Eat well in San Francisco without overpaying: the locals'-budget edition.
Eat well in San Francisco for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
La Taqueria in San Francisco is the Mission burrito and taco counter where a twelve-dollar lunch is the city's most-cited cheap eat, since 1973 with no.
TryCarne asada burrito or doubled-corn tacos
TipGet the dorado-style burrito; the kitchen sears it on the plancha for a crisp edge that costs nothing extra.
Good Mong Kok in San Francisco is the Stockton Street Cantonese takeaway window with a ten-item haul for under fifteen dollars on a Saturday morning queue.
TryChar siu bao and shrimp dumplings
TipCash only; bring a clear list of items because the line behind you moves at speed.
Saigon Sandwich in San Francisco is the Larkin Street banh mi window: six bucks for a hot baguette and a long lunch line that turns over fast every weekday.
TryPork banh mi
TipCash only; order four at once and bring them home; the bread stays good for three hours wrapped.
Shalimar in San Francisco is the Tenderloin Pakistani counter where a tandoor-fired chicken tikka, naan and dal lands under thirteen dollars at lunch service.
TryChicken tikka with naan and dal
TipEat at the back tables; the front counter has the tandoor view but no chairs.
Yuet Lee in San Francisco is the Chinatown late-night Cantonese counter, where a plate of salt-and-pepper squid plus rice and beer runs twenty dollars.
TrySalt and pepper squid
TipCash only after midnight; the kitchen window seats fill the fastest at 23:30.
Rooster & Rice in San Francisco is the Thai khao man gai counter, with poached chicken on rice cooked in chicken fat, for thirteen dollars across four sites.
TryKhao man gai (Thai poached chicken on rice)
TipOrder the steamed and fried combo; you get both proteins for a couple of dollars more.
Souvla in San Francisco is the Hayes Valley Greek spit-roast sandwich counter, with a lamb sandwich, a frozen Greek yogurt and a take-away built for a fast.
TryLamb sandwich
TipOrder ahead via the app and skip the 12:30 line; the frozen yogurt is the closer.
The Sentinel in San Francisco is Dennis Leary's South of Market lunch window, serving a corned beef and Russian dressing sandwich to a long FiDi office line.
TryCorned beef sandwich
TipOrder ahead via the website by 11:00; the window is a six-deep line from 12:15-13:30.
Bob's Donuts in San Francisco is the 24-hour Polk Street doughnut counter since 1960, with an apple fritter and a five-pound monster doughnut challenge.
TryApple fritter or buttermilk bar
TipCash and card after 02:00; the buttermilk bar is the locals' order over the fritter.
Marufuku Ramen in San Francisco is the Japantown Hakata-style tonkotsu counter, with a 36-hour pork bone broth and a long queue that turns over fast.
TryHakata tonkotsu ramen
TipGet the digital waitlist before you head over; it cuts forty minutes off the wait.
El Toro Taqueria in San Francisco is the Mission Valencia and 17th corner counter, with a four-dollar al pastor taco and a quick burrito line at lunch.
TryAl pastor taco
TipTaco al pastor with onion and coriander is the simplest, fastest order under five dollars.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Explore the history-rich restaurant scene of North Beach in San Francisco on a curated, multi-course food tour. Enjoy appetizers, an entree, and a dessert as you disco...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Discover San Francisco on our Secret Food Tour! Explore North Beach & Chinatown with 5+ tastings, from dim sum to Pacific-fresh pizza, plus hidden history, culture, an...
Guided tour · 9 hours
Explore and enjoy California's famous wine country on this full day tour of Napa and Sonoma County. Stop for photos of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and take the oppor...