We spent two days in San Francisco before heading to my best friend's wedding in Napa, and I am so glad we tacked on a couple days in the city to our trip! I had been to San Francisco once before, and only for a few hours. So, I was excited to explore more of the city and the food scene. Here are the spots I'd send friends visiting San Fransisco that we really enjoyed:
Blue Barn: We landed at lunch and were looking for a spot that served salads and sandwiches before beginning our walk around the city. I found Blue Barn on the map, and it seemed to be exactly what we were hoping for: creative sandwiches and salads, in a casual setting. There are a few Blue Barn locations in SF, but we went to the Polk Street location closest to us.
We ordered the Kickin' Chicken sandwich which had chili-lime grilled chicken breast, caramelized onion, and thyme aioli-carrot slaw, all served on a warm ciabatta roll. We also ordered the Thai Chicken Salad, which had the same lime-chili chicken, crispy wontons, and a peanut dressing. Both the sandwich and salad were absolutely delicious. The salad portion was huge, and definitely enough for left-overs.
Mama's Luncheonette: Chicken caesar wraps are a viral trend right now, and when I found Mama's Luncheonette in a TikTok, I knew I had to give it a try.
What also caught our attention was their Chicken Tikka Masala wrap. Mama's is a small walk-up window, with a few tables outside. During lunch hour, it certainly gets busy and can be difficult to find a table. The Chicken Caesar wrap was fantastic, and really lived up to the hype. The Chicken Tikka Masala wrap was good, but I preferred the Caesar wrap. Mama's Luncheonette also offers a variety of homemade lemonades and chai teas that were very good.
The Epicurean Trader: We stopped in The Epicurean Trader for a drink, and we loved the store and the people working there. Epicurean Trader is an all-encompassing wine bar, coffee bar, and market, with seating outdoors. It's a great spot on Union Street to grab a quick drink or bite before heading to some of the shops next door.
Penny Roma: Penny Roma is located in San Francisco's Mission District, which was a great area to explore and reminded me of Chicago's West Loop. The restaurant is relatively small, but beautifully decorated and has a modern, yet warm ambiance. The dishes are a bit pricier and the portions are pretty small, but a good spot to order and share different dishes with your table.
Penny Roma only serves wine, and we ordered a great Chenin Blend: 2022 Scions of Sinai, Chenin Blend, 'Granitas,' that paired really well with the dishes. My favorite dish we ordered was the Agnolotti dal Plin, a freshly made pasta dish, and the Albacore Tartare with calabrian chili and pistachios.
Mamanoko: Mamanoko seems to be a very well-loved restaurant by SF locals and tourists, and I'll never say no to getting sushi. The restaurant is located in the Marina District of San Francisco, and on a busy street with lots of other places near it. It's a great dinner spot where you can walk to a near by bar before or after for drinks, too. ManOur group of four ordered a few appetizers and rolls to split, and everything we ordered tasted great.
My favorite dish from the Izakaya menu for me was the Miso Glazed Cod. We ordered the Kinobi, Mamasan, and Citrus roll, and all three were excellent. The fish tasted fresh and there were a lot of great flavor combinations going on.
A highlight for me to end the dinner was the dessert. Mamanoko's dessert was so creative and delicious! We ordered a brownie "maki" with ice cream...and wow was it good. Overall, it was a great spot and I'd definitely go back.
Bonus points for Mamanoko for having a perfectly crisp Dirty Martini.
ONLINE ORDERING
