Where are Places That Offer Must-try San Francisco Classic Food?

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It would probably take a single person years to eat their way around San Francisco’s classic foods. A food city like San Francisco with so many outstanding eateries serving up a wealth of ethnic delicacies makes eating them all quite a feat. On the other hand, there are a handful of foods that everyone can agree are truly classic San Francisco eats.

Mission-Style Burrito at La Taqueria

The Mission-Style burrito was invented in the Mission District in the 1960s. This specific type of burrito differs from others because of its size — it is much larger than other burritos. Some believe the Mission-style burrito shouldn’t contain rice, while others are made with extra rice. At
La Taqueria, the burritos are filled to the brim with pinto beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream and salsa. Most burrito lovers recommend the carnitas burrito for a truly ethereal experience.

Cioppino at Tadich Grill

Cioppino is a dish that was invented in San Francisco by Italian-American fishermen. A soup from Genoa inspired the base of the dish, but the fishermen added leftover seafood to the broth of wine and tomatoes to create cioppino. The cioppino at Tadich Grill includes a mixture of whitefish, shrimp, crab, mussels, prawns, scallops and clams. It is served with a side of garlic bread to sop up the broth. The Tadich Grill is in itself a slice of history since it has been serving San Francisco since 1849 and still maintains an old-fashioned appearance inside.

Clam Chowder Bread Bowl at Boudin Bakery

Although many see the clam chowder in a bread bowl as extremely cliché in San Francisco, there is a reason it has come to represent the area around Fisherman’s Wharf. Boudin Bakery has been baking Sourdough bread since 1849 and still uses the same mother dough, which gives it a unique taste and consistency. The innards of the bread are scooped out and filled with hot New England clam chowder to create a true San Francisco classic.

Prime Rib at House of Prime Rib

Customers take a trip back in time when they visit House of Prime Rib in Nob Hill. This restaurant takes diners back to the heyday of the steakhouse with its red leather booths and carts that are wheeled from table to table and slice the meat tableside. The prime rib is still exceptionally tender and flavorful. Each cut comes with a Yorkshire pudding, creamed spinach or corn and mashed potatoes.

SF Insider