Pagan Restaurant

"This part-Burmese, part-Thai spot on the corner of Lincoln Park is a beacon of fantastic and consistently made comfort dishes, from pad thai and hearty curries to, of course, tea leaf salad. The lettuce is never wilted, the peanuts are toasted perfectly, and there’s the right amount of jalapeño that gives a pleasant kick. It’s the ideal appetizer to power you up (thank you, caffeinated tea leaves) if you’re going to wander around the Presidio or Land’s End. And while we have you, we’d be remiss to not shout out their ginger salad—the zingy little number is just as inhalable. " - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong

"The Museum: Legion Of Honor The Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park has a grandiose courtyard, a replica of The Thinker, and views of the Golden Gate Bridge that’ll remind you you’re still in San Francisco, not Paris. Once you’ve finished aimlessly wandering around the roomfuls of Monets and ancient busts, head to Pagan Restaurant, a Burmese and Thai spot in the nearby Richmond. It’s pretty convenient to the museum, but even so, we’d cross six neighborhoods for their spicy basil pork belly, nutty tea leaf salad, and rich, warming curries." - lani conway, julia chen 1

"The menu at this Outer Richmond restaurant is split between Burmese and Thai dishes. But you’re reading this guide, so hone in on the Burmese side. Go for the palata, a buttery showstopper served with chunky chicken curry for dipping. Another can’t-miss: the ginger salad that hits you right in the nose with pickled ginger strips. We also love this laidback spot because it’s easy to grab a table, making it ideal for your next quick weeknight dinner or any time you need to fuel up before an afternoon of wandering around Land’s End (lunch is served on weekends)." - julia chen 1

"The menu at this Outer Richmond restaurant is split between Burmese and Thai dishes. One thing we never leave without ordering is the ginger salad that hits you right in the nose with pickled ginger strips. Another is the spicy basil with crispy pork that's glistening and caramelized within an inch of its life. We also love this laidback spot because it’s easy to grab a table, making it ideal for your next quick weeknight dinner or any time you need to fuel up before an afternoon of wandering around Land’s End (lunch is served on weekends). photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth" - Julia Chen

"Nearly every Burmese restaurant in San Francisco offers a samusa soup, but Pagan’s is one of the best, with crispy falafel bits and flaky samusa crumbles packed separately for takeout customers to pour into flavorful broth at their leisure. With toothsome chunks of potato and a healthy serving of lentils, this soup — especially if ordered with a salad (we recommend the tea leaf) makes for an excellent main dish, not just a side." - Paolo Bicchieri, Eater Staff