The Most Flavorful Restaurants in San Francisco

"A solid bite to eat! Service was quick and the food was cozy. The style of pan Asian fusion is always hard for me to love-love, but it was overall tasty. The curry udon with tofu was good and would get it again if I was in the mood."

"While walking to my chosen lunch spot, I kept noticing how many "new" businesses that weren't there between 2020 and 2022. I used to take my goddaughter, the furry variety, along this route and there were so many boarded doors and windows. As I walked, I took photos of places that piqued my interest. On my walk back after lunch, I decided to window shop at their gelato, especially after seeing Genevieve Y's (https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=_aSs5dSAabuwnXUGBPzASw) photo of spumoni that I saw a few days earlier. I saw an item that might interest her but another flavor caught my eyes. I tried the hazelnut brownie gelato (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=H1rySEB3-C5COE2aglmvSw), medium in a cup. She told me that the small size was not available. As she scooped my gelato, I wandered to the rear counter and saw another menu board (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=24&select=DNHu8CwQQL9Qwx97vfTQWg). I am saving this for a future visit in case something appeals to my stomach for a future lunch. I walked back to the front cashier area and she rung me up, offering seating in the back area in addition to the two sidewalk tables in front. I passed on her offer, paid for my gelato, and walked to my car. The hazelnut brownie was rich but the flavors seemed a bit muted and not bold. The brownie pieces didn't really stand out and the hazelnut didn't add much to it. I will probably try the lychee one next visit.The gal at the cashier was very nice and friendly, helping me with a smile throughout. It's great to see more businesses along this block open now, a stark improvement from the past few years."

"It's probably been over 30 years since I've set foot in here. It was my 1st time dining here.My office used to be about five blocks away and I remember picking up food with my coworker to bring back. My uncle who works in the neighborhood mentioned that this was a regular lunch spot for him pre-2020.I came here for lunch on a Wednesday in April a little before noon. Dining alone, I chose a counter seat as my waitress offered me the menu and a glass of water. The dining room was 2/3rd full with varying party sizes in the center area. The menu is more extensive than I remember with breakfast items, full meals, and daily specials. I tried the Alpine burger, medium rare, with a cup of clam chowder (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=1jx_vR_fxszRItRl-OWTLg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q), for an additional $4.50; the Alpine is described as garnished with Swiss Gruyere cheese & truffle oil sauteed mushrooms. chowder (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=L9-WED-J_hrHTA8_GrwwCw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). burger was a perfect medium rare (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=LeU5Xkt9foBTbTo022Z_Ug&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). At my waitress ' advice and her reminder that it's a half pound burger, I chose to pass on getting a side of fries. Wanting to clean my palate, I added an iced tea (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Vhdtvwjv4tOhTD6dM4WY6w&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q), unsweetened, which she refilled a couple of times.As I ate, I looked around the room, from the open kitchen at the window to the variety of decorations, photos, and artwork. In sitting at my counter seat, I found it humorously ironic in looking at my surroundings. To my right was a cow 'mooning me' (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=PGDt9IBjmKdxiw-A43G0jA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q), to my left a pic of the 3 Stooges above the entrance (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=TnxMVoyKSQEmkmISMxmypQ&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) (the restaurant name is "Mo's" after all), and two cookie jars of a cow and the 3 stooges in front of me (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=No3H84h4bnB_fXtafxGulw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). Big thanks to Barbara who took my order and guided me in ordering my meal. I was happy to have the right amount of food and not taking anything home. I need to read the menu more carefully for my next visit in maybe trying one of their meal specials."

"Dive bar with some tables around the bar and pool table. Great menu and we got burgers and onion rings. So delicious! Service was really nice too. Will be returning!"

"I came for a tuna sandwich, I asked the staff and it turns out she was the staff that loves their classic tuna sandwich the most so I trusted her and it was so good! Definitely stop by here for delicious sandwiches and they have lots of great items to take home. Next time I will come back with a freezer bag so I can bring home their ready made lasagna, chicken, and so much more!"

"Buster's is a gem in the North Beach neighborhood. One of the best cheesesteak sandwich places in San Francisco and it's been around so you know they had time to perfect the flavors. The restaurant is small with a few bar seating inside but there is a parket with additional outdoor seatings.Service was fast! It was not even 5 minutes when our orders arrived. I got the North Beach cheese steak and added mushrooms. It was delicious and a bit challenging to eat neatly. The sandwiches were piping hot and had a perfect ratio of bread to filling. Make sure you grab some chili garlic and honey garlic sauce. They are the perfect condiments to the sandwich and fries."

