San Francisco’s restaurants and chefs have long been developing innovative recipes that have earned global recognition from food critics and lovers around the world, and for good reason. From quintessential
sourdoughs to the renowned martini, a bevvy of MICHELIN stars to the celebration of local flavours and produce, the city has always been at the forefront of an iconic culinary journey that every visitor must experience at least once!
Irish Coffee from Buena Vista Café- Interestingly, the Irish coffee was not popularised in Ireland, but rather, it was commercialised in San Francisco, where Buena Vista Café co-owner Jack Koeppler challenged international travel writer Stanton Delaplane to help him re-create a highly touted “Irish Coffee” which used to be served at an airport in Ireland. The two experimented, ultimately crafting the perfect combination of hot coffee, Irish whiskey and whipped cream, today, selling out up to 2,000 Irish coffees a day!
Sourdough Bread from Boudin Sourdough- No trip to San Francisco is complete without a bread bowl full of steaming chowder from the Boudin factory. The Original San Francisco Sourdough (as Boudin calls itself) is the longest continually operating business in the city, having baked bread since Isidore Boudin perfected the recipe in 1849. The flagship factory on Fisherman’s Wharf serves not only bread bowls but also animal-shaped loaves for the little ones.
Mission Burrito in the Mission District- The Mission-style burrito originated in San Francisco’s Mission District, a neighbourhood heavily influenced by Central American culture. Noted for its jumbo proportion, the Mission burrito includes extra rice and other goodies, such as sour cream, guacamole and salsa. Hundreds of taquerias serve San Francisco-style burritos in the city. Try El Farolito, La Taqueria, or Taqueria La Cumbre for a true San Francisco burrito experience.
Secret Breakfast from Humphry Slocombe- A wildly popular ice cream joint, Humphry Slocombe has become a San Francisco icon since it started scooping in 2008. Although the menu rotates regularly to accommodate fresh seasonal ingredients and unconventional flavour combinations, such as Candy Cap-mushroom and peanut butter-curry, they are also known for innovative staples like their hot-selling Secret Breakfast Ice Cream, a unique combination of bourbon and cornflakes.
Seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf- Traditionally, Fisherman’s Wharf used to be the working place of Chinese and Italian immigrants but is now a seafood lover’s paradise that reflects its multicultural history. Cioppino, an Italian American seafood stew originally invented to use up leftover seafood, is now a widely popular dish. San Francisco is also famous for Dungeness Crab when it is in season each winter, as well as oysters. Be sure to try the oysters at Fog Harbor Fish House on Fisherman’s Wharf. Restaurants in San Francisco still source their fish and seafood from local fishermen, resulting in right-out-of-the-water freshness in every bite.
Dim Sum in Chinatown- From takeaway spots like Golden Gate Bakery to sit-down restaurants like Lai Hong Lounge, the bustling streets of Chinatown are the best spot for dim sum. Traditionally eaten for breakfast, dim sum is an assortment of bite-sized pastries, steamed dumplings and vegetable-based dishes. Nicer sit-down places serve tea with the food, while the waiters make rounds between the crowded tables with pre-cooked selections. Additionally, fresh dishes can also be ordered à la carte from the menu.
Martini in North Beach- The martini was actually invented at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco. However, the hotel was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire, so North Beach, a bastion for Italian food with a lively bar scene, naturally emerged as the next best place to have a martini. Have a hearty dinner at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana or Original Joe’s before downing the classic San Francisco cocktail. This northern neighbourhood also overlooks the birthplace of the Martinez cocktail, a precursor to the Martini, as well as the eponymous city across the bay. Martinez is a combination of gin, vermouth and maraschino liqueur. You drop the liqueur, and the modern martini is born. San Francisco’s love affair with the martini runs deep; from elegant lounges to classic hotel bars, the city offers endless ways to enjoy this timeless cocktail, all part of the niche San Francisco’s Martini Trail.
Espresso at Caffe Trieste- In North Beach, you cannot miss a quintessential beatnik experience. North Beach was a hub for the Beat movement in the 1950s, and Caffe Trieste on Vallejo St. was a favourite gathering place of figures like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Today, you will find the coffee shop walls lined with photographs of its connections with Hollywood. A number of actors have been known to frequent Caffe Trieste, and Francis Ford Coppola supposedly wrote much of The Godfather script there.
Chocolate at Ghirardelli Square- In the 1850s, Italian immigrant Domenico “Domingo” Ghirardelli started his chocolate-making company at the old Pioneer Woolen Mills. After the factory was moved to San Leandro in the 1960s, a group of San Franciscans purchased the property and, fearing the iconic factory would be demolished, turned it into the small retail plaza it is today. Visitors can still view the original chocolate manufacturing equipment while sampling gooey hot fudge sundaes and delicious squares of the Ghirardelli milk chocolate.
Fried Squab at Four Kings- This well-known San Francisco pop-up has permanently settled in Chinatown, offering an exploration of Cantonese-inspired cuisine that is anything but stuffy or pretentious. Four Kings allows the next evolution of its founders’ culinary dream, with clay pot meals, fried squab, and fried pepper steak, all created by fearless San Francisco chefs Franky Ho and Michael Long.
MICHELLIN Dining- Featuring multiple MICHELIN stars across its restaurants, San Francisco is one of the world’s premier dining destinations, serving an innovative array of authentic, contemporary, and fusion menus, including Indian options and flavours. From the elevated tasting menu at 7 Adams to Iron Chef winner Dominique Crenn’s experiment with exquisite, local ingredients and European techniques at the three-MICHELIN-starred Atelier Crenn, communal dining experience at Lazy Bear, to exploring Indian flavours and spices at Copra or Tiya, the city boasts one of the most celebrated lists of MICHELIN restaurants and a true testament to the city’s dynamic culinary landscape.
