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We walked around for quite a while before we found this gem of a restaurant. Sure, there were a handful of deli’s offering up hanging crispy ducks and pigs, but this one had just what we were looking for: lots of Chinese locals sitting at simple wooden tables eating with gusto. On entering, it was as if transported to Asia, with their wares hanging proudly in the dining area and people horded at tables side by side obviously enjoying them. We sat ourselves down amongst an otherwise all Asian clientele and ordered from a fairly extensive menu for such a simple looking place. The waitress-owner spoke enough English to quickly get us the steaming food. What else can you ask for?
We returned to San Francisco as part of a six-month camping trip around the western US in 2008. The very first place we cam was this restaurant. It had not changed one bit in the three years since our first visit but it was a lot more crowded. We surmised it was due to it being lunch time rather than breakfast. A few weeks later, we stopped in SF for lunch on our way to the Northern California coast and again, this was our choice to eat. No need to board to plane to China, you can just come here.
This place became our staple breakfast stop. The first day, Doreen had rice porridge with roast pork. The huge heaping bowl was a mere $2.55 and full of succulent meat. My duck rice ($3.55) came with lettuce sautéed in oyster sauce, and was not only huge but delicious. On subsequent visits, we tried the pork rice ($3.55) and were equally impressed. You get hot tea for free so this is truly an inexpensive place to start your day!
On our return visit in 2008, prices had not changed much and we got three plates of food for $12. The crispy BBQ pork was as good as ever and we tried their Beef Chow Fun and it was the best we've ever had and a huge plate. We rounded it out with a plate of steamed cabbage. The old women next to us just laughed when the saw three plates of food for two people, but we ate every drop. We were stuffed but we didn't know when we'd be back this way again! Leave a Comment Theme: Chinese/Dim SumPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: least expensiveAddress: 801 BroadwayPhone: 414.982.2516Directions: On the corner of Broadway and Powell, this is on the edge of Chinatown geographically, but right in the heart with regard to atmosphere and authenticity.
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 by rsilva
On the website you can read:
"This historic restaurant is one of the city's oldest and most famous establishments. It is a favorite with local and national celebrities who enjoy the great steaks, fresh seafood, salads and pastas with excellent services at honest prices. John's Grill was a setting in author Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon.
The restaurant's interior is a masterpiece of original period furnishings(...)"
The walls are covered with pictures of celebrities that have eaten there (I remember seeing Hillary Clinton's picture).
My opinion:
- Service could be much faster and more efficient.
- The steak was good, but not as good as other I have had for half the price.
- It was quite expensive. A medium Porter house steak was 29$.
I don't think you get your money's worth, that's all. There was also a quite "industrial" feel to it, the service was very "cold", I remember mentioning to the waitress that the steak was not very good and got an "Oh?" as a reply.
When we got the bill, there was a hand-written note on in saying "Service not included. 15% $9.00, 20% $12". Thanks, I always had problems with those horrible percentages...
I don't think I will be going back. At these prices, I become MUCH more demanding. Leave a Comment
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This is another Chinatown gem that is full of Asian locals and devoid of any tourist aura. The service is friendly if you are not presupposing they speak English. Just point or nod yes or no to their suggestions and you’ll be happy you came. It’s a simple hole-in-the-wall so don’t expect a fancy dim sum experience, but it’s very inexpensive and the food is excellent and very authentic. A trip to the restroom affords views of a working kitchen as you wander not only through it but into what seems another country all in one go.
We tried an assortment of things, ranging from pork dumplings, vegetable/shrimp dumplings, and many colorful things we couldn’t quite understand the names of but were adventurous enough to nod yes to. We weren’t disappointed by any of them. We tipped two dollars on an eight dollar check and on our next visit, the same waitress gave us two free portions! Leave a Comment Theme: Chinese/Dim SumPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: least expensiveAddress: 808 Pacific AvenuePhone: (415) 392-2828Directions: This in the heart of Chinatown and if you're smartly wandering around the markets in the morning, you're bound to stumble upon it, just off Stockton Street.
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 Grilled radicchio and goat
cheese in balsamic by JMetro
My two favorites are the ravioli di zucca - stuffed with butternut squash in brown butter sage - freshly made and as good as anywhere in Italy. My other fav is the grilled radicchio with goat cheese with balsamic drizzled on it. Leave a Comment Theme: ItalianPrice: US$21-30 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 4109 24th St (at Castro)Phone: 415-282-5872Directions: In Noe Valley on 24th near CastroWebsite: www.lupatrattoria.com
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This is a little Pakistani/Indian restaurant that is simply but tastefully decorated. It’s unusual in the sense you order up at the cashier but they bring the food to you. The menu is not very extensive but most typical favorites are here.
On our return trip to SF in 2008, we opted for this little gem once again. After a few months of camping in the Southwestern US, we were hankering for the exotic and Indian was just what the doctor ordered. With only one night in town and with the Magnolia Pub right up the road, this was a logical choice and we did not regret coming back.
We had a very tasty chicken tikka masala ($6.99) that was delicately spiced and lamb saag ($6.99). They came sans rice but at these prices, who can argue. We opted to forgo it and get more naan bread (only $1.00 per order) and were glad we did as it was perfectly done and came piping hot out of the oven. You can also get the food to go and bring it to the Toronado if you want to have a beer with it. Leave a Comment Theme: IndianPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: 525 Haight StreetPhone: 415.255.1625Directions: This is conveniently located just up the block from beery shrine, Toronado in the lower Haight.
