Now on Resy: Collina, Mijoté, Prik Hom, and More Local Favorites

A skip from Union Square, the expansive patio — and legendary drag brunches — are the main draw for cocktails, shrimp hushpuppies, shaved Brussels salads, and honey fried chicken sandwiches. It’s delicious fun any way you shake it. 

You might be here for the music, but the food isn’t an afterthought. A perfect date spot, this Tenderloin supper club features great live jazz and food to match. Choose from classics like crab cakes, shrimp and grits, big salads, and steak frites, or get a set menu to keep decisions simple.

This is the place to go to when you want youtiao — long, golden, deep-fried Taiwanese doughnuts — and spiked boba cocktails for brunch, or sesame peanut noodles or a smash burger at night.

The room is charming, and the service is friendly and accommodating — everything you’d want in a go-to Thai spot. The menu brings a coastal vibe, with dishes like fried calamari with tom yum aioli, jumbo prawns in red curry, and lobster tail smothered in yellow curry, alongside more familiar dishes like crab fried rice and noodles. 

Magic and fantasy are the themes at this grown-up wonderland beneath a towering dragon statue. Bewitching murals, Harry Potter references (you will see a Quidditch broom), and an eerie, light-streaked floor help set the scene for a menu of conjured-up libations (yes, there is Butterbeer) and a menu full of dishes like deviled dragon eggs and an enchanted burger.

The narrow, minimalist space belies the bright, aromatic, and flavor-packed dishes that come out of this kitchen. This is Thai food with a Michelin nod, after all, where the menu ranges from sweet scallops with shredded lemongrass and chili jam to beef cheek curry, spicy papaya salad with fried quail, and inky squid stir-fry. A glass or two of skin-contact wine, some mango sorbet and sticky rice, and you’re set.

Much like Kaiyo Cow Hollow and the rooftop restaurant just an elevator ride away, Nikkei cuisine is alive and well at this iteration on the hotel’s ground floor. Peruvian and Japanese flavors and ingredients abound, from individual oysters bathing in leche de tigre to super shareable plates of lomo saltado. The drink menu differs from the rooftop, so consider one here, one there, and call it a night. 

The small space filled with Japanese daruma dolls and good luck cats looks like something you stumbled upon in a Tokyo alleyway. The food feels just as intimate and inviting — things like a breaded pork cutlet over scrambled eggs and steamed rice (a mainstay) and the quirkily named “stupid tuna roll,” most likely named for the absurd amount of tuna sashimi and uni draped over the sushi roll.

The crowd’s young, purple lights and neon create a cool vibe, and everyone’s digging into puffy-crust pizzas, dips, and skewers. Stick around for late-night hookah.

They may be trying to reinvent history at this iconic, nearly 100-year-old bar, but the place still has soul. The old and new commingle — yes, there’s a perfect pint of Guinness waiting for you, but also an espresso martini or Negroni — and you can never go wrong with a Scotch egg. Or a smash burger, for that matter.

How can you not have fun at a place serving wood-fired pizza topped with hot dogs and French fries? Everyone seems to be having a blast here, where the wine flows easily, and the pies come hot and bubbly from the oven. There are classic toppings, of course, plus shareable starters like meatballs, arancini, and arugula salads. 

You’ll try to order everything all at once, but here’s a tip: Make repeat visits. That’s what this cozy Cal-Italian spot is built for. Maybe it’s fried olives and handmade ricotta-lemon ravioli with a glass of wine, one day. Another, little gem salad and a few wood-fired pies. Halfway through the mortadella pizza with burrata and pistachios, you’ll realize you didn’t even touch the mains and dessert yet — and you’ll plan your next meal accordingly.

This neighborhood favorite feels like family, which might have to do with all the photos lining the walls. Pizzas are the stars, anything from pepperoni with hot honey to cauliflower, caper, and pepperoncini. Throw in some arancini and a wild arugula salad, and the night is set.

While this isn’t solely a gluten-free restaurant, the Berkeley spot has become a favorite for the GF crowd thanks to a stellar pizza dough and pasta options. Meatballs in sugu, great salads, and cocktails are a must either way.

A neighborhood-focused sushi spot for traditional nigiri, fresh fish selections, and unique combination rolls, that’s Kuma for you. The vibe is fun and friendly, and the sushi is seriously good. Think gleaming pieces of fluke, kanpachi, or sea bream, alongside a perfect spicy tuna roll with pineapple and avocado.

The familial vibe is hard to escape, and you’ll never get out of this North Beach gem without feeling that warm embrace. Comforting Italian classics, like gnocchi in tomato cream sauce or eggplant parm, are hard to beat.

At the always-reliable Boulettes Larder, chef Amaryll Schwertner and co-owner Lori Regis are doing what they do best: infusing local farm produce with flavors from around the globe, all within a stunning yet unfussy waterfront locale.

The little 10-seater flies under the radar, but in truth, it’s one of the best bangs for the omakase buck. Fresh fish from Japan and other top-notch ingredients (including Wagyu), delicious presentations, and great service — it’s all you need, really.

As one of the first Mexican wine bars to open in the United States, Cantina Los Mayas will open your eyes to the wines, regions, and producers of Mexico, such as Baja California’s vaunted Guadalupe Valley. And if you know sister spot Taqueria Los Mayas, you’ll know that the food here is also stellar.

Thanks to the sprawling space and cuisine-spanning menu, this Union Square spot is conducive to groups, but it’s equally great for solo diners or couples looking to share a few bites. There’s a great bar and outdoor space (and happy hour is always bustling). A few things that should always make the rounds: crispy Indonesian corn fritter bites, hoisin spare ribs, and butternut squash dumplings.

If you want a restaurant as boisterous as the Silicon Valley crowd, head straight to Bird Dog. Influenced by Northern California, Japan, and other bastions of fine ingredients, the sleek restaurant, helmed by chef Robbie Wilson, packs global flavors into delicious seasonal plates that you won’t want to share.

Square pizza is all the rage at award-winning pizzaiola Laura Meyer’s spot. Doesn’t matter if it’s Sicilian, Detroit or grandma-style, the crust to topping ratios are all on point. Mix and match to compare, and throw in a New York-style thin-crust for good measure. Don’t overlook other parts of the menu, though: Caesar salads, meatballs, and spaghetti smothered with ragu, her Dad’s own recipe. 

From a perch with views of the Ferry Building, you’ll find flatbreads with Cowgirl Creamery cream sauce and mushrooms, or merguez and caramelized fennel, and beautiful dips and salads to share around the table. Cocktails are a sure-fire win.

Any night in Russian Hill is a good one with a stop at this hidden neighborhood gem. Spanish staples like beautiful gin and tonics, paella, and charred octopus matched with butter lettuce salads and house-cured salmon flatbreads make any day better.

Of course you can get curries, chicken tikka, and masala specialties at Kinara, but it’s how you get them that makes the place. The blend of traditional Indian flavors in things like ribs (marinated in tandoori barbecue sauce), pizza (topped with curry sauce and marinated chicken), and fries (smothered in paneer and tikka masala sauce) gets the raves.