SFGuide
Where To Have Thanksgiving Dinner In SF
photo credit: Nader Khouri
Believe it or not, Thanksgiving 2023 is right around the corner. And with it, comes a basket of fresh problems and holiday-related anxieties. (Should I attempt to roast a turkey this year? How can I field questions about my relationship status? How the f*ck do you make a pie crust?) But guess what? Figuring out how to cook a full-on feast doesn’t have to be one of them. Here are some San Francisco restaurants that are offering dine-in for Thanksgiving.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Erin Ng
Vietnamese powerhouse Lily is pumping out a “New Tradition Thanksgiving” menu that’s likely to bring holiday joy to the table. The $88, four-course set menu includes things like a chilled Beausoleil oyster, Vietnamese curry pumpkin soup, and a salt-baked turkey breast served with confit turkey sweet potato hash, shrimp and lap xuong fried rice, Robuchon potatoes, baby bok choy, plus candied lingonberry and strawberry (whew, we’re out of breath). Oh, and you’ll also get a slice of the “change your life” warm pumpkin pie topped with vanilla ice cream. Secure reservations here.
Not feeling turkey? Palette Tea House has you covered. This huge dim sum spot is one of the few destinations that has us braving the tourist crowd and heading into Ghirardelli Square. You’ll get to enjoy the full menu of their excellent dumplings, like colorful xiao long bao, tender lobster ha gow, and shrimp siu mai. Just note that getting a reservation for Thanksgiving day (food is served 11am to 6pm) requires a $15 refundable deposit.
We use Park Chalet mainly as a day drinking spot with Ocean Beach views. But this well-lit American restaurant (it has a massive atrium backing into Golden Gate Park) also has a Thanksgiving menu if you’re looking to eat a traditional turkey dinner by the beach or next to a fireplace. Their three-course dinner includes your choice of a soup or salad, and for your entrée, a roasted turkey, pan-seared sea bass, or farro risotto. And there’s pumpkin pie or warm apple crisp for dessert. Reservations are available here.
photo credit: Lani Conway
The city’s iconic hofbrau and bar on the corner of Geary and Van Ness has been chugging along since the 1940s. This place is a time capsule (it’s a windowless spot full of every tchotchke under the sun), and one that’s made serving Thanksgiving dinner a time-honored tradition. Like every year, the $32 meal includes ham or turkey, a choice of two sides (like classic mashed potatoes, candied yams, or stuffing), bread and butter, and pumpkin pie. No reservations are needed, so just show up any time after they open at 11am.
photo credit: Zaira Asis
After two years as a visiting chef residency program (known as Turntable), a new version of the classic Lord Stanley has returned—and this time, they’re focusing on French food with some Korean influences. For Thanksgiving, they’re serving up a $155 per person four-course feast (reserve here) that’s a bit French-ish. The menu will include snacks and starters (which will remain unannounced), plus a main course of aged roasted duck, and an Autumn clafoutis with pear and pecan for dessert.