A Neighborhood Guide to the Best Food in the Bay Area

The biggest mistake newcomers make with Bay Area food is eating by app rating instead of by neighborhood. The region's food is hyper-local — each pocket does something better than anywhere else. Here's a neighborhood-by-neighborhood cheat sheet to eating well.

The Mission

Burritos and Latin American food, full stop. The taqueria debates here are religious (you'll pick a side on the burrito question fast), and the neighborhood also hides excellent ice cream, bakeries, and some of the city's best new restaurants. Bring cash, and bring patience for lines.

Richmond and Sunset

The avenues hide some of the best Chinese, Vietnamese, Burmese, and Russian food in the country, often in unassuming storefronts. This is where locals go when they want the real thing without the wait or the markup. Foggy, residential, and deeply rewarding.

Oakland

Arguably the most exciting food in the region right now, and more affordable than San Francisco. Temescal, Fruitvale, and downtown deliver everything from standout Ethiopian and Mexican to ambitious new American. Don't let the bridge stop you.

Chinatown and North Beach

Old-school dim sum and roast meats in Chinatown; Italian and great espresso in North Beach. Two historic neighborhoods back to back, ideal for a long, wandering eating day.

How to use this

Pick one neighborhood per outing and go deep — a savory spot, a sweet spot, and a coffee. Anchor it with a stop from our farmers markets guide, and for the best new openings, follow the experts in the best SF food blogs. It all connects in our foodie guide to eating like a local.

Don't forget the trucks and brunch

Neighborhood eating isn't just restaurants — the food trucks with cult followings and the brunch spots with the best community vibe are part of every neighborhood's identity.

The best neighborhood tips come from people who live there. Jump into Tribe's Bay Area Foodies community and crowdsource your next great meal. Find us on the app.