Top Restaurants in the Mission District
www.sfmission.com/restaurants

The SF Mission District contains everybody's favorite form of diversity: a wide variety of cuisines for reasonable prices, in fact no Bay Area City or SF  neighborhood has more Zagat rated eateries (58). We are also well appreciated for our theatres and nightspots. This is also a foodie zone with some of the best dining experiences in one of the greatest restaurant Cities the world has ever produced.  A subject viewed with much anticipation as the first ever Michelin restaurant guide is prepared for 2007 publication. We gave up trying to pare this list to 100, it tops 130 with another 10+ listed for historic reasons or singular reviews. 

Hipsters Seize the Day" The rise of the www.yelp.com, a well funded San Francisco based start up with a better model for user generated content, has much to say about Mission eateries.  We wish them much success in taking on behemoth citysearch as they ramp up from their impressive beginnings hereabouts. We liked how they chose to be photographed on 16th St just a few steps from the birthplace of the bay area in their sfgate feature [19JUN2006]
Bay Guardian dot.gone Meanwhile in May of 2006  all the Bay Guardians links, some dating to 1997 went dot.gone (aka 404) so we've gotten busy on the always long overdue makeover.
The Mission's Ruling Restaurant Zone been cool so long now it is no longer wise to discover it but do note that only Berkeley challenges it as a foodie zone with the full range of cuisines, prices and atmospheres. Together with it's adjacent neighborhoods, SOMA, Potrero Hill, Bernal Heights, Noe Valley, Castro, Upper Market & Lower Haight can compete with any City or similar sized area in the world for the crown of world's greatest dining. This is increasingly being discovered by savvy visitors while the ethnic grit keeps the mainstream tourists of Chinatown, Northbeach and the F-wharf at bay. Yet as the Bay Bridge becomes more congested by the month, there's greater likelihood of the feared uncool influence of the bridge and tunnel crowd will add tube to their moniker and increase considerably their use of the incredibly convenient 16th and 24th Street BART stations.  
Criteria Selection
1) A Zagut 2006 review or listing on the Mission Merchants web site are automatic. After that a positive review needs to catch our attention. Once you've made the list you stay although you might get moved to the noteworthy section if your fading.
2) a location between Dolores & Potrero and Market & Cortland (all 94110 & southern part of 94103 zip codes)
3) dinner hours

Alhamra Indian/Pakistanis  3083 16th Street (at Valencia) (415) 621-3935 delivery Unassuming but good Pakistanis cuisine. Try the pakora (vegetable fritters). and fresh naan bread stuffed with onion and  potato Try the Chicken Boti Tikka it's great.  There is a really neat mural on the wall that has about a million stories to make up.  An important note: you can bring your own beverage

Panchita's #2 Salvadorean/Mexican 3091 16th St (at Valencia), (415) 431-4232 Salvadorean means papusas are on the menu W "un-scene" refuge from Valencia's freak show finds Latino families (and a handful of gringos) enjoying El Salvador's savory, straightforward fare, along with standard Mexican menu items food is inexpensive, the portions large, and the employees nice & friendly.

Truly Mediterranean Middle Eastern Fast Food 3109 16th St. (near Valencia St.); trulymed.com (415) 252-7482    best chicken shwarma ever to be found ...falafel, schwarma and dolmas are great...the falafel steals the show 

Ti Couz Creperie, Bistro, Breton-French 3108 16th St. (near Valencia St.); (415) 252-7373 G!!WNS reviews at Cuisinenet.com ||If you can’t get a table, sit at the counter, drink a bowl of cider, and watch the chefs flip and fold a wondrous variety of sweet and savory buckwheat crepes STi Couz(L.J.) the salade de maree and it's so damn good

Pork Store Caf American 3122 16th St.(bet. Guerrero & Valencia Sts.) 415-626-5523 hearty diner food for a reasonable price...best weekend breakfast in town 

Picaro Cafe (Spanish) 3120 16th (btwn Valencia & Guerrero) 415-431-4089 rarely will there be a wait if your trying to catch a show nearby Sangria, Tortilla De Patata and Patatas bravas and Grilled Calamari they just go in perfect harmony with the cool settings of Picaro in the Middle of Mission.

Pakwan Indian 3180 16th St. (near Guerrero) pakwanrestaurant.com (415) 255-2440 No credit where one can eat a ton of "amazingly tasty Pakistani and Indian food" "and spend hardly a thing" $ZG!! B 2006 Award for Cheap Eats cheap, tasty, good food...its *dirt* cheap (pun intended) 

Tokyo Go Go Japanese Asian 3174 16th St. [btwn Guerrero & Valencia since 1988] tokyogogo.com (415) 864-2288G !!S B The Kobe beef sashimi here is to die for.  The salmon tuna tartare appetizer is also a feast of orgasmica in your mouth.  The drinks at the bar are stiff like I like em and the food is impeccable.  By far my favorite sushi in the City. Claire C.

