Best Restaurants in San Francisco (2025)
Zuni Café
Californian restaurant · San Francisco
A city-defining original where the wood-fired oven and Judy Rodgers’ spirit still set the tone. Praised by the San Francisco Chronicle and recommended by the Michelin Guide, its roast chicken, Caesar, and oysters remain essential San Francisco plates.
State Bird Provisions
American restaurant · Western Addition
A playful, high-craft procession of California small plates that helped redefine modern SF dining. Michelin-starred and frequently discussed by local critics, it still thrills—come for the quail, stay for the donabe stews and smart, seasonal surprises.
Benu
Fine dining restaurant · South of Market
Corey Lee’s three-star destination blends Asian traditions and California precision into a serene, singular experience. Celebrated by the Michelin Guide and national critics, Benu’s refined tasting menu is a masterclass in detail and restraint.
Kiln
Fine dining restaurant · Civic Center
John Wesley and Julianna Yang’s intimate tasting room channels Nordic techniques through Northern California ingredients. Elevated to two Michelin stars in 2025 and praised by local editors, it’s one of the city’s most exciting, personal fine-dining rooms.
Nari
Thai restaurant · Japantown
Pim Techamuanvivit’s modern Thai cooking shines with peak-season California produce and layered curries. Recognized by the Michelin Guide and applauded by national magazines, Nari offers bold flavors, polished service, and a lively Japantown setting.
Mister Jiu's
Chinese restaurant · Chinatown
Brandon Jew’s Chinatown landmark merges Cantonese heritage with Bay Area seasonality. Michelin-starred and frequently featured by the San Francisco Chronicle, it now leans into celebratory banquet dishes alongside à la carte signatures like roast duck.
Four Kings 四大天王
Cantonese restaurant · Chinatown
A spirited Cantonese spot from neighborhood alumni serving nostalgic flavors with fresh ideas—think mapo spaghetti and fried squab. Celebrated by Esquire as Restaurant of the Year and highlighted by the New York Times and Eater, it captures Chinatown’s energy today.
La Ciccia
Italian restaurant · Fairmount
A beloved Noe Valley Sardinian restaurant where bottarga, octopus stew, and fregola anchor a deeply local, family-run experience. Frequently praised by the San Francisco Chronicle and trusted guides, it’s pure neighborhood hospitality with serious cooking.
House of Prime Rib
English restaurant · Polk Gulch
Since 1949, this independently owned classic has carved tableside roasts and poured icy martinis for generations. Frequently cited by local press and national lists, it remains a celebratory rite of passage—book far ahead or try for a late walk-in.
Swan Oyster Depot
Seafood restaurant · Polk Gulch
An 18-stool seafood counter run by the same family for decades. Loved by travel writers and local critics alike, it’s all about pristine crab, oysters, and the off-menu crab back. Arrive early, enjoy the camaraderie, and taste San Francisco history.
Kokkari Estiatorio
Greek restaurant · North Waterfront
A wood-fired Greek institution where rotisserie meats, simply grilled fish, and warm hospitality draw loyalists and visiting chefs. Endorsed by the Michelin Guide and perennial local favorites lists, it’s a celebratory dinner that still feels personal.
Quince
Fine dining restaurant · North Beach
Michael and Lindsay Tusk’s three-star dining room evolves with California’s seasons and their farm partnerships. Lauded by the Michelin Guide and the San Francisco Chronicle, it now offers both grand tasting and more flexible formats without losing its elegance.