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I’ll be honest with you; I wasn’t going to waste my time eating Vietnamese food in San Francisco. We had spent three weeks in Vietnam last year and we have heaps of good places in South Florida serving up pho and other Viet ditties. But when our trip elongated from the planned five to nine days, I relented to D’s request. And am I glad I did. My Canh is about as authentic a Vietnamese restaurant as you’ll find this side of Saigon. It’s a dingy hole-in-the-wall but the owners are so welcoming and the food so good, you can’t help but want to eat there.
This was another place we just had to go back to on our two-day pit stop of SF in 2008. Once we ate and on our small pass through town on the 4th of July, we just stopped here for one of their potent and tasty ice coffees.
For breakfast, we had the classic Viet soup, pho, a rice noodle beef soup served with mint and coriander leaves. We also had an order of bun thit nuong, their signature roast pork salad over noodles. Both were huge portions and even served up with two rocket fuel ice coffees, the bill only came to $15. I noticed an old Asian woman next to me tearing into a tasty looking soup and inquired what it was. It was a crab soup I had had in Vietnam so we came back to have that the next day. It was fantastic and full of Dungeness crab for only $6.95 for a missive bowl! It’s open 16 hours a day, seven days a week so you should be able to work it into your schedule. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: least expensiveAddress: 622 BroadwayPhone: 415.397.8888Directions: In the heart of Chinatown. If you miss it, you've missed one of the most vibrant parts of the city!Other Contact: 10am-2am everyday!
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This might be my new favorite San Francisco restaurant. It certainly is my favorite for when I'm in the mood for Italian. Trattoria Pinocchio's is very Italian.
I chose this place for my birthday dinner and we celebrated in high style with many courses and a bottle of prosecco and an Amarone. Very very nice. It is also a nice choice for a less elaborate lunch. Seated by the window provides a view of North Beach traffic and the Church and Washington Square. On nice days, the windows open to let in the outdoors and you feel as if you're dining al fresco.
On our latest visit we had calamari fritti and caprese salad for a starter. Beautifully prepared and served, fresh Italian bread is always provided along with olive oil and balsamic for dipping.
We had an excellent tortalini al noci (with walnut sauce) for our main dish and neither of us could finish more than half.
The servers speak Italian or hesitant English, which completes the air of feeling like you've stepped into Italy. In the evenings, a nice jazz trio provides background music. Leave a Comment Theme: ItalianPrice: US$21-30 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 401 Columbus Ave (at Vallejo Street)Phone: 415 392-1472Directions: North Beach. You'll know you're there when you see the Italian flag painted on the lamp posts.
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 pairing food with beer is fun by richiecdisc
Since were here often, we not only sampled many beers but ate here twice. On our first visit, we had the charcuterie sampler that features local artisan meats and pate as well as the artisan cheese plate. Both were of quite good quality though I felt them small for the price ($12 for two people). On a subsequent visit, Doreen had a great grilled chicken sandwich with bacon and blue cheese ($10) and I had a roast lamb sirloin sandwich ($12) that was succulent and very tasty.
But the true calling card of this pub is the great beer. We sampled quite a few on our many visits. The Kalifornia Kolsch was served in the appropriate tall thin glass befitting the Cologne specialty brew. It was light golden with a nice mix of malt and hops, fairly fruity with a clean dry finish. Their Ashbury Alt was served in the appropriate glass as well though this Dusseldorf inspired brew was not as good an interpretation of the style. Even better were their cask-conditioned British style beers. Sarah’s Ruby Mild was ruddy colored with a sudsy head and very full-flavored considering its 3.8% alcohol content. It had a fruity palate that dried out considerably in the finish. The Blue Bell Bitter was a classic English session beer, with appropriate low carbonation and a perfect mix of malt and hops. The Proving Ground IPA with 100 IBUs (international bitter units) was surprisingly well balanced for such a high hop level and dangerously drinkable at 7% alcohol! They have happy hour every day when Imperial Pints (20 ounces) are $3.50. Leave a Comment Theme: Pub/BreweryPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 1398 Haight StreetPhone: 415.864.PINTDirections: Right in the heart of The Haight so no reason you shouldn't stop in for at least a pint.Website: http://www.magnoliapub.com/
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 Very cozy sophistocated
ambiance by Sandi-2004
Parking: Street, sometimes difficult at lunch; valet $8 at dinner
Lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday. Full bar. Reservations and credit cards accepted.
Specialities: Oysters; chicken in wood oven; delicious hamburgers; Caesar salad; espresso granita.
Prices: $13-$29 Leave a Comment Theme: AmericanPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 1658 Market St. (near Franklin)Phone: (415) 552-2522.
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 I always do what I'm told
.... by madamx
Taylor's Refresher is located in the Ferry Building, and unlike most businesses there, are open until 9:00 pm every night. The interior is modern and sleek with stainless steel stools, concrete flooring, and white subway tile walls. This is high class fast food, and service is impressively fast for the quality of food they have.
There was a huge line-up at supper when we went, but the line moved extremely fast, and there is plenty of seating inside and out, no problems there.
They have all the usual stuff, such as meat loaf, mac and cheese, and shakes, and we decided to go with burgers and shakes. The burgers seem pricey at about $7.00 apeice, but they are very large, with excellent quality meat and egg buns. Don't miss out on the fries tossed in Garlic Butter and Parsley mmmm. They also have one of the best chocolate shakes I have ever tasted, very rich, very chocolatey (my hubby said it was too much chocolate, but you and I know that is impossible!!!) and thiiiiick.
You know you've hit a good place to eat when you are already planning to return someday. Taylor's ... watch out ! Leave a Comment Theme: DinerPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: Ferry Building, EmbarcaderoPhone: (866) EAT FOOD
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