Must haves: baked mussels, spicy scallop roll. Not popular with the "zomg California roll is great sushi" crowd but worth trying: uni and amaebi - with the heads (not on the menu).
you have to get the omakase nigiri at the sushi bar. this is the best sushi in the country! especially if you're lucky enough to be served by nori-san.
If you're hankering for Central Vietnamese (Hue) cuisine in San Francisco, dodge the crack dealers and pee-stained homeless dudes and head for this mom & pop shop (~10 seats) and have the Bun Bo Hue.
Bright mezzes and all the staples like lamb kebaps - they're huge portions and a great South Mission joint for those foggy nights.
Totally legit and a bit more flavorful than Taqueria Cancun. Head straight for the taco stand in the front of the restaurant and have the lengua, cabeza and carne asada.
Chinese-Korean / Korean-Chinese - whatever, it's a bunch of familiar flavors jacked up in intensity. The chicken wings are popular and I'm a sucker for the seafood noodle soup.
Where Siam Kitchen has 2 dishes - the basil chicken & the noodle soup - everything here is holy shit authentic. Don't go "I like spicy" here. And FFS never order the fried rice, no matter how good.
A lovely cramped bistro where you watch the cooks add butter to all their succulent dishes. I actually order the moules frites here.
Yes, it's as good as the line says it is. Play with your phone, talk with your hungry friends and wait. And no talking when the bowl of goodness is placed in front of you - just slurp and give thanks.
In between Blue Bottle outings and a jaunt over to Miette, make a pit stop for brunch here - the baked pulled pork and poached eggs are amazing. One of the stars of Hayes Valley.
Treat yourself to a fancy lunch and a midday cocktail. The BBQ brisket banh mi is ALL RIGHT.
Holy crap - wait in line for the porchetta sandwich at the Ferry Market if you can hold it. Minds will be blown. Who knew sea salt could be so sexy? (And it's miles better than anything New York has.)
The lamb chops - it's worth it. One of the fanceh places on this list, but it's just fine dining without fuss - good sourced ingredients, well salted and expansive flavors.
