Eating & Drinking in San Francisco

Great taco and burrito place, a tad more expensive than some of the others, but they seem to have a lot more options and I think the food seems to be prepared with a little more care. Great salsas. They also offer great options for vegetarians including a fake chorizo (soyrizo) and tofu mole burritos. Amazing! They also have some pretty popular fish tacos.

We arrived to Bissap Baobab, on a cold evening, about 30 minutes before they opened. While we loitered outside trying to decide what to do, the host kindly offered to open the bar early.

I’m not a expert of West African/Senegalese eats, but I can tell you that you’ll find hearty portions of delicious food for a moderate price in a relaxed atmosphere. There are plenty of options for the vegetarians, while carnivores will be equally happy with the menu options.

Good service & good eats!

To even get into this Tenderloin joint, you've got to make a reservation online, and they'll email you a password you have to tell the bouncer to get in. Which makes it about as close to a genuine speakeasy as you can find today. Heck, back in the day it actually was a speakeasy. They take a lot of pride in the brands they carry, so that, combined with the kitsch, makes it a pretty expensive place to hang out. But the experience is more than worth it.

If you are looking for a sandwich, soup or salad á la France, La Boulange is what you are looking for. The menu is French inspired, and it’s pretty darn close to a Paris cafe. Fresh baked daily, the breads are made from organic flours, and the salads and soup are made-to-order. The pastries are rich and decadent. The decor is typical French cafe, with large windows, wooden tables and outdoor seating. Great for a Sunday brunch!

My favorite German restaurant in SF. Delicious food, European seating (=shared seating), and amazing imported beer. Being a vegetarian, the first time I went I was terrified there would be nothing for me in this German restaurant. I was wrong! The Portabella Mushroom dish (stuffed with Spinach & Feta with a red pepper sauce) – YUM – I live for it! The Cheese Spätzle in a rich onion butter sauce would put anyone into food coma. Simply amazing!

Lucky Creation is my favorite all vegetarian Chinese food restaurant of all time. Found in the heart of Chinatown, the menu offers lemon “chicken”, sweet and sour “pork”, pot stickers, “chicken” curry, and delicious soups – all made with fake meats. The sauces that are drizzled over these “meats” are amazing. I dream of the fake lemon chicken...YUM! The service can be hit or miss for dining in, but it’s dirt cheap which helps to make up for it.

A sandwich deli that's open until 2am for those who leave the bars hungry. This place has great fake meats and a huge variety of breads and options like avocado and sprouts. Really really good. There's only a couple of tables inside, but if they're all taken you can take your food to a nearby park for a picnic. Duboce park is really close as is Alamo Square.

Most sandwiches are around $7.

San Francisco has just about got it all as far as food goes, but you may have to cross the bay to Oakland to get some of the best real local Latino flavors (the focus here is more Central American than Mexican). There's a handful of taco trucks on a stretch of road near this stand, but amongst locals, this place has the best tamales, tacos and pupusas (a corn biscuit-like flat bread) around. Best of all, tacos and pupusas are insanely cheap (usually under $2).