The Most Flavorful Restaurants in San Francisco

"They could improve on being more pleasant. They can improve on servicing prepaid orders during peak times.Quality is going down"

"I always see this truck while I'm driving around for work and I was always curious but never got around to trying since I generally bring food from home. Today was one those days where I needed to buy food and tacos always make for a great lunch. I got three tacos which was steak, pastor and suadero. The pastor and steak tasted awesome, nice char that gives it a nice smokiness and everyone knows the slight burnt and crispy bits is the best part of any cooked meat and they have plenty of it. The person running the truck gave advice and recommended some different items off the menu which grabbed my attention for my next visit. Tacos are average priced as most places in the Bay Area. Not cheap but not too expensive either."

"This is one of my favorite restaurants. I am allergic to garlic, and they don't use garlic nor onion, which means I can choose anything I want. And every single thing here is wonderful! Super nice people, intimate and casual dining, delicious food no matter what you get. Their imitation meats are delicious."

"Usually the taco deals on Doordash suck because of the low review taco spots . However , this was the only highly rated place that didn't concentrate on tacos like they others . This place does it legit . Every single ingredient had flavor in it. And it was the first time I had a manglonada.Don't know how they get mangos so sweet , but they have all the classic ingredients.You can tell from the neighborhood that it has to be legit . Latin population in the area would hate it if they were washed out places like the ones only serving calorie conscious crowds.Glad i was able to discover this shop. Super super recommended"

"Hamburger was very good, service was good. Loud but not so loud you couldn't hold a conversation"

"I came on a Saturday after a fitness class and it wasn't too busy. There were a few people in front of us, but overall the time it took to order and have our food ready was fairly quick. There is an indoor seating in the back if you want a place to sit and eat your bagel otherwise there's also a few coffee shops down the street that have benches if you're in the mood for that. I haven't had a good bagel in San Francisco in a while and honestly, this is my new favorite. I am a savory bagel kind of gal so I opted for the garlic bagel with chive cream cheese and I like some crunch so I got cucumbers. The bagel was so good. It was soft, warm and perfectly flavorful!They do offer bulk as well as tubs of cream cheese So I would definitely wanna come back and get a dozen next time"

"I've hired Mimi to bake my wedding cake in August after I sampled her red velvet with raspberry buttercream and double chocolate with mocha buttercream. They were both unbelievably MOIST! I first tried her double chocolate cake after it was sitting my in friend's fridge for almost a week. It was still good! The fondant probably keep it from drying out. I'm not huge on chocolate, but that cake was delicious! Also, it was sooo pretty!I'm can't wait to eat Mimi's cake again in August. That will be my "treat" for all the horrendous months of eating healthy!"

"Great Food at Luisa'sA few weeks ago, a neighbor mentioned that they had dinner at Luisa's and that they enjoyed the food. That made me realize that despite being a long-time North Beach resident, I had never eaten there. So last night, when the weather was nice and warm, we walked over and sat in the parklet. Our server, Alexandro, a very pleasant young man with a thick Sicilian accent, took our orders. We started with Burrata salad, and I had a glass of Pinot Grigio. We told Alexandro we would decide on the main course while munching down the Burrata!While waiting for the salad, I went in to check the inside. Luisa's is not a big restaurant, but the space is cozy and nice. The salad arrived shortly after I returned to the table, and it was very fresh and delicious.My significant other ordered the chicken parmesan, and I tried the Pappardelle with vodka sauce. Both arrived in a nice portion, and both were really delicious. I had never tried the dish, so I asked Alexandro what he thought before ordering. He said he preferred the vodka sauce over the meat, and I must say he was right on! We were so full that we did not get to try their tiramisu, but they are in the neighborhood, so perhaps next time!"

"Cute small venue with friendly staff and bartenders. I love that you actually get a good view of the artist, and there's a tiered balcony upstairs.Bathrooms were super clean.$10 card minimum.Affordable drinks for the area! About $9-12 for cocktails.Just docking a star because the sangria was pretty gross -- it tasted really vinegary and sour, as if the wine had spoiled."

