If you tried to keep track of every brand new restaurant in San Francisco, your head might spin. So just read this list instead. This guide tracks new eating and drinking experiences in SF, Oakland, Berkeley, and beyond. If you know of a new spot that’s not on this list, tell us about it by emailing sanfrancisco@theinfatuation.com.
MAY
photo credit: Hardy Wilson
The Caffé by Mr. Espresso
The Caffè is a new Italian-style cafe in downtown Oakland by longstanding local coffee roaster Mr. Espresso. Instead of queuing up for coffee, slide up to the central wooden bar and wait for a barista to come to take your order—just as you would if you were ordering a cocktail. A number of small bites such as a prosciutto cotto sandwich and farro porridge round out a trip to this small, light-filled space.
Kiln is yet another new tasting menu restaurant, this one in Hayes Valley (in the old Cala space) from a former Sons & Daughters chef. Focused around freshly sourced products and innovative techniques, they offer two different tasting menus. One abbreviated form with 8-10 dishes and another that’s 18-20 courses. Both options offer optional beverage parings.
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Serendipity
The closure of Dumpling Alley in the Richmond left a gaping hole in our hearts. Thankfully, the owners have decided to relaunch the space as Serendipity Japanese Restaurant and serve up sushi and donburi in a low-key setting.
Fluid 510
Fluid 510 is a new LGBTQIA+ bar and nightclub in downtown Oakland focusing on fun cocktails and small bites. Expect anything from grilled cheese sandwiches to grilled octopus and the Mandarin 75—their take on the French 75 with orange vodka.
Day Moon
Day Moon, a staple at the Clement Street farmers market, finally has its first brick-and-mortar. This small bakery in the Outer Sunset is only open on weekends, and is making fresh loaves and seasonal breads.
GluGlu is a new wine bar from the Ungrafted team located at Thrive City near the Chase Center. Since we love Ungrafted, we have high hopes for GluGlu’s extensive list of experimental wines and Mediterranean food like bocadillos de jamon, patatas bravas, and a gambas cocktail.
Sesame Tiny Bakery
Seasame Tiny Bakery is a small, hidden-away bakery in the old Pie Society space in Berkeley. Expect to see a seasonally driven set of treats ranging from rhubarb cakes to strawberry oolong eclairs in a takeaway-only room.
Sonamu Korean Restaurant
Sonamu Korean is a new restaurant in the Richmond with rather large menu of Korean classics, like bulgogi lunch boxes and bibimbap. Also on offer are galbi jjim and Korean fried chicken.
Resurrecting their old FiDi location is Bini’s Kitchen, a Nepali spot specializing in momos. The quick-service counter is only open for lunch Monday to Friday. You’ll see a new chicken momo on the menu, in addition to the classic lamb, turkey, and vegetarian.
After a three-year closure, Leopold’s is reopening in Russian Hill with German-Austrian dishes such as housemade bratwurst and schnitzel with lingonberry jam. Expect a continuation of the formerly rambunctious space, including beer served in glass boots.
Finally landing a permanent home in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland after years as a roving pop-up is Sfizio. The casual space is serving up handmade pasta starting at $10 a bowl. They’re also featuring a short menu of Italian-inspired rotating small plates based on what’s in season.
Tacos Del Barrio
Now open in the former Roosevelt Tamale Parlor space, Tacos del Barrio is a new taco spot in the Mission serving mostly CDMX-style tacos. Despite the small-ish space, they have a good amount of seating and a little bar in the back where you can enjoy your asada, carnitas, and suadero.
Gola
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Gola, San Francisco’s only Tunisian restaurant, is now serving modern Tunisian dishes cooked in imported clay pots (otherwise known as gola). Slow-cooked overnight, the dishes are limited to dinner service, and are intended to be shared with anywhere from two to ten people. Options include halal lamb with vegetables, herbed chicken, and a seafood stew, and all heavily feature one of three types of harissa.
Far From Paradise Cafe
A new spot on the Parkside/Balboa Park border, Far From Paradise cafe is bringing malasadas and shaved ice alongside coffee in a lush, plant-filled interior.
