There’s one thing that unites SFGATE staff: We love to eat. We devour smoky barbecue plates in North Beach and expertly cooked black cod filets in the Inner Sunset. We will take down an entire dinner-plate-sized tlayuda in the heart of the Mission and then drive 80 miles north in search of the best empanadas sold in a Shell gas station. But most of all, we enjoy discovering all the delicious foods throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Here’s a taste of the unforgettable dishes SFGATE staff ate this year.
Satay by the Bay co-owner Elly Greenfield grills chicken satay in her food truck at Off The Grid at Fort Mason in San Francisco, Calif. on Aug. 19, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE(Left) Satay by the Bay owners Elly and David Greenfield; Elly Greenfield grills chicken satay.
When Satay by the Bay’s food truck rolls up to Presidio Tunnel Tops park or Off the Grid locations, Elly and David Greenfield can sell up to 1,000 chicken satay skewers. But there’s one item the Greenfields’ loyal customers want most: Elly’s absolutely crave-worthy peanut sauce. It was her grandmother Fatimah’s recipe and is truly one of a kind. “Thick as molasses and studded with chunky peanuts, the sauce hits all the right notes in a rhythm of sweet, spicy, sour and salty with a hint of zest.” It was definitely one of the most memorable bites of the year.
Order the truck’s chicken satay skewers plate ($15) and settle in for a lip-smacking meal that’s made with so much homemade charm that each bite tastes better than the last. Every plate comes with fluffy white rice, a fresh cucumber and red onion salad, three monster skewers, and a side of delicious peanut sauce. — Steph Rodriguez, read more
See where Satay by the Bay is rolling through next in the Bay Area. Follow on Instagram here.
Red Window's Patatas bravas
The patatas bravas at Red Window in North Beach.
Madeline Wells/SFGATERed Window’s North Beach Spanish restaurant makes a variety of delicious and affordable tapas, such as smoked salmon crostinis, crispy mushroom skewers, roasted carrots with salsa verde and chilled octopus with romesco. But one menu item still has us dreaming. The patatas bravas ($10) — and they’re no ordinary patatas bravas either.
“Rather than the usual fried potato chunks, Red Window’s patatas bravas are actually made from a baked potato cake of 50 thinly-sliced layers, which is then cut into cubes and fried. Eight of these aesthetically-pleasing golden brown cubes are then presented to the lucky diner with a generous drizzle of aioli and peppery bravas sauce. The result is perhaps the crispiest bite of potato imaginable, each rectangular corner shattering in your mouth to reveal pillowy insides.”
To maximize the delectability, each bite of these impeccably crispy little potatoes should be dipped in as much sauce as possible. We don’t make the rules. — Madeline Wells, read more
Red Window, 500 Columbus Ave., San Francisco. Open Monday through Thursday, 5-9 p.m.; Friday, 4:30-11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Ebisu's Miso-glazed black cod
Ebisu's miso black cod is still on our minds.
Juanita D./YelpEbisu has been in the Inner Sunset for more than 40 years, during which time we’re honestly not sure if it has ever not had a line out the door. After waiting out the line at the perennially packed Japanese sushi spot in December (OK, fine, we went to Little Shamrock and had a beer, then came back just when our name was called), we now regret never having waited out the line before.
That regret is entirely because of Ebisu’s miso-glazed black cod, unquestionably one of the best meals we had in San Francisco this year. It's a large, perfectly seared piece of pristine fish that slides right off your chopsticks and melts in your mouth. We haven't stopped thinking about this piece of fish since. We might honestly never stop. — Grant Marek
Ebisu, 1283 9th Ave., San Francisco. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m and 5-8:30 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Adams Smoked Meats & BBQ's All-meat combo
(Left) James Adams and Janice Adams of Adams BBQ; a BBQ rib being cut for a customer.
Adams Smoked Meats & BBQ is the newest (and only) barbecue destination in San Francisco’s North Beach district, popping up every Thursday through Sunday in the parking lot of Kennedy’s Indian Curry House & Irish Pub.
During our visit, it was all about the all-meat combo for $42 — and “the immediate standout was the ribs. They were generously seasoned, didn’t slide off the bone and were cooked with such precision. The brisket was moist in the middle and had terrific bark perfect for dunking into grill master and owner James Adams’ homemade barbecue sauce. The chicken was also a contender for best bite. It had the most smoky flavor and paired very well with Adams’ sauce … which was maybe our favorite part of the entire meal.
