Often referred to as “New Chinatown” the area is home to nearly as many Chinese restaurants, grocery stores, and bakeries as you’ll find on Grant Ave. Located miles from the buzz of downtown SF, it’s easy to overlook this seemingly sleepy neighborhood. Take a closer look and you’ll find unique shops, world-class restaurants, wine bars, and the gold standard for bookstores in SF.
Table Of Contents
Coffeeshops
1. The Richfield
This charming little cafe is perched on a little concrete island and located a block past the popular Clerment St. shops, The Richfield is worth the extra walk. Stop by for incredible coffee alongside fresh Liége waffles, bagel sandwiches, and more.
Location: 195 5th Avenue
2. Blue Danube
An Innrer Sunset classic, Blue Danube Cafe feels like enjoying coffee in an eclectic living room vibe. It’s a great place to snag a coffee, smoothie, salad, or other treats. They do have wifi available but charge $1 per hour to use it.
Location: 306 Clement Street
Bakeries
3. Bread Belly
This charming bakery and cafe draws inspiration from Asian culinary traditions as well as Northern California tastes. The menu ranges from savory sandwiches and salads to their famous kaya toast made on milk bread with coconut-pandan jam.
Location: 1408 Clement Street
4. Arsicault Bakery
This world-famous bakery specializes in traditional French viennoiserie, which includes some of the best croissants in the US. Expect a sizeable line but rest assured that it’s always worth the wait.
Location: 397 Arguello Blvd
Casual Bites
5. Cinderella Bakery
As one of SF’s best and only Russian bakeries, people from across the Bay Area make a pilgrimage to Cinderella for their warming soups, savory piroshki, and an overflowing case of sweet treats. The borsch is classic but dont miss out on the pelmeni, traditional Siberian dumplings often served with a savory broth.
Location: 436 Balboa Street
6. Good Luck Dim Sum
This beloved restaurant is the standard bearer for local dim sum in the neighborhood. Low prices, variety, and exceptional flavor make for a perfect meal.
Location: 736 Clement Street
Shopping
7. Green Apple Books
As the largest and one of the most respected independent bookstores in SF, a visit to Green Apple is a book lover’s dream come true. This two-story shop is packed with new and used books and is run by an incredible staff with an encyclopedic knowledge of these shelves. There are ample nooks and crannies to explore so give yourself plenty of time to browse.
Location: 506 Clement Street
8. Park Life
This shop has a simple goal, to showcase relevant art and design that represents the diversity of their community. This translates to a shop filled with beautiful items including books, prints, jewelry, apparel, and design objects. It’s a delight to browse and is the perfect place to grab a gift for your art-loving friend or partner.
Locations:
- 220 Clement Street (original retail store and gallery)
- 201 Clement Street (paper goods and homewares
Restaurants
9. Mamahuhu
This extraordinary Chinese-American restaurant from Chef Brandon Jew (Mister Jiu’s, Moongate Lounge, etc) and other talented culinary minds, is one of the most popular spots in the neighborhood. They offer a variety of Chinese-American classics like broccoli with beef, sweet and sour chicken, and mapo tofu, with sustainably-sourced ingredients and affordably priced.
Location: 517 Clement Street
10. Burma Superstar
As one of the most recognizable Burmese restaurants in the Bay Area, Buma Superstars celebrates this cuisine through popular dishes like their tea leaf salad, samusa soup, and many other popular dishes. The restaurant is so popular that they also operate B-Star, a slightly more casual spot with a lot of menu overlap, one block down the street.
Location: 309 Clement Street
Something Sweet
11. Kiss of Matcha
This matcha-focused shop serves decadent iced lattes, mochi, soft serve, and other extraordinary treats that you won’t find anywhere else in SF.
Location: 750 Clement Street
12. Toy Boat by Jane
This popular SF bakery, Jane, took over Toy Boat, a beloved legacy business, in 2020 and has certainly kept the magic alive. They serve an assortment of pastries and others in addition to ice cream from Double Rainbow, Mitchel’s Ice Cream, and Hometown Creamery. It’s the perfect neighborhood scoop shop.
Location: 401 Clement Street
13. Schubert’s Bakery
Schubert has been crafting quality cake in SF since 1911 and still enjoys a dedicated following. Every cake is a showstopper ranging from their classic Swedish Princess Cake to strawberry shortcakes, fresh fruit tarts, and even cream puffs. This historic bakery is truly a feast for the eyes and the stomach.
Location: 521 Clement Street
Bars
14. High Treason
This extraordinary wine bar has an impressive selection of wines by the glass, and a selection of Hawaiian-inspired bites from pop-up Unco Franks. served in a minimal but airy space.
Location: 443 Clement Street
15. Plough and the Stars
This popular Irish bar is a great place to grab a pint and enjoy live music, which typically ranges from traditional Celtic tunes and dancing to rock, bluegrass, and beyond.
Location: 116 Clement Street
Unique Experiences
16. Neck of the Woods
Neck of the Woods is easily the neighborhood’s largest music venue, with a small stage on the first floor and a large performance space upstairs. They host everything from rock and DJ nights to comedy and even open mic nights. It’s a great place to catch up-and-coming acts or enjoy a fun dance night with friends.
Location: 406 Clement Street
17. Kamei Restaurant Supply
This colossal restaurant supply store is a dream come true for any aspiring chef or avid home cook in your life. You could outfit an entire restaurant from this store but it’s also a nice place to score some commercial-grade equipment without paying Sur La Table prices.
Location: 525 Clement Street