APRIL
East Bay pop-up Edith’s Pie has a new brick-and-mortar in Oakland’s Uptown. The team is now serving up a selection of sweet and savory pies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—they’re open until 10pm on Friday and Saturday. Come for key lime pie, fruit pie, and their Scribble pie, featuring brown butter maple walnut with dark chocolate.
photo credit: Jesse Evan Cudworth
Wine Bar By Cassava
Cassava is launching a wine bar, aptly named Wine Bar by Cassava, in their old space in the Richmond. The short food menu includes burrata toast, short ribs croquettes, and ham hock terrine. They’ll also let you bring food in from a neighboring business and replate it for a small fee. Additionally, everything on the California section of their wine list is sourced from BIPOC-owned wineries.
Serving up a San Franciscan take on a New Orleans classic is Sandy’s, a pandemic-born muffuletta pop-up. The Haight location is decorated with NOLA-inspired art and photos from the New Orleans Jazz Festival. The muffulettas are available by quarter and eighth slices, and are filled with a combination of mortadella, prosciutto, soppressata, provolone, and spicy olive spread between Sicilian sesame bread.
Mid-Market wine bar Waystone is back after a three-year closure at a new location in North Beach (in the former Barrio space). Expect classics from the old menu such as a braised beef sandwich and new options like achiote baby back ribs. There’s also a substantial wine list focusing on selections from France and California.
photo credit: Brendan Mainini
Bearing West
New to the Outer Sunset is a seafood-focused, nautical-themed bar serving up fresh oysters, fish tacos, and clam chowder.
Muukata6395 Thai Charcoal BBQ
Mu Kratha is the name of the game at MuukaTa6395 Thai Charcoal BBQ. This style of Thai BBQ pulls elements from both Chinese hot pot and Korean BBQ, and seems like an exciting new option in the Richmond.
Oakland’s newest LBGTQIA+ bar has finally opened in the Uptown neighborhood. Expect a rainbow collection of drinks and many plants inside this I. Magnin building spot featuring a custom sound system and cushy velvet seating.
C.Q. Noodles
C.Q. Noodles is a new Chinese restaurant in the Richmond specializing in—you guessed it—hand-cut noodles. Their specialty is hand-cut noodle beef rib noodle soup. They also feature chongqing-style fried chicken wings and chicken cartilage skewers.
Taisan Huakee Restaurant
Beef brisket clay pot rice features heavily at Taisan Huakee in the Richmond. The menu also includes mapo tofu, steamed black bean sauce ribs, and a rotating house soup.
A new cocktail bar in the Marina, Rendezvous has arrived in the Marina with pop culture-influenced drinks. There’s the “Netflix and chill” featuring butter-washed amaro, and the #DuckieRosé, sangria served with a rubber duckie. They also serve up a small menu of eclectic food such as mortadella sliders, Swedish meatballs, and bacon-wrapped cocktail weiners. This space is eclectic–think flowers, interactive toys, and pink lights everywhere.
Nomu Skewers
Nomu Skewers is a new Japanese spot at the intersection of Union Square, Nob Hill, and Chinatown. They mostly focus on the aforenamed skewers, but also have a selection of udon and sashimi.
My-O-My Shawarma
This Canadian-inspired shawarma spot is the new kid on the block. It’s located in the former D’Yar Mediterranean space in Berkeley, right next to the UC Berkeley campus, so good news for the swarms of college students nearby.
The ground floor of the Kissel Uptown Oakland hotel is now Otto’s Uptown Kitchen, a coffee shop and all-day cafe serving up American and Californian classics, like BBQ ribs and the Kissel cobb salad.
Extra Butter
The newest incarnation of Between The Bun seafood shop, Extra Butter serves up decadent lobster rolls and crab sandwiches in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland.
After moving out of their previous location in Chinatown, City View Restaurant is back, this time in a new location down the block from the old spot. Expect the same solid dim sum selection served in more modern space.
Riji Cafe
Riji Cafe is a new small cafe in Parkside featuring coffee, tea, and bagels, plus breakfast staples like avocado toast, yogurt parfaits, and mango smoothies.
