open 7 days

Restaurant Website: http://www.gracias-madre.comGoogle Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=gracias+madre+san+francisco&sll=37.777092,-122.428551&sspn=0.025644,0.051155&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=gracias+madre&hnear=San+Francisco,+CA&ll=37.783062,-122.418938&spn=0.051283,0.10231&z=13&iwloc=A

A transformation has taken place at 18th and Mission, so radical that you can hardly remember what occupied the space before Gracias Madre moved in. An outdoor patio, shielded from the street by a fence emblazoned with oversize corn motifs, gives way to a long, skinny room generously outfitted with wood, a long bar and, at the back, an open kitchen.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>With its vegan Mexican menu, Gracias Madre has quickly distinguished itself from the masses of Mission taquerias. There is no carnitas here, no carne asada, no cheese—unless you count the cashew variety. Owned by the team behind feel-good mini chain Café Gratitude, here you’ll find meaty mushrooms filling tacos, tamales stuffed with butternut squash and excellent guacamole, by its very nature vegan. A selection of organic beer and wine round out the offerings.</p>

Restaurant Website: http://www.burgerbarlv.comGoogle Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=251+geary+st.,+san+francisco&sll=37.788139,-122.399056&sspn=0.02642,0.037937&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=251+Geary+St,+San+Francisco,+California+94102&z=17

The interior of Hubert Keller’s burger emporium (his second—the first is at the Mandalay Place in Vegas) is nothing much to look at, but thankfully the restaurant—which is located in Macy’s, one floor beneath the Cheesecake Factory—has an amazing view of Union Square. Ask for a table near the window, and try to ignore the techno music and the rhinestone and logo adorned underwear for sale behind the bar.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Every permutation of the burger is represented here, from classic (American cheese, bacon) to luxe (foie gras, truffles). It’s not just beef, either—you can choose from bison, salmon, chicken or vegetarian. The toppings are limitless, but beware the sin of overindulgence: too much of a good thing sometimes is too much. Naturally, you can also choose your fries—skinny or fat, sweet potato or regular, even zucchini. This warning about overdoing  it extends to the milkshakes—the best among them are the simplest.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1639+Irving+St.+San+Francisco&sll=37.738498,-122.463806&sspn=0.009282,0.013304&ie=UTF8&ll=37.764456,-122.475715&spn=0.009279,0.013304&z=16&iwloc=A

Painted a shocking yellow, aggressively lit and furnished with only Formica tables and utilitarian chairs, this below-ground spot (sister restaurant to nearby Kingdom of Dumplings) is easy to overlook—but find it and you’re in for a fine Chinese meal.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>As the name suggests, the main draw here is the noodles, hand-pulled to order by a recent immigrant from Shandong who has decades of experience in the magical art of stretching a ball of dough into yard-long strands. The nubby noodles, their variable thickness a charming hallmark, are the perfect vehicles for hearty sauces. We particularly like the house special, a combination of scrambled eggs, mushrooms and bits of roast pork, and the whole wheat noodles topped with bean paste, ground pork and tofu.</p>

Restaurant Website: http://www.tropisueno.com

There’s not a whole lot of Latin flavor to be found right next to the Four Seasons, but this Mexican restaurant is straight from Central Casting, with heavy wooden furniture, punched tin lanterns, woven curtains and colorful bouquets of paper flowers. By day, the restaurant operates as a taqueria, while at night it puts on its finer-dining hat, with a full menu and table service.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>At lunch, choose from the usual suspects—tacos, quesadillas and burritos among them, all a good notch above average. Come dinner, choices expand to include ceviche, albondigas (meatball soup), a superb chicken mole and other substantial plates, many of which are served with rice and beans. Margaritas here are made with fresh juices and rimmed in spicy salt.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1801+Alemany+Blvd.+San+Francisco&sll=37.752971,-122.420461&sspn=0.00928,0.013304&ie=UTF8&ll=37.723886,-122.437456&spn=0.009284,0.013304&z=16&iwloc=A

This restaurant is located at the center of a busy intersection, far out in the Excelsior with nary another Chinese restaurant in sight. The most significant design element is the enormous flatscreen television, which shows all manner of bizarre and spectacular Chinese pageants. If you can’t stomach the Formica tables and bright lights, you can always get take-out, but then you’d miss out on recommendations from the sweet staff.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Though you’ll find a handful of familiar Chinese-American dishes on this large menu, far more exciting are the Northern Chinese specialties, from glutinous flour balls—small round dumplings stir-fried with vegetables and meat—to fried crepe-like pancakes filled with ground pork and vegetables. A long list of dumplings (including an unusual fennel-filled variety) and hot pots tempt, as does a pungent, love-it-or-leave it dish of lamb showered with cumin seeds.</p>