"The California barbecue scene doesn’t quite have a distinguishing factor that stands up against other regional barbecue standards; we sort of take a bit of every region and put it into our ‘cue. But one thing that our barbecue should highlight is the sauce — and Adams’ sauce would be a prime example of that. It was not too thick, but not too runny, either. It had a tang that puckers your lips and it was delicious on all of Adams’ carefully smoked meats.” — Nico Madrigal-Yankowski, read more
Adams Smoked Meats & BBQ, 2351 Taylor St., San Francisco. Open Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Mavens Creamery's Durian ice cream
"Durian is definitely an acquired taste! We love to make rich, delicious ice cream in flavors that are unique," says Gwen Nguyen, co-founder and CEO of Mavens Creamery.
Federica Armstrong/Special to SFGATEMaven’s Creamery is known for its macaron ice cream cookie sandwiches sold individually at Safeway and Whole Foods. It’s a family-owned company based out of San Jose and run by sisters Gwen and Christine Nguyen. Maven’s Creamery also caught the attention of Costco, and the wholesale giant asked the sisters if they had a recipe up their sleeves for durian-flavored ice cream. They did. In October, Maven’s Creamery debuted its durian ice cream pints at 18 Bay Area Costco locations. Now, durian comes with quite the reputation, and we were forewarned by Gwen and Christine of its pungent smell. The two assured us that the rich, yellow fruit was not for everyone.
“The soft yellow-tinged ice cream had delightful savory moments of sauteed garlic and onions. As someone who had never tried durian before, I went in for my first spoonful while visiting Mavens Creamery headquarters in San Jose and let the funky aroma lead the way. Then, I went in for another scoop. Then, another just for good measure.” Turns out, we've got some durian ice cream fans on staff. — Steph Rodriguez, read more
Visit the Mavens Creamery website to find a pint or macaron ice cream sandwich near you.
Trattoria Contadina's Roasted bell pepper
Trattoria Contadina's roasted golden bell pepper is stuffed with three cheeses and is a longtime customer favorite in North Beach.
Michael Achach“Some 25 years ago at the vibrant Italian eatery Trattoria Contadina in North Beach, a couple of cooks in the kitchen began repurposing the Mediterranean ingredients at hand to recreate dishes from their native homes in Mexico and Guatemala. They sliced a golden pepper and stuffed it with three Italian cheeses (bel paese, asiago and mozzarella), simmered it until gooey and then topped in a homemade tomato cream.
“Even if parsed with a sharp knife, the bites of cheese-coated pepper pour from the fork triggering a swift two-hand performance with a slice of sourdough. The remaining bread soaks up the tomato cream to complete this antipasti with a near spotless plate.
“The roasted bell pepper ($15) has now become a predominant fixture on the Trattoria Contadina menu. Although you’d never find this appetizer in Italy, the fusion of culture and cuisine (with a touch of chance) makes this an unequivocally San Franciscan dish.” — Silas Valentino, read more
Trattoria Contadina, 1800 Mason St., San Francisco. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 5-9 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
China Live's Peking duck fat popcorn
The Peking duck fat popcorn is filled with tiny pieces of delicious duck meat balanced with sweet caramel flavor.
Courtesy of Robert Birnbach“Who doesn’t love a little duck fat? Now, imagine pairing the popularity of savory and sweet popcorn with little nuggets of delicious Peking duck meat, all tossed in sticky caramel. That’s the essence of China Live’s Peking duck fat popcorn. Each 8-ounce bag packs a savory punch made from Amish Country corn kernels from Indiana with ample moments of China Live’s Peking duck bits sourced from Liberty Ducks in Sonoma County.
“‘It became such a huge hit, and it’s a laborious process because we don’t have a kettle. It’s all hand,’ said China Live chef-owner, George Chen. ‘It’s not just the fat. There’s little, tiny chunky pieces of savory meat on them. So it’s sweet and savory and it’s really good.’”
It’s more of a one-bag-per-person kind of snack. — Steph Rodriguez, read more
China Live, 644 Broadway, San Francisco. Open Monday through Thursday, 5-9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5-10 p.m. Closed Sunday.
Anne’s Toum's Lebanese garlic spread
(Left) Owners Katia Berberi and husband Steve Drapeau; Anne's Toum Original Lebanese Garlic Sauce.
It’s a sauce so powerful it “compelled Katia Berberi and her husband Steve Drapeau to drop everything and dedicate their lives to it.” The Walnut Creek couple behind Anne’s Toum, a “thick, fluffy Lebanese garlic dip,” are well known across Bay Area farmers markets, including the Grand Lake Farmers Market in Oakland and the Clement Street Farmers Market in San Francisco. It’s typically about $12 a jar.