Banter Wine Bar
A buzzy new wine bar is opening up in El Cerrito. The bar features low-intervention wines served in a retro space. They also have a wine of the month club for serious wine drinkers.
In the basement of Bodega SF is SF’s newest underground speakeasy. They’re serving up classic cocktails with Vietnamese and Chinese ingredients, such as the Pho Wimmie, featuring fat-washed whiskey made with beef from Bodega’s pho. Also on offer are light snacks such as tom yum chex mix and shrimp chips.
Bay Area Filipino fusion food staple Señor Sisig has brought their sisig burritos and ube horchatas to a new cantina in downtown Oakland. It features a new menu of cocktails and shareables such as the lechon kawali plato and sisig-filled lumpia. There’s also a separate brand-new vegan menu.
La Sarrasine
Moving into the old Zaytoon spot on Divisadero in NoPa, this new French crepe and kebab spot promises buckwheat galettes, sweet crepes, and shakshuka, in addition to a selection of ciders from France.
Hanshin Pocha
A new outpost of a Los Angeles Koreatown hit is in Oakland. The gastropub features Korean comfort dishes such as dakbal and ojingeo bokkeum in a red-light-lit setting.
Monsoon
Over on Oakland’s Piedmont Avenue, Monsoon brings new Vietnamese food to the old Xyclo space. Open for lunch and dinner, they serve up pho, bánh mì, and more.
After quietly opening in early April, Bocanova has now made its grand opening in Oakland. They have a huge menu featuring dishes from across South America. There's also a large space and a patio that might be worth checking out.
Banh Mi Crunch
A brand new bánh mì spot in the Inner Sunset promises, naturally, bánh mì, in addition to barbecue rice plates and vermicelli salad bowls. This casual spot is open for lunch and dinner, and also serves up Vietnamese coffee and Thai iced tea to go.
Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar
From legendary East Bay roaster, Mother Tongue Coffee, comes their own cafe and bar near Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood. The new spot will serve up pastries and toast alongside their aforementioned coffee and cocktails like pisco palomas.
La Victoria
After moving the bulk of its operations to the Bayview, La Victoria Mexican bakery (formerly in the Mission) has opened up its production space to the community. They're selling traditional pan dulce directly out the back.
photo credit: Georgian Cheese Boat
Georgian Cheese Boat
As quite possibly the city’s only full-service Georgian restaurant, Cheeseboat in North Beach will showcase its namesake acharuli khachapuri, with khinkali, and a selection of Georgian wines.
Despite only intending to be open for a year or so, Lark Bar is still with us. They moved to a new location just around the corner on Market Street close to Union Square, and have settled into their new higher-key spot while maintaining their same menu.
From the people behind The Beehive and The Treasury comes a new FiDi bar that promises nature-focused cocktails served in a rustic and industrial space. They're serving up drinks such as the Leaf Water and Against the Grain featuring honeydew shiso cordial and wild cherry bark bitters.
Lower Pacific Heights’ newest all-day spot is Mattina, a Californian-Italian cafe and restaurant by the people behind SPQR. They’re only serving breakfast right now (think lattes, biscuit sandwiches, and scones). Eventually, they’ll have things like porchetta skewers and agnolotti with arugula pesto from 11am-9pm.
MARCH
photo credit: Aphotic
Aphotic
The 10-course tasting menu at Aphotic, an upscale spot in SoMa that was formerly Palette, is all about seafood. Dishes on the menu change seasonally, but expect to see things like prawn risotto with uni and crab head foam, or a rockfish crudo with wasabi, grapefruit, and garum.
photo credit: Tim Marsolais
Pizzeria Da Laura
At this Berkeley pizza spot from a Tony’s alum, you can pick between New York, Sicilian, Detroit, and grandma-style pies. Toppings range from housemade giardiniera with sausage and mozzarella to pepperoni with fermented honey or vodka cream sauce with garlic. They also serve pasta, calzones, and low-ABV cocktails.