"I've eaten here twice. The first time was well over a year ago and spontaneously. It was a warm Friday afternoon for dinner. They sat us in the back which was nicely set up. The service was very kind and attentive. I appreciated how they were welcoming to my young child despite it being a white linen table. They showed no fear of a child ordering pasta with marinara! Haha The second more recent time we ate here was planned although I forgot to make a reservation. Still, no problem. They took our party of four and offered us a seat outside immediately or inside with a 30-45 minute wait. We took the outside despite the cold. They had heaters nearby although they did let us know the one directly next to us wasn't working. It was during winter holiday time so they were a little busy but the service was still very kind. They apologized for the waits but we understood. The bread came out and was warm and yummy. When our food came out, everyone was pleased with their orders. We'll plan to come here again."

"Tucked away in the streets of San Francisco is a dive of a place, Memphis Minnie's. With only 5 small tables, this place was made for takeout. My family of four met up with a family of five, and we filled 40% of the room. My family ordered the "VIP party" which consisted of a generous sampling of all of their meats and all of their sides (which was sufficient for 2 adults and 2 pre-teens, plus a to-go box for some late night grazing)The food was really good, but what struck me was the service. The person at the counter (don't know if he's the manager or owner) was very hospitable to the children in our party. Our friends got there before we did, and they told us that when they came in with their two preteens and one 5 year old, the manager brought them a plate of mac and cheese as a "sample". Later in the meal, he even brought a smoke cake - 3 store bought Little Debbie type cakes stuck with some Pocky and 2 candles in a dome filled with smoke (wish I'd taken a picture!). It's these little experiences that turns a dinner outing into a memory.Please check out Memphis Minnie's for a great meal!"

"Villon was our dinner destination of choice by one of my most thoughtful friends and fellow Yelper, Terry K. Terry flew out to San Francisco for a short visit to celebrate my birthday. We all had a lovely, memorable, and exceptional dining experience at Villon!My friend made reservations for us and we arrived earlier than anticipated. They were kind enough to seat us early. We came on a weekday after I got off work and the restaurant was pretty relaxed. Villon is modern yet elegant emulating the business casual vibes of downtown San Francisco. Service is on par with the ambiance--friendly, accommodating, and formal. We were checked on and they graciously treated us to birthday desserts.We came around dinner time and glanced through their dinner menu. They offer small plates, soups and salads, entrees, and a table-side menu. Plus an extensive drink menu! We chose to eat and order family style. We ordered: Sea Urchin Toast, Octopus, Beef Tartare, and Parker House Rolls for appetizers. My favorite was the sea urchin toast it was creamy, lightly sweet, and crunchy. The octopus was well-cooked with a savory spicy sauce and the rolls had intricate seaweed butter. We chose to share the Halibut and Pork Katsu as our entrees. Both were beautifully presented, cooked to perfection, moist, and well seasoned. Out of the two, the halibut was my favorite. I'm curious about their afternoon tea and brunch menu, as it also seems popular!If you're downtown and want a different scene or experience, Villon is a remarkable option. The restaurant serves New American cuisine within the Proper Hotel off Market Street. They do validate and there's street parking and public transportation. I would've never come here if it weren't for my special friend, Terry K. This a perfect place to celebrate with some of my closest friends."

