Not sure if they have In-N-Out burger chain up there, but here in L.A., it's the KING of hamburgers. Order a "Double-Double" with grilled onions. Heaven. If they don't have the chain in Frisco (TIP: never call San Francisco "Frisco", they hate it.) it's one more reason not to live there. Oh, and take an umbrella -- the sun never shines there.
awv
· 1 year ago
I can remember seeing one by Fisherman's Wharf when I was last there. Maybe I should go for the 100 x 100!
hayshaker
· 1 year ago
make sure to get it "animal style"
RAzOR
· 1 year ago
Make sure you hit an In-n-Out Burger and get at least a Double-Double. Have a good time researching the "secret menu" ahead of time. Here's one in San Fran.
It is before the crowds. There are a LOAD of great places to eat in SF. You can spend 75 dollars a plate or 7. It's all up to you.
Zuckervati
· 1 year ago
You have to go down to Japantown and try some okonomiyaki. Don't ask what it is, just get some.
And check out Isobune -- supposedly, it's the original sushi boat restaurant. They have a little moat that goes around the table, and little boats full of sushi travel around in it.
awv
· 1 year ago
Okonomiyaki looks interesting.
Billy Blanton
· 1 year ago
Hit up Alcatraz, different experience and might be good for photography
Eric
· 1 year ago
While I find In & Out just average I do recommend it as it is very Californian. As the others said get the double double with grilled onions. Also, ask for the fries animal style, note this is not on the menu but they will make it this way if you ask for it. Animal style is regular french fries covered with grilled onions, cheese, and thousand islands dressing. I know what your thinking it sounds sick but it's really good.
If you have time, you might want to check out a baseball game not because I think the SF Giants are great but because I believe the AT&T statuim is one the the best in all sports. http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ballpark/
Don't forget Alcatraz & the Golden Gate Bridge.
hayshaker
· 1 year ago
You should try Mexican / Hispanic food when in San Francisco and the Mission district is the place to go for that. Le Taqueria on Mission at 24th is very good although fast food Mexican at Chipotle is very good (New Montgomery & Mission).
For off the beaten path places to go: Hayes Valley, Valencia street between 16th and 24th, Lower Haight. You could checkout Philz Coffee on 24th and Folsom, it's famous in SF (better than Blue Bottle).
Have Fun!
awv
· 1 year ago
Animal style does sound good. And the Anchor Steam Brewing Co. does seem like a must.
Tom
· 1 year ago
I just visited Monterey last week. Dress Warm! The fog can linger all day, and the temperature may never get above 60F - even in August, we were cold.
There is a good pub in Monterey across from the Marriot that has a good selection of beer and some decent pub food for when you start feeling home sick.
Marina H.
· 1 year ago
I love In-N-Out just as much as anyone else does...but I wouldn't waste your whole dinner in SF on that. Fast food is fast food. If anything, I'd stop at one on your way to Monterey or something. If you want a good burger, try the Fog City Diner on the Embarcadero. It's a fun, kind of classy burger joint. I've been there quite a few times. They have a good selection of beers as well. It's also pretty close to Peir 39 which is a fun tourist spot. You could also try Taylor's Refresher in the Ferry Building which is also on the Embarcadero. They're known for their burgers. If you go to the Ferry Building on a Saturday, they have a great farmer's market, with flowers, fruit, cheese, meat, and bread. It's lovely and right on the water! Enjoy your trip!!
awv
· 1 year ago
Thanks Marina. I've read about the Fog City Diner and that it's reasonably priced and has good food.
Tom
· 1 year ago
One of the quintessential San Francisco treats is Sourdough Bread, and the Boudin Bakery right on Fisherman's Wharf has been making it since 1849 or so ... it's also a cafe/restaurant and their sandwiches and pizza are quite remarkable. It's definitely worth a visit for lunch if you're near the wharf.
http://searsfinefood.com/ close to union square, this is the best place for Sourdough French Toast. Best breakfast ever!!