The South San Francisco-based coffee wholesaler has officially opened its first cafe in the Dogpatch. In addition to espresso drinks and tea, they also have pan de queso, scones, and biscottis.
Fox and Lion Bread
Fox and Lion used to be a pop-up doing sourdough loaf pick-ups in the Lower Haight, and now they have a brick-and-mortar bakery space in the Mission. You can get loaves of bread, pastries, sandwiches, bagels, and pizzas.
The rotating La Cocina kiosk at the Public Market in Emeryville is now home to El Mesón. On deck are Chilean empanadas filled with beef, chicken, or spinach and mushrooms, plus baked goods like alfajores and tortas de hojarasca.
Boichik Bagel Factory
The newest location of Boichik Bagels is an expansion into their “Bagel Factory” located in West Berkeley. The massive space serves the same fantastic bagels, sandwiches, coffee, and cream cheeses as the original on College Avenue.
Cenote is a new Mexican spot in FiDi that’s open all day. They offer tortas, burritos, and tacos, along with breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros. Happy Hours with $5 flautas, quesadillas, and $8 margaritas are on weekdays.
K Banchan
For anything fermented, K Banchan in Oakland Temescal seems like a great place to stop by—they’re specializing in ready-made banchan. The casual spot also serves Korean sandwiches filled with bulgogi, grilled tofu lunch boxes, tteokbokki, and more.
Panda Noodles
Panda Noodles is a Chinese restaurant in the Richmond serving thick hand-cut noodles, clay pot noodles, braised pork belly or chicken over rice, and more. Their lengthy menu also includes a section of skewers, from pig’s feet to chicken heart and pork intestine.
Dumpling Zone
Dumpling Zone is a new Chinese spot in Forest Hill serving crispy shengjianbao, xiao long bao, and wonton soups. Noodles feature heavily on the menu, including chow mein, chili oil noodles, and fifteen different noodle soups.
Dumpling Union
Another new dumpling spot has landed in the Lower Haight. Dumpling Union, which also has another location in Cow Hollow, offers pretty classic steamed, boiled, and pan-fried dumplings, plus entrées like fried rice and chow mein.
The Dogpatch is now home to the second location of Bandit (the original is in the Tenderloin). The new outpost serves the same menu of burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and breakfast sandwiches filled with things like smashed tater tots, bacon, and eggs.
A new to-go coffee spot just opened up in the Mission out of Donaji. La Ventana serves horchata lattes, cafe de olla, and pinolillo con cafe, along with pastries and breakfast foods, like Oaxacan tacos with chicken tinga or cochinita.
photo credit: Albert Law
Xica
Xica is a new brunch and lunch spot from the people behind the now-closed Chica in Oakland. The Embarcadero restaurant serves entirely gluten-free Mexican dishes, from tacos on pitaya-tinted pink tortillas to rice bowls topped with proteins or mixed vegetables.
Starter Bakery has been selling their baked goods to cafes, grocery stores, and farmers markets for over a decade. Now, they officially have their first brick-and-mortar in Rockridge. The Oakland cafe serves espresso drinks, pastries like passionfruit madeleines and chocolate babkas, and sandwiches. Order to go or kick back at one of the tables inside the casual space.
photo credit: 5 Tacos and Beers
5 Tacos And Beers
5 Tacos and Beers’ first location is in Albany, and they just opened a second in Berkeley’s Elmwood. The new spot has the same menu of Mexican dishes as the original—think ceviches, flautas, and, of course, lots of tacos. They also have a few plant-based options, including vegan birria.
Dragon Horse is a Japanese bar and restaurant where you can get sashimi, sushi, and yakitori until 1am. The SoMa spot also serves cocktails made with ingredients like maitake mushroom-washed Kavalan and salty taro pandan.
FEBRUARY
The Korner Store Bites & Vibes
This Korean spot relocated from the Mission (in the space that’s now Bobop) to the Excelsior. For a $20 entry fee, The Korner Store Bites & Vibes will give you all-you-can-eat anju, or drinking snacks, like fried mandu, tteokbokki, and bulgogi. There’s also a live DJ every night, plus soju cocktails, beer, and wine.
