Sora Soba Dining. Photo by Virginia Miller. Japan has long been my top two favorite countries in the world… the other being my beloved Italia. Thankfully, I live in a city home to the first Japantown in the Western world since the 1800s. With literally hundreds of Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area alone — and California being home to… Read more →
Hamburguesa Bar. Photo by Virginia Miller. These 10 new(ish) restaurants — plus two bonus takeout/delivery spots — offer affordable, sometimes fun and delicious casual eats. These 12 cover the gamut: burger bar, Korean-Japanese katsu and udon, Yucatacen Mexican, hoagies, vegan Filipino, Chinese, Middle-Eastern, Indian and Tunisian-influenced wraps. Coffee shop tip: my favorite new neighborhood cafe is Yardsale Equipment Company in… Read more →
Reviewed in this article:
—Modern Indian Creativity from Veggies to Meat: Tiya
—At Five Years Ernest Remains One of SF’s Unsung Greats
—Two Michelin Magic: Saison
—Delicately Playful Dessert Tasting Menu: Nisei
—The U.S.’ Great Modern Guamanian Restaurant: Prubechu
—North African/Tunisian Treasure Turns 10: Barcha
—91-Year-Old Pizza & Pasta Legend: Tommaso’s
—Two Michelin Heights at 8-Year-Old Birdsong
—Asian Rooftop Delights: Good Good Culture Club
—Upscale Thai Offers a Steal of a Lunch: Hed11 Read more →
Jilli beef tartare. Photo by Virginia Miller. A Vietnamese classic reborn, hip Korean drinking den with food, modern British fare, Japan-worthy takeout-only sushi, healthy delivery and, yes, superb pizza… six standout new eateries plus four new takeout spots. As always, I’ve personally vetted and visited each: Vietnamese Classic Reborn: Crustacean, FiDiOpening in the Financial District in July 2025, Crustacean is… Read more →
From an affordable Michelin-starred to top Korean, private dinner parties to fish and game perfection, these five restaurants exemplify why SF remains a wonderland of upscale innovation that is simultaneously soulfully delicious: Read more →
Reviewed in this article:
— Modern Lebanese and Levantine Pop-up at Buddy: Ilna
— New Neighborhood Spot Ideal for Groups & Families: Fifty Vara
— Cocktails & Bites with Seafaring Touch: Bar Maritime
— Persian Mexican Lounge: Movida
— Japanese Hot Pot Lunch Go-To: Potto
— SF Chron’s #3 Keeps On Wow-ing: Rich Table
— Two Top Female Chefs Keep This 32-Year-Old Shining: Boulevard
— Killing It With Bold Veggie Dishes: The Progress
— The Farm-to-Table Legend Since 1971: Chez Panisse Read more →
Bar Iris’ Akadama cocktail. Photo by Virginia Miller. Since Michelin-starred Nisei opened in August 2021 and its neighboring Bar Iris in October, the one-of-a-kind modern Japanese duo has been faced with great loss as beloved Iris bar manager Ilya Romanov died tragically at the end of 2022. As Nisei evolved, proving why it’s one of the nation’s most forward-thinking Japanese restaurants,… Read more →
In this article:
—Steakhouse Extraordinaire: Niku Steakhouse, SoMa/Design District
—Playful, Modern Soul Food: Burdell, Oakland
—Thai Noodle Love: Khao Soi Shop Pop-Up at Nari, Japantown
—Michelin-Recommended Abura Soba Noodles: Kajiken, San Mateo Read more →
Sobakatsu’s cold zaru noodles. Photo by Virginia Miller. Japan is a land that perfects each native dish with restaurants entirely devoted to one item, from comforting okonomiyaki (savory “pancakes”) to delicately fried tempura. And often at a handful of seats in a tiny space. Enter Sobakatsu, a closet-sized restaurant with a max of 11 seats, no reservations and a sole focus… Read more →
Indonesian, Fried Chicken, Plant-Based Filipino, Pizza & More: 7 SF Restaurants Standouts of the Month Bar Jabroni sesame pancakes. Photo by Virginia Miller. These newcomers or new menus cover the gamut, from fried chicken to rare Indonesian food, plant-based Filipino eats to pizza. Alongside this month’s full restaurant and bar reviews — Starlite, Stookey’s, 5 fine dining spots, Mother’s Day brunch guide — these seven are… Read more →