San Francisco: Civic Center, Tenderloin, SoMa and the Mission
Asia SF 201 9th St tel 415/255-2742. More of an "experience" than a restaurant, this only-in-San Francisco spot features an all-drag-queen staff who put on a nightly revue. Though it can't compete with the show, the food's not half bad, either.Café Delle Stelle 395 Hayes St tel 415/252-1110. Serving strong renditions of the hearty cooking of northern Italy, with an emphasis on rich flavors and roasted meats.
Delfina 3621 18th St tel 415/552-4055. Friendly service and fantastic Italian cooking for $15 an entree. Well loved by locals, this tiny spot is packed on a nightly basis, so call ahead.
Harveys 1582 Folsom St tel 415/626-1985. Rowdy restaurant, where punky waiting staff serve up burgers, sandwiches and several vegetarian options for less than $10.
La Rondalla 901 Valencia St tel 415/647-7474. Lively, late-night Mission Mexican festooned in Christmas lights. Killer margaritas and good live mariachi music. Open till 3am. Doesn't accept credit cards.
La Taqueria 2889 Mission St tel 415/285-7117. The best place in town for a taco. Slightly pricier than average, it still consistently packs in a crowd by simply focusing on the basics and getting them right every time.
Manora's Thai Cuisine 1600 Folsom St tel 415/861-6224. Massively popular: you may have to wait, but it's worth it for light, spicy and fragrant Thai dishes at around $7 each.
Millennium 246 McAllister St in the Abigail Hotel tel 415/487-9800. You'd swear it couldn't be done, but this restaurant has managed to make delicious meals for vegans and is consistently rated as one of the best restaurants around. Stylish decor inside.
Pancho Villa 3071 16th St tel 415/864-8840. Though locals tend to scoff at the largely out-of-neighborhood clientele, the Mexican food here is consistently fresh and flavorful. Open til midnight.
Shalimar 532 Jones St tel 415/982-0333. A happy find in the downtrodden Tenderloin, this divey spot serves delicious, cheap Indian food, all of it made to order before your eyes, so you know it's fresh.
Slanted Door 584 Valencia St tel 415/861-8032. One of the trendiest restaurants in town, serving upscale Vietnamese to customers thankful for having successfully made reservations.
Suppenküche 601 Hayes St tel 415/252-9289. Satisfying and delicious German cooking near Civic Center in a loud, lively bar/restaurant decked out like a traditional Bavarian pub. Don't miss the potato pancakes appetizer - it's enough alone for a light supper.
Truly Mediterranean 3109 16th St tel 415/252-7482. Fast-threatening to overtake the beloved burrito as the locals' favorite portable dinner item, this hole-in-the-wall's version of the falafel comes wrapped in thin, crispy bread. A second location can be found at 1724 Haight St.
Tulan 8 6th St tel 415/626-0927. If you can brave the seedy Tenderloin neighborhood, you can stuff your face with fresh Vietnamese food for $4. Open daytime only.
Vicolo 20 Ivy St, off Franklin tel 415/863-2382. Superlative pizza in a crowded, café-like place in Hayes Valley, near Civic Center.
Zuni Café 1658 Market St tel 415/552-2522. Chic place to be and be seen, with California cuisine portions as minimal as the decor for around $35 with wine. The staff can be a bit snooty.
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