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San Francisco Restaurants, Delis, Bakeries, Bars

The 38 Essential Restaurants in San Francisco
Greg Quist

Agree or disagree, always worth a look


by Lauren Saria and Dianne de Guzman Updated Jul 9, 2024, 1:10pm PDT - EATER San Fancisco


A guide to the best restaurants in San Francisco for any dining occasion


The Eater 38 is our attempt to answer any question that begins, “Can you recommend a restaurant?” It’s a curated list that covers the entire city, spanning numerous cuisines, neighborhoods, and price points. It’s a list that tells the story of San Francisco through food, documenting the blend of taquerias, dumpling shops, and tasting menu destinations that make this city one of the most interesting places to eat in America. These are the places you don’t want to miss on your first trip to the Bay Area, and the ones worth returning to even if you’ve lived here for decades.


And because we want to make sure this list reflects the ever-changing nature of San Francisco’s vibrant dining scene, we update the Eater 38 on a quarterly basis, adding restaurants that were previously overlooked, are newly eligible (Eater 38 restaurants must have been open for six months), or have stepped up their game. Sometimes a still great restaurant makes way for another one, in order to keep things new and fresh — and, importantly, to make sure that the Eater 38 is an inclusive and representative list.


The 38 Essential Restaurants in San Francisco


Greg

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