Hang Ah Tea Room is a cantonese restaurant in San Francisco.
Editorially verified May 18, 2026 by Elliot Marsh, TableJourney editor. Source.
Why locals love it: The oldest continuously operating dim sum house in the United States, opened 1920, sits on a side alley off Sacramento Street that most tourists miss.
Tip: No carts; order the fixed steamer menu and ask for the off-menu turnip cake when in season.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Join us on our 3-hour Food Walking Tour of San Francisco. Led by a knowledgeable local guide, you'll explore the bustling streets of the city while satisfying yourself...
Guided tour · 1.5 hours
Cocktail Making Class & Fun San Francisco History Lesson. Dive into the world of whiskey with a guided tasting, learn to make signature cocktails and soak in stunning ...
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...
Address: 1 Pagoda Place, San Francisco, CA 94108
Molinari Delicatessen in San Francisco is the 1896 North Beach Italian counter, with house-cut salumi, focaccia sandwiches and a line every weekday at noon.
Why locals goNorth Beach Italian counter since 1896, hand-cutting salumi for the sandwich line out the door; the building has not changed in three generations.
TipOrder the Special: salami, mortadella, provolone, sun-dried tomato on house focaccia. Bring it to Washington Square.
Old Skool Cafe in San Francisco is the Bayview supper club run by formerly incarcerated young chefs, with a strong soul-food menu and a music programme.
Why locals goBayview supper club run by formerly incarcerated youth, with a kitchen that takes a high-bar approach; tourists rarely reach the Bayview.
TipOpen Thursday to Saturday only; book a week ahead and bring cash for the tip jar.
Tommy's Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco is the Outer Richmond tequila bar since 1965, with a 400-bottle list and the city's most-cited Margarita spec.
Why locals goTequila bar in the Outer Richmond, founded in 1965, with the world's most-cited Margarita; pilgrim tequila drinkers come, food tourists rarely make the trip.
TipOrder Tommy's Margarita (lime, blanco tequila, agave nectar); the family invented the spec.
Lers Ros Thai in San Francisco is the Larkin Street Thai counter with a 250-dish menu, including frog, boar and catfish larb, opened 2008 by chef Tom.
Why locals goTenderloin Thai institution with a 250-dish menu including organ meats and rare regional plates; the kitchen reaches well past pad thai.
TipAsk for the regional Thai menu (printed separately); order the boat noodles or the catfish larb.
Swensen's Ice Cream in San Francisco is the 1948 Russian Hill original near the cable car turnaround, with hand-scooped cones in a small corner shop.
Why locals goThe 1948 Russian Hill original. The chain went global; the corner shop where Earle Swensen first scooped is still small, family-run and easy to miss.
TipOpen Wed to Sun only; the chocolate fudge cone with rainbow sprinkles is the kid order, the rum raisin is the right adult.
Rintaro in San Francisco is Sylvan Mishima Brackett's Mission izakaya, with handmade soba, a robatayaki grill, and a sake list that pulls from small.
Why locals goMission izakaya from chef Sylvan Mishima Brackett; bookings are hard, but the bar room takes walk-ins and runs the full menu.
TipWalk in for the bar room at 18:00; the kitchen runs the full menu but you do not need a reservation.
