The September Hit List: Abacá, Nari, Heirloom, and More

The highly anticipated modern Filipino restaurant Abacá has arrived. The sister restaurant to Francis Ang’s Pinoy Heritage, you’ll find delicious things like chicken skin with adobo glaze, sisig fried rice with poached egg, pork steamed buns with black garlic, squid relleno, and more. Cocktails, wine, and beer are there to quench your thirst.

Jo’s Modern Thai opened on MacArthur last month, featuring food from chef Intu-on Kornnawong, formerly of Nari and Night + Market. Look for menu items like the spicy lab pla muak and brisket pad kee mao featuring meat from Smokin Woods BBQ.

No reservations. Get the full Resy Rundown here.

Speaking of Nari, now is as good time as ever to eat there, as they recently absorbed the staff from shuttered sister restaurant Kin Khao Dogpatch. Show them some love, and just let them cook for you — it’s really the best option. You’ll be beyond stuffed, and much of the fare holds well as leftovers.

Heirloom Cafe is back, featuring a $55 three-course prix fixe menu of fresh California fare and one of the area’s top wine lists to pair. A recent menu featured Brentwood corn soup, your choice of roasted salmon with crispy potatoes or duck confit salad, and strawberry shortcake or chocolate pot de crème for dessert.

 

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Sometimes you need a good ol’ Saturday brunch, with things like spinach and cheese frittatas, fried chicken sandwiches, shrimp and grits, and mimosas, of course. Get it all at Old Skool, a youth-run jazz-themed supper club in the Bayview, now on Resy.

Mourad in Soma makes for a nice blowout date night, but if you’re looking for modern Moroccan fare, the more casual Aziza is a great option. It’s chef-owner Mourad Lahlou’s firstborn, after all. Pro tip: the crispy basteeya is one of the best versions possible.

 

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From the folks that brought you Trick Dog comes Chezchez, a new aperitivo spot in the former Bon Voyage space, featuring classic cocktails and a long list of wine. This is a nice pre-dinner spot, or a place to linger while you snack on tinned fish, creamy beans a la Buvette, and plates of thinly sliced meats.

No reservations.

Whether you’re a transplant or a native, it’s not difficult to appreciate the hearty portions of Italian American red sauce and warm hospitality from Original Joe’s in Westlake. Their big thick burger is served on a sourdough roll and is a nice changeup from the Bay Area’s smashburger proliferation.

Reservations and walk-ins accepted.

There’s nothing quite like a long lunch at Zuni Café. Start with a martini alongside a dozen oysters, house-cured anchovies, those fries, and the chicken; it’s a classic combination that’s hard to beat. A bottle of Burgundy to pair is the way — white or red; your choice.

Reservations and walk-ins accepted.

The Chronicle’s epic burrito package had us craving the mighty foil-wrapped Mission missiles. In particular, on the corner of 24th and York, Taqueria San Francisco is a sleeper hit in our humble burritopinion. The burritos feature plump pintos and a nice steamed tortilla (essential), but it’s the one-of-a-kind vibe inside and outside that does it for us.

No reservations.

 

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Blessed be the old school donuteries. Around since 1959, Stan’s is a gem of a mom-and-pop. You’ll want to sit at the counter and grab one of the freshly fried glazed doughnuts. They’re ethereally soft, and almost melt in your mouth. Doughnuts shouldn’t do that, but these do, and they’re divine.

No reservations.