Five meals in five San Francisco neighbourhoods

Now, I’m no foodie by any means. But when I travel, I like to eat well. This has both positive and negative repercussions. Positive in that I get to share my thoughts with the world; negative in that it doesn’t do me any favours when it comes to keeping trim for the summer. But alas, you can’t visit a city without enjoying its restaurants.

San Francisco is one of the most breath-taking cities in the world. It’s also a great place to eat, largely thanks to the city’s different neighbourhoods. Here are five recommendations in five different parts of the city.

1. Breakfast: Taylor Street Coffee Shop, 375 Taylor St, Downtown San Francisco

Choosing a coffee shop for my breakfast recommendation might be a bit clichéd, but who doesn’t like coffee first thing in the morning? This little coffee shop, close to San Francisco’s Union Square, is the perfect place to grab one. There’s more to the place than coffee however – the eggs are particularly good here. I got mine poached, which might not sound the most adventurous. But it’s something that many people get wrong. Taylor Street Coffee Shop didn’t. Eggs Benedict are a hit too.

2. Lunch: Giordano Bros. 303 Columbus Avenue, North Beach

Remember what I was saying about eating when you’re travelling being a contributing factor to the battle to keep in shape for the summer? This sandwich ‘shop’ in the city’s Italian neighbourhood didn’t help the summer I was there. This is due to their ‘all-in-one’ sandwich – two pieces of bread packed with meat, coleslaw and chips (or French fries). A heart attack on a plate? Not quite. But while the sandwiches mightn’t be the healthiest, they are extremely filling and very, very enjoyable.

Photo courtesy of Todd Fong.

3. Lunch: Bean Bag Café, Cnr Haight and Divisadero Streets, The Haight

Going to San Francisco and not having even a hint of ‘hippieness’ seemed like a bit of a crime. The best neighbourhood to experience elements of the aforementioned subculture is The Haight, also known as Haight Ashbury. This is where I found this little gem (after visiting the famous ‘Painted Ladies’ on Alamo Square’ I should add). It’s another good breakfast spot, but I sampled their food at lunchtime – a burger to be precise. It was tasty, hence the recommendation.

4. Dinner: Capital Restaurant, 839 Clay Street, Chinatown

Chinatown is one of San Francisco’s top attractions. As a result, I was adamant on finding a restaurant in this area that's popular with the locals. This meant avoiding the hawkers trying to lure you into their premises. When I discovered Capital Restaurant (they decided not to have a pushy rep outside their door) I wasn’t let down. Not only did I find somewhere authentic; I found a local family who took pity on me since I was eating on my own and invited me to their table! Unfortunately they laughed at what I opted for – dumplings. ‘How is your tourist food, Colm?’ I believe were the words. I answered him what I’m telling you – they were delicious, as was the Szechuan beef. Prices are affordable too.

5. Dinner: Pakwan, 3182 16th Street, Mission District

If Indian food is your thing then this is the restaurant for you. Located on a street laden with restaurants, it’s an affordable option and an extremely unassuming one. There’s no table service here – you pick what you want from the menu, then go up to the counter and order it. The naan breads are dangerously tasty, as is the ‘saag dal’. If you want to opt for something different, there’s Pakistani food to tempt you too.

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Thinking of visiting San Francisco? Check out our homestays in San Francisco.

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