15 Classic Restaurants Every San Franciscan Must Try

Louis’, Khan Toke (not one of but in fact the very first Thai restaurant in SF), Tommy’s, Gold Mirror, Greens, HOPR, Zuni, Swan, El Faro, all solid.

You can have a terrible meal at Tadich if you don’t know what to order, but at least it keeps the tourists out of Sam’s.

Tu Lan and Sam Wo are sort of ersatz modern versions of the classic health-code-scofflaw dumps that made them famous. Maybe Original Joe’s or Fior d’Italia.

Buena Vista, used to be an OK bar but only tourist traps serve clam chowder in a bread bowl.

John’s Grill, hell no. You’d be better off at the Stinking Rose or Old Crab.

Good read (and multiple reasons to avoid Tadich)

https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/tadich-grill-san-francisco-19456112.php

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List updated 5/10/24:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/best-classic-restaurants-sf-bay-area/

I don’t know why they left John’s Grill on when they kicked off the other losers.