2019-12-19 14:34:41
9 MUST-HAVE San Francisco FOOD & DRINK EXPERIENCES You may leave your heart in San Francisco, but you most certainly won’t leave with an empty stomach. From famous firsts like martinis and sourdough bread to iconic eats like Mission burritos and dungeness crab, San Francisco is what foodie dreams are made of. Whether you’re on a Michelin-star splurge or a food truck treasure hunt, you’ll want to check these items off your culinary bucket list. FEAST ON SEAFOOD AT FISHERMAN’S WHARF. Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the most famous places in the world for fresh-off-the-boat seafood. there are a few specialties you shouldn’t miss. Italian-American dockworkers are credited with inventing cioppino, a tomato-based stew consisting of fish, shrimp, clams and whatever else is left over from the day’s catch. try it at Cioppino’s or Alioto’s, which first began selling the stew on the docks back in 1925. San Francisco is also known for dungeness crab and oysters, thanks to the chilly Pacific waters just off the coast. take a crack at ’em at Fog Harbor Fish House or Franciscan Crab restaurant, two quintessential Fisherman’s Wharf restaurants with sparkling bay views. SCORE SOME LEGENDARY SOURDOUGH BREAD. Perfect for soaking up cioppino or holding steaming chowder, sourdough bread is one of San Francisco’s most iconic food creations. taste the Original San Francisco Sourdough at Boudin Bakery & Cafe, which has been churning out piping-hot loaves since 1849, making it the longest continually operating business in the city. Other can’t-miss bakeries include Acme Bread and the James Beard Award-winning tartine. DEVOUR A BURRITO IN THE MISSION. Mission burritos are one of San Francisco’s most popular exports, and you can thank the residents of the Mission district for their handiwork. these so-big-you-can-bench-press-them flavor bombs are stuffed full and served with extras like rice, sour cream, salsa and guac. taqueria la Cumbre claims to be the birthplace, but you can’t go wrong at el Farolito, la taqueria or dozens of other Mission kitchens, either. WARM UP WITH AN IRISH COFFEE. It may have originated in the emerald Isle, but Irish Coffee was perfected and popularized in San Francisco back in the 1950s. Inspired by a boozy pick-me-up served in Ireland’s Shannon Airport, Buena Vista Café co-owner Jack Koeppler and Pulitzer Prize-winning travel writer Stanton delaplane teamed up to create the perfect blend of hot coffee, Irish whiskey and whipped cream that is now so famous, the café serves up to 2,000 of them every day! DINE ON DIM SUM. Among the many cultural gifts brought to San Francisco by Chinese immigrants is dim sum, an assortment of bite-sized pastries and dumplings served on carts and traditionally eaten for breakfast. Chinatown is ground zero for dim sum any time of day, with a bevy of sit-down and takeout spots lining the streets. More delectable dim sum can be found around the city, from Yank Sing in the Financial district to Hong Kong lounge in the richmond. TASTE AMERICA’S FIRST CRAFT BEER. Fun fact: America’s OG craft beer, Anchor Steam, was first brewed here way back in the mid-1800s, fermented on rooftops and cooled by foggy night air. taste it and other Anchor Brewing classics on a behind-the-scenes tour at Anchor Public taps. not a beer drinker? Opt for Anchor Brewing’s distilling arm, Hotaling & Co., to sip Junipero Gin, nikka Whiskey and other award-winning spirits. TREAT YOURSELF TO INCREDIBLE ICE CREAM. Thanks in part to the Museum of Ice Cream (and its much- Instagrammed sprinkle pool), San Francisco has become a hotspot for the cool treat. Other places to get your sweet fix include the world-famous Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop, where you can indulge in a sundae topped with fresh-from-thefactory hot fudge, and local-favorites like Bi-Rite, Mitchell’s and Humphry Slocombe, known for its deliciously offbeat flavors like “Secret Breakfast,” made with bourbon and corn flakes. SIP A MARTINI IN NORTH BEACH. Yet another San Francisco creation that took the world by storm, the martini was reportedly first stirred (or was it shaken?) at the Occidental Hotel by the “father of American mixology,” Jerry Thomas, sometime in the late 1800s. Sadly, the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire destroyed the hotel, but the cocktail has lived on. Enjoy some of the finest martinis in town along with a classic Italian meal at North Beach institutions like Tony’s Pizza Napoletana and Original Joe’s. TRY SOME OF EVERYTHING AT LOCAL FOOD HALLS. If you just want to taste it all, follow your stomach to San Francisco’s food halls, which pack loads of eclectic eats into one easy stop. Start your culinary adventure right off the plane at SFO’s Manufactory Food Hall, home to outposts of venerated restaurants like Tartine and Kin Khao. Sample everything from dumplings to Peking duck at China Live, a sprawling food paradise in Chinatown. And the iconic Ferry Building Marketplace is home to nearly 50 food merchants, plus the city’s most famous farmers market.
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