Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In

Great food in the middle of a nutty place and other San Francisco, CA Restaurant Reviews

Search:
email to friend | help
Home » North America » United States of America » California » San Francisco » karenincalifornia's San Francisco Page » Great food in the middle of a nutty place and other San Francisco, CA Restaurant Reviews

San Francisco Restaurant Tips by karenincalifornia

See the Entire San Francisco Travel Guide

Click Picture to enlarge.
 email me
 add as friend


karenincalifornia    
Happy hours . . . timeless friends


Real Name: Karen
Lives In: San Rafael, US
Member Since: Nov 30, 2003
VT Rank: 75

 
Tips 1 - 10 of 19
San Francisco Restaurants
 Sort by: Most Recent | Best Rated | Author's Order

Limon: Great food in the middle of a nutty place
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • Restaurant Name: Limon

    Limon is a popular, hip, trendy restaurant in the Mission District. It was the perfect place to take my popular, hip and trendy companion for dinner. Limon serves Peruvian food, Peruvian beer, and wine from places like Spain and California (no Peruvian wineries, I guess). However, you can't get the national Peruvian drink here - no hard liquor. We settled for the weak stuff.

    The Mission District is sheer entertainment. When my out-of-state companion and I saw the first few people dressed in bizarre costumes, I just shrugged my shoulders and said "This is California." By the time we saw the 20th person in a very bizarre costume, I grudgingly acknowledged that perhaps Halloween had something to do with this. In San Francisco, suffice it to say, it is very difficult to distinguish between those who are dressed in costume and those who aren't.

    Favorite Dish: We split the ceviche el pescadora and a scallop appetizer, which were both outstanding. I ordered the plato vegetariano (Peruvian food is not really for the non meat eatering club, but you wouldn't know it by the plato vegetariano.). IT was an outstanding rice dish with greenish sauce and a sculpted cracker.

    Understand that the Mission District is not Celebration, Florida. You could very easily be accosted here by an aggressive homeless person as you leave the restaurant or nearly trip over someone playing Christmas carols on a harmonica in October in the Bart Station. Don't stray too far to the east of Valencia Street - and it's best to make sure you know east from west as you get off the Bart. People go from just plain nutty on Valencia to downright scary looking a few blocks to the east.

    Leave a Comment

    Theme: Other
    Comparison: more expensive than average
    Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
    Phone: 415-252-0918
    Address: 524 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA
    Website: http://limon-sf.com
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful 

    Visiting San Francisco?

    Read reviews about San Francisco Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Combined Suggestions: Best Holes in the Wall in San Francisco
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • San Francisco Combined Suggestions
  • No more white tablecloth
  • restaurants
  • by karenincalifornia
  • Send Photo to a Friend
  • Restaurant Name: No more white tablecloths

    I'm not going to give you tips about nice SF restaurants with white tablecloths, candles and all. You can read any guidebook on San Francisco and get the names those restaurants, if that is what you are looking for.

    Expensive doesn't always mean best, and especially not when it comes to SF restaurants. I'm going to show you the BEST restaurants in town - this is where SF working crowd and locals go for great food.

    The uninformed visitor will pass by these restaurants because from the outside they look too greasy spoon, too let go, too scary even, whatever. But after you read my tips, you'll know better.


    Leave a Comment

    Theme: Local
    Comparison: least expensive
    Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
    Address: San Francisco
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful 

    L'Osteria Del Forno: Buon appetito!
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • San Francisco L'Osteria Del Forno
  • L'Osteria de Forno, North Beach,
  • San Francisco
  • by karenincalifornia
  • Send Photo to a Friend
  • Restaurant Name: L'Osteria de Forno

    Great tiny little Italian bistro (only 28 seats) in North Beach. Staff is Italian. Owned by two Italian women from Varese and Bologna. Long lines at lunch. Get there before noon or after 1pm. No reservations. No credit cards accepted. Lunch and dinner.

    Favorite Dish: Delicious antipasto, foccacio sandwiches, pizza, pasta. Save room for tiramisu.

