Patrick Wong

1 week ago | theinfatuation.com | Julia Chen |Lani Conway |Ricky Rodriguez |Patrick Wong

Any time someone new comes to town, they want a Mission burrito. You should absolutely take them to get one, even if they didn’t ask (but you already knew that). La Taqueria’s rice-less behemoth is certainly the most famous—and worth braving the line. They’re a glorious ratio of pinto beans to perfectly charred, perfectly fatty carne asada, and melty cheese inside a 13-inch tortilla.

2 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Patrick Wong

A meal at Chicken G’s might leave you with singed fingertips, but that won't stop you from coming back to this halal spot in the FiDi. Each piece of fried chicken is made to order, so it arrives almost too hot to touch, but we’re happy to risk a scorched appendage or two if it means getting to our first bite faster. And each of those bites is inevitably followed by dripping juices, so keep the napkins handy and the plastic ramekins of spicy house sauce nearby for dipping.

2 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Julia Chen |Patrick Wong |Ricky Rodriguez |Will Kamensky

The portions of fried chicken from The Front Porch are generous, the meat is moist, and you could smell the seasoning coming off of each piece even during peak allergy season with no Claritin. But what we love most about it is the cornmeal crust. It’s delicate and thin—just enough to add some crunch but not cast a shadow on the meat. It’s our ideal ratio. It’s comforting to know that during drought season in California, we always have Chicken G’s fried chicken on reserve.

2 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Patrick Wong

Dartealing’s tea service is offered only on weekends. Make a reservation request on their website. The 90-minute slots book up quickly, so it’s best to plan at least a week out and to be flexible on timing. Dartealing Lounge in SoMa is basically what kids imagine when they take pretend sips from plastic cups with their stuffed animals.

2 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Patrick Wong

Cafe Me in the Financial District is like a portal into a breakfast sandwich multiverse. Their menu focuses on combinations of eggs, cheese, and meat with different kinds of bread—anything from bagels and toast to english muffins and tortillas. Everything is simple yet solid, if a bit greasy. That said, nothing will run you more than about $8, and your order will be bagged and ready to go in minutes.