Summer is finally here,
which means it’s time for busy tarmacs, weekend getaways, or maybe a longer escape where you can eat your way through a city’s best restaurants. Wherever you’re going, there are a huge number of people flying in and out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO). A recent fact sheet released by SFO states that 54.1 million people made their way to and from the airport in 2025, which means that things can get quite busy at peak travel times during the day.That’s where this guide comes in. For all those traveling in and out of the Bay, these are the smart places to get your caffeine fix, a quick bite, or a late-night pick-me-up before you leave on a jet plane.
Standout restaurants at SFO
Napa Farms Market: With its sizable pizza and rotisserie selection,
this Tyler Florence-backed to-go spot has plenty of satisfying hot options. The really clutch move, however, is to make yourself a mini picnic with local brands Acme Bread, Cowgirl Creamery cheese, Tcho Chocolate, pastries, and a local microbrew. It’s also a great place to pick up last-minute Bay Area food gifts for friends, including coffee beans and wine. Good news, travelers headed abroad: Napa Farms has outposts open in International Terminal G and Harvey Milk Terminal 1. [Terminal 2, post-security retail area]
San Francisco Giants Club House: This ode to San Francisco’s baseball team features a digital wall showing sports, news, movies, and interactive entertainment. The menu is packed with ballpark specialties like ballpark dogs and Gilroy garlic fries, making it a pleasant place to pass the time and soak in some San Francisco baseball culture. [Terminal 3, Gate F13]
Bun Mee: Inspired by Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, local chain Bun Mee has two locations in the airport, both of which serve fresh takes on the classic with fillings like lemongrass pork, grilled tofu, steak, and even a five-spice chicken sandwich with herb-packed cabbage slaw and caramel mayo. There are also fresh spring rolls and noodles for lighter to-go options. If you’re close to boarding time, both locations offer online ordering, and the Terminal 3 location is open until 11 p.m. [Terminal 3 food court near Gates F11 to F22, and Harvey Milk Terminal 1, near Gate B3]
International Terminal
Boarding Area A
Boudin Bakery: Famous San Francisco sourdough bread maker Boudin Bakery is an option for sandwiches, pizzas, salads, and sweets. And yes, this location offers the famous clam chowder in a bread bowl. Boudin is open until 11:30 p.m. [Near Gate A2, post-security]
Valencia Street Station: Here you’ll find an American-style pub menu and a full bar. Notably, this spot is open until midnight and offers online ordering. [Gate A12]
Boarding Area G
Koi Palace Express: The Daly City classic dim sum spot with small Chinese plates, noodle soups, roasted chicken and duck, and more. [Near entrance to G gates]
Mustards Bar and Grill: This is a Napa Valley favorite for global dishes like Sonoma lamb burgers and fish and chips. Much of that popular menu is ported over to this location, thanks to a wood-fired oven. [Gate G3]
Tomokazu: Sushi rolls, nigiri, sashimi, rice bowls, udon, ramen, and more round out the menu at this Japanese spot. Tomokazu is open until midnight. [Gate G7]
Harvey Milk Terminal 1
Ritual Coffee: Eileen Rinaldi’s company, a San Francisco coffee classic, offers rotating staff-made specialty drinks at a reasonable price. The shop boasts an almost impossible 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. window for caffeine and pastries, so nab your evening espresso here. [Near the B gates, immediately after the security checkpoint]
Bun Mee: Expect fresh takes on banh mi sandwiches, spring rolls, and noodles. [Near Gate B3]
Bourbon Pub: The SFO location of Michael Mina’s expansive chain serves pub fare like burgers and fish and chips. There’s also a full bar. [Near Gate B7/B8]
Dogpatch Bakehouse & Café: On-the-go travelers can find espresso, breakfast options, salads, sandwiches, and pastries, plus beer and wine. There are a few vegan options, as well. [Gate C7]
Farmerbrown: Travelers who miss the shuttered San Francisco staple can revisit the restaurant’s Southern-influenced breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes here. There’s also a full bar. [Gate C4]
Gateside Market: Stock up on hot and cold sandwiches, bagels, acai bowls, smoothies, and snacks until midnight. [Near Gate B18]
GR Chocolate Boutique: This boutique not only sells, as the name indicates, chocolate, but also baked goods and a bit of late afternoon or evening caffeine. [Near Gate B13]
Perry’s: If you’re looking for classic American food from a long-running San Francisco restaurant, Perry’s is your best bet. This SFO branch opened in January 2025, and serves breakfast fare, burgers, and more, from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. [Neart Gate C1]
SF Eats Food Hall: This relatively new food hall features local brands Napa Farms Market, Kitava Kitchen, and Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, all anchored by Kona’s by Pacific Cocktail Haven — yes, the award-winning San Francisco bar — at the entrance. Notably, Tony’s and Kona’s both stay open until 11 p.m. (Kitava and Napa Farms Market close at 10 p.m.)