    Pay no attention to that cop busting the guys in the corner of this picture. We don't. Seriously, North Beach is very safe.

    Leave a Comment

    Theme: Italian
    Comparison: least expensive
    Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
    Address: 519 Columbus
    Directions: North Beach: On Columbus between Green and Union
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful 

    Henry's Hunan: Spiciest Hunan food this side of the Pacific
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • San Francisco - Henry's Hunan, Financial District, San Francisco
  • Henry's Hunan, Financial District,
  • San Francisco
  • by karenincalifornia
  • Send Photo to a Friend
  • Restaurant Name: Henry's Hunan

    The ultimate hole in the wall. No offense to the owners - in my book that is a term of endearment. Worst decor and ambience, best Hunan food ever. And so spicy, you'll be crying.

    The bars on the windows merely add to the ambience. A sign hanging in the window says "Closed for Renovation" but they are open. Please, please don't renovate! The seediness is part of the charm!

    Favorite Dish: Too many excellent dishes to list. All good. Almost all spicy. Very. Fantastic spicy green beans. Popular with the Chinese community. Located where the Financial District melds into Chinatown. Line at lunch. Open for lunch and dinner.

    Leave a Comment

    Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
    Comparison: least expensive
    Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
    Directions: Sacramento Street, between Montgomery and Kearny
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful 

    Lhasa Moon: Taste of the Himalayas - Tibetan Cuisine
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • San Francisco Lhasa Moon
  • Taste of the Himalayas Restaurant
  • by karenincalifornia
  • Send Photo to a Friend
  • Restaurant Name: Taste of the Himalayas in the Marina District

    After seeing "Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion" at the Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, I announced to my family that we were going to eat at Taste of the Himalayas (formerly Lhasa Moon), the only Tibetan restaurant in San Francisco. The Persnickety Teens (my restaurant reviewers) rolled their eyes at yet another one of my "themes" and were certain the food would be too weird for them.

    We were very pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is small and has pictures of Tibet and HH the 14th Dalai Lama on the walls, Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags hanging from the ceilings, and waitpersons in their native dress. This place is not touristy in the least and the food was absolutely delicious.

    The Persnickity Preteen (age 12) proclaimed her dish as "good and not too spicy". The Persnickity Teen (age 15) between shoveling in mouthfuls of shogok ngopa described his dish as "very good, with the right amount of spice."

    I was pleased to see a number of vegetarian dishes on the menu.

    We will definitely come again soon, bringing more friends in tow.

    Favorite Dish: Lephing & Bhaley Flat Bread with spicy soy vinegar and bean curd, a favorite Lhasa dish

    Momos (beef, chicken and vegetable dumplings), best described as a Tibetan potsticker

    Leave a Comment

    Theme: Other
    Comparison: about average
    Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
    Phone: (415) 674-9898
    Address: 2420 Lombard Street, San Francisco
    Directions: On Lombard, between Scott and Divisadero
    Website: http://www.lhasamoon.com/
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful 

    Visiting San Francisco?

    Read reviews about San Francisco Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Lhasa Moon: More Taste of the Himalayas - Tibetan Cuisine
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • San Francisco Lhasa Moon
  • A dish at Taste of the Himalayas
  • by karenincalifornia
  • Send Photo to a Friend
  • Restaurant Name: Taste of the Himalayas

    Pictured here is Shogok Ngopa - sliced beef sauteed with thinly cut potatoes, spinach, garlic and ginger, along with a Tibetan steamed roll

    Favorite Dish: Also recommended:

    Lhabu Dhikrul - lamb, daikon radish and spinach leaves, simmered in borth with herbs

    Tsel Gyaker - vegetable curry of cauliflower, potatoes and green peas, with rice

    Phingsha - sliced chicken sauteed with been thread strings, sliced potatoes, and green peas. Flavored with ginger and emma (Tibetan peppercorn).