Las Mestizas
Las Mestizas is a Yucatecan spot in the Marina serving everything from panuchos and chuletas to poc-chuc tortas and breakfast burritos. The casual restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
This new Thai restaurant in the Richmond has the option to order family-style meal sets or a la carte. Dishes include things like hat yai chicken, tom ka, and grilled halibut curry.
Rico Rico Vegano
Another new place serving pitaya tortillas is Rico Rico Vegano, a plant-based Mexican restaurant in Oakland from the people behind Rico Rico Taco. The Lakeshore spot does tacos with fillings like marinated hibiscus, sautéed cactus, and shredded king oyster mushrooms, plus quesadillas and burritos.
This upscale Indian restaurant in the Fillmore spotlights dishes from Southern India and Sri Lanka. You’ll find dishes like crab curry, black cod wrapped in banana leaves, and mysore masala dosas. This spacious spot is in an old converted bank, so look forward to a grandiose, plant-filled dining room.
Popi's Oysterette
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Bivalve fans in the Marina should be excited about Popi’s Oysterette, a raw bar and seafood spot that just opened in the old Glaze Teriyaki space. The snug place serves oysters, shrimp and crab Louie, and cioppino.
The latest new hotel restaurant to land in the city is Orafo in the Four Seasons Embarcadero. This one features Californian-Italian dishes all day—think brioche french toast, porchetta sandwiches, and squid ink linguine with uni butter.
Mamahuhu, the casual spot from the Mister Jiu’s team, just opened a second location in Noe Valley. The menu of Chinese dishes is the same as the original in the Richmond. Mapo tofu, broccoli and beef, tomato garlic chow mein, and more are on deck.
Desta Ethiopian Cafe
Taking over the old Chica Oakland space in Adams Point is Desta Ethiopian Cafe. It’s an all-vegetarian and vegan spot serving breakfast and lunch dishes like ful, sambussas, and veggie combos.
photo credit: Matt Stewart
Per Diem
Per Diem, the Californian-Italian restaurant whose original location is in the Financial District, now has a second outpost in the Transit Center. It’s got the same menu of things like burrata toast, pepperoni flatbreads, and wild mushroom bucatini.
Sluts The Wine Bar
The team behind Hi Felicia in Oakland just opened Sluts The Wine Bar in SoMa. It’s probably the only place in the city where you can drink natural wine while snacking on some Eggos or pizza Lunchables. Expect the same eclectic and over-the-top decor as their sister tasting menu spot, like splatter-painted bathrooms, a stripper pole, and a highly suggestive neon sign above the bar.
HK Lounge Bistro
A fire destroyed Hong Kong Lounge II’s original location in the Richmond back in 2019. Now, the Cantonese spot has reopened in a new space in SoMa. They continue to serve dim sum classics, like siu mai, steamed chicken feet, and sesame balls.
We checked out HK Lounge Bistro and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in SF.
photo credit: Casaro Osteria
Casaro Osteria
Casaro Osteria is a new Italian restaurant in the Marina from the people behind Il Casaro. The menu covers crudos and antipasti like meatballs and burrata, wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, and pastas like tagliatelle bolognese and fusilli with pesto.
Delah Coffee
Delah Coffee, one of our favorite spots for drinking Yemeni lattes over a book, just opened a second location in Uptown Oakland. They have the same menu of coffee and tea as the SoMa spot, along with excellent pastries like rose milk cakes and bee bites drizzled with honey.
Dento Coffee & Wine
This SoMa spot serves coffee, juice, and pastries in the morning, and at 5pm turns into a sake and wine bar. The evening menu includes Japanese small plates like gyoza, plus sashimi and hand rolls.
photo credit: Third Culture Bakery
Third Culture Bakery
Mochi muffins and donuts have officially landed in the Inner Sunset. Third Culture, the Berkeley-based bakery, is serving the mochi pastries in flavors like ube, Thai tea, passionfruit, and strawberry cream. They also have matcha lattes and cold brew.
