Modeled after traditional dim sum service, State Bird Provisions lets patrons use the sense of smell and sight to choose their dishes, with cuisine brought in on a trolley for viewing. Each item is creative and innovative, with dishes like sweet corn and chive pancakes, kimchi pork belly with tofu and duck liver mousse with almond biscuit. The space is rather small, yet cozy with an open concept kitchen, and friendly staff.
El Farolito is one of the Mission's most beloved dive taquerias. The lighting is alright, the decor is bargain-basement, but the burritos are huge and the filling is a delicious, slow-cooked Carne Asada, tender chicken, spicy pork, or veggies and guacamole. You will also find tacos and enchiladas. It is a popular place with locals and people looking for a quick meal, especially late at night when most other spots have closed down. The service is quick and efficient. Only cash accepted.
Got a craving for some authentic deep dish pizza? This hip, fresh joint has food of tantalizing tastes to satisfy even the most jaded pizza enthusiast. Try the Mediterranean chicken pizza, or try the vegetarian pizza, which will have you converted in no time. Little Star also offers thin crusts, which are, honestly, just as good as the incredibly taste-infused deep dishes for which they are famous. With minimalist decor and a blaring jukebox to boot, Little Star will have you hooked.
They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so then it is logical to do breakfast right. To experience this, the Pork Store Café is a place to be. Though small in dimension, the food here is huge. Every plate served is colossal, and, more importantly, delicious. It touts lots of meat on the menu (it's called the Pork Store, after all.) Ham, bacon, sausage, chops, all served with eggs, potatoes, toast and endless cups of strong coffee is served up by the friendly wait staff. If you are not feeling carnivorous, order a short stack of pancakes, omelet, French toast, or a veggie and tofu scramble. Sit at a window table or choose a stool at the counter, where you can watch all that fabulous food being prepared.
This famous Chicago-style pizza company is always packed with UC students, families and out-of-towners. No one seems to mind the 20-minute (or more!) wait for the stuffed masterpiece. The pizza is made as thick as a pumpkin pie (yes, you do need a knife and fork), and the ingredients are put on upside down with tomatoes on top, meat on the bottom. So filling and so delicious, count on bringing home leftovers. For those with a slightly lesser appetite, they also serve thin crust pizzas that are just as delectable.
Fenton's has been an Oakland institution for over 100 years, serving up homemade ice cream and deluxe toppings, along with all your classic American diner favorites. You can always get a juicy burger with fries, or cranberry turkey sandwich, but the real draw are the sweets. Fenton's serves up everything from your basic flavored ice cream cone to a super-deluxe sundae or an incredible milkshake. Besides high quality ice cream, the toppings are a huge favorite here, especially the marshmallow sauce.
Kagawa-Ya Udon is a sleek Japanese bistro dishing out Japanese and Hawaiian specialties. Fans of Japanese cuisines can relish Udon, Onigiri, Tempura, a variety of curries and much more. They are popular for their Udon dish, which is prepared by aging it for 19 hours, it is then pressed, rolled and sliced to perfection. Foodies can come in and enjoy a bowl of delicious Udon. Besides regular drinks they also serve Hawaiian beverages like Hawaiian sodas, coffee and tea.
Helmed by NYC's culinary scene stalwarts Aris Tuazon and Jim Harvey Sy, Manila Bowl introduces authentic Filipino cuisine to San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood. The menu predominantly features Filipino-style rice bowls with flavors and ingredients that represent the diverse food culture of the Southeast Asian island nation. The signature dishes on the menu include chicken adobo bowl, beef pares bowl, bangus sisig bowl and vegetarian laing bowl. You can also customize your own bowl by choosing from a wide selection of rice base, protein and toppings.
This churrascaria, or Brazilian steakhouse, serves food Rodizio style; continually presenting different cuts of meat until the patrons are finished eating. The word espetus means skewer - which is inspired by the cooking techniques of Brazilian Gauchos in the 1800s. The meats are sliced at the table and include options like pork sausages, slow-roasted Brazilian herb chicken, and top sirloin. They also have an extensive salad bar with traditional Brazilian side dishes. The meals are served all-you-can-eat style; just turn the chip on your table to the green side to be served, and to the red side when you are done.
Otoro Sushi enjoys unwavering loyalty, and stands out as the neighborhood's favorite sushi place. Enjoy the finest sushi in a friendly environment coupled with exceptional service. The variety of sushi alone is staggering, with favorites like spicy scallops, unagi, kampachi and the house specialty O-Toro (fatty tuna). The menu is driven by Japanese specialties like noodles, vegetarian rolls and sashimi, each prepared using locally-sourced and freshest ingredients with hints of familiar flavors. The eatery in itself is very cozy and inviting, with a separate bar area serving cocktails, wines and sake.
Cadillac Bar and Grill is a casual Mexican eatery situated in vibrant SoMa. The ambiance is lively and the staff personable, which makes for a great night out on the town. The restaurant highlights real Mexican dishes packed with flavor that pair well with their specialty hand-shaken margaritas made with fresh ingredients. Savor aperitivos like queso flameado or chicken panchos, followed by signature puffy tacos filled with ingredients like turkey chorizo, slow-braised pork or grilled steak. Seafood enthusiasts can opt for the grilled red snapper with Veracruzano sauce or the mesquite-grilled prawns. Excellent happy hours between 3p and 6p from Monday to Friday means this place is always abuzz with energy; it's a great place to unwind with friends after a long day.
A lovely little neighborhood bistro, Chez Maman serves up a nice selection of French favorites like French Onion Soup, Croque Madame, Les Moules Frites, Savoyarde and much more. The menu focuses on home-style comfort cooking, while the ambiance is warm and cozy paying homage to it's rustic French roots. Step in for a nice meal, accompanied of course by the perfect glass of French wine for a convivial and social experience. A nice place for a relaxed dinner out with friends or a casual date. It can get quite busy, especially on the weekends so booking a table is a good idea.