"I've been to this place a couple of times. They both were good. Looks like a boring tiny space, right? But what they offer here is huge and the sandwiches are yummy! Service is welcoming and friendly. I don't know her name but she will absolutely make your sandwich the way you want it to be, just ask for it! I think their pricing is well considered for what we get! Come try!!!"

"Old school burger and steak joint located near the West Portal Metro Station. Grill located at the front of the restaurant, brick and wood interior with sports memorabilia on the walls. Check out the M-F burger, fries and beer or drink special.Numerous burger and meat items, beef or bison, 1/3 or 1/2 pound burgers, various burger and vegetarian options. Many of the diners are loyal long time customers.Charming restaurant, good service, and good food. Parking can be a challenge - white drop off zone in front."

"I came here with around a dozen people on a Friday afternoon, and there was plenty of seating available in the back area of the rustic-decorated restaurant. We ordered a few large pizzas including the Hot N' Honey and A Loading Dock, and we also had a person Hot N' Honey pizza for our group. The workers were very helpful in getting us seated and being out the plates and utensils before our pizza was served.Our group quickly finished all pizzas available on the table. We all stated that the Hot N' Honey pizza was the best pizza there and that we would have all been satisfied had we ordered only Hot N' Honey pizzas for the whole table. While their other pizzas were also satisfying, I would love to come back for the Hot N' Honey pizza specifically at Long Bridge Pizza every time."

"Fruit tart cake was beautiful and a party hit. Ordered online the day before for a friend's birthday. It was ready on time and the bakery had a friendly small business vibe I appreciated.Usually am on the other side of town but good excuse to visit Stones town and old stomping grounds by SF State!"

"I was looking for a sandwich shop close to Dolores Park and came across this one which really stood out because of their cool vegetarian/vegan sandwich options! They weren't the basic ones with just a couple veggies and condiments but had vegan meat substitutes and interesting combinations. I ordered ahead by calling so that by the time I got there, our Sandwiches were finished. Would recommend this if you're going during a busy time as people ordering there itself had to wait 30 minutes for theirs to come out. I usually am not a BBQ fan, but had to give the vegetarian BBQ chicken sandwich a try because of all the raving reviews. I got it spicy and throughly enjoyed it! It tasted unlike any sandwich I've ever had and glad I had the chance to try this. I thought everything in the sandwich paired pretty well together. I think the vegan chicken sub was seitan, or at least tasted similar to that, but was covered very well in the sauce! I'll definitely be back to try the other vegetarian sandwiches they offer."

"RT Rotisserie has me hooked. I've lost count, but this might've been my 7th (8th?) chicken rice bowl--I genuinely can't get enough. Obsessed is an understatement. And somehow, even though it's always solid via takeout, dining in just takes it to a whole new level. The chimichurri sauce especially--it hits different fresh at the table, bright and punchy in all the right ways.Casual spot, chill vibes--order at the counter, find your own seat, nothing fussy. My friend grabbed a side of fries, and honestly, those were pretty great too. Bonus: their ice cream is surprisingly good, so save a little room if you can.TL;DR: Chicken rice bowls are a must (duh), dine-in if you want the full flavor experience, and don't sleep on the fries or ice cream."

"My family and I have been dining here for years, even when it relocated to current location.Service is excellent with an extensive menu of breakfast, lunch, dinner entrees!! Took us awhile to figure out!! Ordered the Filipino Tocino , chili con carne omelet, Truck stop special,Joe's special with an appetizer of Sigsig....! All with a generous portion of hash browns w grilled onions -a "must have" here!Just a typical "hole in the wall" (near Ross and Trader Joe's) but serving up delicious Comfort foods with a Filipino flare!!"

"Nook has recently reopened after some renovating, and it's come back better than ever!It's a beautiful open space with fresh air and lots of sunlight. Since it's on the corner of Hyde and Jackson you get the genuine SF ambiance of cable cars passing and the beautiful neighborhood trees. They are open again for coffee with breakfast toasts, and also for dinner with a new menu and delicious wine. So nice to see you back at it!"

