Favorite Places to Eat in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area is home to locals and people from all over the world. It’s no surprise that the Bay Area has amazing restaurants – from hole in the wall restaurants to fine dining, here are my Top 10 classics that you should try when you’re in my hometown of the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Bill’s Place | 2315 Clement St. San Francisco, CA
I literally grew up on this hamburger! While Bill’s Place has been passed on to new owners, some of the same kitchen staff are still there some 30 years later which is why it’s no surprise that Grubhub gives them a 4.7 star with over 1,000 reviews. Take a look at the menu, order a delicious hamburger, and wash it down with a custom shake. If you’re looking for a classic hamburger joint that has been keeping locals happy for years, Bill’s Place is at the top of my list.
- Yojimbo | 1221 Park St. Alameda, CA
When you walk into Yojimbo, the experience reminds you of an underground Tokyo spot that only locals would know about. Serving up a mix of Japanese food, Yojimbo’s portions are impressive – so impressive that when I met the owner, he told me this, “I want everyone to say WoW.” If you’re craving a fun experience with tasty food, give them a try.
- Sideboard | 90 Railroad Ave. Danville, CA
Sideboard started in the old Danville Hotel for those who know Danville’s history of this classic American small town turned affluent suburb. Sideboard is a locally owned business that serves fresh, organic, clean food with a great taste in addition to pastries and great coffee. If you want to take a break from chain coffee shops and spend your afternoon eating, talking, and working in a quaint place with great local vibes, Sideboard is great.
- Palio | 640 Sacramento St. San Francisco, CA
Palio is a classic Italian-American joint in San Francisco’s downtown area. Owned by Martino DiGrande, a SF native, and cooked up by a top executive chef whose been there since its inception in the 1990s, you cannot go wrong when you are craving a wonderful Italian meal with the hospitality to go with it.
- Sens Restaurant | 4 Embarcadero Ctr. San Francisco, CA
There’s nothing better than a warm San Francisco day doing a business lunch on the patio at Sens overlooking the embarcadero, or sitting inside with its fresh air concept should you prefer that option. Sens has a great Mediterranean menu, and their lamb burger is hands down my go-to favorite for a lunch meeting.
- Lao Table | 149 2nd San Francisco, CA
Part of the fantastic Osha Thai family, Lao Table offers a wonderful menu full of Southeast Asian flavor. They also have the capability of putting on over-the-top corporate events, fundraisers, and entertaining events for private parties which I can attest to as being magnificent, in terms of food, execution, and WoW moments. If you’re craving something like Thai food, give Lao Table a try!
- Mitchell’s Ice Cream | 688 San Jose Ave. San Francisco, CA
65 years and going strong says it all. Mitchell’s has a line out the door and is a favorite of locals and those who crave their specialty flavors that you cannot get anywhere else. I personally drive there for the HaloHalo ice cream which is nearly impossible to find outside of Asia. You can also find your classic flavors as well. For ice cream cravings, Mitchell’s should be at the top of your list. Don’t forget to stock up on their big ice cream cartons to-go.
- Zachary’s Pizza | 5801 College Ave. Oakland, CA
Deep dish Chicago pizza is the reason why you need to go to Zachary’s Pizza. While it might take you a bit to get your pizza pie given their popularity, you can always get a pizza for pick-up to eat at one of the many parks nearby, or take it back home. While I love Zachary’s Pizza, my runners up are Tony’s Pizza and Golden Boy pizza in the North Beach neighborhoods of San Francisco.
- Southern Café | 2000 MacArthur Blvd. Oakland, CA
Soul food as good as it gets! Home to tasty fried chicken, collard greens, yams, and fluffy corn bread, this soul food restaurant is a stand alone gem in Oakland that took me years to find. Introduced by a pastor in the area, I was introduced to the full definition of soul food, its history, and love that’s tasted in every bite.
- Pho King | 207 E. 18th Oakland, CA 94606
Pho is plentiful in the Bay Area, but good pho is hard to get. Pho King serves up authentic Vietnamese food and an incredible array of Pho from different regions in Vietnam, including my favorite Bun Bo Hue, from the Hue region in central Vietnam. If you want great tasting Vietnamese food that’s as authentic as it gets, give Pho King a try!
I hope this list helps you discover some great places to eat in the San Francisco Bay Area. There are many other places not on this list that I LOVE to eat at and will feature on another blog.
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