My Top Three Restaurant Recommendations in San Francisco

by Marjan

Recently, I wrote about my favorite coffee and bread shop in San Francisco. I could not end it with that. Should you be traveling to SF, I really want you to have breakfast at Roses Café, Lunch at the House of Nanking, and dinner at La Mar. If you allow me, I might just even tell you what to order…just kidding, I’m not that pushy!? Roses Café and the House of Nanking are local favorites that have been around for a long time. La Mar is a newer restaurant most locals have not heard of yet, but once they do, this place will be a long time favorite.



Roses Café is a small neighborhood restaurant- not fancy, packed with patrons, and guaranteed to please all. Whether it is their innovative sparkling fruit drinks, Champaign, or just your basic coffee, this is a great way to wet your whistle and tantalize your appetite for their famous eggs and ham pizza (which will be ordered at almost every table at the restaurant). You must try their salmon lux pizza which will have you and your friends fighting over the last piece. The salads are tasty and the sandwiches truly inspiring.

It isn’t a voyage to SF if you don’t visit China Town. There are so many restaurants to choose from, but a staple for over 20 years has been the House of Nanking. Before they opened their more high-end restaurant, the Fang, there used to be a line of patrons outside. Every time I have had lunch there, I can’t help but to think of the Seinfeld episode ‘The Soup Nazi’. From the moment you step inside, you feel privileged they give you a table to sit. You order fast, they serve it to you even faster without a smile, and don’t care if you don’t like it. They know there food is good and don’t need to ask you over and over again ‘how is your meal’. It’s simply not necessary! Once you are enjoying your meal, you don’t care either about the service. Their sweet and sour soup is out of this world. I have never had this soup so full of flavor and ingredients. I have tried almost everything on the menu, and I can honestly say it is all very good. However, I highly recommend you have the sweet and sour soup, crispy onion appetizer, fried calamari and dumplings. Their food is not very greasy or salty. Don’t ask them about the MSG, as my friend once got kicked out for inquiring!






From your hole in the wall Chinese food for lunch, for dinner, open your senses for a trendy, yet quality fusion Peruvian restaurant, La Mar. On my recent trip to Peru this year, I had the privilege of experiencing Peruvian cuisine. This restaurant brought back fine memories and created new taste buds that make me want to go back and try everything on the menu. They actually make it easy to try small bites of most things on their menu such as the ceviche, empanadas, and grilled skewers by offering tastings plates. I beg you to save room for their entrée. It’s hard to do, but their rack of lamb made me forget I was wearing a tight dress that did not have room for one more bite! And of course, it would not be a dinner celebration at a Peruvian restaurant without Pisco Sour! Their cocktail selection is also very good…One must simply make multiple trips to try every cocktail and order on the menu.



Yes, I know, it isn’t hard to find a good restaurant in San Francisco. There are so many fantastic chefs, restaurants, that it is merely difficult to just pick three. But for now, these where my great finds and I wanted to share them with you. Let us know of some of your favorite restaurants.

From our partner: LO+JUNE

From our partner: LO+JUNE
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