Anne’s Toum, pronounced “toom,” is a condiment for pretty much anything, whether it be added to grilled chicken or as a spread on a sandwich. We recommend eating Anne’s Toum with za’atar pita chips from Pomella in Oakland. — Madeline Wells, read more
Find Anne’s Toum at Rainbow Grocery, 1745 Folsom St., San Francisco, as well as at various farmers markets, William Sonoma and Whole Foods.
Deli Board's The Allison
The Allison, with pastrami and roast beef, served with a side of waffle fries, is one of the signature sandwiches at Deli Board in San Francisco on Aug. 19, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATEOne by one, customers request the Allison ($23), a Deli Board top seller that’s named after owner Adam Mesnick’s mother. So we tried it. “When the halves are split open, the sandwhich reveals layers of cheddar cheese, brown mustard, pepperoncini, corned beef, coleslaw, provolone and pastrami on a freshly baked French roll.
“‘The Allison has the best display of artistic technique, time, energy and care that goes into my food,’ Mesnick said. ‘I think it's some of my best work. The way that [my sandwiches are] designed is very important.’
“The artistic technique behind the Allison starts with brisket-cut corned beef that’s boiled for three hours and then chilled until it’s ready to reheat for sandwich prep.” This method retains all of the corned beef’s flavor, fat and juiciness in each thin slice. It’s truly an experience that you should split with a friend. — Susana Guerrero, read more
Deli Board, 1058 Folsom St., San Francisco. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
BEST OF SFGATE
La Oaxaqueña's Tlayuda
"The cashier described it as a large tostada and it instantly brought to mind my mother’s tostada, one of her specialties." A tlayuda from La Oaxaqueña, on Mission Street, in San Francisco.
Charles RussoThere's a better “Mexican pizza” right here in San Francisco’s Mission District: the Oaxacan specialty known as the tlayuda. The version at La Oaxaqueña, located at 2128 Mission St., holds a special place in our hearts.
“The tlayuda was gargantuan. The edges of the circular, flat, thin and crispy shell of masa brimmed over the edges of an extra-large dinner plate. A smooth layer of warm, refried pinto beans covered the entire tlayuda hull. ... Shredded green lettuce, milk-white Oaxacan quesillo, sliced avocados and chicken in an acidic-red chipotle sauce then blanketed the giant, edible disk.” Each bite is delicious, and the tlayuda is large enough to be shared among close friends.
“Taco Bell lovers can have their Mexican pizza. There’s no shame in that. But we’ll be at La Oaxaqueña devouring a tlayuda.” — Nico Madrigal-Yankowski, read more
La Oaxaqueña, 2128 Mission St., San Francisco. Open daily, 6 a.m.-2 a.m.
Yank Sing's Sesame balls
Dim Sum lunch at Yank Sing, in San Francisco, on Thursday, Sept, 15, 2022.
Charles Russo/SFGATE
Dim Sum lunch at Yank Sing, in San Francisco, on Thursday, Sept, 15, 2022.
Charles Russo/SFGATE
Sesame balls stuffed with red bean paste, at Yank Sing, in San Francisco.
Charles Russo/SFGATE(Left clockwise) Shanghai kurobuta pork dumplings; dim sum lunch at Yank Sing; sesame balls stuffed with red bean paste.
“Few San Francisco dim sum restaurants enjoy the notoriety of Yank Sing. Adored by downtown office workers and tourists alike, the gargantuan restaurant at Rincon Center is known for drawing incredible crowds, particularly on the weekends.”
SFGATE staff visited for lunch one afternoon in September, and many were obsessed with the “fresh-tasting seafood basil dumplings and the slippery shrimp cheung fun — and of course, plenty of har gow. Everyone was roundly impressed by the soup dumplings, bursting with rich aromatic broth. Many also doused every bite with Yank Sing’s signature chili pepper sauce to kick things up a notch.”
The family-style meal came to a close with refills of hot tea, egg tarts and sesame balls (4 for $14.40). “And oh Lord, those sesame balls. The glutinous rice flour dough stuffed with red bean paste, rolled in sesame seeds and deep-fried was served piping hot off the cart — the best version of the subtly sweet dessert I’ve ever had. The har gow captured my heart, but the sesame balls stole the show.” — Madeline Wells, read more
Yank Sing, 101 Spear St. and 49 Stevenson St., San Francisco. Both locations open Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Panchita's #2's Revuelta pupusas
Doris Macchiavello-Vargas (lower left) holding her son Luciano Macchiavello in front of Panchita's #2 in the Mission District of San Francisco, Calif., with staff and family on Nov. 1, 2021. From right: Doris' sister Jacqueline Vargas, Laura Esparza, cook Blanca Martínez, server Juan Carballo, and aunt Armida Campos.
Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE
Pupusas being made at Panchita's #2 in the Mission District of San Francisco, Calif. on Nov. 1, 2021.
Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE(Lower left clockwise) Doris Macchiavello-Vargas (lower left) holding her son Luciano Macchiavello, Blanca Martinez, Laura Esparza, Jacqueline Vargas, Armida Campos, and Juan Carballo; pupusas being made at Panchita's #2.
“The minute you enter Panchita's #2 in the Mission, you’re going to be taken care of. The no-frills Salvadorian restaurant at the corner of 16th and Valencia streets has offered one of the best inexpensive meals in San Francisco since 1989 — and its pupusas are the main draw.”
The decades-old restaurant includes a separate pupusa menu board, which highlights filling options like beef, chicken and our personal favorite, revuelta: a pork and bean blend. Two revuelta pupusas will cost you $9.30. A steal in the Bay Area.
“The soft fried masa paired with savory pork and beans hit the spot, while the crispy, cheesy edges add a lovely salty crunch. Don’t be fooled by the bargain price either. These pupusas are generously stuffed with your choice of protein and cheese, which makes them quite filling.”
Pro tip: Once the pupusas arrive at your table, fervently top them with pickled cabbage and spicy tomato sauce before taking your first bite. — Susana Guerrero, read more
Panchita's #2 Pupuseria & Restaurant, 3091 16th St., San Francisco. Open Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m-2:30 a.m. (takeout only after 1 a.m.)
Super Star Restaurant's Hong Kong-style pork chop plate
“There aren’t many restaurants in San Francisco that can feed an entire neighborhood. Super Star Restaurant, at 4919 Mission St. in the Excelsior District, is one of the few. ... It’s truly an endearing place serving Chinese and Filipino food.”
Its Hong Kong-style pork chop plate ($6.50) comes with “garlic fried rice, a perfectly runny egg and two mammoth-sized, deep-fried pork chops, crispy to the bone. ... This legitimately might be the cheapest meal in San Francisco.
“The first bite into this fried pork chop was loud. There wasn’t much seasoning other than salt, so it tasted exactly like a fried pork chop should. ... Glorious. The fried rice was also exceptional. The grains were slightly firm from cooking in oil and then topped with fried bits of diced garlic.
“But the most surprising part of the entire meal was the perfectly cooked egg. Both sides were lightly fried to create appetizing browning, but the yolk remained runny. ... Yes, the food was delicious. Yes, it was extremely cheap. And, despite the lack of indoor dining, the place was absolutely packed.” — Nico Madrigal-Yankowski, read more
Super Star Restaurant, 4919 Mission St., San Francisco. Open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Closed Sunday.
Bonus: Vinoma's Crispy canastita empanadas
Rohnert Park's Vinoma is an Argentinean restaurant located in a Shell gas station. Owner Brian Corrigan adds flowers from his home to each takeout order.
Susana Guerrero/ SFGATE
Vinoma is an Argentinean restaurant located in a Shell gas station in Rohnert Park.
Susana Guerrero/ SFGATE
Vinoma, located at 5085 Redwood Dr. in Rohnert Park, offers 15 different empanada fillings for takeout.
Susana Guerrero/ SFGATERohnert Park's Vinoma is an Argentine restaurant located in a Shell gas station.
Just off Highway 101 North on route to Rohnert Park is an unassuming storefront attached to a Shell gas station. The building is home to Vinoma restaurant, “where a selection of handmade savory and sweet empanadas are prepared by the hundreds.”
This Argentine eatery took the top spot on a list of 100 Bay Area restaurants, so we knew that we needed to take the 80-mile drive north to see what the buzz was all about. Guests can opt to pay $3.89 for a single empanada or select a combination of 12 for $41.38.
What drew us most to Vinoma (besides the recent accolade) were the crispy canastita empanadas, which almost resemble a quiche tart. The plum and bacon canastita is made with rehydrated plums, crispy bacon and melted cheese. The first bite was met with sweetness from the plums, followed by a welcome saltiness from the crispy bacon. The flavor combinations were unexpectedly reminiscent of a thin crust pizza with the added cheesiness coming from ample mozzarella.
“Each takeout box comes with a reference sheet and two lovely dahlias from owner Brian Corrigan’s backyard. The flowers are a special touch added to every order, while the reference sheet helps guide customers through the coveted treats inside.” — Susana Guerrero, read more
Vinoma, 5085 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park. Open Thursday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
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