    Leave a Comment

    Theme: Other
    Comparison: about average
    Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
    Phone: (415) 674-9898
    Address: 2420 Lombard Street
    Directions: Lombard Street, between Scott and Divisadero
    Website: http://www.lhasamoon.com/
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful 

    Bangkok Best: My Favorite Thai
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • San Francisco - Bangkok Best, Financial District, San Francisco
  • Bangkok Best, Financial District,
  • San Francisco
  • by karenincalifornia
  • Send Photo to a Friend
  • Restaurant Name: Bangkok Best

    If you didn't know better, you'd probably pass this restaurant by. The paint is peeling off the sign, its side of the street is a bit seedy, there are trendier cafes in the area. The locals and working crowd, however, know this is the best Thai food restaurant in the Financial District.

    Favorite Dish: Pad Thai with various toppings, red, yellow, green curry dishes. Line at lunch. Get here before noon. Sit down, but also has a take out window. Reasonable. Serves lunch and dinner. Easier to be seated at dinner after the working crowd goes home and the Financial District calms down.

    Leave a Comment

    Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
    Comparison: less expensive than average
    Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
    Phone: 415-362-2216
    Address: 301 Kearny
    Directions: Corner of Kearney and Bush
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful 

    Hunan Home: Another Top Hunan Restaurant
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • San Francisco Hunan Home
  • Hunan's Home in Chinatown, San
  • Francisco
  • by karenincalifornia
  • Send Photo to a Friend
  • Restaurant Name: Hunan's Home

    Small restaurant with Hunan food to die for. Popular with the lunch and Asian crowd. Line at lunch. People are willing to wait a long time for a seat. Get here before noon. Cheap lunch with lots of food. Open for lunch and dinner. Located in Chinatown.

    Favorite Dish: All good and much is spicy. Very authentic. Frequented by Chinese patrons. Shredded jelly fish, tea smoked chicken, beef with orange peel, squid with spicy salt, sizzling eel, hot spiced bean curd.

    Leave a Comment

    Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
    Comparison: least expensive
    Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
    Phone: (415) 982-2844
    Address: 622 Jackson
    Directions: On Jackson between Kearny and Grant
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful 

    House of Nanking: Outstanding Szechuan and Hunan Food
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • San Francisco House of Nanking
  • House of Nanking, Chinatown, San
  • Francisco
  • by karenincalifornia
  • Send Photo to a Friend
  • Restaurant Name: House of Nanking

    This place is so scary looking on the outside, (and inside, too) if you didn't know better, you'd cross the street to the other side. Then you would notice the long line of people lined up in front halfway down the block. First, you would think this is a line to get into one of the numerous live nude places on the same block, but then you would realize, no, people are actually waiting to get into this hole in the wall. Scrumptiously delicious szechuan and hunan food. Lunch and dinner. Frequented by Chinese locals and working crowd.

    Favorite Dish: Don't bother ordering from the menu. At House of Nanking, you simply tell the owner, "I'd like fish (or shrimp, or meat, or chicken, or vegetarian") and he'll whip up something that will make you think you really are in the Jiangsu Province. His dishes vary each time I go there. Sometimes he uses a black bean sauce, sometimes a garlic sauce, sometimes a peanut sauce. All excellent. All cheap.

    Leave a Comment

    Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
    Comparison: least expensive
    Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
    Phone: 415.421.1429
    Address: 919 Kearny St
    Directions: (Broadway/Pacific) -near Columbus and Kearny
    On the dividing line between Chinatown and North Beach
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful 

    Krivaar Cafe: Best Middle Eastern Food
  • Tip Rating:
  • Satisfaction:
  • San Francisco - Krivaar Cafe, Financial District, San Francisco
  • Krivaar Cafe, Financial District,
  • San Francisco
  • by karenincalifornia
  • Send Photo to a Friend
  • Restaurant Name: Krivaar Cafe

    You'll for sure miss this cafe if cafes next to nail salons are not your thing. But you'll be making a big mistake. Krivaar has the best middle eastern food in the Financial District, possibly all of San Francisco. Tiny, only a few tables. Order at counter, line at lunch but they so very efficiently move people through. Order to go and eat outside.

