The Big Eat 2012 List
Photography by Alex Farnum
This year, the “Big Eat” is pure gluttony. We’re on the wagon, having replaced the smattering of cocktails that were on last year’s list. (Don’t you worry. The “Big Drink” is next on our to-do list.) We’ve also made sure that most of the dishes are staples on their restaurants’ menus. But note that some rotate on and off or vary seasonally, so call ahead. This year’s list includes 33 newcomers—each denoted with an asterisk. Some hail from new restaurants, others are new dishes from old favorites. Rest assured that all have been 7x7 tasted and approved (and that our gym memberships have been renewed).
1. Salt cod fried rice at Mission Chinese Food*
2. Roasted chicken and bread salad at Zuni Cafe
3. Dry-fried chicken wings at San Tung*
4. Carnitas taco at La Taqueria
5. Chasu ramen at Katana-Ya
6. Custard French toast at Nopa*
7. Morning bun at Tartine Bakery
8. Cellophane noodles with crab at The Slanted Door
9. Eggs in Jail at Outerlands
10. Kelvin-made ice cream at Smitten*
11. Pork sugo with pappardelle at Delfina
12. Porchetta sandwich at RoliRoti
13. Soup dumplings at Kingdom of Dumpling
14. Warm egg salad sandwich at Il Cane Rosso
15. Any seasonal flavor at Scream Sorbet
16. Katsu curry at Muracci’s Japanese Curry & Grill
17. Pizza margherita at Pizzeria Delfina
18. The $24 prix fixe at Cotogna
19. Benwaffles at Bar Jules (monthly)*
20. Salumi misti plate at Perbacco
21. Tonkotsu ramen at Izakaya Sozai
22. Vietnamese roasted pork sandwich at Saigon Sandwich
23. Duck and sausage jambalaya
at Boxing Room (Thursdays)*
24. Loaf of bread straight out of the oven
at Tartine Bakery
25. Pistachio meatballs at Zaré at Fly Trap
26. Spicy baby octopus stew at La Ciccia
27. Tuna tartare at Bix
28. Clam chowder at Anchor Oyster Bar
29. Amatriciana pizza at Ragazza*
30. Pupusas at Balompie Cafe
31. Prime rib at House of Prime Rib
32. Pork belly bun at Chairman Bao Bun’s truck
33. The Little Star at Little Star Pizza
34. Argentine beef empanadas
at Venga Empanadas*
35. Salted caramel ice cream
at Bi-Rite Creamery
36. Soft garlic pretzels
at Absinthe’s bar
37. Whole wheat pasta with hen and liver at Flour + Water*
38. Burger and fries at Spruce’s bar
39. Egg custard tart at Golden
Gate Bakery
40. Pierna enchilada torta
at La Torta Gorda
41. Langos at Bar Tartine*
42. Maccaronara with ricotta salata at A16
43. Nojo sundae at Nojo*
44. Beer sausage
at Rosamunde Sausage Grill
45. Duck larb at Lers Ros Thai
46. Secret Breakfast
at Humphry Slocombe
47. Chips and salsa at Papalote
48. Seafood chowder at Bar Crudo*
49. Ginger snaps at Miette

50. Chicken soup with dumplings at Leopold’s*
51. Pho ga at Turtle Tower
52. Carnitas at Nopalito
53. Tika masala burrito at Curry Up Now’s truck*
54. Kouign Amann at Four Barrel*
55. A dozen Sweetwater
oysters at Hog Island Oyster Co.
