Best of San Francisco
Where locals eat in San Francisco
Start with Zuni Café in Hayes Valley / Market St for whole roast chicken for two with warm bread salad, La Taqueria in Mission for carne asada super burrito without rice and Swan Oyster Depot in Nob Hill / Polk Gulch for crab Louie, oysters, seafood salad at the counter. Here are all 12, with what to get at each.
- Zuni CaféHayes Valley / Market St · Roast chicken and bread salad
Get: Whole roast chicken for two with warm bread salad; Caesar; seasonal pizza
Long-running Hayes Valley icon with a copper bar, famous for its roast chicken for two with bread salad.
La TaqueriaMission · Mission burritoGet: Carne asada super burrito without rice (their house style), dorado style, with free green salsa
Many still name it the best burrito in the Mission.
- Swan Oyster DepotNob Hill / Polk Gulch · Fresh seafood at a counter
Get: Crab Louie, oysters, seafood salad at the counter
The 1912 lunch counter; expect a line, and the freshness justifies it.
- Burma SuperstarInner Richmond · Burmese
Get: the tea leaf salad and the platha with dip. No reservations, so expect a wait
Beloved Richmond spot famous for tea leaf salad and generous portions of Burmese comfort food.
- DelfinaMission · Italian
Get: the spaghetti with tomato and the roast chicken. The 18th Street Italian room
Mission neighborhood Italian favorite with a lively room, known for simple pastas and a great spicy chicken.
- Golden Boy PizzaNorth Beach · Sicilian pizza
Get: Square focaccia slices: clam and garlic, or the combo
A North Beach slice counter that's been crowded since 1978. North Beach slice shop known for thick Sicilian style squares, pesto pie, and a late night crowd.
- OuterlandsOuter Sunset · New American cafe
Get: the Dutch pancake at brunch. A warm room near Ocean Beach
Foggy Outer Sunset cafe with reclaimed wood interior, known for sourdough grilled cheese and weekend brunch lines.
- FiorellaOuter Richmond · Italian
Get: a pizza and a pasta, or the green eggs and ham pizza at brunch
Casual Outer Richmond Italian spot known for thin crust pizzas and homey pastas in a cozy room.
- NopaNoPa · California cuisine
Get: the flatbread, the pork chop and the burger late. Divisadero's neighborhood restaurant
Buzzy NoPa fixture open late, loved for wood fired vegetables, pork chops, and a convivial bar scene.
- TerzoCow Hollow · Mediterranean small plates
Get: the calamari and the hummus, with a glass of wine at the bar
Cow Hollow spot for Mediterranean small plates and wine, a relaxed date night favorite in the neighborhood.
- The LaundromatOuter Richmond · American gastropub
Get: a pizza and a bottle of natural wine. Full on weeknights with neighbors
Neighborhood bar and restaurant in the Outer Richmond, known for comfort food, cocktails, and a laid back vibe.
- Tommaso'sNorth Beach · Italian pizza
Get: a pizza from the wood oven and a plate of pasta. Old-school North Beach
Old school North Beach institution with a wood fired oven, famous for classic red sauce pizza since 1935.
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Save the whole listAsk Chef for morePlan my San Francisco food tripWhere locals eat in San Francisco: questions people ask
What are the local restaurants in San Francisco?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Zuni Café (Hayes Valley / Market St), La Taqueria (Mission) and Swan Oyster Depot (Nob Hill / Polk Gulch). All 12 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Zuni Café, get whole roast chicken for two with warm bread salad; Caesar; seasonal pizza. At La Taqueria, get carne asada super burrito without rice (their house style), dorado style, with free green salsa. At Swan Oyster Depot, get crab Louie, oysters, seafood salad at the counter. At Burma Superstar, get the tea leaf salad and the platha with dip. No reservations, so expect a wait.
Which neighborhood is best for local restaurants in San Francisco?
Most of these are in Mission, North Beach and Outer Richmond. The map on this page shows every one, numbered like the list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for San Francisco: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in San Francisco
Local restaurants in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated October 25, 2026.