"I've never been a fan of tuna sandwiches for some reason, despite being a seafood lover. But this morning I woke up determined to find a tuna sandwich out here in SF that I might like, something more refined than what mom used to make at home (kind of bland, blah). My husband suggested that I might like warm toasty tuna melts rather than yesteryear's sad, cold, cheeseless tuna sammies, so I jumped on Uber Eats to find one that sounded like it could be a cut above the usual.Actually, what got me to look up Atlas was that someone recommended them on a thread in the AskSF subreddit. When I saw some unique ingredients in their tuna melt (like currant and citrus mayo) and that I could add Emmenthaler cheese for even more melty goodness and fanciness, I felt this was the one to try. Got it delivered.Love at first bite! I bet it would be even tastier next time with kalamata olives for more mediterranean flair and a little more acid. The sandwich also looked extra tasty since it was lightly panini-pressed looking, giving it a satisfying, buttery crunch and a light sourdough tang.Later I tried a totally different tuna melt from a different restaurant. It was out of balance -- WAY too much pickle and WAY too much mustard, and no complexity. Atlas's interpretation was far better - complex and refined but harmonious. Not words you usually think of when you think of tuna melts.If you're a tuna melt person, you might find this one to be next level. Give it a try at Atlas! I can't wait to get it again and experiment with more interesting toppings."

"I come here often since it's convenient and affordable. They have a huge selection including breakfast sandwiches, burgers and kebab plates. My go to:- hummus bowl with lamb shawarma(a bit greasy) - chicken shawarma plate- extra meat ($4-6)"

"Decades of Deliciousness!I've been a customer at Freddie's Sandwiches for over twenty-five years and live just two blocks away. When I wanted to update my review, I realized that the comments from my 2016 review still hold true! So, I won't repeat that they still make the best sandwiches for the price, but I will share that I've added their Club Sandwich to my list of favorites.Freddie's Club Sandwich comes with ham, turkey, and bacon, and you can add any combination of mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onions. The bread makes a huge difference, and if I may, I'd like to give you a hint: Go with hard sourdough bread, ask for it to be gutted out and toasted, and go light with the mayo. You will enjoy it.Their coffee is also pretty good. It's drip coffee only, but the owner is a coffee enthusiast like myself and always has fresh, hot coffee available upfront. If coffee isn't your thing, they have plenty of non-alcoholic options to choose from. Their deli salads are made daily and can be a great companion to your sandwich.The store is small, and there is no room to sit inside, but they have three or four small tables and chairs available outside if you and a companion or two want to have your sandwiches there. The owner seems very serious at first, but after chatting and exchanging pleasantries, you'll find that he's actually a very nice and helpful person, as are the rest of his staff. They sometimes fill in behind the counter if he's not around."

"I went here for the first time to meet a friend and had a wonderful experience. Fantastic coffee shop experience with a great beach town vibe.Although the weather was cool and foggy, nothing could spoil the great time sitting outside observing surfers, dogs, and locals alike.I had a pour over (medium roast) with the steel cut oats. The coffee was so perfectly balanced, not bitter, and just right, I didn't need cream or sugar. The oats were amazing. So perfectly textured and creamy, with a nutty flavor. I thought they had made it with heavy cream. I was astounded to learn they hadn't. Fantastic experience, def. try it if you get the chance. Everything that went by our table, from omlettes to salads, looked delicious. I can't wait to try the other goodies on the menu."

"Great Sandwiches! I've had several of there Sandwiches with no complaints, but I love their breakfast sandwhich! Fresh house made bread with a great staff!"

"There is a place which has lots of cheese available in the Polk Gulch of San Francisco .Cheese Plus has lots of varieties of cheese and also a descent selection of wine to pair with the cheese. There is also a deli which offers lots of different sandwiches with many different cheese selections. There is also an outdoor cafe which offers coffee , expressos, and lattes. Cheese Plus is a cheese must if you want to add cheese to your wine in SF.This is a place where they have great cheese to grateA place to assemble your own customized cheese plate"

"Pretty solid smoked brisket sandwich!! For $15, it was a quality sandwich and very tasty. Location is a little off from downtown, but that helps with the parking situation a bit.I would come back for sure!"

"One of the best burgers I've ever tried, both vegan and non-vegan. I recommend ordering garlic or sweet potato fries. The salads are large, enough for two people. Highly recommended! :)"

"There's a Subway down the street and if you go there instead of Bonne Sante Broadway, do us all a favor and slap yourself. I had the Hottie Sandwich with everything on a soft French roll and it was arguably the best buffalo chicken sandwich I've ever had, and I've had a lot of deli sandwiches in my life (peep my check-in history). The size of the sandwich was intimidating but I put my work in and demolished it, savoring every delicious bite. Don't get me started on their signature sun-dried tomato tapenade, chef's kiss. Definitely a local family friendly vibe and service was helpful and fast. Fortunately, I don't live too far away because I'm definitely going to become a regular!"