    Favorite Dish: The best hummus in the State of California. Delicious dolmas, gyros, tabouleh, baba gannoush, popular vegan "Wowee Plate". Awesome baklava.

    Leave a Comment

    Theme: Middle Eastern
    Comparison: least expensive
    Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
    Phone: 415.781.0894
    Address: 475 Pine Street
    Directions: On Pine, between Kearny and Montgomery
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful 

    1 | 2

    More San Francisco Tips

    OverviewThings to Do
    Tips: 10 - Photos: 10
    Restaurants
    Tips: 19 - Photos: 19
    Hotels & Accommodations
    Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
    Nightlife
    Tips: 2 - Photos: 2
    Off The Beaten Path
    Tips: 9 - Photos: 9
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
    Warnings Or Dangers
    Tips: 3 - Photos: 3
    Transportation
    Tips: 5 - Photos: 5
    Local Customs
    Tips: 8 - Photos: 8
    Packing ListsShopping
    Tips: 4 - Photos: 4
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 3 - Photos: 3
    General Tips
    Tips: 5 - Photos: 5

    Best San Francisco Travel Deals

    Hotels San Francisco
    Get Our Best Price Guarantee on All Hotels in San Francisco at Expedia.

    San Francisco Hotel
    Newly Remodeled - In Union Square Near Shopping, Dining, & Theaters!

    California Hotel & Resort
    Uniquely California. At Joie de Vivre Hotels.

    San Francisco Hotels
    Luxurious beds, amazing views and chic dining options. Reserve today!

    The New Villa Florence
    Grand Re-Opening Of This San Fran Hotel Located In Union Square!

    Sponsored Links


    San Francisco Forum

    Join a Discussion

    4th of July San Francisco
    (1 replies, Sunday, Jul 5, 2009, 8:29 PM UTC)

    Travelocity "Top Secret" Hotels
    (3 replies, Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009, 12:19 AM UTC)

    Van Rental San Francisco
    (5 replies, Friday, Jun 26, 2009, 8:05 AM UTC)

    Be the first to reply to these questions

    Green Tortoise hostel, take two.
    (no replies yet, Wednesday, Sep 10, 2008, 11:07 PM UTC)

    Help with restaurants
    (no replies yet, Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008, 5:50 AM UTC)

    Part II of Plays in San Francisco
    (no replies yet, Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008, 1:27 AM UTC)

    » All San Francisco Posts
    » Ask about San Francisco

    FREE Deals Newsletter
    great deals, inside tips & no spam
      

    San Francisco Hotels

    Destinations near San Francisco

    » See all locations nearby
    » Popular California locations
    » Popular United States of America locations
    » Popular North America locations

    Comments for karenincalifornia about San Francisco
    jo104 Mon Mar 9, 2009 10:00 UTC
     Great tips esp the restaurants can't believe several are closed over the wknd though
    candace4 Wed Feb 18, 2009 14:25 UTC
     I can't believe how many restaurants I have missed. I only visit once a year now, but I lived in SF for many years. I can't wait to try some of your picks when I am out in June.
    Nemorino Mon Jan 12, 2009 09:03 UTC
     Happy Birthday, Karen! To celebrate your birthday I'm just having a look at the updates that you have added to this page since July 26, 2004. BART didn't even exist yet when I was living and working in Berkeley. Sorry to hear it's already old and shabby.
    egonwegh Thu Nov 27, 2008 09:53 UTC
     Thanks for visiting my Le Thor page! We're planning a visit to the US (2009) and hope to be in California in late summer. With a bit of luck the weather will be as good as it was in France.
    See More Comments

    Best San Francisco Travel Deals

    San Francisco Hotels - CA
    Great hotels in San Francisco, near all major attractions. Reserve now!

    San Francisco Hotel-Abri
    An Urban Oasis Located In The Heart Of Union Square. Rates From $139!

    San Francisco Hotels
    Photos, Reviews, Maps and More Compare and Save with Hotels.com!

    Sponsored Links

    Find:       Matching:  Advanced