Must-Have Food Experiences

You may leave your heart in San Francisco, but you most certainly won’t leave with an empty stomach. From famous firsts like martinis and sourdough bread to iconic eats like Mission burritos and Dungeness crab, San Francisco is what foodie dreams are made of. Whether you’re on a looking to satisfy your sweet tooth or a food-stall treasure hunt, you’ll want to check these items off your culinary bucket list. 

DEVOUR A BURRITO IN THE MISSION

Mission burritos are one of San Francisco’s most popular exports, and you can thank the residents of the Mission District for their handiwork. These so-big-you-can-bench-press-them flavor bombs are stuffed full and served with extras like rice, sour cream, salsa and guac. La Cumbre Taqueria claims to be the birthplace, but you can’t go wrong at El Farolito, La Taqueria and dozens of other Mission kitchens, either.

DINE ON DIM SUM

Among the many cultural gifts brought to San Francisco by Chinese immigrants is dim sum, an assortment of bite-sized pastries and dumplings served on carts and traditionally eaten for breakfast. Chinatown is ground zero for dim sum any time of day, with a bevy of sit-down and takeout spots lining the streets. More delectable dim sum can be found around the city, from Yank Sing in the Financial District to Hong Kong Lounge in the Richmond.

TASTE AMERICA’S FIRST CRAFT BEER 

Fun fact: America’s OG craft beer, Anchor Steam®, was first brewed here way back in the mid-1800s, fermented on rooftops and cooled by foggy night air. Taste it and other Anchor Brewing classics at Anchor Public Taps. Not a beer drinker? Opt for Anchor Brewing’s distilling arm, Hotaling & Co., to sip Junipero Gin, Nikka Whiskey and other award-winning spirits.

TREAT YOURSELF TO INCREDIBLE ICE CREAM

Ice cream is a popular dessert in San Francisco. Places to get your sweet fix include the worldfamous Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop, where you can indulge in a sundae topped with fresh-from-the-factory hot fudge, and local-favorites like Bi-Rite, Mitchell’s and Humphry Slocombe, known for its deliciously offbeat flavors like “Secret Breakfast,” made with bourbon and corn flakes.

TRY SOME OF EVERYTHING AT LOCAL FOOD HALLS

If you just want to taste it all, follow your stomach to San Francisco’s food halls, which pack loads of eclectic eats into one easy stop. Start your culinary adventure right off the plane at SFO’s Manufactory Food Hall, home to outposts of venerated restaurants like Tartine and Kin Khao. Sample everything from dumplings to Peking duck at China Live, a sprawling food paradise in Chinatown. And the iconic Ferry Building Marketplace is home to nearly 50 food merchants, plus the city’s most famous farmers market.

Hero image by Sasha • Stories on Unsplash