Claudia
· 1 year ago
If you go to the House of Nanking on Kearney, there will be a ridiculously long line of people waiting to get in. Right next door is a jewel of a restaurant well known by locals. It has awesome eats at a great price & is called Chef Jia's. It's at 925 Kearney. Damn, I will be so jealous if you get to eat there.
awv
· 1 year ago
The reviews of Chef Jia's seem good and others say the same as you about walking past the line at Nanking.
Kyt
· 1 year ago
Chinese? I recommend Lichee Garden on Powell & Broadway
as for a deli? find any Lee's, there's a few throughout the financial dist. be sure to bring cash and don't get in line until you're ready to order (think the soup nazi from Seinfeld)
You didn't mention Pho but I recommend Turtle Tower in the Tenderloin (cash only) on Eddy and Larkin
Beers? there's a few spots, if your looking for a big selection head on over to Tommy's Joynt, it might cover your desire to see someplace quirky at the same time on Van Ness & Franklin otherwise, you can always go to Jade which has a kick ass happy hour with $2 beers on tap, the only problem the place gets PACKED so be there by 5pm (located on Gough and Ash)
as for Burger, if you want something that's supposed to be somewhat Gourmet I recommend "Barney's Gourmet Hamburger" at 24th and Castro
and finally, for breakfast head over to Sears Fine Foods in Union Square, it's a little touristy but they're known for their sliver dollar pancakes!
all these spots can be easily found on Yelp.com if you need more detail
hope you have a good time in The City
edrabbit
· 1 year ago
As others have said, yelp.com is your best friend when it comes to finding a good restaurant in SF. My suggestions: Papalote: the best burritos (2 locations) Little Star Pizza: Delicious deep dish pizza (2 locations) Lori's Diner is super close and has breakfast. Not exceptional, but good cheap standard diner food. Squat & Gobble: A good breakfast place. I always go to the one on Haight St. If nothing else it has a funny name. Absinthe: If you've got a bit of cash, Absinthe has excellent food, a huge drink menu, and of course absinthe.
As for beers: 21st Amendment: a tried and true lunch stop with a good selection on beer Zeitgeist: Don't tell the other locals I've never been but I hear people constantly expressing their love for this dive bar.
Hit up an In-N-Out on your way to Monterey, as the only one in the city is up by tourist-trap Fisherman's Wharf. In Monterey, don't miss the aquarium, it's great. It's also a great place for photos, just don't flash the octopus. If you can also time it right, find out when low-tide is and walk down onto the rocks and you can find some interesting things.
As far as places to take photos, there are the obvious ones, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate park, Alcatraz, Coit Tower, etc. Try to make it out to the Sutro Baths right around sundown.
Whew.. how's that for now? :)
awv
· 1 year ago
That's a lot of great information. Thanks for taking the time.
Neil
· 1 year ago
Zeitgeist and In and Out are both stupid. Zeitgeist is a bunch of people standing around trying to be seen and feel cool, but so are so many bars. Burgermeister has great burgers made from locally and humanly raised cows.
Kyt
· 1 year ago
Zeitgeist is definitely a good bar. I also recommend Ace Cafe which is often described as "what Zeitgeist use to be"
Alison
· 1 year ago
Stinking Rose - touristy, but you have to go just for the garlic. As for burger type place, I think In and Out is place. There's one on Fisherman's Wharf. You should try Clam Chowder on Pier 39, if you want to do the tourist thing. I loved eating @ China town when I was there.
For photography spots, I've always been partial to the Sutro ruins and the park just above it. Take the 38 Geary MUNI down to the end of Geary and it's right there. There are some wonderful sites around there.
I second the recommendations for Barney's, Burgermeister, and In-n-out for burgers. I'm rather fond of afternoon dim-sum, instead of American Chinese. Try the area around Clement and 5th streets for really good and cheap dim sum, or go one block up to Geary.
Justin
· 1 year ago
Beers: Toronado in the lower haight is an absolute MUST. Magnolia Pub is great. Rogue Alehouse. La Trappe for Belgians. 21st Amendment has great beers and food.