"Great bfast spot. I tried the turkey sandwich, which really hit the spot after a night out. Husband had the waffles, which he devoured. Joy's is cute, clean, and offers fast service."

"I have been here several times and the items that I have bought is the Rasberry Zingers & Cherry Flavored Energy Drink!!!! This Market & Deli is a cool place!!! Not only that I also had bought myself a Zero Sugar A&W Zero Sugar Root Beer cool place to buy yourself a refreshing drinks or beer of your choice!!!!!"

"This is one of our go-to sandwich spots. Really good sweet roll. The guy at the register (I think the owner) is super nice!"

"Been coming here for years. A lot of care is put into the dishes, not just the taste or portions, but the presentation as well. Had something new this time, the chicken pasta salad, was excellent as expected! Also the owner/chef is one of the most gracious people you'll find in the city. Great spot!"

"Ty Sandwich is a casual shop serving delicious banh mi for about $10 a pop.I tried the grilled pork and combination sandwiches. Both were solid. Parking isn't easy. I witnessed a lot of double parking. Definitely call your order ahead in advance for efficiency."

"This is my favorite no frills spot for a consistently great banh mi. The meat is always juicy and well marinated, the ratio of pickled veggies and jalapeño is perfect for non spice sadists, and the bread has just enough crunch without flaking all over you with every bite. Pro tip: the roasted duck is bomb.com.Yumminess: AAesthetics: BService: BPrice to Value: A"

"We ordered an iced mocha, green berets smoothie, banana chocolate walnut bread, ultimate breakfast sandwich with ham, and croissant sandwich with egg, bacon, and cheese (minus the sauce). Everything was made to order, the taste of mocha strong in the coffee beverage, great banana flavor in the smoothie, the sandwiches with ample ingredients and delish, and the banana walnut bread full of chocolatey goodness in every bite. This sweet and crumbly slice of bread was served right away, from the display case. And the wait for the rest of our order was 20 minutes, which isn't bad for New Year's Day, at least they were open during the holiday. Seating wasn't hard to find, both indoors and outside, even with the place being tiny. And staff was professional and friendly, and apologetic about the wait time."

"I'm a bit selective when it comes to my wings. I like them to be saucy, but not wet because the wings end up being soggy. But not Fire Wings' wings. I ordered the Saigon wings and the Dragon wings. It's perfectly flavored - umami, spicy, and spicy! Not to mention, the wings were still slightly crispy. I also ordered the chili cheese fries. My first time trying it ever and I actually liked it. The fries were coated and still crispy. Fire Wings is definitely worth trying (again and again)."

"We like these subs, we added extra lettuce and extra tomatoes, love the sourdough roll breads, fresh ingredients everything looks good to us. We will come back and try other sandwiches in the future. Reasonable price! Recommend this place"

"My family and I were walking around Stanford Shopping Center one weekend morning when my mom wanted a snack. My family loves pastries and we saw a line for La Baguette, so we went inside to see for ourselves. The inside of the store is too compact for seating, but you will see a good amount of tables, chairs, and umbrellas just outside the store in the middle of the large walking space. La Baguette had two large displays, one with cakes and cake slices, another with the baked goods and a few sandwiches. We paid at the counter and asked for our croissants to be heated, so we were given a number and instructed to wait outside for our order to be called. We bought two croissants, one plain and one filled with ham and cheese. Both were ginormous and thus perfect to split among four people. The staff conveniently split them in half without us asking. They were sooooo crispy and flaky that they're impossible to eat without getting crumbs all over. The texture inside was really soft, not the generally dense texture my average croissants are from all the butter. We had a good amount of ham and cheese in ours, and you get a thin layer of cheese crust on top of the croissant itself. Overall, La Baguette is a great pit stop for our morning in the area. I thought about getting the sandwiches, but they looked heavy on the bread and light on the filling. I will probably stick to their croissants!"

"I found this place when I moved into the neighborhood about 3 years ago and I just love it! It's my go to for yummy bagels! They're reasonably priced and the staff are so sweet and friendly too!"

"This place is ran by the sweetest kindest man I would imagine he's Mr. Mardini. Every time I come in, he greets me with a smile. He makes sure that I have what I want. He remembers my order and always gives me extra garlic sauce. I get his veggie plate. The baba ganoosh Is unlike anyone's I've ever had with fresh herbs in it. The hummus is yummy and falafels tasty. I recommend it, most of all, for the love that he puts into his food. It's very fresh and very good"