The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes
Gary Danko is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

1. Gary Danko

8.4
800 North Point St (at Hyde St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · 141 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: The lobster risotto at Gary Danko is a signature favorite. It is always perfectly cooked, rich, and memorable. Read more.

Oracle Park is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

2. Oracle Park

9.2
24 Willie Mays Plz (at King & 3rd St), San Francisco, CA
Baseball Stadium · South Beach · 481 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: Few things say "San Francisco" like the super garlicky fries at AT&T Park. With chunks of garlic and parsley, this dish is a must-have on visits to the ballpark. Read more.

Marlowe is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

3. Marlowe

8.8
500 Brannan St (at 4th St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · SoMa · 253 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: Puccio's mix of beef with a bit of ground lamb in the patty, and the combination of cheddar cheese, bacon, and a horseradish aioli make the Marlowe Burger a damn fine burger. Read more.

Delfina is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

4. Delfina

8.8
3621 18th St (Guerrero St), San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · Mission Dolores · 125 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: The always perfect and comforting pork sugo served over pappardelle is available most times of year, sometimes made with duck, is soulful Italian food at its best — simple but deeply satisfying. Read more.

Don Ramon's Mexican Restaurant is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

5. Don Ramon's Mexican Restaurant

225 11th St (between Howard & Folsom), San Francisco, CA
Mexican Restaurant · SoMa · 43 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: Go taste the incredible Chile Colorado they serve daily, and you're enjoying the real thing — like mole but darker and a bit spicier. It's a homemade, grandma-style SF staple no one should miss. Read more.

House of Prime Rib is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

6. House of Prime Rib

8.9
1906 Van Ness Ave (btw Jackson & Washington), San Francisco, CA
Steakhouse · Polk Gulch · 315 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: There's virtually nothing to order here besides prime rib, though consult the "secret" menu for a few little known options and it comes with Yorkshire pudding, potatoes, spinach, and creamed corn. Read more.

La Taqueria is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

7. La Taqueria

9.2
2889 Mission St (at 25th St), San Francisco, CA
Burrito Restaurant · Mission District · 443 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: Yes, that's correct, we're saying skip the burrito at La Taq and go for the tacos. We can't emphasize enough that you need the SUPER and DORADO style. Read more.

Original Joe's Westlake is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

8. Original Joe's Westlake

8.5
11 Glenwood Ave (at Lake Merced Blvd), Daly City, CA
Italian Restaurant · Westlake · 51 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: Try the chicken parmigiana, the breaded, fried, sauced, and cheesy version that's a staple of Italian-American joints. Read more.

Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

9. Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe

8.8
566 Columbus Ave (at Union St), San Francisco, CA
Café · North Beach · 95 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: With Liguria's fresh focaccia they make delicious, drool-worthy meatball and sausage sandwiches that are the stuff food dreams are made of. Read more.

R&G Lounge is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

10. R&G Lounge

8.3
631 Kearny St (at Clay St), San Francisco, CA
Cantonese Restaurant · Chinatown · 274 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: When you get to R&G, order the "live battered crab deep-fried and sprinkled with salt & pepper" right away. It's huge and deep fried with tons of extra batter for your enjoyment. Read more.

Swan Oyster Depot is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

11. Swan Oyster Depot

8.7
1517 Polk St (btwn Sacramento & California St.), San Francisco, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Polk Gulch · 220 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: Go for some shrimp, or crab, or better yet a plate of oysters followed by any of the seafood cocktails or crudos, and you will walk out happy. Read more.

Tadich Grill is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

12. Tadich Grill

8.7
240 California St (btwn Battery & Front St), San Francisco, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Financial District · 164 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: Tadich's classic Cioppino includes clams, prawns, scallops, shrimp, crabmeat, mussels, and white fish cooked in a tomato-based sauce and served with garlic bread. Consider it part soup, part ritual. Read more.

Tartine Bakery is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

13. Tartine Bakery

9.0
600 Guerrero St (at 18th St), San Francisco, CA
Bakery · Mission Dolores · 769 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: Tartine's morning buns are worth the wait. Lighter than a cinnamon roll, sweeter than a muffin, and fattier than a green juice, the buns are a perfect compliment to coffee — or to another bun. Read more.

Taqueria Cancún is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

14. Taqueria Cancún

8.8
2288 Mission St (at 19th St), San Francisco, CA
Taco Restaurant · Mission District · 297 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: Cancun's super burrito is, if we had to pick, the one people seem to talk about the most when they're mooning over the iconic Mission burrito. This is where you take guests to eat like a local. Read more.

Tosca Cafe is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

15. Tosca Cafe

8.6
242 Columbus Ave (at Pacific Ave), San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · North Beach · 118 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: The House Cappucino is made with chocolate, milk, armagnac, and bourbon. Even the regulars of the joint will admit that this version is an upgrade, a fitting and place-appropriate rehab of a classic. Read more.

Trouble Coffee is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

16. Trouble Coffee

4033 Judah St (at 46th Ave), San Francisco, CA
Coffee Shop · Outer Sunset · 209 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: Since 2007 owner Giulietta Carrelli has been serving fat cinnamon-buttered toast to locals as well as tourists who've heard about Trouble from the PS story and subsequent This American Life segment. Read more.

Yank Sing is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

17. Yank Sing

8.5
101 Spear St (inside Rincon Center), San Francisco, CA
Dim Sum Restaurant · Financial District · 229 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: The xiao long bao at Yank Sing are shining examples of the form. Though there are a few great spots to find them in SF, Yank Sing is perhaps the most renowned and the liveliest of them all. Read more.

Zuni Café is one of The 18 Must-Have Classic San Francisco Dishes.

18. Zuni Café

8.7
1658 Market St (at Rose St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Civic Center · 318 tips and reviews

SFistSFist: The roast chicken is a dish that never gets old, and once you've tried it you'll never want a chicken roasted in anything but a wood oven Read more.