Editor’s Choice: 12 favorite restaurants in San Francisco

Choosing a Chinese restaurant in SF is a tall order—the city is, after all, home to some of the most legendary Chinese destinations in the country. But China Live is where you’re guaranteed to have an outstanding meal that’s ideal for bringing out-of-towners because the food and the lively space are just always that good. Grab a seat by the window to people-watch along Broadway, then dig into plates of pan-fried pork dumplings, Peking duck pockets, and salt-and-pepper crab.

Few meals are as transportive as a dinner at this cozy Noe Valley restaurant. The dishes genuinely feel like they appeared straight from Sardinia’s coast. You’ll feel that over and over again as you dig into plates of garlicky, just-al-dente-enough spaghetti with fish roe; spicy octopus stew that’s warm enough for chilly SF nights; and creamy fusilli with tuna. Date night in the backyard under the heat lamps is one for the books.

Eating at a MICHELIN-star restaurant can sometimes feel like a serious event, but that’s never the case at State Bird Provisions. The hardest part about eating here is just sticking to your order—you’ll find yourself craning your neck each time a dim sum cart passes by with plates of duck croquettes, broiled oysters, and steamed tofu, wishing it were on your table (and it can be, if you just ask). Either way, you’ll leave wanting to try more of the ever-changing menu next time.

Yes, Mr. Digby’s has rightfully earned its rep as a drinks hotspot for doing some of the best cocktails in the city—the dirty martini and the spicy, mezcal-based Snake Eyes are seriously on point. But not enough is said about the rich comfort food here. There’s cheesy-yet-crispy pull-apart spinach bread, a luxurious chicken pot pie with a flaky top, and deviled eggs you’ll have to stop yourself from eating too quickly. TL;DR: Mr Digby’s is meant for lingering.

Octavia is the kind of elegant, effortlessly cool place you go to impress your in-laws or parents. Chef Melissa Perello and her team put in a ton of work to source the freshest ingredients from nearby farms in their small plates, pastas, and larger entrees. The tasting menu with the wine pairing is especially worthwhile because the wine selection will knock your socks off. So will dessert—which could include pavlova with salted caramel espuma or blood orange with crème fraîche ice cream.

For when you really can’t be bothered to commit to just one dish, come to The Anchovy Bar. Better, yet, bring friends so you can maximize on the menu’s fishy goodness with anchovies, focaccia, and green garlic yogurt butter, broiled oysters, and trout gravlax—or go all out on the seafood tower. All of it goes down well with a glass of bubbly, like the riesling. On warmer SF days, angle for one of the precious outdoor seats.

Bansang is where you go for a fine-dining style experience—but dressing up is totally optional. The hit Daeho team builds on its casual Korean restaurant a few blocks away with showstopping creations like uni on crispy, buttermilk bread; thinly sliced fish in a slightly spicy broth with noodles; and crispy rice cakes with chorizo and roasted gochujang. The service here is extra-attentive, which will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy when dinner ends.

Lines at Burma Superstar are often long, but those in the know head to its sibling restaurant Burma Love for soulful Burmese food that’s just as good. Plus, the sleek wooden finishes and the double-height ceiling make this an ideal post-work dinner downtown (service is quick, so this is just as good if you want to suggest an impressive office lunch). You can’t really go wrong on the menu, but the tea-leaf salad and the flaky platha with a coconutty chicken sauce are musts.

Lokma does some of the best Mediterranean food in SF, but the go-to move here is to grab a spot outside for Turkish brunch so you can watch the fog lift in the Richmond. Choose from hearty plates of scrambled eggs with sweet peppers and feta; a fluffy omelet topped with tzatziki that you can dunk crispy potatoes in; and Greek yogurt pancakes with fresh fruit. Warm up with a cup of Turkish coffee or tea until the sky clears up.

A Caesar salad that’s literally harvested tableside, elegantly plated desserts that arrive on carts, and some of the best steak in the city—if the name didn’t give it away already, there’s nothing quite like a decadent, over-the-top dinner at celebrity chef Tyler Florence’s Miller & Lux. The Bay views from the floor-to-ceiling windows and the semi-circular leather booths make any night here feel extra glamorous.

Nepali food rarely gets the kind of showy treatment it deserves. Which is one reason to come to Dancing Yak, where the massive dining room has pops of yellow, blue, and purple and intricate murals on the wall. SF’s year-round mild weather means you’ll always want to order plates of steaming-hot momos, and there are three kinds to choose from here. Dip them into the creamy sauce in the middle and keep building on a meal of Nepali staples like sekuwa (grilled meats) and shapale (meat pies).

From the moment you first try the warm bread salad at Zuni, you’ll be hooked. That’s no shade to the roast chicken on top—the late Judy Rodgers’s California cooking made Zuni definition San Francisco for a reason. But the salad, moist from the chicken and with large chunks of bread, chewy-sweet currants, and pine nuts, is in a league of its own. The menu is seasonal, so expect exciting changes, but just remember that epic salad—and shoestring fries—are non-negotiables.