We’re amazingly lucky to live in a city with some of the finest restaurants around, from Michelin-starred local legends to tried-and-true favorites. Travel + Leisure certainly seems to have picked up on this, because our fair city recently ranked #4 on their list of the 10 best foodie cities in the U.S. Here’s what made San Francisco stand out.
The world-renowned travel magazine first gave kudos to San Francisco for being the most restaurant-dense city in the States and then specified some standout eateries. They mentioned some greats including Atelier Crenn by chef Dominique Crenn, who was famously the first female chef in the U.S. to receive two Michelin stars in 2012 and then beat her own record for a third star in 2018. They also mentioned Mister Jiu’s, a fine Chinese restaurant with Californian influences; and Lazy Bear, the #1 most highly-rated restaurant in the city known for its communal eating set-up.
Travel + Leisure then called out the Ferry Building as a reliable casual dining option. Some standouts mentioned are Acme Bread Company, an early pioneer of the Bay Area’s “Bread Revolution;” Dandelion Chocolate, which serves up delicious hot chocolate you might’ve seen on TikTok; El Porteño Empanadas, where you’ll find a delicious selection of handmade empanadas and alfajores; Donut Farm, a popular vegan donut shop; and Hog Island Oyster Company, a quintessential Bay Area seafood restaurant with waterfront dining.
Finally, the city received well-deserved praise for some quintessentially SF food items including sourdough bread from Josey Baker Bread and Boudin Bakery, as well as Taqueria Cancún‘s Mission burritos.
San Francisco ranked at a commendable #4 position behind New York City, NY at #1; New Orleans, LA at #2; and Chicago, IL at #3. Rounding out the list were Tuscon, AZ; Cleveland, OH; Asheville, NC; Louisville, KY; and Greenville, SC.
New York City’s #1 spot was owed to its “melting pot of cultures,” with special mentions of everything from Katz’s Deli to Joe’s Shanghai. With over 70 Michelin-starred restaurants and alongside delicious cheap eats, NYC is took the cake for the best foodie city in America.