Best Restaurants San Francisco: A List of Some of My Favorite Places to Dine in the City

Find recommendations for the best restaurants San Francisco including San Francisco fine dining and San Francisco Italian restaurants.

This San Francisco restaurant guide also provides tips for finding great Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco, North Beach Restaurants and many, many more.

Restaurants in San Francisco are pricey. However, you might be able to save a little money during your visit through Restaurant.com. They sell gift certificates for specific restaurants throughout the city for a fraction of the cost. Make sure to visit their site to see if you can save a little on the best restaurants San Francisco during your stay!

Let's start with what I think are some of the best restaurants San Francisco.

Andalu: Yummy Tapas, Great Wines and a Dessert To Die For

One of my favorites is Andalu in the Mission District. This has been a favorite of mine for a long time. It's a tapas, or small plates, restaurant.

The food at Andalu makes it one of the best restaurants San Francisco since it is always tasty and I love sharing dishes. This gives you a great variety of items to try. I love their Crispy Mac & Cheese, the Ahi Tacos and Coca-Cola Braised Short-Ribs. Also, you can't leave without trying their donut holes dipped in hot cocoa for dessert. All I can say is YUM!

Andalu is one of the Best Restaurants San Francisco because they have a great wine list also. They have a number of wines to choose from and I've never been disappointed with any that I've tried.

They are located at the corner of 16th and Guerrero Streets. Andalu takes reservations and I recommend booking a table through Open Table.

Lolo: A Mix of Mexican and Turkish Cuisine for a Unique Dining Experience

Lolo is located in the heart of the Mission District in San Francisco and is one of the best restaurants San Francisco. It's an eclectic restaurant that mixes Turkish and Mexican cuisine to make amazing dishes.

There are a number of great dishes on the menu. My favorites are their fish tacos (Tacos Tropical) and pistachio encrusted salmon. I also enjoy their mahi mahi. Most of their menu items rotate to keep the menu fresh and interesting.

I think they are one of the best restaurants San Francisco because they also have a great wine list. The service is always great and the funky décor makes for a fun evening out.

Lolo does take reservations by phone only at 415.643.5656. If you are heading out before 7pm, you can probably grab a table before it gets too busy. After that, I'd recommend booking a reservation or you can grab a beer at the place next door while you wait for your table.

Lolo is located at 3230 22nd Street in the Mission District. Your best bet is to take a cab over, since parking can be challenging. Another great option is to take BART to the 24th Street Station and walk down Mission Street to 22st.

Sushi Rapture: Small, Flavorful Sushi Restaurant in the Heart of the City

Another of of the best restaurants San Francisco is a Sushi restaurant called Sushi Rapture. This is a cute, small sushi restaurant in the Nob Hill district in San Francisco. They feature a combination of sushi rolls, sashimi and other Japanese dishes.

My absolute favorite at Sushi Rapture is their Tuna Tartare appetizer. It's very flavorful and the tuna is always very fresh. I also recommend the Creamy roll, the Kirin roll and the Rainbow roll. Make sure you also try some of their Saki.

Sushi Rapture does not take reservations. They only have about 10 tables, so you might have to wait for a table. I've been there many times and usually don't have to wait too long.

Sushi Rapture is located on Leavenworth Street at Washington Street. Parking in Nob Hill is difficult so I recommend taking a cab or public transportation. A cab from Union Square San Francisco costs only about $7 to $8. You can also take the 27 bus from Market and 5th Street which drops you off right across the street. The other option is to take the Hyde/Powell cable cars San Francisco.

Street: Tasty Comfort Food Paired With Your Pick of Amazing Mixed Drinks

Street is another one of the best restaurants San Francisco. It's located in the Russian Hill district in San Francisco on Polk Street near Broadway.

Street has a great menu that rotates to keep it fresh. They serve mostly comfort food including fried chicken on Sundays. I love their Gnocchi in Red Sauce with Sausage, their Risotto and of course, their Big Steak Salad.

They have a pretty good wine list and great desserts. I always try to leave room for their bread pudding. They also have a very friendly wait staff.

Street is located on Polk Street between Broadway and Vallejo Streets. As in most SF neighborhoods, parking in Russian Hill is rough so I recommend public transportation. You can take a cab from Union Square for about $15.

You can also take the bus. I'd recommend taking the 27 from 5th and Market Street. Get off at the Jackson and Polk Street stop and walk two blocks down the hill to Street.

Nob Hill Grill: Popular American Dishes with a Touch of Sophistication

Another one of my neighborhood favorites is the Nob Hill Grill. This is a great restaurant located on Hyde Street in Nob Hill. It's a great spot for brunch or lunch on the weekends and dinner any night of the week.

The Nob Hill Grill serves mostly American cuisine and is moderately priced for San Francisco. They have a number of great brunch options including a great Crab Cake Egg Benedict. For lunch, they have great sandwiches and salads.

They are also a great option for dinner. My favorite is their Bolognese. I also really enjoy their Beet Salad and their Spinach Artichoke Dip is amazing!

You can either book a reservation through open table or stop by without a reservation. They have a good flow of traffic throughout the day, so you usually won't have to wait long for a table.

Your best bet to get to the Nob Hill Grill is to take a cab or the bus. This is only about a $10 cab ride from Union Square and is a quick trip.

The other option is to take the 27 to Leavenworth and California, walk down the hill to Hyde Street and back one block to Pine Street. It's on the corner of Hyde and Pine, right across the street from the hospital.

Walzwerk Restaurant: East German Food To Make Your Mouth Water

If you love German food, Walzwerk is the place. It's not as well known as Suppenkuche, another well loved German restaurant in Hayes Valley San Francisco, but I prefer it for a couple of reasons.

Walzwerk is a small, quaint eastern German restaurant. They have a very friendly staff and amazing German food. They have great food with more of a local feel.

Try their potato pancakes to start. I'd also recommend trying their Grilled Bratwurst with Sauerkraut (don't forget to order the hot mustard!) or the Schnitzel for dinner. Also, leave room for the Cold Dog for dessert.

Walzwerk is located at 381 South Van Ness Street. There is quite a bit of parking, so driving is an option. You can also a cab, which will cost around $15 from Union Square.

It can be tough to grab a cab on South Van Ness Street, so talk to the staff and they will point you to a location where you can quickly grab a cab after dinner.