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5 days ago | 
theinfatuation.com | Julia Chen |Patrick Wong |Ricky Rodriguez |Lani Conway
Beit Rima in Duboce Triangle is loud (as is their other location in Cole Valley)—so any dramatic personal details are kept relatively confidential while you swipe pita through every square inch of the no-skips mezze sampler. Be sure to throw in the puffy za’atar-topped house bread to get the last bits of tangy lebna and the muhammara that’s smooth enough to lay a brick wall. When your group has so much to catch up on that you have a shared Notes app agenda, book a table at Kitchen Istanbul.
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1 week ago | 
theinfatuation.com | Julia Chen
This Mission bar is from the people behind local amaro brand Brucato Amaro. Their liqueurs feature heavily on their cocktail menu, but they also have small plates like chicken fat-fried fingerlings, burrata with kumquat calabrian chili crisp, and spaghetti alla bottarga. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists.
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1 week ago | 
theinfatuation.com | Julia Chen
German street food has landed in Uptown Oakland. Black Forest Kitchen serves Berlin-style döner kebab in sandwich or salad form (they also have a plant-based version). We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists.
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1 week ago | 
theinfatuation.com | Julia Chen
The Flour + Water Pizzeria team has opened a spot in Mission Rock, with whole pies, soft serve, and their fantastic mozzarella sticks. This outpost also has slices, boozy slushies, and an exclusive dish: garlic fries with cacio e pepe dipping sauce. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists.
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2 weeks ago | 
theinfatuation.com | Julia Chen |Patrick Wong |Lani Conway
If there’s one thing SF isn’t good at, it’s staying up late. Thankfully, there are places like Big Apple Pizza N Grill. The Tenderloin bodega-style counter-service spot—opened by a team from NYC—is open until 3am most days except for Friday and Saturday when they’re feeding late night crowds until 5am. Get the forearm-length chopped cheese first and foremost and consider getting a slice of pepperoni pizza if you’re feeling nostalgic about a New York dollar slice (but willing to pay $5 for it).
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3 weeks ago | 
theinfatuation.com | Julia Chen
Lou’s Cafe is, rightfully, a highly respected pillar of the SF sandwich community, and one we love for their consistently massive and dialed-in subs. Their Financial District location is no different. The takeout spot is typically frequented by lanyard-clad office people milling about during their 20 minutes of daily allotted sunlight.
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3 weeks ago | 
theinfatuation.com | Julia Chen
Ted’s Bakery is a plate lunch destination. The takeout counter attracts lines daily for their heaping katsu plates, charred BBQ short ribs, and loco moco. And while the savory stuff is all great, you’re really here for the chocolate haupia pie. The wiggly dessert is well worth any time spent sitting in highway traffic—it’s velvety, creamy, and finished off with squiggles of airy whipped cream. Sitting at one of the picnic tables with a whole pie all to yourself is a peak North Shore activity.
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3 weeks ago | 
theinfatuation.com | Julia Chen
It’s not hard to find dim sum in Chinatown. But Legend is our first choice when we want to cram our entire extended family around a round table, nod yes to passing carts full of steamers, and devour potstickers or turnip cakes that are fried to order in the middle of the dining room. The longstanding Cantonese place is big group central, with solid steamed, baked, and pan-fried classics that always get the job done.
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3 weeks ago | 
theinfatuation.com | Julia Chen
If you’re near Ala Moana Beach and have your seafood blinders on, Hou Fish Market is the move. The counter-service spot hiding behind a Public Service is where you’ll find a truly glorious seared salmon bowl over rice—the hunks of fresh fish are buttery and half-torched, and the whole thing is blanketed in an unagi sauce-mayo drizzle. They also have nigiri, rolls, and sushi platters the size of a hubcap, ideal for big birthday parties or beach picnics.
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3 weeks ago | 
theinfatuation.com | Julia Chen
At Tanto, no one will blink twice if you order 32 gyoza all to yourself. The casual Japanese restaurant specializes in petite gyoza that are available in multiples of eight—and you shouldn’t hold back, as they’re crispy-bottomed and fantastic. There’s also excellent ramen, whether you’re going for classic shoyu or tsukemen with a thick chicken-based broth. In shoulders-out weather, we beeline for the mazesoba, a brothless option topped with umami-packed minced pork.