Berserk Burger
Chopped cheese fans, take note—there’s now a place in Berkeley dedicated to the classic bodega sandwich. Berserk Burger also serves smashburgers, waffle and curly fries, and banana shakes.
photo credit: Leila Seppa
Left Bank Brasserie
Left Bank Brasserie has three locations throughout the Bay—their fourth is now in Oakland’s Jack London Square. The French restaurant features dishes like escargot, moules frites, and a raclette burger with maple glazed pork belly.
The Texas-based coffee shop just opened its first SF location inside of the Salesforce Tower WeWork. Espresso drinks are a given, but they also serve pastries by Craftsman and Wolves.
photo credit: Molly DeCoudreaux
Mili Wine Bar
If you’re looking for a new place to get flirty over pinot noir, try Mili Wine Bar in SoMa. In addition to wines by the bottle and glass, they also have snacky plates like charcuterie, caviar, and pork rillettes.
SF’s newest place to drink high up is Cavaña, a rooftop bar with skyline views located on top of the Luma Hotel in Mission Bay. The Latin American bar also serves small plates like shrimp aguachile and arepas with brisket stew, which you can get into while listening to live music or DJs.
Poppy Bagels is one of our favorite bagel spots in the Bay, and now the former pop-up has officially opened a brick-and-mortar in Oakland’s Temescal. Swing by the shop for open-faced bagel sandwiches, bagels and cream cheese, and “freshies” (a.k.a. whichever bagel just came out of the oven, served with butter and salt).
We checked out Poppy Bagels and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in the East Bay.
photo credit: United Dumplings
United Dumplings
The first East Bay location of United Dumplings is here. The dumpling spot in Oakland's Rockridge serves traditional steamed, boiled, and pan-fried dumplings, but also ones filled with bulgogi, or corn and mozzarella.
photo credit: Juice House Co.
Juice House Co.
New to the Ferry Building is Juice House Co., a shop specializing in cold-pressed juice. They’re also stocked with kombucha, nut mylks, cold brews, and curated juice cleanses.
JANUARY
photo credit: Castro Indian Restaurant & Bar
Castro Indian Restaurant & Bar
This new Castro Indian fusion spot serves a combination of traditional dishes, like dum biryani and uttapam, and more creative ones like chicken tikka linguine and Indian pizza. They also have cocktails and an ale they brew in-house.
Sisterita
SF’s latest breakfast and brunch spot is Sisterita, a Chinatown restaurant serving American and Thai-influenced dishes—like french toast, a benedict with green curry hollandaise, and fried chicken and waffles.
Sing Siu Zai Min
Sing Siu Zai Min is a casual spot in West Portal serving Japanese and Chinese dishes. You’ll find things like tonkatsu ramen and takoyaki, plus dim sum staples like siu mai and xiao long bao.
Oishinbo Sushi
Oishinbo Sushi is a Richmond spot that serves sushi to go (however, there are a few benches on the sidewalk). In addition to things like maki, specialty rolls, and hand rolls, they also have donburi topped with things like sashimi or unagi.
La Fromagerie
Looking for a new sandwich spot in the Marina? La Fromagerie seems like a great option. The cheese shop with established locations in SoMa, Union Square, and the Dogpatch has a new outpost on Chestnut Street. They have cheeses and meats in the deli, and croissant sandwiches and grilled cheeses, too.
Beluna Cafe
Beluna Cafe, located a block from the Panhandle, offers espresso drinks, bagels and sandwiches, plus two floors of seating. They also have WiFi, if you’re looking for a new place to bring a computer and get work done.
Mr. Hen is a Thai street food spot in the Castro located in the old Rooster & Rice space. The counter-service spot serves noodle soups, katsu noodle bowls, crispy pork belly over rice, and more.
Butter& started out as a home-based bakery, and now is a full-on cake shop in the Dogpatch. Swing by for slices and whole layered cakes, or coffee and tea. If you’re going for savory, they serve a fritatta with mashed potatoes piped on top.
Parche is a Colombian restaurant in Uptown Oakland in the old Brown Sugar Kitchen space. They’re serving things like empanadas, “ceviche” with chicharrón, and whole smoked cornish hens—plus cocktails, beer, wine, and housemade sodas.
