KEY2

Best restaurants in San Francisco

Counters, dining rooms and neighbourhood favourites, chosen for the way they actually eat — not for how loudly they market.

Mister Jiu's
KEY2 Pick

Chinese • $$$

Mister Jiu's

Modern Cantonese cooking in a historic Chinatown banquet hall, Michelin-starred and reservation-only.

Best for: Special Occasion / Group

San Ho Won
KEY2 Pick

Korean BBQ • $$$

San Ho Won

Chris Kiyuna's Michelin-starred take on Korean barbecue with binchotan-grilled short rib in the Mission.

Best for: Date Night / Special Occasion

State Bird Provisions
KEY2 Pick

New American • $$$

State Bird Provisions

Dim-sum-style carts deliver inventive small plates in a perpetually buzzing Fillmore dining room.

Best for: Date Night / Special Occasion

Swan Oyster Depot
KEY2 Pick

Seafood • $$

Swan Oyster Depot

A 15-stool 1912 fish counter shucking oysters and pouring clam chowder with no reservations and no shortcuts.

Best for: Solo / Casual

Hog Island Oyster Co.

Seafood • $$

Hog Island Oyster Co.

Ferry Building oyster bar shucking Tomales Bay bivalves with bay views through the arcade windows.

Best for: Casual / Group

House of Prime Rib

Steakhouse • $$$

House of Prime Rib

Tableside carts of English-cut prime rib in a clubby, wood-paneled room that hasn't changed its formula since 1949.

Best for: Group / Celebration

La Taqueria

Mexican • $

La Taqueria

No-rice Mission burritos wrapped tight and griddled, regularly cited among the best in the country.

Best for: Casual / Quick Bite

Liholiho Yacht Club

Hawaiian-Inspired • $$$

Liholiho Yacht Club

Hawaii-raised chef Ravi Kapur's beef tongue nuggets and pork belly saimin in a lively Tenderloin room.

Best for: Group / Date Night

NOPA

New American • $$

NOPA

Wood-fired, organic cooking that keeps a neighborhood dining room loud and full until 1am.

Best for: Late Night / Group

Octavia

Californian • $$$

Octavia

Melissa Perello's seasonal, produce-forward tasting menus in a bright Pacific Heights dining room.

Best for: Date Night / Special Occasion

Tartine Bakery

Bakery • $

Tartine Bakery

The morning bun and country loaf that launched a hundred imitators, still worth the Mission Street queue.

Best for: Breakfast / Casual

Zuni Café

Mediterranean • $$$

Zuni Café

The brick-oven roast chicken for two has anchored this Market Street landmark for four decades.

Best for: Date Night / Group

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