"Casa Guadalupe is supposedly better than its nearby counterpart down the street, Casa Guadalupe #2. I found the variety, freshness of produce, and prices to be comparable, but I would still definitely recommend Guadalupe if you're looking for a clean grocer nearby.TIPS ON SHOPPING AT MEXICAN GROCERS (Warning: I think I shop smart, but may come off sounding a bit like a homeless person):* Amazing prices: Most Mexican grocers are pretty dirty, Casa Guadalupe is an anomaly. Other than that, the prices and produce are good but nothing special compared to other Mexican Marts.* Where to go: My favorite Mexican grocers in the Mission are 24th St. Bart, 16th St Bart, and around 20th (the foreign grocer). Casa would be part of the rotation if it were closer to me. You will find prices a fraction the cost of Safeway or Lucky, and equal or slightly lower in quality / freshness. You won't get the variety or freshness guarantee of top tier grocers like Whole Foods. * What to buy: You have to be flexible with your grocery list at places like these, often they do not carry what you want or if they do, they might be expensive or poor quality. Citrus fruits, tomatoes, bananas, onions, and sometimes garlic are usually safe items to buy and super cheap. Sometimes you will find great deals on organic kale, lettuce, and apples but these items are the ones who don't make it past the standards of higher end grocers (I assume) and are always slightly defective (but still mostly good!). * What not to buy: I would never buy meat at these places (I've smelled rancid meat wafting from their butchery), and be extra discerning about produce like peaches, berries (not organic), and other fruit (apples are ALWAYS bruised or rotten). You will sometimes find great deals on organic apples or veggies, but look out for rotting areas and bruises which are inevitable."

"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!!!"

"People are right--it's not the biggest space but it does have personality. We attended a private event there last night and were impressed by how well the space is managed. From the doorperson to the bartenders and waitstaff, everyone was accommodating. For those that are wondering, the single stall unisex bathrooms were clean as a whistle. There were about 80 of us there and it felt manageable. I think anything over 200 people might begin to feel a bit cramped?? They list their maximum capacity at 320 standing but much less for theater or classroom style set-ups.Their tech specs are pretty impressive. The sound was very good and they are capable of showing film. There's also a Green Room and a full kitchen.It's an iconic part of SF history with a cool list of past performers."

"It was easy to order at the kiosk for take out orders! It was pretty quiet here on a weekday lunch of course. I ordered the honey and cheese fried chicken and gosh, it's so crunchy and delicious!! It also comes with pickled radish."

"Black sesame latte was delicious with oat milk! Just one barista when I went on a weekday afternoon (I think it was the owner) and they whipped up my drink quickly. Heads up, they don't do personal cups. I usually bring my own to keep my hot drinks hot even when I dine in since I'm guilty of babysitting my drinks-but no biggie since my latte was so good I finished it up quicker than I normally would.Plenty of parking both in front of the shop and I think there's a garage. The vibes inside were very cozy today near the window as it drizzled. I liked the decor and took some moments to admire the walls of art and the huge plant near the door. I'd come back to try some other things."

"Wow. Not that they even need this review but they are amazing. The staff are sweet. The food is amazing. The green tea ice cream is made in house and is soooooo good. I tried halibut fin from Korea (engawa) and oh my. I had another piece as my dessert."

"Overall, it was a fantastic experience. The restaurant staff welcomed our large party warmly and even allowed us to order drinks before everyone had arrived. During the appetizer phase, we were treated to a delicious variety of both hot and cold appetizers. The pacing was spot-on, allowing us to sample everything without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.For the entrée, I had the Branzino with a side of pilaf rice, and it was absolutely amazing, the fish was cooked to perfection. For dessert, I ordered the baklava ice cream. While I wasn't a huge fan of it (the ratio of baklava to ice cream felt a bit off), it was still a sweet and enjoyable way to end the meal.Definitely a great restaurant, and I'll be sure to visit again when I'm in the area!"