All Comments
Not sure if they have In-N-Out burger chain up there, but here in L.A., it's the KING of hamburgers. Order a "Double-Double" with grilled onions. Heaven. If they don't have the chain in Frisco (TIP: never call San Francisco "Frisco", they hate it.) it's one more reason not to live there. Oh, and take an umbrella -- the sun never shines there.
http://www.in-n-out.com/location_details.asp?id...
For great beer and food hit a Gordon Biersch:
http://www.gordonbiersch.com/restaurants/?pg=lo...
And check out Isobune -- supposedly, it's the original sushi boat restaurant. They have a little moat that goes around the table, and little boats full of sushi travel around in it.
I also recommend see the Anchor Steam Brewing company.
http://www.anchorbrewing.com/index.htm
directions
http://www.anchorbrewing.com/about_us/direction...
If you have time, you might want to check out a baseball game not because I think the SF Giants are great but because I believe the AT&T statuim is one the the best in all sports.
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ballpark/
Don't forget Alcatraz & the Golden Gate Bridge.
For off the beaten path places to go: Hayes Valley, Valencia street between 16th and 24th, Lower Haight. You could checkout Philz Coffee on 24th and Folsom, it's famous in SF (better than Blue Bottle).
Have Fun!
There is a good pub in Monterey across from the Marriot that has a good selection of beer and some decent pub food for when you start feeling home sick.
http://www.boudinbakery.com
close to union square, this is the best place for Sourdough French Toast.
Best breakfast ever!!
as for a deli? find any Lee's, there's a few throughout the financial dist. be sure to bring cash and don't get in line until you're ready to order (think the soup nazi from Seinfeld)
You didn't mention Pho but I recommend Turtle Tower in the Tenderloin (cash only) on Eddy and Larkin
Beers? there's a few spots, if your looking for a big selection head on over to Tommy's Joynt, it might cover your desire to see someplace quirky at the same time on Van Ness & Franklin otherwise, you can always go to Jade which has a kick ass happy hour with $2 beers on tap, the only problem the place gets PACKED so be there by 5pm (located on Gough and Ash)
as for Burger, if you want something that's supposed to be somewhat Gourmet I recommend "Barney's Gourmet Hamburger" at 24th and Castro
and finally, for breakfast head over to Sears Fine Foods in Union Square, it's a little touristy but they're known for their sliver dollar pancakes!
all these spots can be easily found on Yelp.com if you need more detail
hope you have a good time in The City
Papalote: the best burritos (2 locations)
Little Star Pizza: Delicious deep dish pizza (2 locations)
Lori's Diner is super close and has breakfast. Not exceptional, but good cheap standard diner food.
Squat & Gobble: A good breakfast place. I always go to the one on Haight St. If nothing else it has a funny name.
Absinthe: If you've got a bit of cash, Absinthe has excellent food, a huge drink menu, and of course absinthe.
As for beers:
21st Amendment: a tried and true lunch stop with a good selection on beer
Zeitgeist: Don't tell the other locals I've never been but I hear people constantly expressing their love for this dive bar.
Hit up an In-N-Out on your way to Monterey, as the only one in the city is up by tourist-trap Fisherman's Wharf.
In Monterey, don't miss the aquarium, it's great. It's also a great place for photos, just don't flash the octopus. If you can also time it right, find out when low-tide is and walk down onto the rocks and you can find some interesting things.
As far as places to take photos, there are the obvious ones, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate park, Alcatraz, Coit Tower, etc. Try to make it out to the Sutro Baths right around sundown.
Whew.. how's that for now? :)
There's some food recommendations on Gridskipper.
Enjoy!
I second the recommendations for Barney's, Burgermeister, and In-n-out for burgers. I'm rather fond of afternoon dim-sum, instead of American Chinese. Try the area around Clement and 5th streets for really good and cheap dim sum, or go one block up to Geary.
Here's a beer guide:
http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/city/17