We checked out Parche and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in the East Bay.
Alameda’s newest California cuisine restaurant is Saltbreaker. The upscale spot on the old Naval base serves a seasonal menu of dishes like housemade pasta with local chanterelles, steak frites, and smoked trout rillettes.
Taiyaki fans, rejoice: a new location of the popular U.S.-based dessert chain has officially touched down in Mission Bay. They're serving their signature made-to-order fish-shaped waffle cones filled with soft serve like matcha, black sesame, strawberry, and more.
Dave’s Hot Chicken
Fried chicken sandwich spots continue to proliferate in the Bay Area, and the latest spot to enter the scene is Dave’s Hot Chicken. Tenders, sandwiches, and cheese fries are all on deck at the counter-service spot in Uptown Oakland.
Dentō Union is a wine and sake bar that’s also a new live music destination. The Cow Hollow bar has shareable food options like sashimi, tartines, and cheese and charcuterie to snack on.
Juniper
Juniper is a casual cafe from Saint Frank, one of our favorite coffee shops in the city. The Polk Gulch spot specializes in filling choux pastry with everything from s’mores to parmesan custard and anchovies. They also have sweet and savory pastries like croissant sandwiches, muffins, and cookies.
photo credit: Hed Verythai
Hed Verythai
You order in sets at this Thai spot in Union Square spot. And each one includes a main and a couple of sides. A few to choose from are the Isan set with papaya salad, chicken satay, and duck larb, and the Northern set with stewed beef khao soi plus a soup of the day.
photo credit: Joseph Weaver
Akikos
Anyone who loves Akikos’ iconic shokupan topped with toro and caviar will be happy to know that the Japanese restaurant has reopened in a shiny new space in SoMa. They're still doing omakase for both lunch and dinner, and showcasing dry-aged sashimi, wagyu dumplings, and more.
We checked out Akiko and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in SF.
Anomaly is a pop-up-turned-restaurant in Lower Pacific Heights with an 11-course menu ($121 per person). The seasonal tasting menu features things like fennel prepared four ways and filet mignon with beet millefeuille.
photo credit: L'mida
L'Mida
SF’s newest spot for Moroccan food is L’Mida in the Marina. Za’atar manakish, beef tagine, and plates of grilled chicken, kafta, and lamb chops are all on deck, along with wine and beer.
Kitava has officially crossed the Bay Bridge and opened a second location in Oakland’s Temescal (the original is in the Mission). Expect to see the same healthy-ish rice and grain bowls, small plates like fried plantains and hummus, plus new additions like green smoothies and vegan soft serve.
photo credit: Inle Burmese Cuisine
Inle Burmese Cuisine
Inle Burmese Cuisine just moved from Noe Valley to a larger space in the Inner Sunset. The menu has since expanded to include Thai dishes like pad kee mao and Thai green curry. You can still order Burmese mainstays like tea leaf salad, fish noodle soup, and samosa soup.
Tons of hotel restaurants have been opening up in SF lately, and the latest to debut is Beacon Lounge inside the Beacon Grand in Union Square. The menu of seasonal American dishes covers everything from a grilled New York strip to crab louie and olive oil cake with roasted figs.
photo credit: Carly Hackbarth
Peaches Patties
The former SF-based catering company just hit a new milestone—it’s now a brick-and-mortar stall in the Ferry Building. Head over for Jamaican patties, grilled jerk chicken plates, and vegan stews.
We checked out Peaches Patties and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in SF.
Uchiwa Ramen
Noodle soup fans will probably appreciate Uchiwa Ramen in Emeryville. You can choose from four different kinds of broth for the ramen: tonkotsu, miso, shio, or shoyu. They also serve pan-fried ramen, rice bowls, and chashu tacos.
The people behind pop-ups El Chino Grande and Hén-zhì just opened a restaurant in the Mission inspired by Taiwanese night markets. They serve family-style dishes, which includes things like mala BBQ pork ribs and honey walnut shrimp and pork toast. In the future, they’ll offer brunch.
We checked out Piglet & Co and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in SF.
