San Francisco is a city that is celebrated for its variety: geography that features steep hills and the expansive bay; architecture that ranges from Mission, Victorian and Beaux Arts to modern skyscraper; weather that turns from fog to sun; and an array of heritages that gives the city an assortment of tastes all its own. To enjoy the variety that is San Francisco, let your tastebuds be your guide.
The City by the Bay is famous for its seafood, and with good reason. Top restaurants get their seafood right off the boat. Castagnola's (286 Jefferson St), in Fisherman's Wharf, has local fisherman deliver fresh fish and seafood daily right to its dock. Tadich Grill (240 California St), in the Financial District, is legendary for its seafood cioppino, chock full of whitefish, crab meat, bay shrimp, scallops and clams. Hog Island Oyster Company (1 Ferry Plaza) near the Embarcadero area, and Zuni Café (1658 Market St) in the Upper Market neighborhood, are both famous for their oysters.
San Francisco is also known for sourdough bread. It started with the Boudin family in 1849, when they discovered that wild yeasts picked up the San Francisco air and gave their traditional French bread a unique taste. Today, you can see bakers craft this delicacy at their Fisherman's Wharf location (150 Jefferson St), or enjoy the bread at other locations around the city. Raymond's Sourdough (172 Starlite St) in South San Francisco, is another local favorite.
The North Beach neighborhood is the place to go for all tastes Italian. Favorite spots include E' Tutto Qua (270 Columbus), known for their presentation. Trattoria Contadina (1800 Mason St) offers a cozy, charming atmosphere with healthy portions. For casual Italian, try the Palermo Delicatessen (1556 Stockton St), and take your sandwich to nearby Washington Square Park for people-watching with your meal.
The famous Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco offers wonderful delicacies, including dim sum, Cantonese-style clay pot rice, spring rolls, sticky-sweet sesame balls, and roast duck. Local favorites in the area include the Good Mong Kok Bakery (1039 Stockton St) for dim sum, the Utopia Café Restaurant (141 Waverly Pl) for Cantonese-style clay pot rice, R&G Lounge (631 Kearny St), for seafood, and Gold Mountain (644 Broadway), where the long lines attest to its popularity.
If you are a veggie fan, San Francisco has tasty choices for you. The Lucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant (854 Washington St), in the Chinatown/Nob Hill area, serves tasty veggies Chinese-style. At Greens (Fort Mason's Building A), near Marina Green, you can enjoy the waterfront view with excellent vegetarian.
Looking for a little celebrity with your tastings? Postrio (545 Post St), in the Union Square area, is one of Wolfgang Puck's original restaurants, serving innovative California Cuisine. If you are a fan of the popular PBS show, "Secrets of a Chef," experience Chef Hubert Keller's four-star restaurant Fleur De Lys (777 Sutter St), also in the Union Square neighborhood.
No tastebud tour would be complete without something sweet. When you're ready for dessert, head to Beard Papa's Cream Puffs (760 Mission St) in the SoMa (south of Market) area, or Mission Pie (2901 Mission St) in the Mission District. Gelato fans frequent Gelateria Naia (520 Columbus Ave) in North Beach. And of course, there is the Ghirardelli Chocolate Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop in Ghirardelli Square (900 N Point St), near Fisherman's Wharf, for their decadent hot fudge sundae.