Restaurant Website: http://www.phatphilly.comGoogle Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3388+24th+St.+San+Francisco&sll=37.792456,-122.400312&sspn=0.009275,0.013304&ie=UTF8&ll=37.752971,-122.420461&spn=0.00928,0.013304&z=16&iwloc=A

A former Mediterranean restaurant in the Mission has been reborn as a spot to get the most renowned of Philadelphia’s culinary offerings: the cheesesteak. The stainless counters and tables and bright lighting give this little space a squeaky-clean feel.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Phat Philly makes a reasonable facsimile of the prized sandwich that put the city of brotherly love on the map—a length of soft bread flown in from Amoroso's bakery, American Kobe beef and your choice of cheese (Whiz is the classic, but they also offer a cheddar-beer sauce). Go ahead and gussy it up with grilled onions or mushrooms, then anoint with hot peppers from the self-serve condiment bar.</p>

Restaurant Website: http://www.monkskettle.comGoogle Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3141+16th+St.+San+Francisco&sll=37.783706,-122.419109&sspn=0.009276,0.013304&ie=UTF8&ll=37.765677,-122.422907&spn=0.009279,0.013304&z=16&iwloc=A

Ever-packed, this cozy Mission District beer hall evokes the pubs of Britain with its ample curved bar, dark wood and long wall of banquettes. Beers are each served in their “correct” glass, and bartenders are happy to offer samples of unfamiliar brews.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>In order to make a dent in the five-page beer menu, you’re going to need some sustenance of the non-liquid variety. The food here is largely pub grub, the menu comprised of salads, sandwiches and the like, including the requisite burger (either veggie, lamb or beef). While those are all fine, we prefer the items meant for noshing—the charcuterie plate, with house-cured duck prosciutto, and the oversized soft German-style pretzel, served with an addictive cheddar-ale sauce for dunking.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3611+18th+St.,+San+Francisco&sll=37.793581,-122.399328&sspn=0.011836,0.019312&g=230+California+St.,+San+Francisco&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=addr

The little sister to the ever-booked Delfina next door, this is where you’ll find some of SF’s top Italian-style pizza. Because it’s tiny and doesn’t take reservations, the best strategy is to go with no more than one friend, put your name on the chalkboard, order a glass of wine from the strictly Italian list and plant yourself under the heat lamp until your name is called. A second location, on California at Fillmore, is just as busy—weekday lunch is one way to beat the crowds.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Yes, there’s a clam pie and a salsiccia (fennel sausage) one, but it goes without saying that a margherita sets the pizza standard, and this one does not fail: The sauce is tangy and topped with creamy, house-pulled mozzarella, and the crust is chewy, crisp and blistered. One could live off of this alone, but the veggie antipasti are also worth trying, particularly the garlicky broccoli di ciccio or the green beans with pickled shallots.</p> <p>MUST ORDER: Arancini (when they have them) and Meatballs</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1713+Taraval+St.++sf&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=27.089481,54.316406&ie=UTF8&ll=37.74481,-122.484598&spn=0.006583,0.013261&z=16&iwloc=addr

This small restaurant looks a bit like the waiting room of a doctor’s office, except every table is covered with bamboo steamers filled with dumplings—before long, the lone picture window is fogged up, obscuring your view of Taraval Street. The warm welcome from the owner makes even first-timers feel like regulars.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>As the name suggests, dumplings are the thing to order here: Shanghai soup dumplings, chicken-and-corn dumplings and lamb-and-Chinese-vegetable dumplings are just some of the 30-odd options, all made by hand. Start with the boiled peanuts and the tofu-noodle salad (spaghetti-like noodles made from soy, slicked with sesame oil and tossed with cilantro), and supplement your selection of dumplings with one of the specials listed on the whiteboard, such as garlic eggplant with shrimp. Note: You can also pick up bags of frozen dumplings to take home.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Gaspare's+Pizza+House+%26+Italian+Restaurant,+sf&sll=37.832294,-122.433701&sspn=0.097346,0.215263&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=37.82226,-122.443657&spn=0.103597,0.215263&z=12&iwloc=A

You come to Gaspare’s to relive a) your East Coast childhood or b) your fond memories of the movie Moonstruck. This Outer Richmond relic has all the ingredients: Chianti in straw-wrapped flasks, table-side jukeboxes with a time-warp playlist (Dean Martin, Chubby Checker or Mario Lanza) and murals of (on the east wall) Sicily and (on the west) SF. It’s also the perfect venue for kids.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Though you can get meatballs at Gaspare’s, along with chicken piccata, eggplant alla Parmigiano and baked lasagna, this is really a pizza joint. The menu lists 27 different varieties of pie, each with a crust that’s properly thin and a not-too-sweet tomato sauce. We like the classic pepperoni variety.</p>