Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK
There are more than 5,000 places to eat
and drink in San Francisco, and because
competition between restaurants is fierce,
visitors can find great food at reasonable
prices. Easy access to fresh produce, and
particularly to seafood, has made the city a
hotbed of good, innovative “California Cuisine.”
San Francisco's role as an international port of
entry (see pp42-5) has brought a variety of
ethnic cuisine to the city. The restaurant
listings on pages 222-9 provides a selection
of representative restaurants; lighter fare
and quick snacks are listed on page 231.
San Francisco's cafés are on page 230.
San Francisco's
Restaurants
A wide range of food from
around the world can be found
in San Francisco. The most
fashionable restaurants are in the
center of the city, in the Mission
District and South of Market
areas. Chestnut Street, in the
Marina District, and the stretch
of Fillmore Street between Bush
Street and Jackson Street are also
worth investigating. Italian food
is available in the North Beach
area, while Latin American fare
can be found in the Mission
District. Chinatown has
Cambodian, Vietnamese, and
Thai, as well as many Chinese,
restaurants. On Geary Boulevard
and Clement Street, in the Rich-
mond District, are more Chinese
and Southeast Asian eateries.
from Belgian waffles and crepes,
to fusion “Indian burritos” and
Korean BBQ tacos at the city's
food trucks. Websites and phone
apps can give you the exact
locations of your favorite trucks,
and there are a number of “pods”
where trucks convene daily (see
page 227) . The Ferry Building
Farmer's market on Tuesday,
Thursday, and Friday offers a
good sampling of favorites.
Hours And Prices
Prices vary widely, and they
depend partly on when you eat.
Breakfast is available between
7am and 11am, and is often
inexpensive, costing between $8
and $15. Brunch, usually served
between 10am and 2pm on
Saturdays and Sundays, costs
about $7 to $20. At lunchtime
you can buy a light meal for
about $6 between 11am and
2:30pm. In the best restaurants
lunchtime prices are lower than
they are at dinner, but they are
still by no means cheap. In the
evenings, meals are generally
served from 6pm, and many
Opulent dining room decor at an
upmarket restaurants
kitchens begin to close around
10pm. Salads and appetizers cost
between $5 and $8 each and
main dishes are between $10
and $25. In the very best
restaurants, however, a meal can
cost upward of $75, plus $30 to
$60 for a bottle of wine. A few
places are open all night.
Other Places to Eat
San Francisco offers a broad
range of venues other than
restaurants in which to consume
food. Many hotels have excellent
dining rooms or informal buffets
open to the public at lunchtime
and in the evening. Most also
have coffee shops for breakfast
or for late-night eating. Some
delicatessens are found in the
Financial District. There are fast-
food outlets all over the city as
well as many street vendors.
Dining on a Budget
One way of stretching your bud-
get is to eat a large, late breakfast.
Eating outside can be a real treat:
at midday, buy some of the fresh
fruit so abundant here, and have
a picnic lunch. The Mission
district's taquerías and falafel
joints are another good option.
In a restaurant, you can cut
expenses by sharing: portions
here are often large. Or, take
advantage of the free food
offered by many city center
bars between 4pm and 6pm:
delicacies such as fried won ton
are often included in the price of
a drink. San Francisco's Bars on
page 258 has good recommen-
dations. Many places offer fixed-
price meals at a good price.
Food Trucks
An upscale version of street food,
known as the food truck, offers
delicious take-away meals. It can
be a cheap and easy way to grab
a quick meal. It can also be a
foray into some of the city's most
popular eats. Food trucks have
become an important stepping
stone for many aspiring restau-
rateurs; you'll find everything
Tables at the vegetarian restaurant,
Millennium (see p223)
 
 
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