Combined Suggestions, San Francisco

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Belden Street in the Financial District is a narrow alleyway that is closed to traffic and features sidewalk dining. Several restaurants line the old alleyway. A variety of culinary offerings are available at the different establishments. As you stroll down Belden, be prepared to be approached by the maitre d’s who try to entice you into dining at their restaurant. Most of the restaurants have their menus available for inspection. It can be fun to check out the various places before selecting one.

The restaurants primarily utilize their rare outdoor dining option at this pedestrian friendly alley. It is a great place for lunch on a sunny afternoon or a warm evening. As this is San Francisco, it is advisable to be prepared for a change in the weather to the cold side when dining on Belden.

I like lunch shopping on Stockton street [mostly between Washington and Jackson Streets].
There are many places that sell pork, ducks and chickens for a very reasonable price (for example, $8.76+tax for a whole duck). They are located next door to each other - 1041 Stockton Street, 1045 Stockton Street.., etc.

After buying meat, I usually go for some cheap instant noodles (for example, Nissin, Six Flavours). They are sold anywhere from 39 to 69 cents per package and come in different flavors (seafood, beef, pork, mushrooms, etc). All you need is to boil some water and let them soak in it for 3 minutes. Noodles can be bought in grocery stores across the street from meat sellers.

Lunch like that costs about $10 for two people! ;-) And it tastes good.

Just make sure to go during the day, cause it sells out by 6pm ish.

On Lombard Street: La Barca* (Mexican, worth coming just for award-winning margaritas, good food & atmosphere)

On Chestnut Street: Cozmo's Corner Grill; Yukol Place Thai Cuisine

On Chestnut Street (5 Stars): Andale Mexican Restaurant, reasonanbly priced, popular local hangout, excellent food, nice people watching, and loads of atmosphere (eat-in or take-out)

On Fillmore Street: Balboa Cafe*; Pane E Vino

Also in this District: Greens (best vegetarian); Isa; Merenda; PlumpJack.

Favorite Dish: Lucca Deli (pictured here)

Be sure to try the seafood chowder served in a bowl made from fresh baked sourdough bread, from one of the many vendors who line the street at the main entrance to Fisherman's Warf. It's a great choice for a quick, inexpensive lunch.

There will be a counter with a stool where you can eat right there on the sidewalk. With the sights, sounds, and smells of the warf, coupled with the yummy chowder and bread, it is a unique sensory delight.

Had a bad day but find yourself in-between paychecks? Find out when and where to get more bang for your buck. Happy Hour indeed!

• The 500 Club - The Mission
A dive with ample drink specials.

• Jack's Elixer - Inner Mission
Small crowds, lots of beer.

• Kennedy's Irish Pub and Curry House - North Beach - Indian food and $2 Guinness.

• Marlena's - Hayes Valley
Upscale 'hood, down-home drinks.

• Tommy's Joynt - Van Ness Corridor
Fill a pitcher on the cheap.

• The Front Room - Nob Hill
Pizza and pitchers for pennies.

• Jade - Hayes Valley
Try a Jade Cocktail for cheap.

• Mad Dog in the Fog - Lower Haight
Cheap stout, football on the telly.

• Red's Java House - The Embarcadero
Box wine and a view.

• Zeitgeist - The Mission
Doubles come in pint glasses.

Favorite Dish: Java House Coffee Shop
40 Pier
San Francisco, CA 94107
415-495-7260

$5.25 for chessburger on sourdough, fries and a beer!!

A throwback to a time when only dockworkers lunched along the Embarcadero. This shack is under the Bay Bridge (since 1956). Very fair for the portions.

Burgers on French rolls smeared with mayo and mustard; only comes well-done, but they're hearty and savory.

On sunny days, take your lunch outside and sit amid the dockworkers.

I'm not going to give you tips about nice SF restaurants with white tablecloths, candles and all. You can read any guidebook on San Francisco and get the names those restaurants, if that is what you are looking for.

Expensive doesn't always mean best, and especially not when it comes to SF restaurants. I'm going to show you the BEST restaurants in town - this is where SF working crowd and locals go for great food.

The uninformed visitor will pass by these restaurants because from the outside they look too greasy spoon, too let go, too scary even, whatever. But after you read my tips, you'll know better.

Sam Lok serves traditional Szechuan with all of its peppers and spices. It's located on Jackson Street between Grant and Kearny. For more information, call (415) 981-8988.

Yank Sing serves delicious dim sum in a comfortable parlor atmosphere. It's located on Battery Street between Clay and Washington. For more information, call (415) 781-1111.

Also worth mentioning:
Yuet Lee
Brandy Ho's Hunan Food
Hunan Home's Restaurant
Great Eastern

Also:

Sam Wo's ! Eat the "House Chow Mein", beef, pork, chicken, and shrimps.

Favorite Dish: - walking tours in Chinatown (free) every day led by volunteer guides, covers everything from the mansions of Pacific Heights to the murals of the Mission. I counted 51 different walking tours in their schedule. Every day there are at least three or four, and sometimes as many as a dozen to choose from. They're all free. You'll learn, for example, that there are two Chinatowns (41 back alleys): (1) the tourist Chinatown, marked by upturned red rooflines and dragon lampposts, and (2) the residents' Chinatown, along Stockton Street and those back alleys. In those alleys you'll hear the clacking of mah-jongg tiles, see bok choy being dried on balconies and encounter bins of geoducks and durians outside the markets - For a current schedule of free walking tours led by City Guides, visit www.sfcityguides.org or call (415) 557-4266.

For a great sunday brunch combined with a sightseeing trip take the ferry from across to Sausalito and have a brunch in a restuarant built up over the water with fantastic views across the bay to San Francisco, not to mention having a satisfying meal while doing it.