Andalu 3198 16th St (@Guerrero) (415 621-2211 Eclectic Latino and Asian combinations. Tapas Z $$ ...CitySearch multiple winner ..."after eating at Andalu I feel like celebrating." -- Michael Bauer [top 100 sfgate]  Valet Parking

Elephant Bleu Vietnamese 3232 16th St. (at Guerrero), S.F. (415) 553-6062. Takeout available. Tues.-Fri., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m.-midnight. No Credit or Reservations Elephant Bleu is a star among the other Asian offerings in the Mission...best Vietnamese food in the city for sure...Thuy is always quick with the tea and appetizers. It's like having my own Vietnamese mom  

Il Cantuccio($) 3228 16th Street San Francisco,CA94103 cantucciosf.com  (415) 861-3899 all about fresh pasta. Three kinds of remarkable housemade ravioli are offered: spinach, pumpkin, and crab--all are delicious CitySearch 2003 Audience Winner   charming, intimate, has a wonderful menu, good wines...the homemade gnocci and ravioli are a must...  One of the nicest wait staff in the city as well!"

18th & Guerrero
parking is tough on the block known as the "gourmet ghetto"

 Yamo Thai Kitchen Burmese 3406 18th St.(between Mission and Valencia) (415) 553-8911 3rd & latest incarnation of Yamo is *not* a Thai restaurant at all, it's Burmese Prices are low ($5.25), which is appropriate for a tiny hole in the wall like this, but still appreciated.  The new owners (Burmese ladies + daughter) are friendly and helpful,

Balompie Cafe Salvadoran 3349 18th Street (at So.Van Ness) Papusas are a stand-out here with a large variety of ingredients.  They make them to order and grill instead of fry them... Order a side of plantains and sour cream, and one of their delicious aguas frescas, sit back and watch the futbol game and loosen your belt

Minako Organic Japanese Restaurant 2154 Mission St (415) 864-1888 "Best sushi in the Mission.  The decor is pretty spartan, but the fish is excellent.  Very consistent in quality, a good place for experimenting with new flavors.  My only quibble is that the rolls are a bit too big to comfortably eat in a single bite.

Palacio Latino. Guatemalan and Salvadoran 2240 Mission (at 18th St.), S.F. (415) 626-4879. to 8:30 p.m. Credit B sept-98 DL

Little Baobab 3388 19th Street [at Mission] (415) 643-3558  $ SW B Nicely presented smallish portions of real good food, friendly service, and excellent atmosphere... "you'll love their cheap, stiff drinks which are unlike any I've had elsewhere ...Fun restaurant and sometimes good food. I found the service to be so-so while the meat can be on the dry side. The appetizers were great and so was the seafood."

BiRite Market 3639 18th St. biritemarket.com since 1940 its been run by Sam Mogannam's family. Large assortment of ready to eat foods expertly prepared. Take your delicacies to nearby Dolores Park

Delfina Italian, Mediterranean, 3621 18th St.(between Dolores and Guerrero) (415) 552-4055 Dinner nightly Reservations Recommended B W G!!! review S There’s no hiding behind garnishes and embellishments here; the food is thoughtful but simple (S.D.) !!! roar of happy diners builds Valet Parking

Pizzeria Delfina 3611 18th St.(Guerrero St.) 415-437-6800

Platanos (Central and South American) 298 Guerrero (@18th St) Potpouri menu of dishes from throughout the Spanish-speaking Americas. Ceviche, chile relleno, and plantains to name a few. W $$ Valet Parking

Tartine Bakery (French Bakery/Cafe) 600 Guerrero (at 18th) 415-487-2600 sweet and savory baked good" "done to perfection" "not enough seats and "slow moving line" Z ... "the best bakery-cafe in the Bay Area. Since they opened it in June 2002, husband-and-wife team Chad Roberson and Elisabeth Prueitt have set new standards ---Top 100 Restaurants 2006

Nihon Whisky Lounge Izakaya 1779 Folsom St. (14th St.) nihon-sf.com 415-552-4400
"I felt like I walked onto one of the sets of Charlie's Angels (Diaz / Liu / Barrymore generation), but in a very intimate, highly stylized, non-cheeseball sort of way....the rolls are artistically presented and bite size, requiring no heimlich maneuvers nor storing a la hamster cheeks. They're the perfect balance of crunch and gooey-ness. I don't presume to know the first thing about whiskey/whisky, but the lychee mermaid was delicious Irene S.

Double Play Restaurant (American) 2401 16th Street (at Bryant) across from Potrero Center) (415) 621-9859  Large dining rooms, cool bar with lots of regulars and their own parking lot.