Starbird: Chicken sandwiches, salads, and — best of all — craft sodas and lemonades all make up the menu here. [Near Gate B13]
Mama Go’s Filipino Cuisine: The restaurant formerly known as Goldilocks Filipino Cuisine is still at SFO serving Filipino favorites, including silog breakfast bowls, lumpia Shanghai, and chicken adobo. There are also vegan-friendly options such as vegan pancit and vegan lechon kawali, and the restaurant is open until 11:30 p.m. Online ordering is also available. [Near Gate B18]
Terminal 2
A Quick Meal
Napa Farms Market: A gourmet deli and bakery selling desserts and various prepared foods from Bay Area purveyors like Acme Bread and Cowgirl Creamery, plus Tyler Florence’s rotisserie chicken, and Kara’s Cupcakes. [D Gates, Post-security retail area]
The Plant Café Organic and Pinkberry: Look for organic fare from the San Francisco-based chain, with options like sandwiches and the cult-favorite veggie burger. This spot is paired with a branch of fro-yo giant Pinkberry, for a hit of dessert. [Near Gate D4]
Wakaba: Think Japanese noodles, sushi, teriyaki, and curries, with beer and sake options available. [Near Gate D9]
Peet’s Coffee & Tea: The Berkeley-based chain’s airport outpost serves its usual menu of coffee and tea, pastries, sandwiches, salads, and bottled beverages. Expect to pay more than you do at your neighborhood Peet’s, though you can stay as long as you like. [Near Gate D15]
Andalé Mexican Kitchen + Bar: Choose from made-to-order Mexican entrees — think burritos and burrito bowls, tacos, and nachos, with a choice of filling — until 10:30 p.m. [Near Gate D16]
A Leisurely Meal
Cat Cora’s Kitchen: This celeb chef-backed restaurant features classics like a grilled cheese with spicy tomato soup, a cheeseburger, salads, and some breakfast items. [Near Gate D9]
Lark Creek Grill: Go for a full-service restaurant from the Lark Creek empire, with seafood, salads, burgers, and breakfast items, plus a full bar. [Near Gate D1]
Vino Volo: A decent wine bar with bites like olives and artisanal cheese, as well as small plates. This is the place to satisfy a chocolate lava cake craving. [Post-security retail area near D Gates]
Terminal 3
A Quick Meal
Sankaku: Fast sushi, noodles, teriyaki, and bento boxes, plus beer and sake. [Gate E2]
Dogpatch Bakehouse & Caffé: Espresso, breakfast options, salads, sandwiches, and pastries, plus beer and wine. [Gate E8]
Urban Tortilla: Made-to-order Mexican food until 10:30 p.m. [Gate E9]
Proposition Chicken: This local mini-chain specializes in chicken, specifically Mary’s free-range birds served as sandwiches, salads, or platters. [Food Court near Gates F11-F22]
Klein’s Deli and Coffee Bar: Formerly located in Potrero Hill, Klein’s sells coffee, cookies, made-to-order salads, and to-go sandwiches with beer and wine, too. [Gate E7; Gate F14]
Pronto!: Head here for to-go items made by San Francisco Bay Area food purveyors. [Gate F15]
A Leisurely Meal
Mission Bar & Grill: Enjoy your layover with full bar and table service. Order sandwiches, burgers, soups, and salads. This spot also serves breakfast. [Gate E5]
San Francisco Giants Club House: Watch sports, news, movies, and interactive entertainment while enjoying a menu of ballpark specialties like Gilroy garlic fries. [Gate F13]
Rental Car Center
A Quick Meal
Marina’s Cafe: Coffee, pastries, breakfast items, sandwiches, and salads. [Level 4]
