San Tung in San Francisco is the Inner Sunset Northern Chinese room famous for dry-fried chicken wings glazed in a sweet soy and garlic sauce; pure cult.
Why locals love it: Northern Chinese counter on Irving Street, far from tourist Chinatown. Locals queue for the dry-fried chicken wings; tourists rarely make it out to the Sunset.
Tip: Dry-fried chicken wings are the order, hands-down; nothing else on the menu hits as hard.
Address: 1031 Irving Street, San Francisco, CA 94122
Hang Ah Tea Room in San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest dim sum house in the United States, opened 1920 on Pagoda Place, with a small fixed steamer menu.
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.
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 love it: North Beach Italian counter since 1896, hand-cutting salumi for the sandwich line out the door; the building has not changed in three generations.
Tip: Order 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 on weekends.
Why locals love it: Bayview supper club run by formerly incarcerated youth, with a kitchen that takes a high-bar approach; tourists rarely reach the Bayview.
Tip: Open 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 love it: Tequila 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.
Tip: Order 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 Silargorn.
Why locals love it: Tenderloin Thai institution with a 250-dish menu including organ meats and rare regional plates; the kitchen reaches well past pad thai.
Tip: Ask 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 love it: The 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.
Tip: Open Wed to Sun only; the chocolate fudge cone with rainbow sprinkles is the kid order, the rum raisin is the right adult.