"Hosted a work meeting and brought in a box as a special treat for my team. Long story short, they were a hit (mainly because it was alot of people's first times trying macarons) but it's clear that Chef Alex needs help. I think he's running a one man show. 1. It took about 5 emails, 4 calls, and 2 weeks just to get a receipt. 2. They deliver! Which is awesome, but only after 2pm. This wasn't going to work for my lunch meeting. and I wasn't going to keep them in the communal fridge overnight so they could magically sprout legs or be frozen by meeting time. I picked them up from the "storefront' instead. Which sorta felt like a drug deal. You drive out to the Bayview, call Alex up, 5 minutes later he opens the door and brings you in, asks if you'd like something else, say yes, he goes to the back and 15 minutes later he has the stuff, do the exchange, etc. All the while, he has the attitude that I was doing him the favor buying his stuff. This whole process took about 20 minutes longer than it should have. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/l-artisan-gourmet-parisian-macarons-san-francisco?select=kuJbPDcKWYaZxFFpFf3C7w#kuJbPDcKWYaZxFFpFf3C7w)49 SEASONS - 49 Count of assorted flavors - $83. Not too sweet. Like the fancy presentation with the chopped nuts, the precision isn't quite there since some of the macaron shells were already broken and some had messy fillings. The cookie portion is a bit chewy. These fit right in between Miette and La Boulange. Haven't been to Chantal guillon lately, but those are probably still the best in SF. I liked their vanilla flavor the best. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/l-artisan-gourmet-parisian-macarons-san-francisco?select=j81QdRk0rMfbK0FhR1boGg#j81QdRk0rMfbK0FhR1boGg) (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/l-artisan-gourmet-parisian-macarons-san-francisco?select=Gp5z89g5X_i6pqkn6tqmpA#Gp5z89g5X_i6pqkn6tqmpA)3.2 star macarons with a 1 star experience."

"Passed by pixlcat many times while running errands but the long was always on the longer side so I never took time to stop until now. Looking over the board, it looks like most of the flavored cafe drinks were of an iced variety which was not fitting for the morning I went so back to the classics. A macchiato sounded like it would hit the spot but due to time, I needed to have it to go.Welp.It was delivered plenty hot but there wasn't a lid that fit so I just decided to hold it gingerly out. When it was finally good to sip -- oh, no...it was so acidic and sour! I took a couple sips to be sure that it wasn't just super bright but alas, it was just not drinkable...so I had to toss it.+1 for a cute icon though."

"I went here for an even that they were hosting, and the drinks are great! They had a special where you would get a yummy shot for free with each cocktail, and that was also very amazing. The bartenders are nice and accommodating, and we felt welcome all night.The interior has nice, dim lighting with neon accents, and there's a space for a DJ and for dancing!"

"Overall I would say 4.5/5 stars because of 2 things: 1) a couple of the dishes were lackluster in the omakase course 2) our server didn't really explain our dishes; however, the table next to us who had a different server had elaborate explanations of the same dishes regarding taste profile and what suggested order to eat in.The best dish of the night would be the lobster tail and sweet corn. Normally my partner and I aren't a fan of corn, but man this was amazing, it was sweet, it was tangy, it was citrusy, 10/10. But above that was the lobster, if I were to come back I would order 5 plates of those. That citrus butter sauce had me drowning that lobster tail and going back for more.Regarding the other dishes in the meal, there was some standard sashimi, some squid ink? pancakes type of dish with creme fraishe and ikura(was lackluster in flavor, it felt like everything was a very neutral flavor, like someone was tasting the color gray). The steak was mayhaps 7.5/10, a little too sweet for me on the marinade, but paired well with the accompanied chili sauce."

"My son's 4th birthday party was less than a week away when I finally got myself together to order a cake. I worked with Jessica and her team on a construction-themed birthday cake, and we were so excited to see what they came up with.I had seen other Yelp reviews with construction cakes so had a really good starting point. We wanted to have the cake share colors with the Pupstruction show so I shared the Pupstruction logo. Email communication plus a phone call was all Jessica and team needed for the cake. Jessica's team even purchased construction vehicles from Amazon - and within the relatively short timeline. We were really happy with how the cake turned out and (most importantly) so was our son. Success! We'll be back."

"Absolutely loved their egg tarts and bbq pork rolls. They even had caterpillar which was a childhood memory. Highly recommend."

"Love this cafe and it's vibes. Lots of locals and regulars come here. Inside has a vintage cafe charm and they roast their own coffee beans in house. Family owned and owners are super sweet. Coffee is nice and balanced. They do have oat and almond milk."

