The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Follow the applause: that's the sound of organic tortilla-making in progress. You've found the Mission mother lode of handmade tamales, and pupusas …
Must-see restaurants in Northern California
North Beach & Chinatown
Observe this quasi-religious North Beach noontime ritual: enter Molinari, and grab a number and a crusty roll. When your number's called, let wisecracking…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
When you see happy dances break out on Mission sidewalks, you must be getting close to Mitchell's. One glance at the menu induces gleeful gluttony:…
Mammoth Lakes
Considering its more-than-mundane location in an industrial strip, Skadi comes as a surprise. Hip Swiss Alps decor and an innovative menu are the creation…
North Beach & Chinatown
Graduate from ho-hum sweet-and-sour and middling mu shu to sensational Sichuan dishes that go down in a blaze of glory. Warm up with spicy pork dumplings…
Lake Tahoe
With its sophisticated supper-club looks and live jazz (Thursday to Saturday evenings), this gourmet restaurant in the Truckee Hotel oozes urbane flair…
North Coast & Redwoods
Sit at the long redwood bar at this rustic-chic establishment and watch as experts shuck local oysters and top them off with intriguing sauces like…
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
Career carnivores won't realize there's zero meat in the hearty black-bean chili, or in Greens' other flavor-packed vegetarian dishes, made using…
North Beach & Chinatown
Ask Chinatown neighbors about their go-to dim sum and the answer is either grandma's or Good Mong Kok. Lines snake out the door of this counter bakery for…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
The name means one meaty main course plus three sides – though only superheroes finish ham steak with Creole red-eye gravy and exemplary grits, let alone…
Oakland
Few breakfasts can match the sheer perfection of a good bagel loaded with cream cheese, salmon, tomatoes and capers, and the version at Beauty's is, well,…
Monterey
With 'clouds' hanging from the ceiling and tube sculptures wriggling towards them, it's apparent that much thought has gone into the design of this dining…
San Francisco
VIP all the way: Baccarat crystal chandeliers, tawny leather chairs, rotating art collections and 2500 wines. Ladies who lunch dispense with polite…
North Beach & Chinatown
Bleary-eyed art students and Italian grandmothers line up by 8am for cinnamon-raisin focaccia hot out of the 100-year-old oven, leaving 9am dawdlers a…
South Lake Tahoe & Stateline
Serving upscale Italian without pretension, this tiny romantic eatery pairs succulent pasta, seafood and meats with an award-winning 300-vintage wine list…
Oakland–Grand Lake Farmers Market
Oakland
A rival to San Francisco's Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, this bountiful weekly market hauls in bushels of fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood, ranched meats,…
North Coast & Redwoods
Tucked into an intimate, warm-hued and bohemian-tinged setting, this spot is almost always busy. Choose from thin-crust pizzas, delicious salads (try the…
San Francisco
Stop by this little neighborhood gem for coffee and wood-fired bagels on your way to the Presidio, or return in the evening for unmissable martinis. Start…
Berkeley
Excellent Burmese fare includes some of the Bay Area's more authentic takes on mohinga (fish noodle soup), ohn no kauk swe (coconut-curry chicken soup),…
Lake Tahoe
Head west of town toward Carnelian Bay, where this always-packed, cheery wooden shack (never, in fact, a post office) serves scrumptious breakfasts:…
Berkeley
Berkeley does not lack for good Chinese food, but this enormous, upscale restaurant elevates the genre with Northern Chinese specialties like duck-bone…
North Coast & Redwoods
Gyppo injects a jolt of youthful energy into this aging community, brewing a dozen of its own ales and showcasing them alongside local wines and ciders…
Lake Tahoe
For breakfast, everyone heads to the friendly Fire Sign for down-home omelets, blueberry pancakes, eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, fresh made-from…
North Coast & Redwoods
This low-lit nautical-themed restaurant on the plaza promises sustainably harvested seafood, locally sourced produce and thoughtfully crafted cocktails…
Lake Tahoe
This casual, family run restaurant with local art splashed on the walls does it all: from-scratch soups, heaped salads, sandwiches, incredible burgers,…
North Coast & Redwoods
Easily the most happening place in town thanks to its inventive pizzas, creative salads and appealing barn-like atmosphere. Oh, and did we mention the 12…
Santa Cruz
Organic produce, baked goods and arts-and-crafts and food booths all give you an authentic taste of the local vibe. Shorter fall and winter hours.
Santa Cruz
A perennial local foodie fave, this chic and cosmopolitan lair harnesses mostly native products and turns them into triumphs of flavor pairings: Manila…
Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada
Excellent food and knockout views make the dining experience at Narrow Gauge Inn one of the finest in the Yosemite region. The dinners are creatively…
Yosemite National Park
Warm and welcoming, with high ceilings and sports on the large-screen TV and occasional music in summer, Rush Creek's tavern is ideal for a taste of low…
Yosemite National Park
Creative and satisfying, the Evergreen’s restaurant serves some of the best meals around, with big and delicious breakfasts, three types of burger (Black…
Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada
Burgers, fries and shakes served with a heavy dose of nostalgic Americana. Happy Burger, decorated with old album covers, boasts the largest menu in the…
Mt Shasta Region
It’s hard to describe this little microbrew pub without veering into hyperbole. Start with the beer: the crisp ales and porters are perfectly balanced and…
Berkeley
Worker owned since 1971, this co-op boasts (surprise) a great collection of cheese, a bakery with a changing selection of fresh bread, and a new…
Lake Tahoe
Housed at the trendy Cedar House Sport Hotel, this modern mountain-lodge dining room elevates Truckee’s eating scene with Californian flair, harmonizing…
Sacramento
In the catacombs under the historic Crest Theater, this gorgeous restaurant hosts a menu of creative, meat-focused dishes (including family-style options…
Yosemite National Park
With a killer view of Yosemite Falls, the window tables at this casual yet elegant contemporary restaurant are a hot commodity. Plates of NY strip steak,…
North Coast & Redwoods
This unexpectedly trendy restaurant has livened up Garberville's culinary scene with seriously delicious 'Asian soul food.' Gluten-free and vegan options…
Lake Tahoe
On a lazy summer afternoon, grab a table on the back deck that overlooks the boats bobbing at Tahoe City Marina. Barbecue chicken, ribs and steak light a…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
Sunny flavors, healthful ingredients, and easygoing elegance make Little Gem a San Francisco treasure. Chef David Cruz combines fine-dining tradecraft…
