth

Jason Fox's food continues to evolve now that Commonwealth is three years in, and paired with the sleek, Mission-hip atmosphere, reasonable prices for the high-end fare, and the charitable outreach of the space, it's a hard combination not to love.

2224 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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La Taqueria

It wouldn’t be San Francisco without The Mission’s squadron of gut-busting taquerias. This one continues to lead the pack with unwavering rave reviews for its sublime, spot-on Mexico staples, including a recent America's Best Burrito title after an extensive FiveThirtyEight bracket.

2889 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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La Ciccia

Not so much San Francisco Italian as pure unadulterated regional Italian (Sardinia, to be specific), this family-run sparkler is free of pretension and full of love. Don’t miss the spicy octopus stew, the sea urchin pasta, and the unusual wine selection.

291 30th St, San Francisco, CA 94131

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Delfina/Pizzeria Delfina

You can make the argument that no restaurant in the last decade has changed the dining landscape quite like Delfina and its pizzeria offshoot next door, which turned the Mission into a dining hotspot. They're both still winners: Delfina's Cal-Ital fare pleases picky parents and fawning foodies alike, and Pizzeria Delfina's pies are fresh, seasonal, and best enjoyed with a glass of rosé on the sidewalk as the world passes by.

3621 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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Swan Oyster Depot

Open only for lunch, Polk Street’s 100-year-old gem still churns out the best crab, oysters and sourdough in town. Anthony Bourdain unfortunately clued the tourist crowd into this one a while back, so get there early to snag one of the handful of seats (and a prime view of the quirky, old-school staff), or be prepared for a long wait.

1517 Polk St., San Francisco, CA 94109

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Brenda's French Soul Food

A trip to New Orleans often creates food longings that last for months afterwards, but Brenda's Cajun fare can hang with the best of the Big Easy. The addictive crawfish beignets, killer gumbo, and perfect biscuits are consistently delicious and reasonably priced. Weekend brunch crowds can get crazy, so consider weekday lunch or dinner.

652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102

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Verbena

Vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores can all find something to love at this smart, innovative restaurant, which makes vegetable-centric food delicious and even indulgent, all in a fun, lively atmosphere. While Greens is a no-fail vegetarian classic, this is the place to be right now to see where vegetarian cooking is headed.

2323 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

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La Torta Gorda

When a "hole-in-the-wall" turns out to be a bright family-run stop with outrageously good tortas and super authentic Puebla eats, that's 38 material. The pierna enchilada (pulled pork) torta is the perennial, but they're all good, and huge; no need to order the large unless you've got a hefty appetite or a hellish hangover.

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2833 24th St., San Francisco, CA 94110

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Zuni Cafe

Besides "the" chicken, Zuni's burger, Caesar salad and bloody Mary have all been called the best in the city. It's the utility belt of restaurants: good for brunch, for late-night dining, for oysters and a cocktail at the bar, or for a lovely sit-down meal with a date. And did we mention that chicken?

1658 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102

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ICHI Sushi + NI Bar

SF isn't much of a sushi town overall, as most chefs shy away from the challenge of pleasing bluefin-loving palates with offerings that suit the city's sustainable ethos. Ichi is one of the few spots to take on the challenge; order the (surprisingly reasonably priced) omakase and let the chefs take you on an aquatic journey through flavors both familiar and novel. They recently moved to a bigger, brighter space, and new izakaya component Ni Bar is showing early promise, too.

3282 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

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State Bird Provisions

San Franciscans endure three-hour waits to eat State Bird Provisions' whimsically Californian menu, served dim-sum style. Whether it's savory pancakes stacked with local cheese, delicious crudos, or a new take on tofu skin, the flavor profiles are always eye-opening, making State Bird one of the most exciting restaurants in town, if not the country.

1529 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

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