San Francisco, Ca ~ The best restaurants in 48 hours

It’s no wonder that so many claim to leave their hearts in this magical city. There is so much to do and see here, you could easily spend a week and not run out of places to explore. But if your time is limited, we will show you how to make the best of your visit. These are our favorite places to eat in San Francisco.

Our favorite places to eat & drink in San Francisco

• Sam Wo: We always made it a point to visit to this restaurant when it was in it’s original location where it had been since 1907. In 2005, it moved to it’s current location on Clay st. The food is still distinctively authentic and they serve some of our favorite noodles in the City.
• House of Prime Rib: There is no shortage of “foodie” steak houses in the Bay Area but if you’re looking for possibly the highest quality of corn-fed beef, this is it.
• Aliotos: This historic location dates back to 1932 and features some of the freshest shrimp, crab and seafood the bay has to offer.
• Molinari’s deli: Established in 1896, this bustling Italian deli in North Beach is the perfect place for stocking up on snacks and sandwiches for a picnic or to enjoy on your walk around town.
• Blue Mermaid chowder house & bar: Residing in the lobby of the Argonaut Hotel is the Blue Mermaid. Not only do the have some of the best chowder in all of SF, this is a great place to pop in for a quick lunch or stop by the bar for a beer or cocktail.
• The Buena Vista: No visit to San Francisco is complete without an Irish coffee at The Buena Vista. Serving this iconic drink since 1952, they’ve served more Irish Whiskey here than any bar in the Country.

Sam Wo’s

The oldest restaurant in Chinatown was built in 1907 by three Chinese immigrant brothers. The original 3-story building on Washington was erected shortly after the 1906 earthquake. For decades, every trip to SF included dinner at Sam Wo’s. The place was always packed and the energy was always lively. Often, there was a line out the door and down the street. The menu once said that the Chow Mien was the only good thing there and everything else sucked. It literally said that.

In the 1980’s some notoriety was gained for being known locally as having the “Worlds rudest waiter!” Edsel Ford Fung became somewhat of a local legend. In 2012, the restaurant was shut down and the cost to reopen it in the original location became prohibitive. Fortuantely for all of us, the family didn’t give up and re-opened on Clay st. The food is tasty, reasonably priced and portions are large. We LOVE Sam Wo’s!

House of Prime Rib

Serving the best quality of beef available since 1949, The House of Prime rib is a dining experience not soon forgotten. Reservations are highly recommended and should be made as far out as possible. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is always buzzing and the aroma of the food will make you salivate as soon as you walk in. The use of the custom made chef carts allows service of your steak the moment it is cut. Salads are tossed table side in a spinning bowl above an ice bath and served ice cold. Even though the side dishes are limited, the creamed spinach is classically delicious as is the Yorkshire pudding. Be sure to arrive early for a pre-meal drink in the bar. Take a step back in time when drinks were strong, portions large and service was entertaining.

Aliotos

The Alioto’s family name is synonymous with Fishermans Wharf. This San Francisco landmark restaurant started as a fish stand in 1932 and has become a mainstay of the Wharf. Their highly talented seafood buy assures that only the best seafood is served. You’ll find traditional items like clam chowder, Dungeness crab and the calamari is some of the best in the city. The Seafood tower for two is an all-in experience. However, be sure to check out some of the Sicilian dishes that are made with years old recipes passed down through the Alioto family.

Molinari’s Deli

Since 1896, this small deli in North Beach has been serving locals and tourists en mass. It is always packed so be ready to stand in line. Service is fast so be sure you know what you want when you get to the front! The counter is staffed with a loud chattering group of guys who make huge, delicious sandwiches. Stock up your backpacks with fresh bread, some cold cuts and cheeses for a picnic later in the day.

Blue Mermaid chowder house and bar

Housed in the Argonaut hotel on Jefferson, this gold rush themed restaurant has the best Corn & Crab chowder you’ll ever have! Selections like the Wild Salmon, Rib Eye steak or Fishermans platter are beautifully presented and service is spot-on. On our most recent visit, we were lucky enough to be stuck inside during a rainstorm, which made it a storybook San Francisco afternoon.

The Buena Vista

An iconic cafe located in Ghirardelli Square overlooking Fishermans wharf and the Powell-Hyde cable car turn-around, has been serving Irish coffees since 1952. The history within these walls runs deep. To date they have served over 30 million Irish coffees. The recipe is pure perfection. We’ve tried Irish coffees at other places and none come close to this. They serve breakfast lunch and dinner. Everything on the menu pairs well with the Irish coffee. A stop here makes sense any time of day and you’ll be so happy you did. One of our favorite afternoons in SF was a rainy morning breakfast at The Buena Vista and then we jumped on the cable car and took a tour of the city.

Check out our blog on our favorite sites to see in San Francisco!