56. Chicken porridge at Bush Street’s Out the Door
57. Sandwich No. 1
at Lucca Delicatessen
58. Pork shoulder fried rice
at Sai Jai Thai
59. Hamburger at 4505 Meats
60. Huarache with cactus salad
at El Huarache Loco
61. Spaghettini with tuna heart
at Incanto*
62. Dim sum at Ton Kiang
63. Pozole at San Jalisco (Fridays)
64. Sand dabs at Tadich Grill
65. Cookies-and-cream cookie
at Anthony’s Cookies
66. Paper masala dosa at Dosa
67. Meatloaf sandwich at Fatted Calf
68. Foccacia at Liguria Bakery
69. Omakase menu at Kiss*
70. Calamari with chorizo and black rice at Contigo*
71. Fried green beans at Coco500
72. Peanut brittle cookie
at Mr. & Mrs. Miscellaneous*
73. Munsoned at Deli Board*
74. Faux shark’s fin soup at Benu*
75. Super carne asada burrito
at El Farolito
76. Steak frites at L’Ardoise*
77. Fried chicken at Foreign Cinema
78. Bone marrow at Alembic*
79. Crawfish beignets at Brenda’s French Soul Food*
80. Potato latke with pickled beets
at Baker & Banker*
81. Pickled egg at Comstock Saloon
82. Breakfast eggs at Boulettes Larder*
83. Rice burger at Sandbox Bakery*
84. A cheese slice at Arinell Pizza
85. Sesame balls at Yank Sing
86. Fried chicken sandwich
at Marlowe*
87. Coconut buns from King’s Bakery
88. Malaysian curry laksa soup at Betelnut*
89. Korean taco at Namu’s Ferry Plaza Farmers Market stand
90. Albondigas soup at Mijita
91. Bacon-wrapped hot dog at a cart in the Mission
92. Chicken liver on toast at Frances*
93. Seven flavors of beef at Pagolac
94. Hawaiian Hangover cake
at Bluestem Brasserie*
95. Deviled eggs at Park Tavern*
96. Ube ice cream at Mitchell’s Ice Cream
97. Green goddess salad at Prospect*
98. Chicken curry lunch special
at Punjab Kabab House
99. Fried chicken and waffles
at Little Skillet
100. Cracked Dungeness crab
at Swan Oyster Depot
More Eat + Drink Postings
Add Comment
Eating out schedule for 2012!
Ramen Bull beef ramen @ Nombe chef Noriyuki Sugie!
The tuna heart is so good but everybody knows that original tuna heart with spagattini is from la ciccia not incanto. La ciccia started when it first opened incanto copied it.
Mat - Check #61. Spaghettini w/tuna heart @ Incanto. Guess this qualifies it as a real list!
Smitten #10 Above Mr&Mrs, BiRite and Humphreys?!
Brenda's crawfish beignets are heaven. Yum!
is this available in checklist form, or able to save the ones we've been to? i think there used to be an app or something for previous years.
Butter braised beef at Crazy Pepper!
You forgot Chicken Shawerma Tuesday or Friday at Truly Mediterranean.
Someone needs to try the seafood Yosenabe at Eiji.
Proper technique is required.
The Big Eat 2012: 100 Things to Try Before You Die
The Big Eat 2011: 100 Things to Try Before You Die
The Big Veg 2011: 50 Vegetarian (Or Vegan) Things to Eat Before You Die
Four Ways To Escape the Cold in Mexico
Jams We Love: Our Weekly Playlists
10 Best Dishes $10 in the Inner Sunset
Rise and Dine: A Guide to Brunch at SF's Best Restaurants
The Best Cheese in SF (Recommendations from Local Cheese Shops)
Refreshingly Unhip: The Best Vanilla Ice Cream in SF
The 20 Best Dishes Under $10 in the Tenderloin & Tendernob
Community Gardens Around the City
Horseback Riding Within 1.5 Hours of SF
Four Awesome Northern California Hot Springs
Refreshingly Unhip: SF's Old-School Pastrami Sandwiches
The 7 Best Carne Asada Burritos in San Francisco
The 10 Best Dishes Under $10 in the Outer Sunset
The 20 Best Dishes Under $10 in the Mission
The 10 Best Dishes Under $10 in Bernal Heights
The 10 Best Dishes Under $10 in the Lower Haight
The 10 Best Lunches in Union Square Under $10
Refreshingly Unhip: The Best Glazed Dougnuts in SF
Expert Advice on Parking in The City