Il Pirata (American)2007 16th Street [nr Potrero] (415) 626-2626  Great place for an event with 2 large patios the food here hit or miss, never too excited by it.... great dive with great food

Chez Spencer82 14th St Cross Street: Folsom Street
$$$ (415) 864-2191 2003 Editorial Winner top 5 Mission Citysearch a great place for a cozy, romantic dinner ...If you like French food, you are in for a treat.

Slow Club eclectic and tapas-heavy, 2501 Mariposa, (at Hampshire) (415) 241-9390 [since 1991] WSC   Top 100 Restaurants 2006 It would be easier to find this place if the reviewers would not call this location Potrero Hill or Soma.

Circolo Asian,Nuevo Latino  500 Florida St.(Mariposa St.) circolosf.com  415-553-8560 full bar, open late, catering, good for groups, private rooms. Excellent food in a dramatic space. Easy parking near Theatre Artaud  

Universal Cafe American 2814 19th St(between Bryant and Harrison) universalcafe.net (415) 821-4608 SCW
  hidden jewel. The brunch menu is absolutely creative and constantly changes weekly/biweekly... Trendy atmosphere, very attentive staff. And the head chef / owner demands that everything be perfect for her patrons.

Blowfish, Sushi to Die For Sushi 2170 Bryant (at 20th St), blowfishsushi.com 285-3848 B W a twenty something crowd chowing down edible art produced by youthful journeyman sushi-chefs ORGASMIC SUSHI!  Try the Super Dynamite Roll...they will melt in your mouth...Blowfish earned it's hoopla for sure. It's just plain good....This place does details very well.

El Metate Mexican 2406 Bryant Street [at 22nd St] (415) 641-7209   Simply the best Mexican food in the Mission, which by extension, could mean the whole damn country.  The veggie burritos have actual broccoli, carrots and zuchinni in them.  The quesadillas are excellent, with gooey cheese inside and oaxaca cheese on top.  Their guacamole and salsas are the best around. Ben V.

Sushi Zone Japanese 1815 Market Street (415) 621-1114  atmosphere is relaxed, and the room is ridiculously small...."I think I have to knock a star off all my other sushi reviews after eating at Sushi Zone...expect to wait anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours  

Yum  Gourmet Grocery Store Italian 1750 Market Street (415) 626-9866 more like a gourmet food museum than a grocery store

Destino 1815 Market St. destinosf.com (415) 552-4451
a casual Latin Cafe introducing authentic cuisine at affordable prices. Ornate golden mirrors surrounded by rich amber stained walls convey a comfortable colonial cafe setting

• Arinell Pizza 509 Valencia (at 16th Street), 255-1303
  W Best New York-Style Pizza Slice  The Mission's oldest pizza by the slice venue at the nexus of 16th & Valencia

• KFC-Taco Bell Fast Food 200 Duboce Avenue (415) 431-1613

• Bruno's 2389 Mission St. (between 19th and 20th) San Francisco 94110 (415) 550-7455 G Closed in 2005 & opening soon in 2006
• Chavita's Restaurant 3006 Mission St. (at 26th St.), S.F. (415) 285-6927. Takeout available. Daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Credit cards not accepted. Wheelchair accessible. B the atmosphere at Chavita's is nitty-gritty bare-bones basics: tables, chairs, walls, jukebox, TV with Mexican soap operas, then baseball, and a sort of a shrine to Budweiser, the King of Beers. Aug-98 DH
• New Central Restaurant Mexican 301 South Van Ness (at 14th St.),(415) 255-8247 Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. No Credit Noisy near the jukebox. B Mar 2000 PR Hanging on for 20+ years in a very standard kinda way

• Fina Estanpa Peruvian 2374 Mission Street, (Between 19th and 20th Streets) 415-824-4437 One of the better Peruvian restaurants I've been to in the USA. Ambiance and food were excellent....The homemade salsa is to die for. This original location is closed but the excellent food and atmosphere lives on at their 1100 Van Ness (at Geary)

• Paisanos Cafe. 3017 Mission (at 26th St.), S.F. (415) 826-1865. G the doughnut and sandwich joint where I had a perfectly fine pork tamale ($1.50) and a lovely cake doughnut (55) for breakfast today. April-2000 DH
• Whiz Burger Drive-In 700 South Van Ness, (at 18th) (415) 824-5888 W who doesn't need a quick jaunt out to a place where onion rings still count as a vegetable Appeared in George Lucas breakthrough film, American Graffiti parking lot

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recently closed

One of the Mission's great bargain bites moved on in June 0f 2006 when Saigon Saigon at Valencia & 22nd shut down. Here's where we keep tabs on this