"The pizza is good but their service is terrible. I ordered delivery which took an hour to arrive, but I received the wrong pizza. When I called back they said they would send me the correct pizza but I had to return the incorrect pizza. I told them I couldn't do that because I was eating the incorrect pizza because I was hungry and didn't want to wait another hour for the right pizza.They ended up sending me the right pizza much later, rather than give me a refund. But what I don't understand is why they would request me to send back the original pizza? I mean, what could you possibly do with a pizza that was already delivered to someone and would have been sitting there for an hour before the driver came back to replace it with the new pizza? If I was eating in the restaurant maybe I would understand, but this makes me think that they reuse the pizzas they accidentally make incorrectly which is gross. Either that or they just don't want me to get 2 pizzas for the price of one, even if one of the pizzas isn't what I wanted?On top of that, speaking to whoever was on the phone was really difficult because she didn't speak English well. I hate to be that person but she made no effort to accommodate for her lack of English. She frequently spoke over me as I was trying to explain what my problem was, to the point that it took me several tried before she finally stopped trying to guess what my problem was and understood what I was saying to her.The only reason they are getting 2 stars is because I really did enjoy the pizza once I actually got it..."

"great sandwiches here as always. our go to is the roast turkey with jack cheese.we always split it as it's large so it's enough for two people. One of the better sandwiches in the bay area, but I will say that its not as consistent as it always was. Newer employees don't make sandwiches as well as the vets there."

"Visiting from LA. Had todo a lot of research when it comes to Authentic Japanese spot. And this is one of them. Their Spicy beef ramen is 10/10"

"Came here for a birthday. Ordered their 8oz Filet, 18oz Rib-Eye, mashed potatoes, and broccolini. The whole meal was great. The steaks had a lot of flavor, and they for sure were dry aged. We got a chocolate soufflé for desert, which was also very good. And then they gave a complementary cotton candy. Overall the food was excellent. Service was good and fair. The wait time everyone else speaks of in their reviews were right. It does take a hour to get your food. If you're willing to wait the time for them to cook it, it's well worth the wait. Will be coming back again."

"The pastries are so yummy at Baires! I can't remember what they were called, but one had quince jam on it and the other had dolce de leche, and both had custard. The quince was such a unique flavor, really good. And I love dolce de leche. I wish I ordered another one to go for later!Service was great, guy behind the counter was helpful. I ordered coffee and he explained what the accompanying bit of orange juice was for. Ambience is really nice, clean and fresh. The pastries are out in a serve-yourself display similar to Paris de Baguette. Makes it fun to look at them all before deciding. I'm sure we'll be back to try more!"

"Came here for the happy hour after a Dubs game. Friendly service and $1 oysters can't be beat! We also had a couple of G&T's, the crab cake (good but maybe not great) and the fish and chips were very good! Ended it all with a scoop of ice cream and a warm chocolate chip cookie. The perfect afternoon treat for two!"

"Easy to order.Delivery to your door.Great price.D E L I C I O U S!So excited for this new business. If you are not in San Francisco its challenging to find good and delicious Micheladas . Ceviche is . The 3 serving charola is . You will not be disappointed."

"If you're looking for the ultimate pizza experience, Tony's Pizza Napoletana is the place to go! But what made our visit truly unforgettable was our server, Dennis. He wasn't just a server--he was like a Sommelier, but for pizza.From the moment we sat down, Dennis took the time to inquire about our preferences, explaining the different styles of pizza with a level of detail and passion that I've never experienced before. His recommendations were spot on, and his knowledge elevated our meal and experience. The food, of course, was phenomenal--perfectly charred crust, high-quality ingredients, and flavors that transported us straight to Naples. But the service? Absolutely next-level. Dennis is hands down the best server I've ever had, and his expertise and hospitality made our night.If you visit Tony's, do yourself a favor and ask for Dennis!!"

"Food 4Service 4.5Ambiance 4Price is slightly higher than other taquerias in the Mission."